My Fathers Eyes By Eric Clapton

Speaking about Rock N' Roll

Sailing down behind the sun,Waiting for my prince to come.Praying for the healing rainTo restore my soul again.Just a toerag on the run.How did I get here?What have I done?When will all my hopes arise?How will I know him?When I look in my father's eyes.My father's eyes.When I look in my father's eyes.My father's eyes.Then the light begins to shineAnd I hear those ancient lullabies.And as I watch this seedling grow,Feel my heart start to overflow.Where do I find the words to say?How do I teach him?What do we play?Bit by bit, I've realizedThat's when I need them,That's when I need my father's eyes.My father's eyes.That's when I need my father's eyes.My father's eyes.Then the jagged edge appearsThrough the distant clouds of tears.I'm like a bridge that was washed away;My foundations were made of clay.As my soul slides down to die.How could I lose him?What did I try?Bit by bit, I've realizedThat he was here with me;I looked into my father's eyes.My father's eyes.I looked into my father's eyes.My father's eyes.My father's eyes.My father's eyes.I looked into my father's eyes.My father's eyes.

Spring Cleaning A Different Way

I am enjoying getting our closets decluttered(again) It feels so good to have things orderly and functional. It makes things easier to keep up and much more pleasant to be living in. I have enjoyed a break through as well in the" how to handle others clutter" situation. I am one of those people who feels like there is a big grey cloud hanging over my head when I am in undone stuff. I understand that there are many people who find that extra stuff lying around is not an issue for them in the least. In our family there are some of both types- the "clutter affected people" and the "clutter non affected people". Well it has been interesting as I have been able to gain some positive forward momentum yet again. Years ago I would get all upset and try to fight for things to be a certain way. Then I got to the point that I chose the people in my life over the state the house was in. This is fine if I was not so affected by the clutter. The dangerous part of this way of coping is if I am stuffing down my emotions and feeling helpless to create positive change in an area of life that is upsetting for me. Yes the state of the house is not more important to me than the people in my life but it dose affect me especially over years and years of clutter. Emotion stuffed down and feeling helpless can lead to despair and depression which can be just as damaging to the relationships in our lives as fighting and anger can. Both ways separate us from the kind of relationships Christ Jesus calls us to live in. So this time I am taking all the built up clutter that others are not ready to go through yet and they do not want me to do it for them and I am packing it all up and putting it all in one room in the basement. This way I do not have to see it every time I open a closet. It allows for more functional living space on the main and up stairs and I am not stepping over someone elses' boundaries or need to handle or not handle things in a different manner. It is not the perfect solution but it is an improvement and the respect of all individuals in our home is kept intact without me living in a state of despair that things are not being looked after. So I guess this non perfect solution turns out to be more perfect than what I think would be far more effective way of handling clutter. Too cool. I love it. But if you come over and closets are cluttered again please realize I am learning in baby steps and we are a big family. But we love each other and we are growing in Christ bit by bit.

Them Bones Them Bones Them Dry Bones They're The Working Of The Lord

God grabbed me. God's Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun.
He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
I said, "Master God, only you know that."
He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones: 'Dry bones, listen to the Message of God!'"
God, the Master, told the dry bones, "Watch this: I'm bringing the breath of life to you and you'll come to life. I'll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You'll come alive and you'll realize that I am God!"
I prophesied just as I'd been commanded. As I prophesied, there was a sound and, oh, rustling! The bones moved and came together, bone to bone. I kept watching. Sinews formed, then muscles on the bones, then skin stretched over them. But they had no breath in them.
He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, 'God, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies. Breathe life!'"
So I prophesied, just as he commanded me. The breath entered them and they came alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army.
Then God said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they're saying: 'Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there's nothing left of us.'
"Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, 'God, the Master, says: I'll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! Then I'll take you straight to the land of Israel. When I dig up graves and bring you out as my people, you'll realize that I am God. I'll breathe my life into you and you'll live. Then I'll lead you straight back to your land and you'll realize that I am God. I've said it and I'll do it. God's Decree.'"
Ezekiel 37:1-14 (The Message)

Isn't this Scripture verse amazing! What a miracle. Can you imagine being the one who was privileged to experience this. Right before your very eyes these old dried up bones come back to life. I love this. I can relate to this. Every time Jesus helps me overcome a block in my life- an area that I kept getting stuck and then I am able to move forward makes me feel like my old bones are coming to life. Can anyone else relate to this? Wow Christ is eternal life and He is real life here on earth as well. The Living Word (the Scriptures put into action through our lives) is such a precious gift. Thank you Jesus.

