Babes With A Beatitude

Gate Beautiful Radio Show--Thursday March 15th 03/15 by Red River Radio | Blog Talk Radio

2012-03-07T14:25:00.001-08:00

Gate Beautiful Radio Show--Thursday March 15th 03/15 by Red River Radio | Blog Talk Radio

Don't miss our upcoming show! We have some fabulous guests.

The Real Housewives Of The OT (Old Testament) Series--This Week "Rebekah"--by Linda P. Kozar

2012-03-06T22:42:00.001-08:00

Rebecca and Eliezer by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, 17th century.

Rebekah

"Since I married Isaac, life is two-riffic!"

We know that Abraham was pretty old when his son Isaac was born, 100 years old--a true centenarian (Genesis 21:5). So it's no surprise to find out in Geneis 24:1 that "...Abraham was old, well advanced in age..." when he called his chief servant, and made him swear that he would travel to their kindred and find a wife for his son, Isaac. And of course, his loyal servant obeyed. He loaded up the camels and some men and traveled to the land of their countrymen. The first person he saw was Rebekah, (Genesis 24:15) "...who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder."

As a test, the servant asked for some water and the young woman offered him a drink right away. The girl was beautiful, and hospitable! She also went the extra mile and offered to water his camels. The servant responded by giving her a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels of gold. Don't those bracelets sound pretty fine? A nice Wonder Woman look for sure, but would you want your nose rocking that heavy nose ring and drooping down to your mouth? But Rebekah must have found a way to work it.

Her family would have been agreeable to such a match from the start, given that they knew the family:) Rebekah was the granddaughter of Abraham's brother and therefore Isaac's second cousin. She was a virgin, most likely in her late teens or early twenties. Though her family was amenable to the match, once they saw those first three gifts for Rebekah, and accepted the gifts the servant brought for them from Abraham, they were more than enthusiastic. However, they wanted to have their daughter stay another ten days before sending her on her way. In those days, when you left home, chances were pretty good, you left home forever. You would likely never see your loved ones again. But when they asked Rebekah what she wanted to do, here's what she said:

Genesis 24:58 "Then they called Rebekah and said to her, 'Will you go with this man?' And she said, 'I will go.' So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and Abraham's servant and his men. And they blessed Rebekah and said to her:

'Our sister, may you become
the mother of thousands of ten

thousands;

and may your descendants possess

the gates of those who hate them."

The woman was ready to get hitched. Rebekah had her pumps dyed and ready! So she left with the servant and the men and the camels. On the way, she probably wondered about her husband-to-be, a man she'd never laid eyes on.

This next part seems like it was taken from the pages of a romance novel. Isaac was morning the death of his mother Sarah, whom he was close to. "And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. Then Rebekah lifted her eyes and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from her camel; for she had said to the servant, 'Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?' Amd the servamt said. 'It is my master,' So she took a veil and covered herself...Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death (Genesis 24: 63-67). Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as his wife, but given the longevity of his father, Abraham, he was still a young whippersnapper.

At one point, there was a famine in Canaan andIsaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar to find food. Rebekahwas beautiful and Isaac was scared to tell the people there she was hiswife.Instead, like his father before him, he claimed his wife was his sister. But one day, Abimelech looked through awindow and saw the two “sporting” (a euphemism for sexual play, but alsotranslates to “showing endearment—caressing) together, and confronted Isaac whoadmitted that he had been scared to tell anyone that Rebekah was his wife.Abimelech then proclaimed to the people that anyone who hurt Isaac or Rebekahwould be put to death (Genesis 26).

In another parallel, just as with Sarah, Rebekah was barren. Isaac prayed, but didn't just pray, he pleaded with the Lord for his wife. And Rebekah conceived. However, Rebekah came up against another glitch. "But the children struggled within her; and she said, 'If all is well, why am I this way?'" She probably worried that something was terribly wrong. Many women died in childbirth in those days. But what did she do? "So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her:

Two nations are in your womb,

Two peoples shall be separated from

your body;

One people shall be stronger than the other,

And the older shall serve the younger

Rebekah gave birth to sons--fraternal twins. The first one to come out was red and covered with what they described as a hairy garment all over, so they called his name "Esau," which means hairy. So as the little sasquatch was being born, the second baby grabbed hold of Esau's heel, so they named him Jacob, which means "supplanter or deceitful." Isaac was sixty years old when he became a father.

Tradition says that as long as they were young, people did not notice muchdifference between the boys. But when they reached the age of 13, Jacob busiedhimself in the house of study,while Esau busied himself with idolatry. The descriptions of the two young men hint at theiropposing spiritual natures: "The lads grew up and Esau became one whoknows hunting, a man of the field; but Jacob was a wholesome man, abiding intents." The boys were very different in appearance, as demonstrated in Genesis. 27:11 "And Jacob said toRebekah his mother 'Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am asmooth-skinned man.'" (The Dunaways recorded a very amusing song based on this title: "Esau was a Hairy, Hairy Man".)

Just as with Isaac and Ishmael, the conflict andcompetition lasted their whole lives. But this competiton was probably fueled by blatant favortism. Isaac loved Esau andRebekah loved Jacob Genesis 25:28 "And Isaac loved Esau because he ate ofhis game, but Rebekah loved Jacob."

Esau married at the age of forty as well, but instead of finding an appropriate woman, someone in their kindred, he took two Hittite wives, Judith the daughter of Beeri and Basemath the daughter of Elon, who vexed Isaac and Rebecca to no end, as these women were also idol-worshippers, offering the smoke of incense that to their idols daily.

Accordingto the Talmud, after the death of Abraham, Jacob prepared red lentil stew as a traditional mourner's meal for his father, Isaac. Esau begged him forsome of it after he came home famished from hunting all day. The price of that meal was high. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of beans. He probably walked away without giving what he had done another thought, but his actions that day changed everything.

When the time came for Isaac to die and to pass on his blessing to his oldest son, Rebekah devised a plan to have Jacob get the blessing instead. But then again, Rebekah remembered what God had told her when she inquired of him before the boys were born--that the older would serve the younger.

Rebekahoverheard Isaac tell Esau to go hunting and bring some some savory game to cookfor him so he could eat it and bless him before he died.

Rebekah came up with aplan to have Jacob disguise himself to get the blessing from his nearly-blindfather. (Gen 27:1-29) Jacob was afraid this deception would bring a curse on himbut Rebekah said, Let your curse be on me (Genesis 27:13).

Even though obtainedby deception, the blessing could not be given twice (Gen 27:30-40). Esau was furious and made plans to murder his brother in an attempt to regain the blessing, but planned to do so after his father died. However, Rebekah found out about his murmurings, so she convinced Isaac to send Jacob away by telling him that she despaired ofhim marrying a local girl from the idol-worshipping families of Canaan (as Esau had done). Isaac agreed and and she sent him away to live with her brother Laban in Harran.

Interesting note: After Isaac sent Jacob away to find a wife, Esau realized that his ownCanaanite wives were evil in his father's eyes, and he took a daughter ofIsaac's half-brother Ishmael as another wife.

Rebekah's deception cost her dearly. Although she hoped Esau's anger would blowover and Jacob would soon return, perhaps with a wife and the later promise of grandchildren to bounce upon her knees, this would be the last she ever saw of her favorite son. She diedbefore he was able to return many years later. Rebakah was buried in Hebron inthe family tomb with Abraham, Sarah, Jacob and Leah. The is known as the Tomb of ThePatriarchs.

There is an element of vindication for Rebekah after all. While on his journey to their kindred, Jacob has the Stairway to Heaven dreamand God blesses him. It's one thing to have the blessing of your father on earth, but to have the blessing of your heavely father, is quite another. Jacob must have realized that God had a plan all along and though the methods he and his mother undertook to assure his blessing were deceptive, the end result was in line with God's will. However, if Jacob and Rebekah had done nothing except pray--if they had taken no physical action whatsoever to attain the blessing on their own, God would have seen to it that Jacob had the blessing anyway.

Blessings do not come from our manueverings to acquire them--they come from God. It is up to us to trust that He will be true to His Word.

The Real Housewives Of The OT (Old Testament)--This Week featuring "Lot's Wife"--by Linda P. Kozar

2012-02-26T13:50:00.002-08:00

Lot's Wife

"Looking back, I think I could have done things differently."

Even people who don't know much about the bible have heard of Lot's wife, the woman who turned into a condiment. Or is it a spice? Ifso, you might want to think of her as the original “Spice Girl.”

That's right, she turned into a pillar of salt. The manner of her demise--disobedience and death by salt is bad enough, but how would you like to be known through time immemorable, not by your own name, but only as somebody's wife?

Some commentaries claim her name was Aidith or Irith. A native of Sodom (or is is Sodium), it is likely she grew up there. Perhaps her exended family resided in that infamous city. She was mother to two daughters, although some speculate that she may have had four, two married daughters and two bethrothed. Since this cannot be proven otherwise, we will assume she had two. The two daughters are mentioned in Genesis 19:8) as "virgins," and in (Genesis 19:14) 'Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law who were to marry his daughters. . ."

It is interesting to note that there are two sisters both in human form and allegorically in the two main cities destroyed by God. All the towns in the valley of Siddim were destroyed as well, with the exception of Zoar (I will explain why later). But what was the sin of Sodom and her sister city Gomorrah?

God Himself answers the question through Ezekiel in chapter 16:49-50 (The Message Bible), "'The sin of your sister Sodomwas this: She lived with her daughters in the lap of luxury—proud, gluttonous,and lazy. They ignored the oppressed and the poor. They put on airs and livedobscene lives. And you know what happened: I did away with them."

Do a little research and it is easy to find people who claim God destroyed the cities and their inhabitants for merely being "inhospitable" to the poor. But there is no precedence for such a thing in the bible. The only scripture that even comes close (Matthew 10-14-15) references Jesus advising His disciples whom He sent to share the good news, "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town." For the best possible answer to our questions, we must turn to the best possible source--scripture.

Let's begin with Abraham in Genesis 18. At rest under the shade of a Terebinth tree, Abraham looks up and see's three "men" approach. He offered them hospitality, entreating them to rest a while with him under the shade. But later, when these men (angels) rose up to go, one of the "men," the Lord Himself, spoke to Abraham, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am going to do?" God had already pronounced judgment on the the city. He was going in person, to check it one last time. The Lord goes on to say:

"...Because the shriek [of the sins] of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is exceedingly grievous, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether [as vilely and wickedly] as is the cry of it which has come to Me; and if not, I will know." AMP

Abraham inquires of Godif He would spare the city if only 50 righteous men were to be found there, andthen to progressively lower numbers, to which God agrees each time. So God relents somewhat in His plan to destroy the city. The righteous, if any be found, will not be destroyed with the wicked.

"It was evening when the two angels came to Sodom. Lot was sitting at the city gate. Seeing them, Lot rose up to meet them and bowed to the ground. And he said, My Lords, turn aside, I beg of you, in your servant's house and spend the night and bathe your feet. Then you can arise early and go on your way. But they said, No, we will spend the night in the square" Genesis 19:1-2. AMP

Lot was afraid for the men. He didn't want them to stay in the square overnight. The city of Sodom had a bad reputation for its treatment of strangers. . .make that a bad reputation. . .period.

"Lot entreated and urged them greatly until they yielded and [with him] entered the house. And he made them a dinner [with drinking] and had unleavened bread which he baked and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, all the men from every quarter, surrounded the house" Genesis 19:2-3. AMP

And why did all the men from every part of the city crowd around the house?

"And they called to Lot and said, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we my know (be intimate) with them. (from the Hebrew ya'da')" AMP

Lot stepped out the door and shut it behind him. He begged the men to stop behaving so wickedly, which only got them angry. They 'rushed at and pressed violently against Lot,' but before they could break down the door, the angels pulled Lot into the house and shut the door. Then the angels struck the men with blindness [which dazzled them], from the young to the very old, but they (still) kept groping for the door in vain.

The two angels asked Lot if he had sons, daughters, sons-in-law and that if so, he needed to get them out of the city right away. His sons-in-law did not take what he said seriously. So in the morning, the angels urged Lot to hurry. ". . .Arise, take your wife and two daughters who are here [and be off, lest you [too] be consumed and swept away in the iniquity and punishment of the city." But Lot and his family lingered, so the angels took him and his wife and daughters by the hand and led them out of the city, telling them to go to the mountains [of Moab] for safety. However, Lot begs them instead to allow him and his family to go to the city of Zoar (which means little). The angel agrees to let this particular city escape destruction for the sake of Lot and his family, which is the only reason Zoar survived. The angels would delay the destruction until the family arrived safely in the little city, and this was after the sun had 'risen high on the earth.'

This is where Lot's wife comes in. As they were travelingfrom Sodom to Zoar, she was behind Lot. His back to her—he could not see her. She must have been really bummed out to leave her life in Sodom to live in a small town. Leaving her comfy/cushy life in the city of Sodom behind to settle in Zoar would have been about as appealing as moving from New York City to a podunk town in the middle of nowhere. The temptation to look back must have been powerful since her husband could not see her do it.Her father’s house, family and friends were there. Everything she cared about was there. Surely one look back wouldn't hurt, right?

As the wife of Lot, she would have lived a wealthy, privileged lifestyle. Their home and possessions would have been luxurious. Aidith would have been attended by many servants. She would have been admired and looked up to in her society. If what the angels said was true, she was leaving behind everything she prided herself in, home, possessions, position. Would she have been totally immersed in the indulgence and morally decadent lifestyle of her countrymen as well? Though she was married to a righteous man, was there a part of her that dreaded leaving that part of her life behind? Sin has a way of seeping and creeping in--especially when we are surrounded by those engaging in it without reget, apology or repentence. In any case. she chose to disobey and was struck dead by the hand of God.

Lot's wife looked back to where her interests and substance were and she lingered behind--most likely overtaken by the fire and brimstone. What did she see? The power of God, the total destruction of the life she'd left behind. Her dead body became encrusted with salt which, grew larger over time. At the southern end of the Dead Sea, there is a mountain of salt called Jebel Usdum, the "Mount of Sodom"(about six miles long, three miles wide, and 1,000 feet high). Though it is covered with a crust of earth several feet thick, the rest of the mountain is said to be solid salt.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"--Matthew 6:21. Lot's wife looked back at the paltry treasures of the flesh, instead of looking forward to the eternal treasures of God. The Israelites had the same kind of problem. They were always looking back to Egypt, the place of oppression and captivity, thinking what was behind was better than what God had in store for them--because they were tired of the journey.

Mt. Sodom, Israel

Jude 1:5-7 "I willtherefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord,having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them thatbelieved not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left theirown habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto thejudgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities aboutthem in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going afterstrange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternalfire." AMP

God's word admonished us in Luke 17:32 to "Remember Lot's wife." Though salt is a presevative, symbolic of God's promise of eternal life to us (because salt preserves meat, hence flesh), the incrustation of salt which surrounded the body of Lot's wife, did little to preserve her from eternal damnation. Our lives can either serve as inspiration to others or serve as a warning. Sadly, the wife of Lot will forever serve as a warning to others to look forward, not behind, to obey, not disobey.

It would do us all good to revisit the following scripture, to remember that God both delivers and destroys. The wonder, the miracle is that He has given us the choice.

2 Peter 2:4-10 "For God did not [even] spare angels that sinned, but cast them into hell, delivering them to be kept there in pits of gloom till the judgment and their doom. And He spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven other persons, when He brought a flood upon the world of ungodly [people]. And He condemned to ruin and extinction the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing them to ashes [and thus] set them forth as an example to those who would be ungodly; And He rescued righteous Lot, greatly worn out and distressed by the wanton ways of the ungodly and lawless--For that just man, living [there] among them, tortured his righteous soul every day with what he saw and heard of [their] unlawful and wicked deeds--Now if [all these things are true, then be sure] the Lord knows how to rescue the godly out of temptations and trials, and how to keep the ungodly under chastisement until the day of judgment and doom, And particularly those who walk after the flesh and indulge in the lust of polluting passion and scorn and despise authority. Presumptuous [and] daring [self-willed and self-loving creatures]! They scoff at and revile dignitaries (glorious ones) without trembling." AMP

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The Real Housewives of the OT (Old Testament) Series--This Week "Jezebel" By Linda Kozar

2012-02-19T18:45:00.000-08:00

“Looking good is better than beinggood.” JEZEBEL

If you’ve belonged to achurch long enough, you have no doubt heard someone refer to some women as“having a Jezebel spirit.” But what does that really mean?

Let’s learn a bit about whoJezebel actually was, first:

A Phoenician princessaccording to First and Second Kings, Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, King of the Sidonians (Tyre), 1 Kings 16:31-33:

“He not only considered ittrivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also marriedJezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal andworship him.He set up an altar forBaal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria.Ahab also made an Asherahpole and did more to arouse the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, than didall the kings of Israel before him.”

Sidon was a rich coastalcity-state, a sophisticated, cosmopolitan and cultured environment. She was andcontrolled large areas of the eastern Mediterranean. Jezebel’s beliefs about the power of a monarch differed from theIsraelite ideal. Her father’s will was absolute. In keeping with pagan leadersof the time, Jezebel most likely believed that monarchs had the imperial rightand absolute dominion over people and state to govern according to will orwhim.

Known as the “Harlot Queen,”Jezebel’s name originally meant, ‘The Prince Baal Exists’ or ‘where is theprince?’ Baal was a weather god worshipped in the ancient world. When Baal wasin the underworld or Land of the Dead, all vegetation on the earth’s surfacedied, a time we know as ‘winter’. During that barren season, Baal's followerswould chant, ‘Where is the prince?’ as a prayer to encourage the onset ofspring and the return of fruitful vegetation—their main food source.  

When Jezebel was old enough,a marriage was arranged for her with Ahab, King of Israel, whose name in Hebrewmeans ‘brother of the father’. Jezebel’s parents were high priest and priestessin the worship of Baal. Jezebel herself was most likely a priestess of Baal aswell. She was trained to lead and to command and believed it was her duty toguard the worship of Baal and Asherah, because these gods regulated thefertility of the country in which she lived and ruled.

The princesses’s marriage toAhab was a political alliance, advantageous to the northern kingdom of Israel,(which at the time was divided into Israel in the north and Judah in thesouth), because such an alliance with Phoenicia would give them access to theMediterranean coast and thereby rich trade.

Jezebel converted her husbandfrom worship of the Jewish God, to worship the god Baal and goddessAsherath--both allowing and encouraging construction of temples dedicated totheir worship. Some say Ahab was a weak-willed man whom she dominated and wasthe true power behind the throne. In any case, she led him to do much evil.Wives and concubines in ancient Israel, were for the most part, powerless andwithout a voice in government and the affairs of state. However, Jezebel notonly has a voice, but a sharp and clever tongue. She is more daring andindependent than most women of her time, and perhaps more foolhardy.

