Soap Box Time: Be Warned!!

I am not a huge "duggar fan" they are too legalistic for me. However, I am sad for them and any family in this type of public situation. But what I feel worse about is seeing how many mean and judgmental Christ followers are being towards them. I expect that from people who don't realize the forgiveness of sins, but we are called to be Christ-like we need to be more loving with our words and actions. 

To cast judgement is just downright silly and people are sounding terribly ignorant. You do not even know the whole story – you just took what the media has present and have run with it.  They do not owe you an explanation of how they handled the situation, or what took place...it’s NONE of your business!

One comment was, “I would not have married him if he had confessed that to me!”  AWESOME, that's terrible!!! Let’s create a community where we lie, never bear each other’s burdens, and stuff our sins away so they eat at us and come out in other ways instead of dealing with them in a healthy manner.  Let's teach people it’s not okay to have problems and work through them, let's not teach the Lord is all about forgiveness...I mean since you are so perfect and all!

Seriously, don’t be so hypocritical and self-righteous; each person has sin in their lives, how would you like yours set out for public ridicule and scorn?!

Where is the love????  The Lord commands us to be discerning and to speak the truth in love, to do whatever is good. Butsplashing hateful things on Facebook?...SMH!

It is really not about the Duggars…I have no idea all that has transpired…but what I see here on FB leads to me ask….

Is it TRUE?  Is it HELPFUL? It is KIND? Is it NECESSARY? 

#haveyouprayedforthemtoday? #ifnothenshutup! #ifyesthenshutupandprayagain

Response to critics....

 1) I trust and value your input! I agree too...yet it's less about the Duggars and the situation and more about forgiveness and acceptance of others...love. Besides, if people don't like them and think they are judgmental why stoop to level that you see and abhor in others? So silly to me. I certainly don't condone them...but I still want to leave room for grace and understanding....for anyone.

2) I do not know enough about it to cast judgement on their actions......its not about the Duggars. Yet I feel terrible for any victim of sexual crimes - it's incredibly violating to the whole being.

3) I don't answer for them, just me. (But I don't agree with them either)! 

4) I'm educated, I know the statistics! It's not about that, people! It's about how mean people are being, but take it as you may.

5) I certainly do not agree with the Duggars stand on many things, I hope that's loud and clear! Sexual crimes should never be covered or left to go without a proper course of tx.....but it really was not about that. It was about stepping back and removing our own planks.  I'm not offended btw, but I'm smarter than I look, lol! 😜😘

6) You reminded me of these verses: Galatians 6:1-10Living Bible (TLB)

6 Dear brothers, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help him back onto the right path, remembering that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong. 2 Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command. 3 If anyone thinks he is too great to stoop to this, he is fooling himself. He is really a nobody.

4 Let everyone be sure that he is doing his very best, for then he will have the personal satisfaction of work well done and won’t need to compare himself with someone else. 5 Each of us must bear some faults and burdens of his own. For none of us is perfect!

6 Those who are taught the Word of God should help their teachers by paying them.

7 Don’t be misled; remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it: a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows! 8 If he sows to please his own wrong desires, he will be planting seeds of evil and he will surely reap a harvest of spiritual decay and death; but if he plants the good things of the Spirit, he will reap the everlasting life that the Holy Spirit gives him. 9 And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up. 10 That’s why whenever we can we should always be kind to everyone, and especially to our Christian brothers.

Addendum:  sites to check out: they said it better than myself! 

http://blogs.christianpost.com/wretched/the-duggar-disaster-25658/

http://www.sgberman.com/2015/05/21/to-those-celebrating-josh-duggars-fall-congratulations-you-still-lose/

Color blind...

I don't want to be colorblind in that we don't celebrate the uniqueness of others, but in that we are all the same in God's eyes!

Trading Cards

The cards I made for the February Trading Card exchange. 

Mother's Day

It's odd. I'm kind of a mother, but not really... I'm so exhausted emotionally that sometimes I feel like a poor one, at best...so it's hard to celebrate Mother's Day! 

I know many will argue that I am a mother and I know I'm one, kind-of...but it only feels like a sort-of mother, or an aunt, or stepmother maybe, I'm taking the place of someone else who should be here...and my job is to pick up broken pieces and try to put them together without all the right tools and without the pieces always wanting to fit together. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to do it...try to make a difference...but it doesn't make me want to celebrate motherhood, for myself, right now! You don't have to understand it, you're not in my shoes, and that's okay.