Real Or Memorex?

original picture

photo edited picture

Well what in the world are we looking at? My son (14) altered this picture in a few minutes with our old computer. Where is our reality check if all we see are altered images of people. It is no wonder how north american culture can get so "caught up" in looks. My heart fears for the generations to come for I think it is only going to get harder to differentiate between reality and fantasy as time and technology advance. Oh Lord Jesus protect us, guide us, and give us eyes to see true beauty. Let our hearts and minds discern between Truth and fiction. Mostly Lord let our lives and the lives of our children stay fixed on your beauty and purpose. Forever and ever I pray this in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen. (PS note- in the "unaltered" picture I am wearing make-up so even that is not necessarily reality)

Unwanted Images

So there I was today at lunch checking my e-mails and all of a sudden these naked men images pop up on my screen! I hadn't even touched any buttons. I was in the middle of typing out a comment to a friend and I then flash. As soon as I realized what I was looking at I got to that red X to cancelled as fast as I could but it only took that few seconds for the images to register into my mind. I feel invaded. I did not ask for that nor was I looking for it yet wham there it was.

Something like this has only happened to me once before and it was years ago at the library computer. I was trying to get to Blues Clues (the little blue dog for kids-you know with Steve) well I didn't know that it was Nick Jr. and I just looked for blues clues and let me tell you it was not a little blue dog! and my young son was on my knee and baby Jacob in my arms and I was at the library-ugh!

It is amazing at how much beauty there is to share on the Internet and then what ugliness can be found in the same means of communication. But then again I guess it depends on what we define beauty as. To me beauty is in the learning to share our lives in a Christ like manner. Seeing people grow and heal and be set free is so beautiful and it has nothing to do with an image but everything to do with living life under the blessings and protection that Christ intends for our lives-for His beautiful children.

Anyways, has anyone else had some repulsive images pop up in their face while on the computer? I know that I am an extra sensative person. Many people would not be fazed in the least I guess.

Happy Anniversary-Birthday

Today is Rick and my 15th wedding anniversary and our daughters 12th birthday. Wow, so much has happened in those years and yet they have gone by so quickly. Elisha was born on our 3rd wedding anniversary and it was Easter Sunday morning. There we were in our tiny one bedroom basement apartment me in labour and little Jordan hunting for Easter eggs. I was thankful for the distraction for Jordan because as you women know labour is a bit of work and takes quite a lot of concentration and the mid wives just made it on time-phew. That was a very special day for sure.

Thank you God for our lives together. You are sanctifying us more and more each day, each year. Thank you for the gift of time and I pray me and my family use our time as You would have us live it.

Happy Anniversary Rick. I Love You! Happy Birthday Elisha. I Love You!

A Quote

"I discovered that as I began to love people and care for people and become more involved with people, I had more joy, more tears, more laughter, more meaning, and far greater fun than I ever had before" by author Reuben Welch

Amen and Amen to that, eh?

Yey I'm Getting It - Now HELP

As I was getting the little ones to sleep tonight I was reflecting on further reading in Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel and a new revelation came to me-Hallelujah.

I see how the areas of my life where I am not walking fully under God's eternal Truths my family and I suffer. Let me try to explain what I mean by this. The times I fall short in giving my husband the respect and affection he needs we both suffer. The times he is unable to help me with the things that are important to me we both suffer. Now we are committed to each other and are doing the best we can for now but every time we do our relationship our way when that is different than God's Truths we hurt. And not only we suffer but this has an impact on all aspects of our lives. So we hold fast to each other because we do love each other and are in our marriage until death do us part. But we are not realizing all the blessings and protection that God has for us. We have blocked it even though it is right there waiting for us. It makes us have to work harder to fight the lies of this world from getting between us. It makes it harder to extend Grace to each other as well because the lies are just sitting there trying to get in and shadow God's Truth.