Unwilling to accept the Godof Israel, Yahweh she is vilifiedin private by the inhabitants of her new country because Jezebel refuses toflinch in her pagan beliefs. Jezebel is a polar opposite to Ruth, the foreignwoman who is extolled for her conversion to the God of Israel and is so takenby her faith that she immerses her heart and life in the society of theIsraelites.

The fact that Ahab andJezebel worshipped Baal led to the whole of Israel falling into the sin ofidolatry. As a result, the judgment of God caused drought and famine (1 Kings17). And of course, this was embarrassing and humiliating for Jezebel sinceBaal was the god of weather!

In addition to her mereresistance to accepting or tolerating worship of the Israelite God, Jezebelwent out of her way to have many Jewish prophets killed. So the prophet Elijahchallenged 450 prophets of Baal to a competition, 1 Kings 18:20:

"So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembledthe prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the peopleand said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God,follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him. But thepeople said nothing."

He exposed the pagan priestsas powerless and then had the prophets of Baal slaughtered (I Kings 18:36-40):

"At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah steppedforward and prayed: 'LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it beknown today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have doneall these things at your command.' Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you,LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up thesacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water inthe trench.
When all the people saw this, they fell prostrateand cried, 'The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!'
Then Elijah commanded them, 'Seize the prophets ofBaal. Don’t let anyone get away!' They seized them, and Elijah had them broughtdown to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there."

Jezebel seethed with fury atthe news and put a price on Elijah’s head. The queen also practiced witchcraft2 Kings 9:22. She also used the spirit of domination and seduction to get herway. (2 Kings 9:30). She had power and knew how to use it to get what shewanted. And even though Elijah, this powerful prophet of God had called downfire and raised the dead, he ran from her, fearful and later depressed.

Naboth, an Israelite,owned a vineyard. King Ahab, desired the property for a vegetable gardenbecause of its convenient proximity to the palace, but Naboth refused to sellthe king the family property. There was a long-standing Jewish tradition thatinherited property should not be sold to anyone outside the family, if theproperty remained continuously occupied by the same family since the settlementof Canaan. Naboth held fiercely loyal to this tradition, even to the point ofdefying the king. In truth, he was probably shaking his head at the fact thatthe king would ask such a thing so contrary to the traditions of his owncountrymen. Ahab was an Israelite, and he had to understand Naboth’s reasoningregarding this situation. He also understood that the Israelite kings did nothave unlimited power, as kings in surrounding countries did. On the other hand,Jezebel, grew up in Sidon, where her royal parents had unlimited power. Becauseof this, she was scornful of the way Ahab let his own subjects get the betterof him.

She wroteletters in the king's name commanding the elders of Naboth's city to accuse himof cursing both God and his King. The elders obliged and Naboth was convictedof treason, then stoned. Upon his death the property reverted to the king, soin the end Ahab got the vineyard he wanted. Jezebelintervened and had Naboth killed simply to meet Ahab's selfish needs.

This act however, didnot go unnoticed by God, who sends Elijah to the king:

"Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, myenemy!

I have found you,”he answered, 'because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD' He says, ‘I am going tobring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahabevery last male in Israel—slave or free. I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baashason of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel tosin.’

And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: ‘Dogswill devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die inthe city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.
There was never anyone like Ahab, who soldhimself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going afteridols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel.
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes,put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly. Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah theTishbite: 'Have younoticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself,I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house inthe days of his son.'”

If Ahab had not humbledhimself before the Lord upon hearing this proclamation from God, judgment wouldhave been swift, but because of this, God’s judgment was delayed. Ahab andJezebel, in spite of their evil, lived a long time before God's judgment caughtup with them.

Elijah'sprophesy at the end of the vineyard story comes true when Ahab dies in Samariaand his son, Ahaziah, dies within two years of ascending the throne. He iskilled by Jehu, a military commander who emerges as another contender for thethrone when the prophet Elisha declares him King. Here again Jezebel'sinfluence becomes apparent. Though Jehu has killed the king, he has to killJezebel in order to assume power.

Accordingto 2 Kings 9:30-34, Jezebel and Jehu meet soon after the death of her sonAhaziah. When Jezebel heard what hashappened to her son, she knew immediately what her fate would be. And in regalmanner, she prepared for her death. She dressed herself in the full regalia ofa queen, with the ornate ritual make-up and headdress of a priestess of Baaland Asherah. The application of cosmetics denoted her royal rank and highposition. Cosmetics were applied by those considered privileged, set apart fromordinary people.

Afterwards, she wentout onto the balcony of the courtyard to face Jehu as he approached. She calledhim ‘Zimri’, the name of a murderer and usurper of a previous king. In an actof doomed bravado, she accused and taunted the man.

Jehu respondsby asking her eunuchs if they are on his side. "Who is on my side?Who?" he asks, "Throw her down!" (2 Kings 9:32). Jezebel'seunuchs betray her by throwing her out the window where her body is also trampledby horses.

Jehu decides totake a break to eat and drink (though it’s hard to understand how he would havean appetite after that scene). Hours later, he commands that that body ofJezebel be buried "for she was a king's daughter" (2 Kings 9:34).Notice that he does not call her a queen, but the daughter of a pagan king. Nodoubt, he commanded that she be buried in order to avoid a dangerous precedentregarding the proper burial of royalty. However, by the time his men go to buryher, a pack of dogs have eaten all but her skull, feet and the palms of herhands 2 Kings 9:21-37.

Throughout the centuries,Jezebel has been attacked as a woman of promiscuous behavior. In the bible,following after false gods can be seen as either adulterous or idolatrous. Shewas certainly guilty of idolatrous harlotry. But there is an absence of anyclear record to suggest that Jezebel was ever adulterous and unfaithful to herhusband Ahab. In fact, she seems to have been fiercely loyal to him and hersons.

So in the context of themodern church, when someone accuses a woman or women of having a “Jezebelspirit,” they may actually be accusing them of having an independent nature orof simply questioning authority. The true context of a “Jezebel spirit” wouldbe a person who rejects God and encourages and actively seduces others toreject Him as well, in favor or pagan worship and practices.

Revelation 2:20 “But Ihave this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herselfa prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexualimmorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.”

There is no doubt thatJezebel got it all wrong, Her faith, her life was devoted to a pantheon of false gods and false teachings. Though exposed to the faith of the Israelites who worshipped the one true God, she chose to reject Him. As a result, her name is identified and synonymous with spiritual harlotry. The only legacy left by her life is a warning to others.

The Real Housewives of the OT (Old Testament) Series--This Week: "Eve"--by Linda P. Kozar

2012-02-13T21:45:00.000-08:00

"All I did was take a bite out of some fruit and all hell broke loose.”

Life began in a spring-watered Eden, a paradise of plantsand trees, vegetation and fruits. The garden God created for His children wasutterly perfect and safe. A breathtaking, beautiful place, the like of whichhas never been seen or experienced since. If you and I as parents, could createsuch a place for our children, we would. God created Adam as the first man.Made from the dust of the earth, and God breathed life into him with His ownbreath.

God and Adam enjoyed one another's company. The highlight of Adam's day was a walk in thecool of the evening with God the Father. They experienced a great Father/Son relationship. We tend tothink of God the Father and Jesus, His only Son, but few of us ever considerthat God as Trinity, created man, created a family and that God takes great joyand pleasure in His family.

Adam loved the animals in the garden and was given the task of naming eachand every one of them. However, Adam began to notice there was something different about the animals. All the animals had mates and offspring. Soon he began to wonder why he didn’t have a mate.

“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should bealone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’” Genesis 2:18.

So the Lord decided to design a perfect mate for Adam--his soul mate. Not hand-picked, but hand-made by God the Father.

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, andhe slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and Hebrought her to the man.”

Eve, the first woman, made from a rib bone by the hand of God. She was presented by her father, to her new husband. One can imagine how awestruck Adam would have been at the sight of her. Eve and Adam would have been completely compatible, male/female reflections of one another. God made them for one another. A marriage like that would be no less than perfect--a match truly made in heaven!

Now for a question many people ask. Why was Adam made of dirt but Eve made from a rib? Have you ever wondered about that? The answer lies in the New Testament. (Ephesians5:28-33) ". . .Because no man ever hated his own flesh." And why is that? We loveourselves. YOU are your favorite topic of conversation. Think of your children. They are a part of you. A person made fromyou—as every mother can attest to, is special. And Eve was special to Adam.

God made, literally built a woman whom Adam recognized asbeing his equal, ‘bone of my bones’ and ‘flesh of my flesh.’ (Hebrew: ezer-ke negdo)indicating mutuality. Adam was given specific instructions by God as to marriage. This concept is known as the Universal Law of Marriage.

1) The man is to leave his father and his mother

2) The man is to be joined to his wife

3) The union is indissoluble—the two become one flesh.

So Adam said:

‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; Sheshall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and bejoined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were notashamed” Genesis 2:21-25.

Nudity in the right context, the marital union betweenhusband and wife. God invented the act of sex. It was His design and plan for mankind, and is notsinful. Adam and Eve shared a marital bed before the fall and most definitely after the fall.

The propagation ofthe species is one reason for sex, but certainly not the exclusive reason forsex. Intimate relations also promote love between a man and his wife. Also, a special, sacred relationship between man and wife was designed to prevent fornication, sex outside of marriage, which is the unlawful satisfaction of the God-given sexual desire. Theunity of Eve coming from Adam’s rib (Adam meaning Man from the Hebrew word ish andthe Woman isha). The words joined together as they are is symbolic of the covenant relationship. It also reflects the God-ordained act of copulation under the banner of marriage.

"Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Genesis 3:1.

The serpent's purposeful misquote of God's words was a cunning twist. What God actually said is this: Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden, you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Satan is a master at the art of temptation, but he cannotforce us to sin. Eve separated from Adam. Why? Was the Serpent manipulating her before she actually committed the sin? Of course. Temptation begins in the mind and gives birth to sin when we do not take those thought captive. Though Adam and Eve did not have the bible as a guide to life, they had God in person! She could have called out to Him and asked the question. "Why can't we have this fruit, Father?" And God would have answered. He would have explained with tenderness and understanding. He knows what we are thinking before a word ever escapes our lips.

"And the woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" Genesis 3:2-3

Satan took the shapeand likeness of a serpent. But serpents looked a lot different back then. It is possible they even had legs. The serpent made sure she was alone. Have you ever considered that? In most cases, we are alone when temptation comes strongest to us—when we are by ourselves and vulnerable, and there’s no one to talk us out of it.

The serpent was setting Adam up. Satan used Eve to betray herhusband’s best interests. Satan sold her on the idea that she had to have that fruit. Eve gave in to the temptation to disobey God. She listened to the words of the serpent and decided to act on them. In fact, she found three good reasons to taste the forbidden fruit. "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate" Genesis 3:6.

Adam trusted Eve and Eve trusted Adam. Many times, Satan initiates the same kind of betrayal against us. He turns those closest to us against us and we never see it coming because we trust and depend on them. It must also be pointed out that Adam and Eve had no guile, and were unaware of the concept of sin or subterfuge.

"And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him. 'Where are you?" So he said, 'I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.'" Genesis 3:8-10.

When God calls out for Adam and Eve, He finds them hiding, trying to cover their nakedness. And God asks, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?'"

Then Adam throws Eve under the bus! He blames God a little too when he says, “The woman whom YOU gave to be with me, shefave me of the tree, and I ate” Genesis 3:12. Maybe Eve forced him to take the fruit, chewand swallow it too!

Eve fared no better. Her response to God was, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate" Genesis 3:13.

Satan teaches people to doubt first, then deny. He showed Eve theadvantages of eating the fruit until she felt discontented with the statusquo. He made her feel that God was denying or withholding something from her and her husband. Advertising is a lot like that. The annual showcase of homes does the same thing to usquite effectively. We visit a few mansions and suddenly look at our own homes in a very unflattering light!

Satan wanted to be like the Most High God. He wanted praiseand power and he was destroyed. Therefore, when he had the chance, he tried todo likewise to mankind, created in the very image of God.

Eve sinned and then convinced her husband to sin as well.Misery loves company, as they say. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the Serpent.But three curses resulted. One on the serpent. And one on the Woman and one on the Man.

Curse on the Serpent:
Genesis 3:14-15 "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."

Curse on the Woman:
Genesis 3:16 "I will greatly multiply your sorroy and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you."

Curse on the Man:
Genesis 3 17-19 "Then to Adam He said, 'Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying 'You shall not eat of it' Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.

One can imagine what was going on in Eve's mind. “But all I did was take a bite out of some fruit!” Ah butfruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now why do you think Godplopped a tree like that right smack dab in the middle of the Garden of Edenand said, “Don’t touch that tree.” Any mother knows as soon as you tell yourkids not to touch something, they’re going to go ahead and touch it.

Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man,saying, “Of every tree of thegarden, you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evilyou shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

God put the tree there to offer man the choice—to obey ordisobey. It was a monumental tree. Do you ever wonder what the fruit tastedlike? You and I would probably have done the same. I’ll bet the taste of it wasincredible, at first. But I’ll bet the taste of that fruit soured in theirmouths after the first bite.

Before that bite, Adam and Ever were morally innocent. Casein point, they did not even realize they were naked. But afterwards, their verynature forever changed. They became sinners with a sin nature, a tendencytoward fulfilling fleshly desires. They died spiritually in that every instantand at the same moment, began to die physically as well.

Adam and Eve were the first man and woman to live and walkupon the face of the earth. Because of their sin, all of mankind retained a sinnature. We were all born into spiritual death.

Eve’s sin also resulted in the subjugation of women, who becamemere property to be sold into slavery or wed to a man without consent. Forcedto wear veils, travel with chaperones. Not allowed to work or to do anything ontheir own.

Childbearing:

“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; Inpain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, andhe shall rule over you. Genesis 3:16 But in Genesis 1:28, God says, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earthand subdue it.

Animal mamas rarely experience pain during the birthingprocess. But Jesus brought up an important point. In John 16:21 He says thatmothers have the ability to “forget” the pain of childbirth for the joy ofseeing the child for the first time. Mothers fall in love with their babies!

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, Andbetween your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruisehis heel.” Genesis 3:15.

We are part of that Seed God created to fight the devil!

Relationship With Her Husband:

"Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shallrule over you." Genesis 3:16. So what’s so wrong with that?

The Hebrew word “tesuquh” means an “unusual or striking”kind of desire—a desire to overcome or defeat another. We have the desire togain the upper hand over our husbands, and our husbands try to squelch thatdesire. Until the 20^th century, woman were little more thanbaby-making machines, property worth about as much as cattle.

Another theory is that woman might want to resist repeatedpregnancies, but would find it difficult because of their desire for their husband.

Ephesians 5:23-33 shows us the way to diminish the effectsof this curse. Wives are told to submit rather than contend and husbands aretold to love rather than dominate.

Adam called his wife “Eve,” because she was the mother ofall living. Genesis 3:20.

Eve is an inspiration to us all. Sure, she made a mistakethat unfortunately affected all of mankind, but she gave birth to our ancestors and faithfully followed God's command to be fruitful and multiply. The sin of Adam and Eve is known as the original sin--a sin so monumental that God had tosend His only Son down to Earth to rectify and reconcile through the sacrificeof His own body.

But let us remember that Eve is our greatgreatgreatgreat. . .grandmama. We owe much to her and to Adam, from whom we all descend. We cannot be too hard on them because any one of us would have done the same thing. And heaven help us if the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was made of chocolate. The fall would have happened a lot quicker. . .

1850,Adam and Eve Expelled, Paul Gustave Dore

Lagniappe: A Testimony With Heart by Linda P. Kozar

2012-02-12T17:17:00.000-08:00

Do you like bittersweet chocolate? The month of February is likethat for me. My father went to be with Jesus on February 14th, Valentine's Day,2004. But his passing on February 14th, was no coincidence. Hisstory began 15 years earlier in 1989, a God-ordained miracle. Here is ourfamily testimony:

"My fleshand my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and myportion forever" (Psalms 73:26).

Lagniappe

(Creole French for "a littlesomething extra")

"Life is tooshort to buy green bananas. Buy the ones ready to eat because you never knowhow long you'll have." Always ready with a clever quip and a funny face tomatch it, Dad kept his family forever laughing. For some reason though, hecontinually brought up the subject of dying, and somehow, inexplicably made itsound funny. In retrospect, perhaps joking about death was a form of bravadofor him.

Dad was 47 when he was hospitalized for the first time--on Valentine'sDay,1975. But unlike his own father who died of a heart attack around that age, helived--a tribute to modern medicine and lifestyle changes.

Years later however, on New Year'sEve, 1989, his heart rebelled again with a cluster of serious heart attacks.Dad's condition was serious and the prognosis extremely poor. Four arteriesleading to his heart were blocked. Severely damaged, his heart was leakingblood from one valve, and there was an aneurysm in an outside wall that we weretold, could rupture at any time, resulting in instant death.

Doctors tentatively scheduled surgery,but were waiting to see if he would gain enough strength to live through it.The death of my father seemed imminent. However, in the course of time betweenhis first heart attack years ago and this incident, the family had asked Jesusinto their hearts."

One night, after an exhausting day atthe hospital, the family gathered in the kitchen. My mother was preparing toreturn to the hospital to spend the night at Dad's side, but before she left,we decided to pray together. Filled with the hope of God's promises, we formeda circle and joined hands, each sharing a prayer from the depth of our souls.Surely God knew our hearts were as broken emotionally as our father's wasphysically.

My brother prayed last and feltstrongly prompted by the Lord to pray the prayer of Hezekiah over our father:

"In Second Kings, Chapter20:1-6 (KJV), the Prophet Isaiah was sent to King Hezekiah by God and said untohim, 'Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, andnot live.' Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, wept bitterly andrepented. So God answered, "...I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thytears: behold, I will heal thee...And I will add unto thy days fifteenyears..."

My brother continued praying,"Lord Jesus, we ask that You will grant to us the life of our father. Lethim live another fifteen years as you did King Hezekiah."

The strength of that prayer didnot shake the earth or startle us. It was a simple heartfelt prayer that weagreed upon in the presence of God.

On the night before his operation, wevisited Dad. My brother asked if he wanted to receive salvation. To oursurprise and delight, he agreed. That very night, Dad asked Jesus to be hisLord and Savior.

After his surgery on Valentine'sDay,1989, Dad's condition instantly improved. Doctors could suddenly find no traceof the leaking valve "fatal" aneurysm in the wall of his heart. Aftera quadruple by-pass, he began an astonishing recovery. He was transformedinside and out and six weeks later, was able to proudly walk me down the aisleat my wedding.

