I have not been here lately. It could be that I am not very good at this blogging business because I really don't have all that much to say! I used to love to write, but anymore I just find that I am a "cut to the chase" sort of person. This is not a trait that will help me develop into the next great author. One of my very first report cards came with a note from my teacher - something to the effect of "I admire her sticktuitiveness". Seriously. I'm pretty sure she made that word up. I guess that means "she may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but she hangs in there, God love her". I remember that my parents seemed pleased with the report, so I was fine with it, too. The point is - I will draw on my vast reservoir of "sticktuitiveness" and continue with this blog.

I do want to update you, that as far as I know, Kerlinda and her family are fine in Haiti. I have been very impressed with the World Vision organization in that there have been several telephone calls to keep me updated. They indicated that most of the sponsored children lived outside of Port-au-Prince and it was believed that none were injured. The last call I received was to say that I would be notified if there was any news to the contrary. This tells me two things - that Kerlinda must be fine AND that World Vision is on top of the situation!

I am sure you join me in continued prayer for the people of Haiti. Personally, I believe that this will turn into a Joseph moment. I mean that even this horrible situation can be turned into good for the survivors, if only by virtue of the fact that the world notices Haiti now! The poverty there has been beyond horrible for years and not much went on to change it. We don't understand why this devastation had to occur. We never understand why bad things happen to innocent people - but it does - everyday, somewhere. All we can do is pray for those who have been affected and, if we are able, to donate money to organizations who are in a position to help. Maybe we can't directly do anything for Haiti, but while we are all in a benevolent frame of mind, can't we now look around in our "own backyards" and see ways we can help our neighbors? It would be a really good thing to keep this going!

Meanwhile, I know this:

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (New International Version)
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

Please pray for the people of Haiti! I have been there and the poverty was really unbelievable. This earthquake will be devastating to those people. Please also pray for our little sponsored child, Kerlinda Aneus. She lives there with her mother and five brothers and sisters and she just celebrated her ninth birthday in November. There is no way I can find out about whether she and her family were injured. All I can do is pray for them - I ask you to do the same.

This is one of those things I just don't understand, but I will continue to trust in the Lord to work it out as He sees fit.

I like the following poem by Horatius Bonar:

O love of God, how strong and true,
Eternal and yet ever new,
Uncomprehended and unbought,
Beyond all knowledge and all thought.

O heavenly love, how precious still!
In days of weariness and ill,
In nights of pain and helplessness,
To heal, to comfort, and to bless.

O love of God, our shield and stay
Through all the perils of our way;
Eternal love, in thee we rest,
Forever safe, forever blest.

I also like the following from a devotion by Paul B. Maves:

"The New Testament does not have an explanation for suffering. It only proclaims that God is in charge of His world and that a time will come when all suffering will cease, all tears will be dried, and all sorrow swallowed up in laughter. Then all things will be made clear, and the balances of justice will be redressed. God wills our salvation and our fulfillment, not our suffering or our destruction. God wills healing, not hurt. God wills eternal life, not death".

So, here's the thing: "The minute hand of the famous Doomsday Clock is set to move this Thursday". This is part of an opening sentence of an article in the news today. Okay, first of all, the Doomsday Clock can't be too famous because I have never heard of it and I keep up with these things! Seriously. For those of you who are as out of the loop on this one as I am - The Doomsday Clock debuted in 1947 during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. It is housed at the Bulletin of Atomic Sciences offices in Chicago. "They" change the clock, either forward or backward in response to changing world events and the prospect of nuclear war.

I won't bore you with all the details, but the clock has been changed 18 times - back and forth. This time it has been decided that it will be moved in response to "international negotiations on nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, expansion of civilian nuclear power, the possibilities of nuclear terrorism , and climate change". I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm getting a bad feeling about this! The whole going forward or backward thing is a big secret, but we can all tune in and watch online at 10:00 a.m. EST on January 14th.

I'm fairly sure that I will be busy then. It's pretty bad when somebody decides we need a clock to keep up with when the world will end based on "how things are going"! This all started in 1947 - the year before I was born. I guess if I had known all that, I might have passed on the whole being born part. Way too scary!

Good thing for me, I have a God who is in control, no matter what the Doomsday Clock says. I realize that our world is in chaos. I know that some maniac could push a button and take us all out at any time. BUT, I also believe that no clock is going to tell me when that might happen and all I need to do is to trust in God to see me through in the process. I sleep well at night because I know He's got my back! I also know this:


Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (NIV)

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (NKJV)

Hebrews 13:5-6 For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (NKJV)

So, here's the thing: I don't feel like ranting today. Oh, please understand that there are many things in the news today that we could discuss. If I wanted to, I could get all righteous about any number of things. I'll get to that another time. Today I would rather just say how thankful I am!