So the thing that came to me was that this will also happen if I do not find out how to teach, guide and train our children in God's Truths as well as showing them Grace. They too will not get the full blessings and protection that comes from God's eternal Truths. They too may settle for less than God would have for them. NO WAY HO SAY! I claim in the name of Christ Jesus it stops here.

So Lord thank you for this fresh revelation and now I pray for Holy Spirit to guide me in every moment of my day and in all of my interactions so I can start to walk this realization out in our everyday lives. Lord I do not have a clue how to do this in my own strength so please send Your Wisdom and Knowledge to me so I may be a blessing to this Life You have blessed me with and a blessing to my family and those in my sphere of influence. Please show me how Holy Spirit-I need You! Thank You, thank You, thank You and Amen.

Grace Based Parenting Dr. Tim Kimmel

I know I was not going to share my parenting reading due to the fact that it can be an upsetting topic for people but I am enjoying this book we have been lent and I just wanted to share a bit of my experience so far. I am about half way through. It is called Grace Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel. I am thankful for this book and any Christ like learning that comes my way. There is so much learning and growth to accomplish.

I like this book because it talks about Grace and Truth existing as one in Christ. I have so struggled with how to show Grace but teach my children what is good for them (right from wrong) I find I have sacrificed their training because I have not known that Grace and Truth can only exist together. When they are separated they disintegrate into something not of Christ. Something hurtful and damaging to Life.

I am thankful for the progress that I am making even though I know there is much more God wants me to aspire to. Some books and Holy Spirit's convictions can be difficult and often painful because when I am ignorant of my wrong doings my Spirit may know somewhere deep inside I feel things are not right but I don't know what it is. Once Holy Spirit convicts me or I learn through Scripture or a Christ like teaching what I am doing wrong it is right there in my face and I can see the damage it is causing and that hurts a lot. But I am thankful that I can learn and move out of the things that are hurting me and my family even though the process can be uncomfortable to say the least. I am thankful for the growing pains because it gives me hope that I am not staying as I was but moving forward into greater Life.

So I am enjoying this book and I look forward to learning much and being able to help my children be all God wants them to be.

Oh Happy Day!

Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. John 20:11-12 (NIV)

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." John 20:21-23 (NIV)

Though the doors were locked( I remember when my heart was locked even though I was crying out to God for help in my way--but I remember Jesus came right through that locked door even when I didn't have the keys*), Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:26-31 (NIV)

Oh Happy Day indeed! You know I really do not understand this precious Christ Love! It is so profoundly beautiful. His Love shines where there continues to be darkness. His Love allows my heart to overflow with Joy when some situations in life are not as they should be. When I see my short comings and there painful consequences on those precious people in my life. The times I fail to reach out in affection to my husband, the times I get caught up in my emotions and needs instead of being fully present in a Christ like-Life giving way to my family and people in my sphere of influence, the times I let my frustration of undone stuff come between me and God's Ways and Truths for our lives, the times I let my fears rule my behaviours and choices instead of His Living Word and on and on I could go.

I know this Christ Love is the Love that sustains those people who are holding their starving or dying children in their arms and still be able to Trust in God and His unfailing Love He has for them and their children. I know this is the Christ Love that has given us Life even after death. I cannot explain or comprehend His Agape (unconditional) Love for us but I am so thankful for it. I am so thankful that He has filled my hopeless heart to overflowing with hope even when I am faced with hopelessness. That is so amazingly wow! Thank you Christ Jesus for sacrificing your sinless Life for a humanity who can slip into wallowing in our sin without Your guidance and protection. Thank you for Your ultimate gift of eternal Life and Your amazing grace. Thank you for the empty tomb that is the hope for us all. Thank you for sending us Holy Spirit to help lift us upward to what you have for our lives and not leaving us in the depths we can dig ourselves into. Oh precious God how Holy you are.

Oh Happy day indeed. Happy Easter to you all. Christ Love to you all.

*light pink writing in the Scripture quotes my thinking.