In the years that followed, motherand father became grandparents to a total of nine grandchildren. And as theyears passed, so did our memory of that prayerful night. We had long agoforgotten the prayer--until the close of the fifteen years approached.

Dad contracted bronchitis, but seemedto be doing all right. Doctors prescribed medicine. An X-ray revealed that hislungs were clear. However, both my mother and brother suddenly remembered theprayer of fifteen years earlier; the illness seemed to call up the echo of itsspoken word. They realized that 2004 was the fifteenth year, but said nothingto the rest of us. Perhaps, they reasoned, God would let him live longer. Afterall, he seemed fine.

Then, on Valentine's Day, 2004, my fathersuddenly slipped into congestive heart failure. The kind, young doctor whoworked on him in the Emergency Room, assured our family that he would treat himas if he were his own father. God is never late, never early but always, alwaysright on time. In spite of all the doctor's efforts, Dad faded away.

A flower fades, dries and crumbles todust, but its fragrance remains for a time. The fragrance of that one speciallife remains for us and it is sweet indeed. Our world did not come to an endthe day Dad died, though we all imagined it would. And though we missed himdesperately, life continued without missing a beat.

Though his absence seemed unbearable,we remembered the prayer and understood that God had indeed granted us thedesire of our hearts. He gave our father another fifteen years of life, and wewere indeed grateful, but even more so with the eternal perspective that we canlook forward to a joyful reunion in heaven.

And as for his children? Like our father,we're fond of bananas and we always buy bright yellow ones, never green, becauseyou never know.

The Real Housewives of the OT (Old Testament)--by Linda Kozar

2012-02-06T22:25:00.000-08:00

For a moment, I thought I had a brilliant idea for a bible study series, so of course the first thing I did was google it to find out if someone else had experienced a similar flash of brilliance. And apparently so--but not the same flash as me. My idea? To do a series on the Real Housewives of the Bible. So imagine my surprise when I found a reality DVD series, titled "The Real Housewives of the Bible." The series follows the ups and downs of marriage as they struggle to be good wives.
But my idea was--is different. It follows the REAL housewives in the actual bible. So here goes!

Sarah

"Having a baby at 90 is nothing to laugh about!

Que Sarai/Sarah!"

The Real Housewives of the OT

Genesis 11:27-32details the genealogy of Terah, the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haranbegot Lot, but Haran died. Abram and Nahor took wives—Abram took Sarai andNahor married Milcah. Some commentators say Sarah was the daughter of Abraham’sbrother, so therefore his niece. But in Genesis 20:12, Abram says, “But indeedshe is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughterof my mother, and she became my wife.”

Godspeaks to Abram one day and declares a covenant with him.

Genesis 17:15
1 The LORD hadsaid to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s householdto the land I will show you.
2 “I will make youinto a great nation, and I will bless you;  I will make your namegreat, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will blessthose who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;  and all peopleson earth will be blessed through you.”

SoAbram and all his house go our from the land of Ur to the land of the Canaans.They came to Haran and dwelt there.

Originally calledby the name of Sarai, which means “My Princess” God later changes her name toSarah, which means “Princess.” Changing of a name was symbolic of a bindingcovenant between man and God, Who promised to put an end to her barren state.

Due to a famine inthe land, Abraham decided to flee to Egypt. On the journey to Egypt, Abram asksSarai to tell the Egyptians she was his sister. (Genesis 20:12) After all, it’sthe truth, right? Technically, she was his half-sister. But half-truths arestill lies in the eyes of God. He cannot honor sin.

The truth is, Abram feared theywould kill him and take her. In the bible, beauty is to be desired and taken(Esther). It is a foreshadow of Israel’s later bondage to Egypt. Godafflicts Pharoah and his house with great plagues (Genesis 12:17). Plagues alsoforeshadow the manner of Israel’s redemption from the bondage of Egypt.

When brought beforePharoah, Sarai obeyed and told him Abraham was her brother. Though Sarai was 65years old at the time, she was considered a great beauty. Smitten with her cougar-ish good looks,Pharoah gave her many gifts and honors. Most notably, he gave her the landof Goshen for her hereditary possession. It is likely she acquired her Egyptianmaidservant, Hagar at this time as well. And Abram acquired a great deal ofwealth and livestock. What’s with this share a wife, save a life thing going on?

Sarai was added tothe harem and she knew it would not be long before the Pharoah summoned her.But God would not allow the “mother of nations” Genesis 17:15-16 to becompromised. He afflicted the Egyptians (Gen. 12:17) and Pharaoh figured outsomething was wrong. Abram finally confessed that Sarah was his wife. And even Pharaoh rebuked Abraham for his lie (Genesis 12:18-20).

Now in Genesis11:30, we know that Sarai was barren; she had no child.” But Sarah rememberedthe promise of God to Abram that he would be the father of many nations.However, because she doubted the likelihood of her getting pregnant, she soughta fleshly solution to the problem. Imagine how she must have felt. Any woman who has gone throughmenopause can relate. “The old grey mare—she ain’t what she used to be!”

She had anEgyptian slave named Hagar and according to the custom of the time, she came upwith a plan. 2 so she said to Abram,“The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps Ican build a family through her. ”Because Sarai was unable to bear achild, she gave her maid, Hagar to Abraham that she might bear a child throughher for her husband. As a result, she bore Ishmael. However, there were consequences tothis plan. Sin always has consequences. Hagar becomes proud and haughty to hermistress. She no longer acknowledges or respects Sarah’s position as Abraham’swife. When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5

Genesis Chapter 181 When Abram wasninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty[p]; walkbefore me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatlyincrease your numbers.”
15 God alsosaid to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai;her name will be Sarah. 16 Iwill bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so thatshe will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
17 Abrahamfell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man ahundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael mightlive under your blessing!”

The Three Visitors

9“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
   “There, in the tent,” he said.
10 Thenone of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, andSarah your wife will have a son.”
   Now Sarah was listening at theentrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age ofchildbearing. 12 So Sarahlaughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old,will I now have this pleasure?”
13 Thenthe LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have achild, now that I am old?’ 14 Isanything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time nextyear, and Sarah will have a son.”
15Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
   But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Abraham laughed too but God calls Sarah to task onit.

1 Now the LORD wasgracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he hadpromised. 2 Sarah becamepregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God hadpromised him. 3 Abraham gave thename Isaac[ai] to the son Sarah bore him. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abrahamcircumcised him, as God commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
6 Sarahsaid, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this willlaugh with me.” 7 And she added,“Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I haveborne him a son in his old age.”

Less than a yearlater, Sarah bore Isaac. Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90. Sarahblamed Abraham for the problem created by Hagar giving birth to a rival heir,but the whole thing had been her idea. It is said that during a banquet celebrating Isaac's weaning, Sarah heard Ishmael mocking Isaac and she insisted mother and child be sent away.She recognized the danger in Ishmael to the rightful heir, her son Isaac. God backs her up and tells Abraham to do what she said (Genesis 21:12). Abrahamemancipates Hagar and Ishmael and sends them away as freed slaves.

Now for thebiggest test in a mother’s life. Mount Moriah. . .

After the bondwoman and her sonwere send away, God tested Abraham. He said, “take now your son, your only son,who you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as aburnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you (Genesis 22:2).

Sarah must have watched themdepart. She would have kept her eyes trained on them, her lovingeyes on her son, the curl of his hair, the silhouette she knew so well. Did shehave the same measure of faith Abraham had? His heart was severely grieved atthe thought of taking the life of his only son. But he knew that God as thegiver of life. Our lives do not belong to us, they belong to the giver of life. And like Abraham, her heart was surely broken at the thought of her son dying, suffering even for amoment.

Sarah dies at theage of 127 in Hebron. Abraham buys his first real property in the land ofIsrael, the Cave of Machpelah in order to bury her.

"For it is written thatAbraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by thefree woman was born as the result of a promise. Galatians 4:21-23

These things may be taken figuratively, for the women representtwo covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are tobe slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai and corresponds tothe present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. Butthe Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother...Now you, brothers,like Isaac, are children of promise...Therefore, brothers, we are not childrenof the slave woman, but of the free woman."

Sarah is a wonderful example to us--of faith, of fortitude and trust in the Lord. Of course, she had her doubts as we all do. Many women who check off the age 55+ demographic box would have a hearty chuckle as well if God suddenly showed up and told them they were going to have a baby. It's not in the normal realm of possibility. But then again, neither is God. In fact, He's God of the impossible, improbably and unimaginable. You and I need to remember that. So--thank you Sarah, mother of nations. You've inspired us to believe what God says. If He says He's going to do something, you'd better believe He's going to do it."

The Mary Poppin's Purse--by Linda Kozar

2012-01-31T19:48:00.000-08:00

Mary Poppins carried quite an uncommon handbag. In an instant, she might pull out an object as implausible as a large mirror, a rubbertree, or a hatstand. What didn't Mary Poppin's have in her purse?

In cartoons, we see magician's hat's, out of which the magician might pull a rabbit or a lion. And in the cartoon world, that kind of 4th dimensional kind of space is called "hammerspace," because a character at any given moment, might pull an oversized mallet or gigantic hammer out of a shirt pocket.

Sometimes I ask myself that same question about my purse--what isn't in there? Am I carrying all this stuff around in my purse just in case I wind up on THE PRICE IS RIGHT and someone asks me if I have a bobby pin? So at our Babes Bible Study today, I spread a cloth on the floor and emptied the contents of my purse. The other women started pulling things out their purses as well and comparing. Okay, there were a few oohs and ahhs too. (Susan, your tiny purse notebook was really cute). But to say my purse is a bit heavy is a bit of an understatement. Feels like I'm carrying an anvil inside. More like a suitcase. And inside:
*Keys--five different keys, plus car locks and garage door opener (HEAVY!)
*Cell Phone
*Scrunched up receipts
*Makeup bag--inside bag are the following items:
3 lipsticks
1 lipgloss
nailfile
earbuds
handlotion
hand sanitizing lotion
Aleve, Benedryl, Chloraseptic
eyeglass repair kit
* large container of Mentos
*wallet--filled with lots of HEAVY coins and a few Georges:)
* Driver's license, Credit Cards, Debit, Discount Cards
* Sunglasses
* Tissues
* hairbrush
* Sometimes I carry my Kindlefire, which adds to the weight. Who says a gazillion digital books won't weigh much? :)

When I first started carrying a purse, there wasn't much in it, certainly not much in the way of cosmetics or money. But as the years progressed and I became a mom, my purse became purse/extra diaper bag/emergency first aid kit/kiddie food pantry/toy chest/doggie treat jar and garbage can. Why do kids always hand their garbage over to their mothers? I dunno, but it wound up in my purse.

You would think that even though my kids are now in college, they still look to me for pharmaceticals for headaches and allergies, female problems, bandaids etc. They still look to me for cosmetics and toiletries too. And money. Did I mention money?

The things we carry in our purse must be important to us. Otherwise we wouldn't go to the trouble of carrying them around with us everyday. But what if we applied that same concept to our relationship with God?

*Keys--They unlock doors to homes and cars so that we can enter in. They also lock those doors to keep others out to keep us safe. God has given us the keys to the kingdom! In Matthew 16:19, Jesus told his disciples, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
*Cell Phone--Our communication compared to our communion with the Lord. God says,

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”Romans 10:13

(Below-found this gem on the internet--no attribution)

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like wetreat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several time a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?

*Makeup bag--A reminder to "make up" with those we are estranged from. To forgive. Heard this espression on a television show "Unforgiveness is like taking poison and hoping the other guy dies."

*wallet--filled with lots of HEAVY coins and a few Georges:)
Why do we carry so many coins around? Like when you're ten years old and going on a candy run or something. Seriously. I don't visit coin-operated laundries. I have a washer and dryer, thank you. But who's image is on that coin? A politician. A statesman. When Jesus was asked that question, he asked to see a Roman coin and He answered, "Render unto Caesar what is Caesars and unto God what is Gods" Mark 12:17.
* Driver's license, Credit Cards, Debit, Discount Cards

(My identification—who I am to the world Romans 8:16-17) Whoyou are to God. The thumbprint of God. Believers are His children. They are sealed. They bear His name, His mark. In the end times, those who take themark of the beast will be lost forever, They are identified with the devil.Believers are identified with Christ.

* Sunglasses

(filters brightness of sun and helps us to seebetter) Sunglasses are tinted lenses that filter the UV light from the sun toprevent damage. They alter our perception of the world—of what we see and howwe see it. One can liken sunglasses with the sinful state—it darkens our viewof things. If we see with the eyes of Jesus, we see in an unfiltered light. Wesee what is good and what is evil. We have discernment.

Do we grieve for those around us? Sometimes I feel likewe’re so disconnected from the rest of the world. If it’s not right in front ofour face, we don’t think much about it. But sometimes, there is someone rightthere in front of us and we don’t help. We just go about our business. We lookthe other way.

Tube of lipstick Enhanceswhat you have. Gives you some color. Makes you more attractive. When we witnessto people, don’t push them away with an ugly or judgmental attitude. Or if theyare wearing black lipstick, think about why? Negative attention. Piercedlips—same thing. Love should be our motivating factor.

* Tissues--But there are other times. Times when we really listen tothe Lord and obey. There are people He entrusts to us, to meet at an appointedtime and place. Our job is to help or share the gospel, offer advice, a hugs,or to just listen.

* Hairbrush/comb (Combthru the tangles in life) God’s Word combs thru our spirit. When kids get lice,you comb the nits out with a fine-toothed comb. When you lose something aroundthe house, you search for it with a fine-toothed comb. When we read the Wordand apply God’s Word to our lives, it cleanses us and straighten’s things out.

Maybe you'll see your purse in a different light now. Maybe you'll lighten the load a bit--move out of that PRICE IS RIGHT mentality and into a slimmer, sleeker, smaller purse. Or not. But whatever you do, perhaps now you have a greater insight into the things you value and keep close to you. And perhaps apply that to your relationship with Christ:)

The Imprint of Christ--By Linda P. Kozar

2012-01-05T20:35:00.000-08:00

Over the Christmas/New Year holidays, I took a long walk with my oldest daughter and we spotted this beautiful print of a leaf on the concrete. Often, after a rainstorm, a leaf pressed to the concrete will leach sap and form what looks like a photographic image--kind of reminiscent of a pinhole camera. Although the image, a mere stain, doesn't last for long--it is never the less, a reminder of the lovely shape of the leaf.

However, when a leaf or plant falls to the sand and is quickly covered by more sand and weighed down by even more layers, in time becomes a fossilized imprint, a mold of the leaf in sandstone or shale. The original components quickly decay away, but unlike the stain, the exquisite details of the leaf, the delicate symmetry of the plant's skeleton, the veins are visible.

Both the stain and the imprint are formed after the death of the leaf, which began as a tiny leafbud that grew and unfurled and lived it's cycle, from tender green to a final and glorious brilliant orange, red, or yellow before its fall to the earth.

Most of us would like to be remembered for achieving or accomplishing something of worth in our time here on this earth. We struggle with feelings of unimportance, of irrelevence. We seek honor and recognition. For academic achievers, there are honors and awards, for military heroes, there are metals. For notable politicians or great philantropists--statues or busts. Buildings and stadiums are dedicated to or named for people.

But in God's world, there are no unimportant or irrelevent people. The greatest heroes in the history of mankind have never received a metal or honor had the opportunity to stand before kings and presidents. Men and women who tirelessly toiled to serve and care for others, putting those needs before their own. People who gave their lives for the gospel of Christ. Believers, whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. They will live and reign forever with the King of Kings.

So whether you have a cabinet full of trophies or a wall of certificates, the greatest honor you've ever received as a believer, is a free gift you did nothing in your own strength to attain.

We bear the image and imprint of Christ. The stain of His blood is upon our hearts, the imprint of His glory is on our lives. We are His greatest glory!

Waiting On God--by Linda Kozar

2011-12-14T19:58:00.000-08:00

"That same night he got up andtook his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed theford of the Jabbok.

He took them and sent them across thewadi, along with everything he owned.

Jacob was left alone; and a manwrestled with him until the break of the day."--Genesis 32:22 thru 24

Do you ever get tired of waiting for God and try tomake things happen? Do you convince yourself that God's too busy to help you,so you decide to carve out your own destiny?

You've probably heard the story before--about howJacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord to obtain a blessing. But Jacob beganwrestling much earlier. He and his twin brother Esau, wrestled in theirmother's womb. And Jacob, whose name literally means "supplanter," or"heel grabber" was named that because he took hold of his brother'sheel as they were being born. Jacob later finagled his brother out of hisbirthright to obtain the blessing of the firstborn son. Jacob would stop atnothing to secure a personal advantage. He pursued the divine blessingdeviously and relentlessly to obtain success.

How desperate are you to obtain God's blessing?You've waited and waited on God and you're fearful that the blessing you'veprayed for will never happen. Everyone around you seems to prosper. But successalways seems to elude you. However, there is purpose in the process...and aprocess takes time.

Over the years, Jacob changed. He became a man offaith. Through trials and suffering similar deceptions, his heart turned towardGod. Now, at a desperate time in his life--the eve of meeting the brother hehad deceived and with his angry father-in-law at his heels, he sought God andGod showed Himself to Jacob face-to-face.

As they wrestled, the pre-incarnate Christ knew thatthe morning light was breaking and told Jacob to let him go. Jacob responded,"I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me." Christ touched himand his hip went out of joint. Though in great pain, Jacob persisted in hisplea and would not give up the fight.

How about you? Are you holding on in faith orwrestling in fear?

"The whole vision has become to youlike the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who isliterate, saying, 'read this, please.' And he says, 'I cannot, for it issealed.'"--Isaiah 29:11

~*~*~*~

The Worst Christmas Gifts EVER! by Linda Kozar

2011-12-08T17:24:00.001-08:00

I lovelovelove those Target Lady commercials. That blonde-haired woman with the quirky side ponytail and Wilma Flintstone faux pearls around her neck is the epitome of an over the top power shopper in a red track suit and high heels. And crafter, dare we forget her icing creations. . .

But I have to wonder what kind of gifts the woman buys.

Really.

I suspect she's the type of woman who gives her friends and family Bedazzler kits or Bumpits, days of the week underwear (a 7-pack:), lame self-help books, toe socks or a dense fruitcake filled with petrified fruits. Have you ever been on the receiving end of some of these gifts?

I have.

Ever been the recipient of a re-gift? A toaster with a wedding card still in the box?

I have.

Ever had someone give you a gift from their house? Like a paper weight with dust on it?

But my favorite/worst Christmas gift of all time, one I will keep forever and never ever re-gift is an Heirloom Fruitcake. My friend Connie surprised me with it.