I am sitting in my home office typing on my very nice computer. There are pictures and mementos around me of just a few of the fantastic places I have visited over the years. Photos of my family line the shelves. Steps away is my kitchen with a pantry and refrigerator both full of food. Then there are the closets full of clothes, shoes and coats. I look out my window and see a few snowflakes falling - it's going down to 18 degrees tonight! It is really warm and cozy in here. I could go on, but you get the picture!

There are homeless people "out there" and they are not all bums, winos and drug addicts. People just like me have lost their jobs and their homes this past year. There are families with little children who are staying in a shelter tonight if they are lucky to find one with room for them. They could all benefit from a kind word, a hot meal, a warm coat. Who knows what seed one of us might plant in their hearts with what we do or say. I fed some of the first group every Friday for a long time. I gave up because I wore out and I didn't think they appreciated it anymore. I wonder if any of them remember sometimes. I hope it did some good. God bless 'em!

And, thank you, Lord, for your provision! I am so grateful.

'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and

you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me,

I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer

him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give

you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you

in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in

prison and to go visit you?

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the

least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

MATTHEW 25:35-40

So, here's the thing: What is wrong with people - our society? There is more buzz and outrage about the news personality suggesting a conversion to Christianity for a certain pro golfer than the CNN ban against the potty-mouthed comedian who dropped the f-bomb on New Years Eve! I don't get it. Have folks become so inundated with smut on television and in other media that they just don't notice the difference? The newsman is a devout Christian, he was asked his opinion and gave it. Who he is and what he believes was reflected in his response - and rightly so. This is wrong? Seriously? I don't think so. Our values are supposed to be revealed through our behavior, aren't they? That's how I was raised, anyway. I know, I know, news people are supposed to be objective. I think objectivity and "political correctness" will be our downfall if we don't watch it. How does that song go - "if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything".

Maybe there are more people who think the way I do than I know about. I have noticed that nobody is paying me/us to get on television to talk about what we think is right or wrong. I believe it might be time to start speaking up. I have read that there are movements afoot against politics and big business. How about the National Christian Values Society. Sign me up!

Thanks for your gracious comments and input, Tom. As always, you are all invited to respond if you feel comfortable doing so! Meanwhile, I know this:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those

who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

So, here's the thing: I couldn't sleep last night, so I was scrolling through the channels and happened upon an interesting program. Everyone knows of the perpetually happy preacher with the mega church in Texas. I don't generally watch, but I had seen all the episodes of House Hunters and Golden Girls! Anyhow, the premise of the program was that if we want something badly enough and visualize it, then we'll get it! Awesome. To quote another television personality - how's that working for ya? Seriously, I do understand the concept and I can even think back to times in my life when I have dreamed of something and then years later realized that it happened for me. BUT, what about the big, bad, crummy things? What about disease and accidents. Are the folks who suffer from them supposed to feel like they didn't get their happy ending because they maybe didn't want it enough, or visualize it right?

I don't get it. I want to understand and I do believe in miracles. My faith is still strong. I just have questions - we all do. Maybe we won't get the answers until we can ask them face to face. I'll have a long list. I am not being glib and I absolutely mean no disrespect. I might never have some of the answers, but by then I'll bet I'm so content I just won't care!! It just gets hard sometimes to understand and not be upset about it "in the now".

I would like to hear your thoughts - if you feel comfortable with sharing them. I do know this:

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain

of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

So, here's the thing: I realize that this blog should have been named "For Heaven's Sake", but I typed it wrong and now I can't figure out how to change it! The story of my life......... For now, I'll just leave it and on the outside chance that anyone actually reads this - maybe you can tell me what to do.

As far as I am concerned, everything we are, do, say, and don't say is for heaven's sake! That is the reason for creating this blog. I have vowed this year to be more authentic. Part of that process is being true to who I am and what I believe. I hope not to step on toes or rile anybody up, but if I do - oh, well. It's just me being me and saying my piece. I invite the rest of you to join in. Let's talk about what we believe, think, doubt, hope. Feel free to express your opinion. The only thing I ask is that you show some respect for the feelings of others. Oh, and no bad language, please - not necessary!

I certainly hope that 2010 will be a better year than the last one! I know it was just our collective comeuppance, but I think a good many folks suffered for the sins of a few! The greed of the last decade was bound to catch up to us, afterall. I could have been a better steward - I SHOULD have been a better steward. If given another shot at it, I certainly will be in the future!

That's all for now. Let me know what you think. Meanwhile remember the following:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you

and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call

upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me

and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:11-13