Last year was fun, we were just getting the boys and it was all so surreal and new. I was sure to be so cautious so as not to take the place of their mother or cause them sorrow...but they were really excited...it was nice! My first Mother's Day! 

This year, I'd rather the day just pass nicely, to have a good day without tantrums, arguments, lies, etc...and without me being homesick for my mom and grieving other loses.

It's not that I feel depressed or woe is me, it just the reality of how I feel, and it's okay!

So, I happily celebrate for my mother and for my friends. 

For my friends who struggle on Mother's Day, here's to you too...in some ways, I've been there...I know it's not easy. I love you!!!

Deep thoughts about lines

Today in the cafeteria I was so annoyed. People didn't seem to know how to form a line or stay in line or notice that there was, indeed, a line!!  I was thinking to myself "oh come on people it's called a line, we learn to make them in Kindergarten and have used then almost daily ever since!" But I just smiled and practiced patience!

Then at the dinner table I asked Daniel if they played outside today for recess. He said, "No, we spent our recess practicing how to make a line and stay in line!" 

I was instantly drawn back to the morning cafeteria experience. Perhaps people never really learned how to stay in lines...maybe they needed more practice too....is there remedial line training...or maybe they have PTSD from spending recess time forming and standing in lines????

 #deepthoughtsaboutlines

Yes, No, Wait: He answers EVERY prayer!

I believe in God, I believe in the power of prayer!! Sometimes I hear people say, "God answered my prayer."  I think to myself, "well, of course He did; He answers every prayer!" 

I believe God answers EVERY prayer. But not always exactly as WE think He should! Thankfully so, since He sees and knows the bigger picture! 

I think of answers to prayer as a stop light.

Sometimes you pray for a specific thing, and it's "GREEN." Yes, it's a go, just like you prayed. Other times it's "RED." God saying, No, this is not my best for you, or the situation. Other times it's "YELLOW" and this is when God has us wait for His best. 

Red and Yellow, or NO and WAIT, often frustrates us because we don't understand His plan or we think we know, better than He does, what should happen.

Yes, No, and Wait, are ALL answers to prayer and we must learn to trust that He is sovereign, His ways are perfect. The one who created the world loves you more than you can imagine, and He wants the very best for you! 

BTW, As you pray for God's will and pray for His best for you, keep moving forward while asking for His guidance and direction, He will lead! Don't sit back and wait - keep going, keep trusting. Proverbs 3:5-6 "...He will direct your path..." That indicates forward action, not "I'll just wait here Lord, you bring the (acceptance letter, spouse, job, money, cure, whatever...) to me. No way, Buddy, get up and do what you can while praying and trusting God to guide and direct.

Additionally, know God, spend time with him through prayer and The Word, your prayers will change as His desires become your desires and His thoughts your thoughts. 

There is so much to say on this topic, but that's what He laid on my heart just now so will will leave it at this...

His ways are higher. He can be trusted. He answers every prayer!

The amount of food on your plate does not reflect the amount of love I have for you!

Not to names names, but a couple kids in our house have some food issues. One way we work on this is that every night when we serve them dinner we say, "the amount of food on your plate does not reflect how much I love you."

 At first it went unheeded. Then "why do you always say that?" "I say that," I said, "because if I happen to put three meatballs on your plate and four on your brother's you feel like I like him more than I like you." Right off the cuff they denied it, but then it sunk in and they realized it was true. 

So, every meal, same saying. The weeks passed and it got old and they got annoyed and would say it before I could say it. "We know, we know, the amount of food you put on our plates does not reflect how much you love us! When are you going to stop saying that?" I said, "when I'm convinced that you truly believe it,"

Well, tonight I made the "Shamrock floats" and gave them to the boys and one had a little more soda that the other. One boy said, "hey, I think he has more"...then laughed sheepishly knowing how silly he sounded.

I replied in a matter of fact tone, "I know! It's because I like him better!"

"No you don't!!!" came a fast reply, "you love us both the same!"

"Yup, I sure do! Now, drink up" 

🍀🍀 #theirishdonthavealltheluck 🍀🍀