Yes, it's completely fake. There's a little booklet inside with suggested uses for the foam, faux cake. Like a doorstop or foot rest, pillow--you get the drift. And speaking of drift, my heirloom fruitcake can also serve as a flotation device.

Family and friends should know what to get us for Christmas--right? And shouldn't WE, by the same token, know inherently, perhaps intuitively, what to buy them as well? But the fact is, when we're bleary-eyed and exhausted from fighting crowds and standing in long lines all day, we somehow convince ourselves that Aunt Betty would love that Hello Kitty blanket or Cousin Tracy would adore that neon orange sale sweater. We just want the shopping to be done--the nightmare to end.

Children are quite another matter though.

If a child wants a dancing Elmo for Christmas, most parents are going to find a way to get one, even if all the local stores are out of stock. We'll go out of our way to make sure our children aren't disappointed. We want to give them their hopes and desires. There's a soft place in the heart of most adults when it comes to kids and Christmas.

I remember one year, my youngest daughter, Lauren wanted an Amazing Ally doll. I searched through five or six different stores searching in vain for one. Sold out--everywhere! So right there in Target, right in the middle of the toy aisle, I prayed and asked God to help me find an Amazing Ally doll. And guess what?

God spoke to me.

He told me to turn my cart down a particular aisle. So I did. And the minute I turned down the aisle with the Play Doh, I spotted a package wedged in between the cans of Play Doh. An Amazing Ally doll! The tears flowed. On the way to the checkout, half a dozen women stopped me to ask where I'd found the doll. They were ready to take their heels off and bolt for the toy department.

I prayed and God answered.

God did not give me a lecture about the commercialization of Christmas. He didn't chastise me for chasing after materialistic things. He answered my prayer. He knew that doll was important to me, to a little girl. Because He loves us. In fact, He loves and cares for His children far more than we could ever love and care for our own.

If you then, evil as you are, knowhow to give good gifts [gifts [a]that are to their advantage] to your children, howmuch more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and [b]continue toask Him! Luke 11:13

If you've walked with God long enough, you know how tender-hearted and thoughful He is. The little things matter as much as the big things. And like my desire to provide my child with an Amazing Ally doll, our Father God desires to provide us, His beloved children with the desires of our heart.

Of course, sometimes our desires don't fall in line with God's Word. Every parent understands that saying no to some things is important. You wouldn't give your child a loaded gun just because they asked, would you?

We're always asking God for things.

Seriously. If it's not something of a material nature, we're asking for favor or spiritual gifts. And God hears our prayers. He loves to bless us. But the truth is, He's already given us the most precious gift we could ever receive--His one and only Son.

God won't give you anything until He gives you everything.

Jesus answered her, If you had onlyknown and had recognized God's gift and Who this is that is saying to you, GiveMe a drink, you would have asked Him [instead] and He would have given youliving water. John 4:10

Eternal life is the perfect gift. A treasure beyond comparison. It cost God everything. It costs us nothing.

But God's free gift is not at allto be compared to the trespass [His grace is out of all proportion to the fallof man]. For if many died through one man's falling away (his lapse, hisoffense), much more profusely did God's grace and the free gift [that comes]through the undeserved favor of the one Man Jesus Christ abound and overflow toand for [the benefit of] many. Romans 5:15
This year, along with the many imperfect gifts I offer to family and friends, from the Flowbee to the Slap Chop, I'm going to share the Good News about the free gift of eternal life with everyone I care about. How about you? Can I challenge you to do likewise?
'Tis the season to be holy!
Sooooo remember that. Especially when your great aunt gives you a crocheted toilet paper caddy,
or the little jewel below--sort of scary and mighty hideous.
A southern lady lamp.

Now thanks be to God for His Gift,[precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]! 2Corinthians 9:15

A Home for Hephzibah--by Linda Kozar

2011-11-23T22:24:00.001-08:00

“Thoushall no longer be termed forsaken; neither shall your land any more be termed desolate: but you shall be called Hephzibah. . .”—Isaiah 62:4 NKJ

Some families come together naturally in the course oftime or planning, but other families are fitted to one another by God withgreat care--like puzzle pieces. Only He can find all the missing pieces and putthem together.

As President and CEO of a national company, Christinaworked out of an office in her spacious home. To the casual observer, she was asuccessful businesswoman who enjoyed a privileged life. There was one thingmissing however--children. Two failed marriages had produced none. “I had thisunderstanding with God, that if He wanted me to have children, He would havegiven them to me.” She shrugged, “I guessed God had other plans.”

Due to her busy work schedule, Christinedecided to hire a housekeeper to clean and cook lunch and dinner for her. Soonafter the housekeeper started however, she began to bring along her 4-year-oldniece, Hephzibah Sarah. Christine didn’t mind. The little girl seemed quietenough. But her aunt was an “old-school” disciplinarian who believed thatchildren should be seen and not heard. Christine noticed that the aunt would makethe little girl sit in a chair all day, still and quiet, as if she blended inwith the furniture.

One day, as soon as her aunt’s car pulled out of thedriveway for a trip to the grocery store, the little girl hopped out of herchair and ran into Christine’s office to ask for food. The pattern continuedover time. Whenever her aunt left to do errands, the tiny girl would scramblefrom her chair to ask for something to eat. In a meek little voice, she askedfor a strawberry or a few grapes and Christine would take her into the kitchento feed and spend time with her. The minute she heard her aunt’s car in thedriveway though, she would scurry right back to her chair.

Curious as to why her housekeeper, a motherwith a grown son and two grandchildren of her own, would take on theresponsibility of caring for her niece, Christine discovered that Sarah hadcome to her out of desperate circumstances. The youngest of nine children,“Hephzibah Sarah,” was born to a Christian family in the throes of poverty.Their mother names all nine children from Biblical figures she admired.Hephzibah Sarah, whom she named from Isaiah 62:4, was the youngest. The name,“Hephzibah,” translated from Hebrew means, “in whom is My delight.” Withthe exception of Sarah and her brother, Paul, the rest of the children wereeighteen years old and above. Sarah and Paul were the youngest, and as itturned out, the most vulnerable.

When Sarah was almost 2-1/2 years old, and herbrother Paul 5-1/2, their mother died suddenly, and their father found itdifficult to take on the responsibilities of caring for two young children. Thefamily barely scraped by financially, and then only by pooling their money witheach other to share a ramshackle place, often relying on help from theirchurch. When their father went to work every day, he left Sarah and Paul in thecare of the older girls. The young caretakers were immature and ill preparedfor such responsibilities and took care of the children in a haphazard way.

Sarah wandered the house each day, eyes sunken,hair unkempt, nearly skin and bones. Her belly was bloated, a telltale sign ofmalnutrition. Most of the time, she went without underwear or even a tee shirtto cover her. Her older brother fared somewhat better because he had learned tofend for himself, but he too was struggling.Realizing that Sarah urgently needed help,their father turned to his sister, who though reluctant at first, agreed totake care of her.

“She was stressed out in a lot of ways,” saidChristine. The aunt was caring for her brother, who was very ill, as well as anolder, mentally handicapped niece and her two children. It was hard for her tobe patient with a young child, but she tried and she made sure that Sarah wasclean, well-groomed and dressed.”

After a few days, Christine decided to ask herhousekeeper to begin serving her lunch out on the cabana by the pool. Shecasually asked if Sarah could join her. The aunt agreed. “We began to sharewonderful times together, singing and laughing.” Christine discovered that noone had ever read to Sarah, so she began to read her story after story. Sheeventually bought her a jump rope, Barbie dolls and other toys to play with.

From the beginning, Christine had noticed awhitish ring around Sarah’s mouth, but now felt bold enough to ask if she couldbring her to a pediatrician. “ The doctor knew what it was right away. He saidthat the appearance of the ring around her mouth indicated a Vitamin Ddeficiency, probably from lack of enough exposure to the sun.” Jarred by the diagnosis,Christine said, “I suddenly realized that this child had never been outside ofthe house to play.”

Worried that the child needed immediate careand intervention, Christine asked Sarah’s aunt if she could be Sarah’s“Godmother.” The aunt readily agreed, so she immediately enrolled her in apre-kindergarten daycare center. Later, Christine asked permission to enrollSarah in gymnastics and ballet classes. Once again, her aunt agreed. Since Sarah’s ballet classes were inthe evening, she was allowed to spend the night over Christine’s house. Shequietly changed her guest bedroom into a little girl’s room, complete withcomforter and dolls. Sarah loved it.

In her kitchen one day, Christine began tothink about her earlier understanding with God. “I had always said, If Godwanted me to have a child, He would have given me one. Suddenly, there was thisbig, neon sign going off in my head. Hehad given me one…and she was sitting right in from of me at my kitchen table!”

Her thoughts seemed to be confirmed one daywhile driving, when Sarah spoke from her car seat in the back.

“I been thinking since I’ve been looking for a nicemommy with a big house, that youought to be my mommy. That way,” she added, “you won’t have to be aloneanymore.”

Christine, overcome with emotion, had no more doubts. Shedecided to visit Sarah and Paul’s father. “That August, I finally met himface-to-face. He was a nice man who just seemed to be beaten down by theworld.”

He told her, “I promised their mother before she died thatI would do right by the little ones.I can tell you’re a nice lady. Please take Sarah and don’t let her forget herfamily.”

The man allowed Christine to adopt his daughter Hephzibah Sarah and heallowed his son Paul to stay with a foster family for a while. However, Paul was happy to return when conditions improved at home.

“People tell Sarah how lucky she is to have found anew mother like me,” said Christine, “but I disagree with that. I’m the luckyone. I know that God has something special in mind for Sarah and I’m blessed tobe a part of her life.”

God heard the desire of a prayerful woman’sheart to be a mother, and the desperate need of a lonely little girl for one.Now they are a family, fitted together by God—a match truly made in Heaven.

Earthquakes and the End Times--by Linda Kozar

2011-11-09T08:32:00.000-08:00

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, "it is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage. Each year the southern California area has about 10,000 earthquakes. Most of them are so small that they are not felt. Only several hundred are greater than magnitude 3.0, and only about 15-20 are greater than magnitude 4.0. If there is a large earthquake, however, the aftershock sequence will produce many more earthquakes of all magnitudes for many months.

The prevalence of so many small quakes and tremors explains why Californians seem to take their rumblings in stride. But for the rest of the United States, and the world for that matter, earthquakes are a serious concern. Is there a rise in seismic activity in accordance with End Times prophecy or are earthquakes simply reported in a more accurate matter than in years past. A Christian would probably say 'yes' there are more earthquakes. A scientist however, would tell quote from scientific data and reassure you that earthquakes occur with great frequency all over the world.

Have you ever wondered what people in the ancient world thought about earthquakes? The Bible records many quakes, but some earthquakes are more than just natural occurances. In fact, God used earthquakes as a wake-up call for people to repent of their sinful ways, and to serve as warnings for impending judgment.

Many people are experiencing a sense of foreboding--a call to intercession and intensified prayer. Are these feelings spurred by a perceived increase in natural and man-made disasters, or are these feelings more the quickening of the Holy Spirit warning us of things to come? Perhaps both? We would do well to study the historical and spiritual implications of earthquakes.

Bible Quakes

Mount Sinai

Exodus 19:18 "Now all the people perceived the thunderings and the lightenings and the noise of the trumpet and the smoking mountain, and as (they) looked they trembled with fear and fell back and stood afar off." The first biblical account of earthquake activity begins here. God is on the mountain. The mountain trembles and the people tremble as well.

Hebrews 12:25-26 "So see to it that you do not reject Him or refuse to listen to and heed Him Who is speaking (to you now). For it they (the Israelites) did not escape when they refused to listen and heed Him Who warned and devinely instructed them (here) on earth (revealing with heavenly warnings His will), how much less shall we escape if we reject and turn our backs on Him Who cautions and admonishes (us) from heaven? Then (at Mt. Sinai) His voice shook the earth, but now He has given a promise: Yet once more I will shake and make tremble not only the earth but also the (starry) heavens. (Hag. 2:6). Let's use Noah as an example. Noah warned of the coming flood. Perhaps some people took note or heed of what he said, yet as the years passed and they continued to live their lives in peace and prosperity, they began to doubt. That doubt led to mockery and derision. Most of the old testament prophets experienced the mockery of those who chose to ignore or reject God's warnings. God loves us so much He warns us beforehand. He gives His people every chance to repent. But there will be those who turn a blind eye to God's tender care for us. "For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation (2 Pet. 3:3-4) People will say, "What impending disaster? The sun is shining. Business is great. All is well." But God is calling us to repent, to seek after heavenly, not earthly things. Sometimes He literally has to shake us up to get us to listen to Him.

Psalms 68:8 "The earth trembled, the heavens also poured down (rain) at the presence of God; yonder Sinai quaked at the presence of God, the God of Israel."

Mount Calvary

Matthew 27: 51, 54 "And at once the curtain of the sanctuary of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the eath shook and the rocks were split (Ex. 26:31-35)." "When the centurion and those who were with him keeping watch over Jesus observed the earthquake and all that was happening, they were terribly frightened and filled with awe, and said, 'Truly this was God's Son!'" It is estimated that the veil of the sanctuary was four inches thick. Think phone book thick. Have you ever seen somebody tear a phone book in half. Now imagine a temple veil 60 feet high, torn completely in two. As the earth convulsed, amny rocks were split as well. The skies were dark and people were completely terrified. prompting even the gentile Roman soldiers to admit that Jesus had to be the Son of God.

Resurrection

Matthew 28:1-2 "Now after the Sabbath, near the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary went to take a look at the tomb. And behold there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled the boulder back and sat upon it." When Jesus died on the cross--an earthquake and three days later, when He arose from the dead--another earthquake! Matthew 27:52 The tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep in death were raised (to life). And coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. Can you imagine that? I wonder if Joseph, still in his Egyptian garb, was among those who wandered through the city. Remember, his specific request? He asked that his bones go with his people. He did not want to be buried in Egypt. So Joseph rested with his fathers.

Make note of the word "after." The old testament saints were resurrected in body and spirit, but Jesus had to be resurrected first, which explains why they rose in body and walked the earth, but were not resurrected to heaven until after Jesus. Some say these were the old testament people whom Jesus witnessed to in Paradise, a compartment in hell that is no longer there. It was emptied when these old testament believers received Jesus Christ as their Savior. Some also claim this event to be the first rapture.

Holy Spirit

Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage." These early church believers were living in fear. They had been forbidden to witness, to speak of or share with anyone about this Savior, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, so they gathered together daily to pray. And when the Holy Spirit came upon each of them with tongues of fire, they left that upper room with boldness and began to witness to every living soul, without fear of imprisonment or death.

Paul and Silas

Acts 16: 25-27 "But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the (other) prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors of the prison were opened and everyone's shackles were unfastened." Can you imagine a more miserable place? Every prisoner was shackled in a cold, dark, filthy place. But Paul and Silas did something improbable. They sang with joy. They sang their faith. And the other prisoners were listening intently. The earthquake produced an improbable result as well. All the doors of the prison were opened and each and every shackle on every prisoner was unfastened. Amazing. What is more amazing is that these thing happened without a record of any loss of life in the prison. God can call forth an earthquake, tell it what to do and how to do it. He can use any natural force to do His will any way he wants it to.

Second Coming of Christ

Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place." One could argue that this prophecy is occuring right now. Nation is rising up against nation. There are famines. And there are earthquakes in many places that do no usually experience earthquakes.

Luke 21:11 "There will be mighty and violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences (plagues; malignant and contagious or infectious diseases which are deadly and devastating); and there will be sights of terror and great signs from heaven." Some recent occurances come to mind. The earthquake and Tsumani in Japan. Recent quakes in Oklahoma. The Bird flu virus. Asteroids.

~~~

One thing is clear. End Time Earthquakes are decidedly different from all previous quakes. These will truly be devastating on a scale far greater than any experienced on the earth throughout all history. "There shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved" (Matt. 24:21,22).

Opening of 6th Seal

Revelation 6:12-17 "When He (the Lamb) broke open the sixth seal, I looked, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun grew black as sackcloth of hair, (the full disc of) the moon became like blood (Joel 2:10, 31).

7 Trumpets

Revelation 8:5 "So the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and cast it upon the earth. Then there followed peals of thunder and loud rumblings and blasts and noises, and flashes of lightening and an earthquake. (Lev. 16:12, Ezek. 10:2).

Revelation 11:19 "Then the sanctuary of God in heaven was thrown open, and the ark of His covenant was seen standing inside in His sanctuary; and there were flashes of lightening, loud rumblings (blasts, mutterings), peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a terrific hailstorm (1 Kings 8:1-6).

The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:13 "And at that (very) hour there was a tremendous earthquake and one tenth of the city was destroyed (fell); seven thousand people perished in the earthquake, and those who remained were filled with dread and terror and were awe-struck, and they glorified the God of heaven."

The 7th Seal

Revelations 16:17-21 "Then the seventh (angel) emptied out his bowl into the air, and a mighty voice came out of the sanctuary of heaven from the throne (of God), saying, It is done! (It is all over, it is all acomplished, it has come!) (Isaiah. 66:6).

Have you have recently experienced an earthquake? If so, you know how terrifying it is to feel the ground move beneath your feet. But many people experience personal earthquakes. Their lives are shaken by financial, family or health problems--a shaking that topples, crumbles, destroys.

When troubles find us, fear makes our hearts grown faint. We tend to run around in circles, uncertain about what to do--panicked and without direction. The Greek word for moved can mean agitated, shaken or disturbed.

The first thing to do in this situation is get before God. Fall to your knees. Shut out your fear and shut yourself in with your Father God. There is only one sure way to overcome fear and that is in God's perfect love. Don't stop praying until you are fully satisfied and persuaded that God is in control. Once you do so, you will be able to sing your faith as Paul and Silas did. And you will see others come to Christ. You will see the doors open and the shackles fall away.

Then and only then will you truly be able to say, "Nothing on this earth can move me! I am in the presence of the Most High God. I am covered under the shadow of His wing (Psalm 91). I am not afraid, for in His presence is fullness of joy.

(http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/facts.php).

Touching God's Word--Braille Bible Bookmarks

2011-05-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

One of our Babes, Dannelle, had an amazing experience over the past week. Well, it really started a month or two ago.

"I'd been going through a dry period spiritually. A time when I felt the Lord was just not speaking to me," she said. "Then some of us from our bible study went to a soaking," (That's when women of the church pray over you while you lay down in a darkened room, and listen to soothing worship music).

Dannelle hadn't really wanted to go. "I had so many other things I needed to do! Lying down for a couple of hours seemed like a waste of time, but I went anyway."

"During the soaking, I suddenly felt like someone was holding my hand. There wasn't anyone there, but I felt it anyway. Then, after a little while, the feeling was completely gone, there was nothing. I wondered what God was doing. In a little bit I heard the Lord speak to me. "Even when you can't feel me, I'm still here." That was the first thing that happened.

Then, a few weeks later, she was out scouting a local flea market for some jewelry. There were all kinds of interesting things around, but her eye was caught by some big leather-type books set out on a table. She asked the owner what they were, and he said they were the books of the bible written in braille. She nearly lost it, right in front of everyone, because here was another instance of God speaking to her! Here was the bible written out, a bible you couldn't see. "You may not see me, Dannelle, but I'm here."

But there's more to the story. Dannelle bought the braille bible and decided to use a few pages to make bookmarks for the rest of the ladies in her bible study. She took it to Kinko's a few days later, and as the bookmarks were being copied and laminated, the machine started having problems. She and an employee ran over to check and see what was wrong. The employee fixed things, and as she did so, she became very interested in what Dannelle was doing with a braille bible. "Do you know someone who's blind?", Dannelle asked her. "My sister," the employee replied. "She was born without eyes."

"My sister loves to read the bible." the employee told her, "Her church bought the whole braille set for her, at about $1000. The books take up a lot of room, since one braille book only contains two books of the bible. So they're stacked from floor to ceiling in my sister's closet. Those books mean so much to my sister and she's read them again and again."

So, in three different ways God spoke to Dannelle, and I think he's speaking to us too. He is with us all the time, whether we can feel him or not. He's with us all the time whether we can see him or not. What an amazing God.

The Zest Of An Empty Nest--By Linda P. Kozar

2010-08-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

What is your passion in life?

Think backwards. When you were a student, your passion was an area of study you aspired to build into a career upon graduation. After that, many of us hoped to marry and start a family--redirecting our passions toward that end. Some of us walked away from promising careers or worked part-time instead in order to do so. Then, for many years after that, we lovingly concentrated on raising our children--putting their gifts, talents and dreams above our own. But when the kids begin to leave for college and pursue those dreams, many a stay-at-home mom begins to reassess her life, reviving dreams and passions that once burned brightly in her soul.

Though the sight of a child's vacant room draws raging streams of tears from a mother, an empty nest is confirmation that you've done your job. Think of it that way. Though it is sad to see the family separated, every mother knows in her heart that her children must mature and prosper on their own. A robin doesn't question why her birdies fly away and neither should you. Instead of looking at an empty nest as a gaping hole in your heart, view that empty nest as a gift from God. The block of time you spent nurturing and raising your children can now be used in other ways. Here are some ideas:

Rediscover your husband! Go on dates and trips together. Have fun!
Take art classes. Watercolor, oil, mixed media. Sculpting. Pottery making. Or learn something unusual like Italian glass bead making. Get the creative side of your brain working!
Sign up for creative writing classes and join local writing groups.
Go back to school and finish your degree or acquire an advanced degree and look for a job. Many people work way beyond the traditional age of retirement (if they are blessed enough to find a job).
Volunteer at church, a local food pantry--Animal Shelters, Meals On Wheels, Habitat For Humanity etc. There are lots of options and a lot of places need you help.
Read! All the books you've put off reading because you didn't have time. Well, now you do.
Learn public speaking. Join a local Toastmasters group and then use your speaking or storytelling abilities in schools, clubs and other organizations and public forums.
Teach a Bible class in church.
Take photography classes. Learn to use digital media and editing techniques in PhotoShop. Or transfer and edit all your old videos onto DVDs.
Reasearch your family ancestry and design a family history book or create a family history website.
Write and self-publish a family cookbook with all your treasured family recipes for your children.
Do those scrapbooks for your kids-you know--the projects you started 18 years ago:)
Clean out the kid's rooms and repurpose them as craft, exercise or media rooms. Just make sure you have enough beds for when the kids and eventually grandkids come to visit. (Murphy beds are a great solution).

Remember, just because your nest is empty doesn't mean your heart is! You will always love your children and follow their lives from a distance--celebrating in their successes, comforting them in their failures. Your role as a mother will change from disciplinarian to that of a wise counselor. Your children may or may not take your advice, but that's okay. At least they asked, right?

These are just a small sample of ideas to get you empty nest moms started. I hope they help. There's a new book and movie out that advises people to "Pray, Eat, Love", but believers know that after you pray, everything else falls into place. Blessings to you!

Zoned Out On The Fourth of July--by Linda Kozar

2010-07-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

from page 197~July 4th~Babes With A Beatitude--Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of Faith (Howard/Simon & Schuster 2009)

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"

--1st Thessalonians 5:18

Picnics and sunny days go together, but there was nothing traditional about this Fourth of July. Lightening zigzaggd through sheets of thunderous rain. I guess it was God's version of fireworks. As if that wasn't enough disappointment, our teens chose to spend the day with friends, so my husband and I watched the 24-hour Twilight Zone marathon on TV until one of us got hungry.

Since things were a bit damp from all the rain, my husband decided to fire up the grill with the leaf blower! (He thought of that himself.) Once the flames calmed down a bit, we grilled shish kabobs and eggplant, since neither of us felt like eating the traditional burger or hotdog.

As we thanked God for our food, we realized how blessed we were to even have a meal on the table when so many people in the world go to bed hungry. Between the weather , absent family members and the food, there was certainly nothing traditional about this Fourth of July. Even our prayers set off a different kind of fireworks--a zeal for God and thankful hearts filled with praise.

Beatitude Check

On Independence Day and every other day, let's be thankful that we are dependent on our Father God, Who provides for all our needs according to His riches in glory! (See Philippians 4:19).

Love Letters--by Linda Kozar

2010-07-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

Since Babes With A Beatitude came out in December, I have received many notes, emails, phone calls and messages in response. Dannelle has received similar letters and notes on FaceBook. In April I received the following email:

Linda, I just had to tell you! My sister got saved, and the Lord let ME lead her in the prayer! We were on vacation in the mountains for 3 days and we read your devotional together each morning. Do you remember autographing one for me to give to her? On the 2nd day it happened! On April 25, 2010 my sister, Kay got saved !!!!!!!!!!! I can't stop laughing and crying at the same time !!!!!!!!!

Thank you for all of the times you prayed for her over the years. God is SO GOOD!

Love you,
Lori

Yesterday I received a letter in the mail from a dear woman named Kay Bukovec. Here's what she said:

Just a note to let you know how much I am enjoying reading "Babes With A Beatitude."

Keep Writing,
Kay Bukovec

These letters mean so much to us! We would like our readers to know how much of a blessing it is to hear from you. Writing these devotions was not by any means just a job, it was a sacred privilege. They were, and are a labor of love. It's not as much about the writing as it is about the ministry. We were not called to write this book by accident, but by divine appointment.

I've created a "Reader Testimony" page on this blog just to list some of these wonderful messages about how God used these devotions to transform lives, strengthen your faith or inspire women to follow and trust Him more closely. We would love for you to share your story if you feel the gentle call of the Holy Spirit leading you to do so. Tell your story for His glory!

Happy and FREE On My Birthday--by Linda Kozar

2010-06-20T21:29:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but I had a wild idea this year--to discover every deal, freebie and coupon available to me as I turn a year older. Crazy, I know. And perhaps not everyone's idea of a fun time on their B-Day. But maybe it's because I AM getting a bit older that I find the whole idea kind of fun, or maybe in this economy it isn't such a bad idea. I think it might even be green (humor me on this one please--after all it's my B-Day).

First I have to give a shout out to Amanda who does my highlights at Toni & Guy, The Woodlands. Besides being an AWESOME Color Artist, when I mentioned to her what I was doing on my birthday this year, she didn't charge me a penny! A complimentary highlight and color! Hallelujah! The first of many totally cool birthday perks!

Anywho, tomorrow on my birthday the first thing I'm going to do is pay a visit (the only paying I'm going to do today is pay a visit:) IHOP to get my FREE BIRTHDAY MEAL. At Red Robin I get a FREE GOURMET BURGER OF MY CHOICE. At La Madeleine I receive a FREE PASTRY AND A FREE REFRESHING GLASS OF MANGO TEA. Dickey's BBQ--I receive a FREE BEVERAGE IN A BIG YELLOW CUP and if i buy a sandwich i get another FREE SANDWICH. At Baskin Robbins I get a FREE 2.5.OZ SCOOP OF ICE CREAM OR SOFT SERVE AND $3 OFF ANY CAKE. At Red Mango--a FREE CUP OF DELICIOUS YUMMINESS! World Market sent me a $10 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO BUY A LITTLE GIFT FOR MYSELF AT THEIR STORE. At Coldstone Ice Cream I get a FREE SCOOP OF ICE CREAM. At Olive Garden I receive a FREE BIRTHDAY CAKE AND SONG! At Macaroni Grill--A FREE DESSERT AND OPERA STYLE SONG SUNG AT MY TABLE. FREE BOWLING AT AMF Lanes!

As you can probably tell by now, I'm going to be pretty busy tomorrow and I'll be working off all those calories for a long time. But it'll be worth it! So think of me on my Birthday FreeDay! Below is a small list of sites and more free stuff if you want to do likewise on your special day!

http://www.heyitsfree.net/2006/10/03/birthday-freebies/

http://www.frugalliving.tv/free-stuff/birthday-freebies.html

Baskin Robbins – Baskin Robbins will send you a coupon for a free 2.5 oz scoop of ice cream on your birthday plus other special promotions when you join the Baskin Robbins Birthday Club.

Ben & Jerry’s – Get a free ice cream treat on your birthday when you become a ChunkSpelunker with Ben & Jerry’s.

Benihana - Join “The Chef’s Table” and receive a Benihana Birthday Dinner certificate worth $30 to use during the month of your birthday.

Blue Bell – Members of the Blue Bell Country Club will receive a gift certificate for a free half gallon of Blue Bell Ice Cream during the month of their birthday.

Cold Stone Creamery – Cold Stone Creamery will send you an email with a coupon for a free ice cream creation to enjoy on your birthday. All ages are welcome!

Disneyland – Get free admission on your birthday when you register in advance. You will need to bring the confirmation along with your ID to the park.

IHOP – Come on into IHOP and get a free meal (a sundae at some locations) on your birthday. (May not be available in all areas.)

P.F. Changs – Come in and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Sephora – Sign up as a Beauty Insider and get a free gift from Sephora on your birthday.

Walt Disney World – Free admission on your birthday when you register in advance and bring the confirmation along with an ID.

Good to the Last Drop--by Nancy Williams, LPC

2010-04-22T21:49:00.000-07:00

Nancy Williams has a new book coming out!
"Secrets to Parenting Your Adult Child"
Bethany House Publishers, Spring 2011

Read Nancy Williams on our Babes Website too www.babeswithabeatitude.com.

Today is one of those great Spring days. Cloudless blue sky, temperature dancing in the high 70’s, a gentle breeze blowing the new leaves emerging on our trees. Vibrant colors popping up all over. I love this season so I took time this morning to sit outside with a fresh cup of coffee and greet the birds that came to serenade. Unlike some of you who jump out of bed and hurry into your day, I like to ease my way into my schedule and I can’t think of any better way than with beautiful weather, nature’s delights and a fresh cup of coffee.

Have you enjoyed a fresh cup of coffee lately? Not one from a pot that was left sitting on the burner too long. Not one you set aside and let get cold. Not a stale cup you’ve tried to re-warm. I’m talking about savoring a fresh brewed cup of coffee. Whether you prepare it yourself or visit a local coffee shop, freshness is key.

Making a tasteful cup of coffee begins with a coffee maker that connects to a strong power source. Then you need a clean pot that’s free of residue and without cracks that might lead to leaks. You’ll also need a filter to separate the grinds from the final brew. Then there are the ingredients—clean water and fresh ground coffee beans. We might have the same type of coffee brewing system; however, each of us can choose the blend of coffee that reflects our personal taste. Flavored? Decaf? Chicory? Mild?

Coffeemaker plugged in. Filter and ingredients in place. The “on” button tapped. Now it’s time to do what doesn’t come easily to many of us: wait. Not my preference, certainly. After all, when I want a cup of coffee, I’m typically ready for it right then. I don’t want to stand by and wait. Fast food restaurants and convenience stores know about our impatience, so they have coffee waiting for us to grab and go. The problem there? It’s not always fresh. Perhaps it’s true that some things are, indeed, worth waiting for. So, we wait.

In due time, cold water and ground beans brew into a sweet aroma and full flavored beverage. As you pour a cup, you realize it’s more than simply drinking a hot liquid. It’s the experience of letting the cup’s warmth permeate your hands as you gently savor each sip. In the morning, that first cup is a gentle nudge to greet a new day and prepare to experience what’s in store. Mid afternoon sometimes calls for a “pick-me-up.” Coffee after a meal invites companions to linger awhile and share a slice of life.

While enjoying a fresh brewed cup of coffee this morning, I began to look beyond my cup to the process of living life itself. Can we experience a “fresh brewed” life? Perhaps it starts with a well-made coffee maker connected to a strong power source. For me, personally, God fuels the energy I need to make life work day after day, as I stay connected to Him. Then I need to make sure my “container”—my mind and heart through which the essence of my life flows—is clean and free of past residue that might alter the

flow or affect the taste. I also need a good filter to sift out harmful impurities. Ingredients are the next consideration. How will I blend talents, beliefs, opportunities and relationships to create the freshness of life I want to experience? And what about choices? Do I merely settle for what others are having? Or, am I willing to explore possibilities and choose something that fits the blend of life I desire? Then, there’s the waiting. Whether I’m brewing coffee or allowing time for things to come together in my life, sometimes I must patiently wait.

Today’s a perfect day to savor coffee and savor life; to delight our senses and energize our spirits. God has blessed us with opportunities to experience life to the fullest. Now it’s up to us to brew a fresh cup each day, savor its richness and do all we can to make it “good to the last drop.” Enjoy!

Nancy Williams, LPC is a licensed professional counselor, life coach, speaker and writer. Send questions or comments to her at www.nancywilliams.net.

From Nancy's Tribune Column – Keeping Your Balance, Nancy Williams, LPC
Print Date – April 14, 2010

The Longing--By Linda Kozar

2010-04-09T23:19:00.000-07:00

Uncle Joe and Aunt Rosalie 2010

Today, April 9th, my Aunt Rosalie passed away. Her death took us all by surprise. The whole family is mourning her loss. But God is sovereign and His ways, perfect. This evening, my sister texted me and told me to read the Babes daily devotion. This is it. . .

"He came and touched the open coffin. . .'Young man, I say to you, arise.' So he who was dead sat up and began to speak"--Luke 7:14-15.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and He can most certainly raise people from the dead. But He didn't raise everyone who died. And what glories they left behind when they returned to the land of the living! What a sacrifice to come back to earth from sublime and heavenly places!

Losing one we love is a pain like no other, and a yawning emptiness lingers for quite some time. We question God's decision to take our loved one away, not for lack of trust, but because we are so grieved by the person's absence. It seems the rest of the world continues as if nothing profound happened, while our world has come to a sudden halt.

But God also sends us peace and comfort in ways we didn't even know were possible. Over time, we are able to sort through our grief and discover new reasons to live with a renewed purpose. Nature sends us little signals that we're coming out of a storm, like a rainbow or a blooming flower found in a blanket of snow. Losing a loved one is a storm everyone will face one day, but God will be right there with you, holding your hand.

Beatitude Check

Jesus, who raised the dead can raise your spirit from the depths of grief. It won't happen overnight because the pain of loss is so great, but it will happen. God has a plan for your life and desires for you ot find comfort and peace once again. If you are grieving now, let God help you. He will carry your burdens.

God knew that our family would have particular need of this devotion today, but I'm sure there are many of you who could easily say the same thing. How many times do you open a book of devotions, or your bible and read your life in those pages? Or hear a song on the radio that describes exactly what you're going through? Praise Jesus--He knows exactly what we need. He is our daily manna, our bread of life.

Sunshine and Lollipops--by Linda Kozar

2010-04-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wake up in the morning and feel absolutely wonderful?

No aches or pains--just a marvelous feeling of well being. And happy. So happy you feel like skipping.

I'm not done yet.

You have a good hair day. Your clothes fit. Your shoes don't hurt. Your children obey. You win at Monopoly. (I'm talking Boardwalk, Park Place and owning ALL the railroads and utilities). You score the perfect parking spot at the mall. You find $100 bill on the ground on your way into the mall. Everything you want to buy is half-price but when you get to the register, it's 75% off!

Stay with me.

You arrive home to find your husband cooking dinner. Afterwards, he takes out the garbage, cleans up the kitchen, sweeps, mops, then vacuums the entire house. Then you sit on the sofa together and actually talk. Well, actually he sits there and listens to you talk. REALLY listens. No bobble-head kind of listening going on.

Then your husband asks if he can read a love sonnet to you. It's so beautiful, tears well up in your eyes (tears of joy) but then he tells you he actually wrote it just for you--skipping lunch to toil over it every day for a month. AND he made a colorful toaster cozy for you from elbow pasta and dried beans.

At the end of the day, you lay your head upon your perfect lavender-scented pillow and instantly fall into REM sleep. You dream of puppies and rainbows and lollipops.

The end of a perfect day.

We all dream of days like that. But the reality is we only experience moments like that. The closest I ever came to a perfect day was winning at goofy golf. No seriously, I made a hole-in-one through almost the entire course without even trying! It was awesome!

But then there's heaven. . .

Heaven is an eternal day. There are no shadows in God's eternity. His days and His ways are perfect. Our idea of the perfect day here on earth is only a shadow of what God's has prepared for His people. THE perfect day.

So tomorrow when you spill a five pound bag of flour on the kitchen floor and the kids forget their lunch and you have to make a special trip to the school and the dog is sick and your car breaks down and you're overdrawn at the bank--THINK of that perfect someday in eternity and praise the Lord for your days here on earth with those you love. Our imperfect days test us--often to our limits, but cause us to grow in Christ, in perfect faith.

Have a blessed day my friends. A sunshine and lollipop kind of day!

Show Me Your Glory Lord--by Kate Young

2010-04-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

I recently attended a 3-day conference where the glory of the Lord was very heavy. What does that mean to me? Well, my body pulsed with what feels like a low voltage of electricity. It usually starts with my hands tingling. Then it can progress into a pulsing in my hands and forearms. When it becomes stronger, I feel the tingling of that electric feeling all the way through my body to the point I can feel it in my toes. Sometimes, I feel it as a swirling in my torso so that my whole body feels like it is a flag waving slowly in a breeze. Sometimes my mouth, tongue or lips buzz. Sometimes I began to weep and sometimes I begin to laugh. It's all part of my experience of being in the presence of the Lord, knowing the holy spirit is filling me up as I worship Him.

I thought after this 3-day conference I would be so energized from spending so much time in the Lord's presence. It was such a shock that the following day, I spent much of my time in bed sleeping like I had not sleep for a week. The next day I needed to rest quite a bit as well. And on the third day, by the time we got to our prayer time at the end of our bible study, I was ready to fall asleep again! I was wondering by now, "What is WRONG with me??" I had no symptoms of sickness except this heavy fatigue.

God is so faithful to answer our questions. Ten days later, I am reading a book, The Supernatural Life, by Cindy Jacobs, and the words on page 168 jumped off the page at me. She said that flowing under the annointing tired her out physically. She could not handle the power flowing through her without considerable rest. And, it was confirmed to her by others went through the same thing. Ah ha! Here is my answer to my exhaustion. She also said she believed as with physical stamina, one could build themselves up with spiritual stamina. I suppose she knows this to be true being so farther along in her ministry than when this happened in the beginning of her ministry.

I was reminded by the Holy Spirit of the verses in Exodus 33 as I pondered all this:

Then Moses said, "Show me your glory".

And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. But," He said "you cannot see my face, for no one may see my face and live."

Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

I have learned that by the words of our testimony, the power of His word is released for others. If you would like to experience God's glory in a supernatural way, ask him just as Moses asked him. His Word also says you don't receive because you have not asked in James chapter 4. I can understand too why the Lord protected Moses in the cleft. The glory of the Lord is too strong for our flesh to handle all at once. But He is gracious to give us our portion and will increase it as needed for any situation. He never gives us more than we can handle. Thank you Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit to baptize and indwell us when we ask.

An April Fool's Day Blessing--by Linda Kozar

2010-04-01T05:32:00.000-07:00

Today, 17 years ago, I was busy giving birth to my April Fool's Day blessing--my youngest daughter, Lauren. If you don't own a copy of Babes With A Beatitude, here's today's entry about her. Would you please wish her a happy birthday?

Building Memories

"Through skillful and godly wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established (on a sound and good foundation).--Proverbs 24:3 (AMP)

My youngest daughter was born on April 1st, and as soon as she was old enough to delight in them, we enjoyed playing April Fool's jokes on her. In fourth grade she asked me to bring birthday cupcakes to school to share with her classmates during their lunch period and to bring her favorite fast food (Chick-fil-a) for lunch. Of course, I agreed.

Instead of her favorite food however, I handed her a regular lunch in a plain brown bag. I could see she was disappointed, but I winked at the teacher who had conspired with me to hide the real lunch. Surrounded by a long table full of classmates and friends, she pulled the sandwich bag out without much enthusiasm. But her eyes, wide as kiwis, stared in disbelief at a sardine, M&M, peanut butter'n mayonaise sandwich, complete with little fishtails sticking out the sides!

A smile blossomed on her sweet face, and between all the laughter and "eeews" of the other kids, she gave me a big hug.

"Mom that was the best April Fool's joke ever!"

Beatitude Check

Caring for your family means more than just providing for their physical needs. Families thrive on faith, fun, love and laughter. Traditions build strong, abiding relationships--a reflection of our relationship with God the father. Build a strong relationship with your family today:)

2010-03-16T21:12:00.001-07:00

Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. – Malachi 3:10

This is the only place in the bible where God actually challenges us to test him…in our tithes and offerings. Easy said…easy done? Not so much for everyone. It may be second nature to those of us who grew up in a Christian home, or maybe to those who felt like they had enough to go around. The idea here though is to give from the first fruits, and to give cheerfully.

For God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Cor. 9:7

In the bible, giving of the first fruits meant you were to give your first lamb. What if you didn’t get another?! It literally meant that you were faithful to God’s word, that you told Him, “God, I believe you are a big God, and that you will provide for me and my family. I give you my first Lamb to praise and bless you.” Thinking about tithing the way they did in the Bible can really put tithing in perspective for today. What if God asked for your whole pay check and you didn’t know where money was going to come from for your bills? Could you do it?

So, your blessings may be great or they may feel small, but God still asks for a portion. Getting into the reality of it, here are some ways to pay your tithe if it is tough to make it to church with your check. In talking to friends and family members, there are a variety of ways to keep this simple. Some people get the cash out immediately in order to have it available at church, you can put a paperclip on it and label it “God’s Money”. I use online banking to send a check as soon as I get paid, and don’t even have to pay for a stamp! This is right to do for the Lord, because, it is all His after all!!

For some however, committing to God that first 10% is committing far above and beyond what you see the bills are. I have a few suggestions for that.

Examine your heart and ask God to give you the understanding of his word, and what that will mean to your finances.
Reach out to Godly resources around you; pastor, friends, trusted websites (Crown Financial Ministries, DaveRamsey.com, Focus on the Family)
Sit down and write out your income and expenses. If you are already in the red, you definitely need to examine where exactly your money is going. This might be another indication to perhaps take a finance class (there are many offered through churches) or read one of the many books out there on Godly finances.
Commit to God your first 10%, and write the check as soon as you get paid.

Thinking about tithes, I have so many awesome testimonies about this. Be blessed, and know that there are many resources out there if you feel that you need support. Please feel free to email me if you have any questions!!

Comments on our February 21st Devotion "Father Knows Best"

2010-02-21T22:20:00.000-08:00

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.--Philemon 1:21

I've felt like Jonah on more than a few occasions in my life. But running from the Lord's will is always disastrous. It's not an option I want in my life. So why did Jonah run?

Because of unforgiveness. The people of Ninevah were BRUTAL. They did unimaginable things to his people--tortured them, destroyed whole families. Horrible memories flooded his head. He hated them. The last thing Jonah wanted was for these despicable people to repent and be saved. So he ran.

He got on a ship, knowing full well that God would pursue him. When a storm threatened to sink the ship, the sailors prayed to their Gods to no avail. They called Jonah from his nap in the hold. Now how could a grown man sleep through a life-threatening storm? Jonah had no problem sleeping--as long as he wasn't headed to Ninevah, he didn't mind heading to a watery grave. When they called him on deck, he admitted that it was all his fault and told them to throw him overboard and the storm would cease. He was more than willing to die.

With relectance, the sailors threw him overboard and the seas were immediately calm. Which is right about the time Moby Dick (a whale) swallowed him.

Now the sailors thought he'd been eaten by the whale--a tasty snack or something. But Jonah was in the belly of the whale for 3 days and 3 nights. The stomach acid bleached his skin white during that time. When the whale washed up on shore and Noah climbed out through his mouth, he was a sight to see!!! No wonder the people of Ninevah repented! Jonah probably looked like a ghost. But aside from that, God had already laid the groundwork. The hearts of the Ninevites were ripe and ready to repent! And they did!

Did this make Jonah happy? No! He was in Ninevah against his will. God sent him, but Jonah's heart wasn't in it. In fact, he mourned more over a silly plant that barely shielded him from the harsh rays of the run than he did the whole city of people. (Granted, his skin was probably extremely sensitve after being bleached white.) But the point is, the whole city of Ninevah repented and Jonah was depressed over it!

Are you and I like Jonah sometimes. You bet we are. Running from God's perfect will is not an option I choose to exercise--running from God is always disastrous.

If you're running from God right now, stop. Pivot your position! Don't wait for God to get your attention. Expecially when He sends a whale to swallow you up!

Following God's Lead--by Dorothy McCann

2010-01-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. --Psalm 119:105

Last night I was walking through my house and it was pitch black. I could see absolutely nothing. Now, particularly with my “tripping” tendencies, one might think that this would be a rather dangerous task. But, much to my surprise, I never fell. Though “blind," on my walk that night, I have walked around my house so many times that I knew where each piece of furniture was. I knew I needed to watch for my son’s shoes at the end of the stairs. I knew that there was a pillar in the center of the dining room. I didn’t need anyone to lead me through. I walked through the "familiar" without a problem.

This made me start thinking about the old Sunday school illustration of a Christian walking blindly through life with Christ guiding their hands and lighting their footsteps. I realized that although this greatly depicts how we should “walk” through this life, there is another part of the illustration, if we are truly honest with ourselves. Through the familiar parts of our lives, we know (or at least we think we know) all the steps. We have traveled them a hundred times before and we are generally not concerned with tripping or falling in them. It could be a relationship, a job, or family, or a million other “familiar” aspects of human life. We tend only to lean on our Guide when the territory is new or unknown. We are scared that the next step may lead to pain and loss.

However, even within the familiar, there is always a stray shopping bag (work with the metaphor people) or a backpack that could cause us to fall or stumble, even in the environments we feel we know so well. Now, obviously this illustration is used to show how we need Christ in the unfamiliar places where we fear each step we take. But, also, remember that He is also there in the familiar. In fact, He waits to guide you through every aspect of your life. Now, this also means he may wish to lead you from the familiar to the unknown, or simply to guide you past the obstacles you are too over-confident to see. Either way, you don’t have to walk in the dark by yourself. And even if you know the path, isn’t always more comforting to have a friend along for the ride?

God's Top Ten List by Linda P. Kozar

2009-12-30T09:46:00.000-08:00

"Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]."--James 1:17 (Amplified)

The new year looms before us, full of promise, yet laced with hints of world peril and uncertainty. Change seems to be the one element we can all be certain of in life!

But the word "change" evokes visions of fear or favor. Which will it be?

Families change--children grow up and move on to college, careers, marriage and children. Financial situations shift from stable to steep decline to survival mode. Jobs are lost. Relationships turn from hot to cold in an instant. Children rebel. Friends rise up against friends, family members against family members. People who work beside you suddenly work against you. Marriages disintegrate, chipped away by infidelity or abuse. Loved ones are lost through old age, disease or disaster. Church leaders fall into sin and fail to repent. Those you trust are not to be trusted. Selflessness is replaced by selfishness. But change can also be good. Sweetness often ferments from the sourest of circumstances!

There are 50-year wedding anniversaries to be celebrated--young marriages to plan--babies yet to be born--prizes to be won--prayers to be answered--financial blessings to receive--relationships to be mended and reconciled--loves to be rekindled and renewed--kindnesses yet to be bestowed and treasures of the heart to be shared.

But where is God in all of this. . .and where are we?

Believers are not immune from the unpleasant aspects of change. In fact, we are tested by God through them. Faith is not simply a word or concept. Every word of God we say we believe is put to the test! But rest assured, those who live by faith are never alone through their circumstances or difficulties. Our Father is right beside us. He covers us under the shadow of his wings. He guides us through the dark valleys and hard climbs ever upward. He removes obstacles and builds bridges. He gives us hinds feet for the high places and light for our path in the low places. God is our VERY present help in times of trouble. Read the following passage from The Message Bible for further inspiration.

Psalm 46
God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.   

River fountains splash joy, cooling God's city,
this sacred haunt of the Most High
God lives here, the streets are safe,
God at your service from crack of dawn.
Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,
but Earth does anything he says.

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, the
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Attention, all! See the marvels of God,
He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
breaks all the weapons across his knee.
"Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything."

  Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
May you and your family be greatly blessed in 2010--with peace, good health and a holy life before God. May you pass every test by lining up your thoughts, actions and responses to the plumb line of the Word of God! May you love with the purest love of the Father! Be patient, compassionate, caring, faithful, generous, forgiving and pure in thought, deed and motive!
Join me in saying "Amen 2010!"
Now before you leave your computer, I want you to make a list of your top ten prayer requests to intercede for the coming year. Write them down on a piece of paper and slip that piece of paper into your bible so you'll remember to pray each day over them. One of my requests year after year was to be contracted with a publishing house--to become a published author. I crossed that one off in 2008! And year after year, I pray for world peace:) I'm still waiting on that one. . .

Tethered through the storms, but to what?

2009-11-20T10:32:00.000-08:00

Unpacking is not my favorite thing to do. When I moved into the house we are currently in, I am ashamed to admit there were still boxes I had lugged around since I left the house I grew up in. I never opened them, just moved them from dwelling place to dwelling place until finally my husband gave me an ultimatum. It was time to unpack the boxes.

At this point all memory of what was in them had left. To my surprise it was all my school memorabilia: homecoming mums, old notes, yearbooks, awards etc… but deep on the bottom was a little wooden box with a paper bag full of seeds.

I had completely forgotten about them. They came from my boyfriend’s grandmother in North Carolina. On her farm she had a beautiful house where the orchid trees were magnificent unlike anything I had ever seen here in Texas. I saved the seeds that were hanging off of them in hopes to have one of my own someday.

Nineteen years later, here I sit looking out the window at my prized orchid tree. Unfortunately it has just recently blown down onto the neighbor’s fence. This is the second time it has not withstood the winter storms and this will be the second time we will tether it and pull the tree back up to allow its root system to strengthen again.

Looking at that tree made me think about my own life. How strong is our own “root system”? Are we grounded in Christ? Are we rooted in his word? When the bad weather comes do we feel hopelessness and defeat? Do we run to our friends and family or our monetary temporary fixes? I think at times, we all do. But the ultimate fix always goes back to the one who created us. Isn’t it awesome to remember that our Jesus will still pick us up, “tether” us to him and show us how to strengthen our own feet so that each time a storm comes we will grow stronger and more faithful with each trial that blows in?
Today spend some time with Him. Read His word. Just sit and rest in his presence, and when the change in weather comes, he has you covered.

And one more thing…I married the high school boy whose grandmother I visited. It’s a good thing I saved all those boxes, huh? For those of you who know my l7-year-old, DO NOT tell her I went with him and his family on vacation during high school…

Have a great “storm-free” Thanksgiving..
Love you gals,
Dannelle Woody

Confessions of an Angry Christmas Shopper--by Linda Kozar

2009-11-20T06:44:00.000-08:00

The malls are already starting to feel a bit crowded. I wandered aimlessly, wondering what to buy. Teens never like anything I like. The same goes for nieces and nephews. My husband is persnickety to buy for (and yes, I've already tried magazine subscriptions thank you). Early Christmas shoppers pass by smiling smugly as they juggle packages on the way to the car. Well, enjoy the glow of the moment why don't you? I've done the early shopping thing too and guess what? You always, always, always forget something!

It's true. In years past, I thought I could avoid crowded malls and throngs of weary shoppers, but try as I might, there was always one more thing I needed. One crucial gift I had to drag myself to the mall for. One reason I drove up and down parking aisles cruising like a Seregetti lioness on the prowl--all for a spot to rest my weary wheels. One reason I tried in vain to dance my way past strollers and people herds (groups of family members or friends who travel in packs). One reason I stood in long lines to buy, to use the restroom or buy a big greasy pretzel and a coke. TO buy that last gift. The one I forgot. Or the one I didn't anticipate having to buy.

But in spite of all my complaints, there's something else I can't deny. The intangible thing about Christmas shopping is there in the midst of all the aggravation and frustration. The excitment! Yup. There's an electric buzz in the air. A rushing wind of like-mindedness. A shark feeding frenzy kind of feeling. AND sometimes I find myself pausing a moment to sniff the fragrance of Cinnabons in the air, listen to a childen's choir or laugh at a toddler sitting on Santa's lap wondering whether to laugh, cry, pull his beard off or test the efficacy of his diaper.

Okay, so Christmas is fun. Sort of. It's I like singing carols in church. I like the glowy, slightly gawdy look of my home after it's tinselized in seasonal splendor. I love velcro-ing reindeer antlers on my reluctant doggie. . .indulging in candies, dips, breads, eggnog, pies and pastries. . .sharing memories with family, friends and neighbors. . .

Here's a confession I have to make though--I love Jesus all year long, but I'm so glad Christmas is only once a year.

How about YOU? Leave a comment.:)

Answered Prayer--by Jill McKechnie

2009-11-11T07:53:00.000-08:00

Last week, on a run to the local coffee shop, I had a very encouraging encounter. An anwered prayer, really. Hopefully, this story will also encourage you.

As I sat in the coffee shop with my cup of java and a blueberry scone, I was contemplating family life. In other words, "Would it be illegal for me to hit my kids over the head? Could I knock some sense into them? Would that help to turn around their attitudes?

Seriously, though, I had been praying a lot for wisdom to guide them and train them. They had been drilled with scriptures, grown up going to church, and taught the difference between right and wrong. They had both asked Jesus into their hearts and been baptized. Why were they morphing into meanies?

While thinking these not very motherly thoughts, a lovely older woman sat down next to me. We began to chat. It turns out that she had raised three boys of her own down in the big city (Houston proper). She and her husband had just moved north a few months ago, and she was still getting acclimated to finding her way around.

As we delved deeper into our conversation, we started talking about our families, and I expressed my frustration with my kids (both boys), and how I felt I had no idea what I was doing. I had been feeling really discouraged by their rebelliousness, lack of response to their father and me, etc. I'm sure many of you can relate. Well, the Lord answered my prayer through this lovely woman! Let's call her June.

June and her husband had an awful time with their oldest son in high school. He picked up two DUIs and had been in jail. At one of the darkest times she prayed to the Lord, and God answered her prayer. God told her that He was in control, and that He would speak directly to her son. A couple of days later, her son called to say, "I've got to get out of Houston, can you help me?" They contacted a military academy, their son was accepted, and lo and behold, he did turn his life around. When his two younger brothers graduated from high school, the older brother talked them into also attending this academy. The oldest son is now a successful adult, married, with children of his own. When their family was going through such turmoil and anguish as a result of the older son's behavior, June couln't imagine that one day things would be better, and that her son would become a responsible adult.

As June finished her story, I thanked her for encouraging me, leaned back in my chair and thought about what she had said. Worrying and fretting about my boys accomplished nothing but an upset stomach. I needed to remember the One who is really in charge and trust Him. Matthew has a lot to say about worry in chapter 6, but I'll just quote one bit ."Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" Matthew 6:27.

No, they can't. Though we may not have control over our circumstances (or our children!), God is a loving and gracious God. He will not forget us or forget them.

Thank you, Lord for answering my prayer and assuring me that You will always be there to guide my kids, whether I am there or not.

Thoughts on Marriage

2009-10-21T06:41:00.000-07:00

Woohoo--the wedding pictures are coming in!

Wedding Picture From Kate: ((Kate and David Young)

I almost got married in France while studying there in 1986, but 3 weeks before, everyone was afraid of terrorism by Libya. So, I cancelled all our plans and went back to our hometown to a small chapel wedding. My wedding outfit however is from France. My grandma made this small cake for a church reception and then my parents hosted a larger party 2 weeks later after our honeymoon in Hawaii. I hated being the center of attention of even a chapel wedding… I even broke out in hives right before the ceremony all over my back for everyone to see~!

This week I thought it might be interesting to hear from different women about thoughts on marriage--

marriage do's and don'ts
what they've learned from the marriage relationship or experienced through divorce or loss
what works and what doesn't
helpful tips or humorous thoughts:)

So let's hear from you ladies!

(Below: Michael and Linda 1989)

P.S. I'd LOVE to post your wedding pictures!

Peeling off the Layers - By Danielle Francoise

2009-10-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

This past week I spent time in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Now, in Texas the weather is still sweat-inducing, but it’s nothing like that in Colorado right now! My husband and I drove on up to the mountain for the first day of hiking ready to go…camera in hand and jackets zipped up tight. It was certainly chilly (27 degrees at the bottom!) and only colder as we hiked up. We hiked about 4 hours that first day, and stumbled, exhausted into our cabin at the end of it all. I remember thinking about how cold it had been up there at the top, above the tree line. We guessed it had been about 15 degrees with a wind chill even lower than that, not to mention the 45 mph winds whipping at us! We were only protected from the tough elements because we dressed in plenty of warm layers.

This makes me think of the things we use to “protect ourselves” against this world. God recognizes that we will be burdened and try to do this on our own, so he says, “take my yolk upon you and … you will find rest for your souls. For my yolk is easy and my burden is light” (Matt 11:29-30). He goes on to encourage us in Hebrews, “Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”(Heb 12:1)

I want to draw a picture of what that might look like for me. Being surrounded by people of great faith and an awesome Creator, who loves and cherishes me, let me throw off the things that weigh me down. I start by pulling off the façade of perfection I’ve so painstakingly put on the outside…so imperfect when compared to the real perfection of our Lord. Under that I’ve still got layers of weight pulling at me yet. Coming off next, like gloves, are my insecurities about my body and fears of rejection. Pride for anything I think I ever did on my own – it’s not real, and I can toss it off with His help. There’s also the jealousy I’ve carried of things that don’t provide anything real, fleeting pleasures and vain ambitions. Unforgiveness is next; it’s like a hard shell I’ve built up to protect against hurts and pain from people I’ve been vulnerable with.

So many burdens and stumbling blocks to sin that I can look back and see in a pile on the ground as I finally have the energy to run my race with my wonderful Savior. Can you imagine how freeing it can be to give it all to the Lord? To be made free in Him. That’s a beautiful picture.

I could stop there, it could be that easy. But there’s that word “perseverance,” and in the KJV, the word is “patient”. God asks us not to do this just today, no, it’s an everyday exchange. Wow, now this gets a little more intense. Paul tells us in Philippians, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” As an added assurance, God lets us know in Hebrews 4 that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence…” Amen, I think I will! Truly, this is a daily battle and decision for me, but ultimately he is growing and shaping us to be men and women after His own heart.

Precious Jesus, you promise us so many wonderful things and ask only one thing of us…to love you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. I pray that today you be made real in my life by taking on these burdens I carry. I acknowledge that you died on the cross to take my pain and my burdens and be a sin offering. You are so beautiful, and I am so blessed to be made beautiful and whole in you alone. Amen.

What is your need? God Shall Supply It! --by Kate Young

2009-09-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

Reading through John 7 and 8 after listening to today’s message at church, I began to ponder the need for people had to see miracles to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. I began to think well, it was a different time then. They were looking for signs for the one they had been told about who would come. But, no, some were just told second-hand stories and they believed. Just as some of us get today. Some of us ask for our own miracles to believe still today. I have people in my life who did such a thing. Then I began to think back, hmmm, and I cannot remember the moment I first believed. I am sure there was that point in my life, but I must have been younger than my memory goes back for me. It’s like it was always there. We all have different needs in our life and comparing them to others is fruitless, just as comparing where we are in our spiritual walk is dangerous ground as well because then were are apt to start judging, which God says is not our place. I’m just glad that God supplies all our needs, whether it is a miracle we need or not.

Philippians 4:19: "But my God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

How I Met My Jesus--by Linda Kozar

2009-09-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

I didn't believe in Christianity. Twenty-four years ago, (that's me to the left) I was of the opinion that religion was for the ignorant and the weak--not those who were educated and resourceful. So when my little brother came home one day and announced he was "saved" I didn't exactly celebrate. In fact, the rest of the family thought he might need to be deprogrammed from the Cult of Christianity he had obviously become entangled with.

Funny thing though. He was happy. In fact, I had to admit he was happier than I'd ever seen him before. He loved to sit and talk with all of us about his new best friend--Jesus. I listened politely and tried to talk things out logically in the hopes he would "see the light," not of God, but of reason. One Sunday, my sister and I decided to visit his church and check things out for ourselves--sort of a reconnaissance mission. We were nervous and a little scared, which annoyed me. Why should I be frightened of them? I was about to expose their deception. The church was probably after my brother's hard-earned money. Like that movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," they had stolen my real brother, the little brother I'd grown up with and replaced him with pew-jumpin' Howdy Doody. And my big sister sensibilities would never stand for that. Look out church!

Then something strange happened. Sitting there in church during the service. . .I felt something. So did my sister. Like a wind, but there was no wind. A peace warmer than any blanket. An electricity in the air. The presence of love. My sister and I sat in silence through the service. We could not speak--all we could do was feel.

That day, I knew when we left our pews that there was something more to my brother's conversion than smoke and mirrors. There was definitely something more. My sister felt it too.

Months went by. Life began to unravel in half a dozen ways. An eye exam revealed that the pressure in my eyes was high for some reason. The eye doctor was concerned about the possibility of glacoma. That same week, a routine pap smear came back positive and the op/gyn doctor called me in to talk about further tests. Then I was laid off from my job. All in all, not a good week.

I'd come out of a painful separation, had filed for divorce and was trying to make a new life for myself. I'd studied different philosophies and settled on the "we're all one Jung" collective spirit idea. Of course, meditation, reincarnation, new age and many other schools of thought seemed to fit right in. I was trying to use these techniques and beliefs to change my circumstances, help me quit smoking etc. But in the midst of my new crisis, not one of them offered me the comfort or peace I needed. Distraught, I decided to visit my parents and talk to them about it. While I was there I mentioned it to my brother, who to my surprise, immediately began to pray for me!

No one had ever prayed with me over a personal situation before. Sure I'd heard prayers or prayer templates before, but they were all-purpose kinds of prayers people repeated or recited half-heartedly. The prayer my brother prayed was for me and though I didn't believe it would truly do me any good, it somehow made me feel a little better. Before I left, my brother asked me a question. "If there is a heaven and a hell and you died today, where do you think you would go?"

While driving home I tried my best to answer it. Of course, my body would enrich the soil and my soul, mind or whatever you want to call it, would join the collective consciousness. Then, perhaps I would be reborn, incarnated into a different life form. Maybe even an insect. Wow. That was really something to look forward to. I had asked my brother where he thought he was going when he died. "I'll be with Jesus for all eternity, filled with His love--in heaven where there are no shadows, no tears and no more suffering." And he believed it with as strong a conviction as my own. But the truth shouted within me. Those old beliefs were crumbling under the weight of God's truth.

In the car that day, as I pulled into my driveway, I decided that as soon as I went through the door of my apartment, I was going to give Jesus a try. After all, I'd tried everything else! And what comfort had those beliefs brought me? What hope? My brother had told me about the sinner's prayer on more than one occasion and I tried hard to remember the words.

I couldn't wait to turn the key in the lock. As soon as the door shut behind me, I sank to my knees. Not knowing exactly what to say, I decided to talk to him instead. "Jesus, if you're out there and you're real, please hear me. I'm a sinner. . ." As soon as I said the word, I began to cry. "My brother told me that I should confess my sins and repent. So I'm a sinner and I've done a lot of things wrong in my life and I ask your forgiveness. Please, if you are real, please come into my heart right now. Amen"

When I said the final word, "Amen," I felt as though a heavy weight lifted from my body. I like to say it was the shackles of sin that fell off of me, but all I know is that I suddenly felt light as a feather and happy! So very happy! In fact, I was so happy, it took me two weeks to realize I hadn't touched a cigarette. My sister clued me in to it.

"Hey, I noticed you haven't been smoking lately." She'd always hated the smell of nicotine and tried to help me quit. I'd tried many times, but only managed to reduce the amount of cigarettes I smoked. Now I was free in more ways than one. Jesus gave me the free gift of eternal life and a bonus for signing on--he'd delivered me from a nicotine addiction. Just like that! No withdrawals. No cravings. No desire to ever smoke again.

I was set free! Born again! And the Lord healed my eyes. The pressure returned to normal at my next appointment. The next pap smear was perfect. And so was I.

Jesus saves, heals, protects and delivers!

It didn't take me long to dig into the bible my brother gave me to celebrate my new life in Christ. And I started telling everyone about MY new best friend, especially my family. My sister and her boyfriend (who later became her husband) were next to believe, then my mother and my father was last. I have a special story about his salvation testimony and it's in the Babes With A Beatitude book. If you're interested, I hope you'll read the february 14th page.

We began a whole new heritage in the Lord. Our family will never ever be the same. Our family tree is now rooted in Christ. Is yours? If you can relate to even part of what I shared from my testimony, then let me testify to you right now--it's all true! And if Jesus did all this for me, how much more will He do it for you! He loves you. He truly does. I wake up every morning knowing I am loved by God and I lay my head down on my pillow with the same truth. Do you? Well, what are you waiting for?

Note:

What I'm going to say next might sound a bit controversial, so bear with me. Smoking cigarettes isn't going to send anyone to hell. It may send them to their grave prematurely but not to hell. They will definitely SMELL like they've been there though. . .

Personally, I don't think Christians should smoke. It's a bad witness, not God-honoring and it destroys your body made in His image. So there.

Love didn't really trust today - By Danielle Francoise

2009-09-26T22:28:00.000-07:00

I work in retail, and as a result there are always lots of stories to tell about the people I encounter. Tonight, a man came in with his two year-old son to return a defective item. This should have been an easy return, but unfortunately there were some problems, and it was wrapped up in no less than 30 minutes. I could tell that he was frustrated, and knowing that I was doing everything possible, I apologized a few times. Near the end of it all, he asked me if I was a Christian. I nodded and smiled, and replied that yes I am. He eventually went home satisfied with his new purchases and a free coke and I went on my way.

What struck me later is the real story here...When he asked me if I was a Christian, I first wondered if he was trying to finesse or sneak something past me. I immediately assumed he was going to try and use that against me somehow. Maybe I was right, maybe I wasn't. Regardless, I was convicted about it.

I wondered if I was really too quick to assume things, or if it hadn't gone his way if he'd tried something. But really I wondered what my response would've been, had he tried. Was it weakness that made me assume the worst, or is this world so fallen, that even the most perfect love can be used in the wrong way?

In it all, I realize that, no matter what...I am called to love. If that is how the Lord will grow and shape me today, then so be it. Today, God reminded me of the following...

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,

it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,

it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. (1 Cor 8)

We know that God is love, and his name can replace "Love" throughout that familiar passage, but did I let Him live through me in a way today that it could have been my name? Was I patient and kind, not envious or proud? I don't think love trusted today. As simple as it all sounds, it seems the closer I get to Him, the more He challenges me.

I pray that for today and the rest of our tomorrows, we can go out and simply love...and be loved by Him. Let the simplicity of that sink in until it becomes so deep, and so rich, and so wonderful that there's nothing else that matters. I pray that God just blows you away by how much he cares for you. Be blessed!!

Written with Fire--by Danielle

2009-09-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

I had a dream from awhile back I'd like to share...

I am one of the Hollywood A-list crowd. I am a person that people look to for style and fashion tips...they depend on us for our life stories and encouragement. This evening, I was all dressed up and felt beautiful, mingling with the "beautiful people" that are there in LA at a large, hip event. I find myself involved with this crazy group of people, worldly and part of the "in-croud". There's laughter and glamour and splendor... The night goes on and I realize I'm not feeling good about these people, this situation...any of it. Then, it's all over. I suppose it's morning because the sun's out again. I'm walking out and that wild group of people is calling out to me...I look over at all the craziness and really see what it is. Those "beautiful people" had lost their outer appearance of beauty and glamour...It was like the light was revealing their true selves - and it was ugly. My mind got really loud, it was traffic, music and lots of light. I remember thinking, "wow I don't know how I got tangled up with these people..."

All of a sudden...silence and darkness...

Then, a moment later, written with fire across the darkness, I read,

"BUT DO THEY KNOW ME?"

Then I woke up and sat up.

Wow. I had this dream about a year ago and still, it sticks with me. What amazing truth that God speaks through dreams! "But do they know me?"...that's the biggest question of all. I may not be on the Hollywood "A-List", but I definitely have people around me that don't know Christ!

Notes on John--Chapter One

2009-09-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God."--John 1:1-2.

The focus of the Gospel of John is evangelism! In fact, John says it best in chapter 20 ". . .but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name."--John 20:31. Believe and have life! This should be our focus as believers as well--to share the good news with others that they may believe and have eternal life!

Jesus was, is and ever shall be! He created the world, brought life and light to us and was rejected by his own creation.

People always cry for a sign from God in order to believe, but the woman at the well had no such sign--just the words of Christ. In fact, all the Samaritans who heard and believed did so without a sign!

Jesus heals the lame man
Jesus feeds the 5,000 to illustrate He is the Bread of Life
Jesus is the Living Water
Jesus is the Light of the World
Jesus is the Good Shepherd
Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life
Jesus is the King of Kings!

Simon means "unsteady, untrustworthy and not-dependable," but God changed Peter into a stable rock. Jesus changed water into wine and He changes us from creatures judged by the law into sons and daughters of grace.

God reveals Himself to us in time spend alone with Him. Have you spent time alone with Him today?

Some Thoughts on John. . .

2009-09-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

Our Babes Bible Study launched a new semester today in Houston with a study on the Book of John titled, "Forward to Eternity."

Each woman was encouraged to share a favorite scripture from John and its relevance to her life. Click the comment line below to browse their thoughts or leave a comment of your own:)

Here's mine:

"For He whom God sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. . .."--John 3:34.

I really like this scripture because God the Father wants us to live in the fullness of His Spirit. He does not dole out His love or grace in portions or leave us to figure things out for ourselves. He has given us all that we need to live a righteous, fully-committed life--His own Son!

Before I knew Jesus, I always felt alone--even in a crowd of people--I felt there was something missing. But I've never felt alone since--whether I'm around other people or not. I would not trade one moment of my life before Christ for my life now!

Sour Cream/Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

2009-09-05T18:49:00.000-07:00

My Mom-in-law, Marge Kozar gave me this recipe years ago. The whole family love, love, loves it because it's YUMMY. Great with, you guessed it "coffee" or an ice cold glass of milk. Perfect for Bible studies and church gatherings. We enjoy it sometimes at our Babes With A Beatitude Bible Study although some of us feel kind of guilty eating dessert in the morning (just kidding). It's delish--who cares?

Sour Cream/Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

Spray a Bundt pan or glass baking dish with cooking spray. Next, prepare ingredients in 3 different bowls. Bowl Two and Bowl Three are dry ingredients. Blend them together before you begin on Bowl One as you will need to add the mixtures to it.

Bowl One (Batter) Bowl Two (Dry ingred.) Bowl Three (Topping)

1/4 cup butter 2 cups flour 1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup sugar 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 cup chpd pecans

2 eggs 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup sour cream 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 bag chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

If you have an electric mixer, beat the first 2 ingredients in Bowl One on medium speed for 10 minutes (no more, no less--*very important or the cake won't rise properly), and add the sour cream and vanilla right at the end. Then, set the speed on slow and begin adding the dry ingredients from Bowl Two to Bowl One by large spoonfuls until the ingredients of both bowls are fully mixed. The batter will be sticky--which is the consistency you are going for.

Next, if using a Bundt pan, begin to spoon the batter from Bowl One and the dry ingredients from Bowl Three alternately into the pan. Set aside enough of the topping for the very last layer. (If using a glass baking dish, just spread the batter using a spoon or spatula to evenly fill the dish, then sprinkle the topping from Bowl Three on top (my preferred method of baking this cake).

Then, bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Enjoy!

My Little Man is Growing Up--by Jill McKechnie

2009-08-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

School started this week. it's been a bittersweet time for me, with my oldest son beginning junior high. So many memories, long forgotten, have come to mind.

Today, I was listening to the Allman Brothers while I was cleaning. Those songs, though not the most spiritual, nevertheless bring back such memories for me. Memories of a time of emotional highs and lows; everything in life seemed incredibly wonderful, or absolutely tragic. I felt on the cusp of something new and exciting, just waiting for me. Where did those times go?

I remember my first kiss. I was at someone's birthday party, sitting with a boy in my class that I liked. He just reached over and kissed me. Afterwards, I looked around, amazed that no one else had noticed! Rockets had gone off, an orchestra was playing - how could everyone act so normal? I remember my dad picking me up at the end of the party, asking me about how things went, did I enjoy my self, how was it, etc. "What is he talking about?" I thought. "Can't he read my mind and see that I've just had my first real kiss? Good grief!"

Ah, love. Now my oldest son is starting seventh grade. He's on the cusp of something new. Of changes, and thrills, and agonies he only dreamt of before. My heart aches for him already, even though he hasn't yet experienced his first love. All I can do, and it is enough, is pray for him. Pray that he will continue on the straight and narrow; pray that he will find a deeper relationship with Jesus; pray that he will have strength to overcome obstacles that may come his way. Pray that at the right time (when he's about 30), the right one will come along.

A bittersweet time. I'm going to try to savor every moment.

The Little Foxes--by Linda P. Kozar

2009-08-26T18:06:00.001-07:00

Song of Solomon 2:15 (Amplified Bible) My heart was touched and I fervently sang to him my desire] Take for us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards [of our love], for our vineyards are in blossom.

The little foxes do spoil the vine, don't they? Life's little worries are the worst. But Satan attacks most often as a little fox, not as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

Some say problems come in threes, and it is true that little problems seem to come in bundles, but not randomly. These problems come by design. The enemy knows that a barrage of little problems can easily add up to a big problem for YOU. It takes very little time and effort on his part to make a Christian feel overwhelmed. Often, the first thing to go in a situation like that is a believer's prayer life. With the shield of faith down, it is easy for all those fiery darts to wound.

The enemy will often use random people to irritate and upset you. Like the gum chomping girl at the doctor's office who takes forever to check you in because she's too busy texting. Or the busy salesperson who averts his/her eyes from you instead of acknowledging and saying he/she will be right with you. Or the neighbors who borrow your utensils or tools and never return them.

But Satan's favorite tools to use against you are those closest to you. Christians are the most effective tool of all. Your family. Your church. Your friends. A stranger can only hurt you to a limited extent. But someone who is close to you can deliver a mortal blow. Because they are close to you. Because you trust them.

The little foxes merely prepare the way for the final wound. Weakened and wounded, a Christian is an easy target for such an attack. If you cannot trust God for the small problems in life, how then can you expect to trust Him for the big ones?

As to the course of action--that's simple. Whatever your reaction to the annoyance or hurtful situation is, do the opposite!

*Forgive and move on. Go about your Father's business.
*Choose to love instead of hate. Remember that love covers a multitude of sins.
*Laugh! A merry heart doath good! It is medicine to the soul and health to the bones.
*Spend time in your Word. The Word of God (The Bible) is the ultimate weapon against the enemy. And you WILL overcome the enemy only through the Word of God.

Have you ever laid your head on the pillow at night only to hear the annoying buzz of a relentless mosquito? All the thrashing, swatting and grabbing the air in the dark profits you nothing. Even with the light on, a mosquito is sometimes hard to find, but definitely easier to locate than in the dark. Your light is God's Word.

Remember this--the Little Foxes cannot destroy the vine, but they can nip at the fruit. This week, leave a bad taste in the enemy's mouth. Do the opposite of what he expects. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. And send those little foxes packing!

Change, it is a comin'

2009-07-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

How do you feel about change? Is it good, bad or otherwise? Regardless of how we feel about change as individuals, it is a part of life.

Recently, I had a chance to discover this for myself. My mom was visiting earlier this summer, and I realized that she was changing. Not anything catastrophic, just little things. She's a little more forgetful than she used to be, a little more confused. At times, I felt that I was being the parent to her. Mom and I have had our moments of strife and disagreement, but we've always been close. Now I felt our relationship changing a little bit. I wasn't comfortable with this change at all. "Why do I have to act like the parent?" I thought. "She's the parent, not me!"

Role reversals are not comfortable, but then change is often challenging. This summer, I've realized that my life may not look like my mom's. Since I've been a little girl, when I've thought about the future, I always envisioned my life being like my mothers'. I'd get married around twenty-five, have kids in my early thirties, Purchase my dream house around forty, and then my children and grandchildren would flock to our home every year (or every other year) at Christmas. Life would revolve around church, kids, and maybe a few hobbies, like painting.

As I've become older, that dream has started to fade a little, crumble around the edges. Yes, I was married around 25, kids early 30s, but other things haven't worked out exactly as I planned. I finally realized that my life isn't necessarily destined to be a carbon copy of my parents. God may have something completely different in store.

Just last week, I was struggling with changes. Then I remembered 1 Corinthians 13:12 "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." As I turned the pages of my bible, I realized that I HAD been "looking thru a glass darkly". I was so focused on the difficulties of the here and now, that I was completely missing the big picture. So what if my husband and I don't buy a dream house just like my parents? So what if I'm not the amazing artist my mother is. God has a plan for me. His plan is not the same as my mother's or brother's or my friends. So if I see them achieve something that I have dreamed for myself or my children, I don't need to fret, or be jealous. The Lord is a good God. A righteous God. And He cares for us.

What a revelation! It may have been obvious to all of you out there, but I was just realizing, God has a whole plan for our lives.

It's like a beautiful tapestry, where the strands of pain and suffering are woven into the whole. The individual threads may look scrawny and ugly by themselves, but when they are woven into the tapestry they add a depth and beauty that wasn't previously there.

When I look at my current struggles, or my pain,I'm seeing a cloudy image, a confused reflection. At the end of my life, or maybe in heaven, I will see clearly that God had a plan all along.

Join me in praising God for His goodness to us, and that one day we WILL see Him face to face and understand His plan for us.

The Wall of Dead Animals--by Linda Kozar

2009-07-12T12:33:00.000-07:00

One weekend, on the way to Dannelle's parent's church in Victoria, Texas, four of us stopped for a bite at a BBQ place along the way. It looked like a perfectly normal place from the outside, but as soon as we stepped inside, I saw the Wall of Dead Animals!

Talk about an ice-breaker. Although the four of us, Karen Mayer Cunningham, Kate Young, Dannelle Woody and me (Linda Kozar) didn't need an ice breaker, especially with Karen and her jokes (hehe). Anyway, we were sort of whooper-jawed by the sight of so much extreme taxidermy in one room. And later, I got to thinking. . .

Why were we so taken back by the sight of all those dead stuffed animals when there are spiritually dead people who walk among us every day? This may come as a shock to you, but people who don't know the Lord are dead spiritually. We work with them, go to school--our kids are in sports together. They're in our neighborhood, even our church! YOU might even be one of them.

This week, I challenge you to look around at all the people around you who need to hear about Jesus and truly see them. Look beyond the pleasant facades and see the deep need, how they sorrow and struggle, the pain behind the smiles and the loneliness. . . People need Jesus desperately, but don't know Him or don't know anything about Him. Some have never set foot in a church.

Or, take a look at your own life. Have you lived a God-honoring life? Tried different ways to God, or even worshipped different Gods, but have been unfulfilled? You may have tried everything else life has to offer, drugs, alcohol, etc. or every weird and wacky religion out there except for Jesus. You stopped short when it came to Jesus. You tried everything else without blinking an eye. Why?

After you've looked around and seen the need--what next? You tell them. Tell them about Jesus. In a real way. Not a condescending or cliche' way. But real. Friend to friend. Love people like Jesus loves people. Love them enough to care what happens to them. Love them enough to risk rejection or persecution. Love them in spite of what they say. Love them enough to tell the absolute truth--that Jesus is Lord.

Acts 16:31 ". . .Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

Here's a simple sinner's prayer:

Dear Jesus, I need You. I know I'm a sinner. Please forgive me of all my sins against You. I don't want to live for my flesh, I want to live for You. I want to be one of Your saints and for You to write my name in Your Lamb's Book of life. Come into my heart right now Lord Jesus and fill my life with more and more of You. I get off the throne of my life and ask You to sit on that throne instead, where You rightfully belong. Amen.

I want to hear from you! When you lead someone to Christ, I want to do the Snoopy dance with you! So leave a comment please.

If any of you are interested in seeing the wall of dead animals for inspiration, the address is below (and those people cook up some killer BBQ too) Yummers.

Mikesea's BBQ

4225 Hwy. 59 and Blue Creek Road, El Campo, TX

Phone: (979)-543-8252 or 1-800-388-2552

The Loser Cruiser--by Linda Kozar

2009-06-20T21:50:00.001-07:00

When Babes With A Beatitude releases in December, you'll get to read all about my Loser Cruiser! That's a VAN to the uninitiated. A standard Mommy mobile!

Mine is a 2000 Toytota Sienna with lots of mom miles on it. I drove the girls to soccer, basketball, baseball, swim and tennis practices, gymnastics, dance, art and music lessons, movies, the mall and everything in between.

I'm quite certain there are runaway French fries and Cheerios in the dark chasms between the seats. Milkshakes and orange sodas left permanent stains on the carpet. The leather seats are worn and cracked. The door handle on the left passenger side comes right off! There's a picture of me holding it in my hand! Take a gander at that!

Don't get me wrong--I've loved every minute in my loser cruiser, but feel that it's time to think about trading it in. My kids are grown up and I've grown out of the need to drive a van. I'm ready for something sporty, fun and RED! Maybe polka dot! Or Leopard! WOOHOO.

But not quite yet. I'm still teaching my 16 year old to drive. That's where owning a loser cruiser comes in handy!

The thing I love most about my cruiser though are my RAPTURE READY FISH on the back of the VAN. That's right. Like many other Christian families out there, I express my faith to the world by attaching a silver metal fish, one for each member of my family, (the Biggest One represents Jesus) to the rear bumper of my vehicle. HOWEVER, with me, there's always a twist!

I pointed my fish facing upward. WHY? Because they're ready for Jesus to come back and RAPTURE them! Do I hear an AMEN???

So let me know what you think. I hope that many of you will feel inspired enough to slap some RAPTURE READY fish to your vehicle.

WOO HOO! Jesus is coming back!!!

Summer--and the living's easy. . .by Linda Kozar

2009-06-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

When I think of lazy summer days, I can't help remembering many summers past. The sun-washed picture above is from a family vacation a year ago--in Destin, Florida. Michael, the girls and I were on a virtually deserted beach at sunset--like we were the only people in the whole entire world. As the sun began to descend, it embellished everything with a golden glow--a true Midas touch. Even the shells looked glorious!

In the cast of that golden light, I thought about the Lord and how His light changes the way we look at everything. The very moment a person is born again, the world begins to look different and so do we. In fact, nothing will never look the same again. The lens of God's love has a very different focus. When we see people with the love of Christ, compassion wells up inside. When we look upon our Father's world, we see its infinite beauty and complexity.

So today, whether you stand alone upon a windswept beach, upon a majestic mountain with a breathtaking panorama below, or in a lawn chair by a kiddie pool, rejoice in the light of the Lord and in the day He has made for you.

"Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen on you" Isaiah 60:1 KJV

Traveling Thoughts

2009-06-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Last week, my husband and I took a trip to Washington, D.C. There was much to see and do, and we wanted to do it all! We rushed around, trying to take in as many museums, monuments, and special exhibits that we could find. No matter how hard we tried, though, we weren't able to fit everything into the time slot allotted.

On the last day, we had a few hours before heading to the airport. After getting our breakfast coffee and scone, we took a seat in the shop by a big plate glass window. Gazing on the mass of humanity rushing by, we saw many people who seemed on their way to do busy and important things. A jogger, intense in his concentration, shutting out the world with his iphone, and looking only ahead as he focused on his destination. A young businesswoman, her hair perfectly styled, dressed professionally, and having a serious conversation with her male colleague as they were off to solve the world's problems.

And then, we noticed something else. A young family across the street. A mom, dad, and baby in a stroller. They seemed so happy, as they slowly meandered down the road. Looking as if they had nowhere in particular to go, but happy just the same, enjoying just being together on a week-end morning.

I realized we hadn't been much different than all those other bustling, busy Washingtonians. Even though we were on vacation, we were rushing around like the world would come to an end if we didn't see this exhibit, or that monument. When instead, we could have been enjoying the moment. The sun on our faces, the freedom to not have to be anywhere or do anything in particular.

Isn't that what God wants for us? He doesn't speak in the earthquake, but in the still, small voice. He wants us to stop rushing around, be still, and listen to Him.

"Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,

like a weaned child who no longer cries for it's mother's milk.

Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me."

Psalm 131:2

Musings on a Last School Lunch--by Linda Kozar

2009-06-02T05:52:00.000-07:00

At 6:00 this morning as I stumbled out of bed, I realized that today--Tuesday, June 2nd is a milestone. It is the day I make my Senior her very last school lunch. The last day I pack a familiar brown bag with an apple, homemade oatmeal cookies, pretzels, a fruit roll-up and a peanut butter 'n jelly sandwich. . .the culmination of 12 years.

So I sat down to write my daughter a special note. It's not the first time I've tucked a special note into her lunch, but today will be the last. . .

Here it is:

Lunch Bag Blues

Ham, turkey, peanut butter and jelly--even pasta salad I've packed in your lunch,

'Cause I am your mother

And I love you a BUNCH,

Now this is the last one

Enjoy it my honey,

Now you have to go into the world and make money!

(after college, that is),

So when you eat a Hot Pocket

in your messy dorm room,

Think of the lunches I packed for noon,

They were packed with goodies

from below to above,

But the most important part of your lunch

was my love.

Love you forever my honeybunch!

Mom

Am I done with making lunches? No way. I have two more years of lunches to make for my youngest daughter. And I will relish every minute of it!

Pictures From Our Flip Flop Exchange!

2009-05-28T13:24:00.001-07:00

(From Left: Linda, Maria, Dannielle, Margaret, Jill, Beth)
(From Left: Jill and Beth)
Dannelle tries her flops on for size!

Susan! Connie!

2009-05-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

A Flowery flip flop Sonnet

Hello ladies! Our babes group just had our annual flip flop exchange, and it inspired me to write a little something about one of my favorite summer accessories.

I love flip-flops. There's something about them that signals summertime and happy days....the gentle flap, flap of rubber hitting concrete; the fresh air tickling my feet; all those pretty, painted toenails coming out of hiding....kids and adults running screaming from the fire ants (Oops! Sorry, I think that's just in Texas). Ok, even with the fire ants, I STILL love flip flops, so here goes:

How do I love my flip flops, let me count the ways:

I love them in the summer, when my feet are fancy-free;

I love them in the winter, in Houston, you will see;

I love them in the springtime, even in the rain;

I love them in the fall, though the days are on the wane.

I love them when it's sunny, 'cuz my feet get toasty tan.

I love them when it's cloudy, I can still be somewhat glam.

I love them when it's raining, they won't fall all apart.

My flip flops, I love you, you're dear to my heart!

Enjoy!

Our Second-to-Last Study of the Spring Semester!

2009-05-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

(From left top): Beth, Margaret,

(Bottom): Jill, Mensure', Connie, Kate

(Below): Linda in the middle

Our Babes With A Beatitude study last week at Beth's beautiful home. We squeezed in two chapters of Revelation, then adjoured to the dining room to choose scrapbook supplies from a catalogue for a mission friend overseas. She wants to work on card crafts with the local ladies.

We headed out from there to a delicious TexMex lunch at Rico's.#

This past Tuesday, we completed our study of the Book of Revelation. It was an uplifting, utterly amazing year, studying end-time events--one that none of us will ever forget.

Afterward, we exchanged summer flip flops with one another. Hopefully, some of the Babes who took foot pictures will post them! C'mon ladies!

Then we went to lunch at Buca d'Pepo's and since there were ten of us--were able to sit in the Pope room! There's just nothing like a poly-resin image of the pope encased in plexyglass resting atop a lazy susan, to ramp up the excitement over lunch. . .hehe

Our immediate goal was not to eat--but to make our solemn waiter crack a smile! We were about to say grace when the young man came into the room and asked if we needed anything else. Dannelle, a mischievous twinkle in her eye, asked him, "Wanna say grace?" To our surprise, he immediately agreed and a small smile lit up his face. Turns out he was a devout young Christian who happened to be in a serious mood that day. From that point on though, he smiled A LOT!

Keep visiting the Babes Blog and Web Site! We'll get those pictures up soon!

Blessings--Linda

Confessions of a (Mostly) Happy Childhood

2009-05-22T06:45:00.000-07:00

What are you thankful for from your childhood? Think back, on things big or little, and ponder how God was with you as a child, shepherding you, and nurturing you, with his loving care.

Growing up in a lovely, old neighborhood in a mid-size town in Oklahoma, I had a childhood pretty much like many other Americans. Dinner at the same time every night, regardless of whether we were hungry or not, watching Carol Burnett and Bob Newhart on TV on Saturday nights, playing on the "jungle-gym" in an elementary school yard.

I certainly had nothing to complain of, well-fed and clothed.....except for one thing. I lived on a dead-end street where there were no other children to play with. Because there weren't any other kids around, I learned how to entertain myself. I played with all the neighbors' dogs that I could, and if the grown-ups were outside working in the garden I'd pester them to death until they let me join in their activities.

One neighbor, in particular, was very accomodating. She and her husband allowed me to have free reign in her backyard, which was wonderful. They had a double lot, with the back part being a wide open field. Her property was filled with unusual trees, shrubs, and flowers, a perfect setting for a magic kingdom. Of course this made for endless possibilities for my imagination. I spent many hours being a fairy princess reigning over her subjects: all the plants, and animals, especially the dogs!

The most wondrous thing about this particular neighbor, however, was the basement in her house. It was filled with childrens' books, old hand puppets, and all kinds of tchotchkes to catch the interest of a nine year old girl. I spent hours down there in the summer, soaking up the stories in the books, from Russian fairy tales to "How to take care of your Pomeranian."

Most of the time, I was a regular kid, just trying to get through school, (and figure out how to get out of my chores!) Not much power over her life. But at my neighbors' house I was transformed into Wendy or Dorothy or whoever I wanted to be. Those childhood experiences have shaped me in ways I never imagined. Today, I still love to read and escape from the humdrum of life by writing and reading.

What about you? Do you have a special place or memory of your childhood? Even in the most difficult times the Lord will provide a light for us. What did He provide for you? Remember and be thankful to him. God can use our experiences, no matter what they are, to grow and mature us to be more like Him.

Ode to Little Debbie Spinwheels--By Jill McKechnie

2009-05-14T06:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know this isn't exactly a devotional, but with summer coming up, and childhood memories returning, I thought, why not?

Little Debbie Spinwheels, your looks are so fine,

When I hold you in my hand, I feel so divine,

your dough is exquisite, your flavor so tasty,

Brown sugar & cinnamon so crunchy and flaky;

Little Debbie Spinwheels I'm glad you are mine,

I savor every bite when I'm in a bind;

your middle, how gooey, your color, how pretty

Peeling away your goodness makes me quite dizzy

Little Debbie I've loved you since I was a kid,

But if I gain weight, from you I'll be hid!

ANNUAL FLIP FLOP EXCHANGE!

2009-05-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Babes,

Before our spring Bible study on the Book of Revelation ends this month, we're going to have a Flip Flop Exchange Lunch!

Email your shoe size to me privately and on Tuesday, May 26th we'll have lunch after our last meeting and exchange our flip flops. Last year we waited till August to exchange them, but it makes more sense to exchange them now, as summer is almost upon us.

SO email those shoe sizes to me ASAP and I will jumble them all up and assign you someone to buy for.

Blessings--

Linda

Looking to the past, as we prepare for the future

2009-05-07T11:26:00.000-07:00

Back in 1992, my grandmother had recently died, and I took a week off from work to spend time with family, especially my granddad. I think the passing of his wife had got him to thinking of times past, so on Memorial Day week-end, we took a literal trip down memory lane. Mom and I drove to central Oklahoma, and met my granddad. It was a precious time, visiting his former home, driving by the fields of broom corn where he had toiled to earn extra money, and visiting the cemetery where his grandparents were buried. He told us many stories of his growing-up years, but one in particular stood out.

My grandfather and his sister walked to school every day, about two to three miles both ways. One winter day they set off for school, just as usual, coats buttoned up, lunch pails in hand. It started snowing and became colder and colder.

Granddad's father realized that conditions were becoming dangerous, and set out to look for his children. He found them crying and frightened, standing in the snow because they couldn't go any further.

That story really touched me. How a loving father, concerned for his children, comes to their rescue. Isn't that what God does for us? He will not abandon us. In these challenging, difficult times, we need to remember that when we feel we can't go on any longer, the Lord will be there. He will help us and take care of us.

Hebrews 13:5b,6 "...because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'"

Graduation Blues!

2009-04-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

To all the moms who have seniors graduating this spring, my heart goes out to you! Here's a picture of mine!