When I think of a Father, I obviously think of my dad! He isn't perfect because none of us are, but in my opinion, he's pretty close! I'm so thankful that God allowed me to be born to him! My dad loves God, loves my mom & loves my brother & me! He also now loves my hubby & my kids.
Here are some of the things I love about my dad:
1. He loves the Lord!! And that Love shines throughout his life. My dad loves to read the Bible, sing about God & tell others about what God has done for him and can do for them. Without my dad, I wouldn't have learned about Jesus & trusted HIM as my Savior!
2. He loves my mom! I remember when I was growing up, seeing my parents holding hands or kissing. They love being together. I used to think it strange when a lot of other adult couples I knew, didn't seem to want to be together. My dad always made sure that we respected my mom.
3. He loves others! My dad loves to help others. A fond memory of mine is when I went with my dad to deliver food to a co-worker of dad's who was going through a rough time. We took sacks of food & milk and placed it on their front porch. Then we knocked on the door & ran. From down the block, we watched them open the door to find the food. It was such a cool memory! Dad has a large garden that he grows lots of veggies in. Then he just gives them away. He keeps much of his friends & family in zucchini, tomatoes, corn & potatoes as well as other veggies.
4. He loves missionaries! My dad was mission Treasure at our church when I was growing up & we had lots of different missionaries stay with us over the years. I got to firsthand hear about some of the miracles God has worked on the mission field! Now my dad (& Mom) support lots of missionaries. And my dad has gotten to serve as a missionary. He has went to Africa, Brazil & other countries as well as serving here in America. He uses his telephone splicing & repair skills to put phones in mission hospitals, schools, churches & camps!
So these are just a few things I love about my dad!
I love you Dad! I'm so thankful that God made you my dad! Thank you for being my dad!!
Love, your daughter!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
What if I really had the Joy of the Lord?
This past Sunday, we had the Mwangaza Children's Choir (http://www.mwangazachoir.org/) at our church. Watching these children dance & sing for the Lord really made me stop & think! "What if I really had the Joy of the Lord in my life?" What if I woke up eager to tell others about my Savior? What if I was always ready to sing & dance to the Lord?
Sadly, most of the time I don't. Many days I spend my time selfishly thinking of me & my own problems. Many days I just plod through my day with no joy, no worship, just sadness & apathy. I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't live out my faith. I don't put my Savior first. Why? Partly because I get caught up in the world & all that living here in America offers. Partly because I'm selfish & I think of myself & what I can do or what I have or don't have. Partly because I don't truly trust my Savior for life! I don't ask Him to fill me with His Joy. I don't let Him! I let the worthless concerns of everyday life drag me down. I let the pain overwhelm me. I let the frustration get to me. I DON'T filter life through God's Grace! I don't see this world & my life through God's Eyes!
What would my life look like if everyday I woke up & said "My Savior died for me! Oh what Grace!", "My Savior takes care of me. He guides me & shepherds me" & "Do you know my Savior?" What if I woke up everyday & really praised God for my life, my family, my salvation? What if I strived every day to put God first & truly Worship Him? What if I spent more time with God? What if I memorized more of His Word? What if I really loved Him the way He loves me?
I can't comprehend how my life would change... But will I do these things? or will I let the apathy & cares of this world pull me down?
Lord, Change me! Fill me with Your Joy! Let me be a Shining Light for You! Shine in me! Change me, because I can't change myself!
Sadly, most of the time I don't. Many days I spend my time selfishly thinking of me & my own problems. Many days I just plod through my day with no joy, no worship, just sadness & apathy. I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't live out my faith. I don't put my Savior first. Why? Partly because I get caught up in the world & all that living here in America offers. Partly because I'm selfish & I think of myself & what I can do or what I have or don't have. Partly because I don't truly trust my Savior for life! I don't ask Him to fill me with His Joy. I don't let Him! I let the worthless concerns of everyday life drag me down. I let the pain overwhelm me. I let the frustration get to me. I DON'T filter life through God's Grace! I don't see this world & my life through God's Eyes!
What would my life look like if everyday I woke up & said "My Savior died for me! Oh what Grace!", "My Savior takes care of me. He guides me & shepherds me" & "Do you know my Savior?" What if I woke up everyday & really praised God for my life, my family, my salvation? What if I strived every day to put God first & truly Worship Him? What if I spent more time with God? What if I memorized more of His Word? What if I really loved Him the way He loves me?
I can't comprehend how my life would change... But will I do these things? or will I let the apathy & cares of this world pull me down?
Lord, Change me! Fill me with Your Joy! Let me be a Shining Light for You! Shine in me! Change me, because I can't change myself!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Memorial Day Rant
Yesterday day was Memorial Day. It's a day to remember those who died in War. It's a tradition started after the Civil War and continued to this day. I'm so thankful for all the soldiers who have fought to keep our country free for everyone!
War is not nice, it's not pretty, it's not something we want to see happen. BUT it does happen in this fallen world because people are sinful & full of pride! When someone wants to take power & use it for their own elevation & domination, then wars happen. I'm thankful for the men & women who have heard the call for people to stop injustice and to preserve freedom! When they make that choice, they give their all! Their heart, their souls & many times their lives. For that, we remember & honor them.
I'm proud to have a long heritage of brave patriots in my family. Many of my relatives fought in the civil war to help bring freedom to ALL in America! I know some fought in WWI & WWII & Korea. I'm so proud of my dad who went to Vietnam as a newlywed. I'm so thankful for the chaplain who led him to the Lord & set him on the right path. I'm so thankful to God for protecting my dad and bringing him home as many didn't come home!
No matter the reason for the war, when our country called, brave men & women have stood up & said yes! I'm thankful for them all! I'm also thankful for those soldiers who have served during peacetime. Thanks to our strong military, many wars have been avoided in the past! Our soldiers have given their time, their strength, their lives to protect those of us who appreciate them & even for those who "hate" them. Without our soldiers, those in our country & many of those in our world would not be free & would not be able to say & do the things they want. Many of our soldiers died so people could have the right to say they hate our soldiers, they hate our freedom, they hate our American way of life! I just can't comprehend how people in this world can not see that if it wasn't for the American Soldier fighting bad guys, much of the world would be imprisoned or slaves! And even in war, Americans are compassionate. Every city we've ever fought in or bombed, we have rebuilt!! No other country in the world does that!!! And many times, the rebuilding process has cost more soldiers their lives!!!!
So, to those who have served or are serving in the greatest military in the world, I humbly thank you!! Without you, I would not be free to say what I want, do what I want & worship God in freedom! For those of you who knock the American soldier & the American way of life, PLEASE look at history & realize you wouldn't be free to knock us if it wasn't for us fighting so you could have the freedom to do so!! I love America! I'm proud to say I'm an American! We aren't perfect, but we believe in Freedom! Do you??
War is not nice, it's not pretty, it's not something we want to see happen. BUT it does happen in this fallen world because people are sinful & full of pride! When someone wants to take power & use it for their own elevation & domination, then wars happen. I'm thankful for the men & women who have heard the call for people to stop injustice and to preserve freedom! When they make that choice, they give their all! Their heart, their souls & many times their lives. For that, we remember & honor them.
I'm proud to have a long heritage of brave patriots in my family. Many of my relatives fought in the civil war to help bring freedom to ALL in America! I know some fought in WWI & WWII & Korea. I'm so proud of my dad who went to Vietnam as a newlywed. I'm so thankful for the chaplain who led him to the Lord & set him on the right path. I'm so thankful to God for protecting my dad and bringing him home as many didn't come home!
No matter the reason for the war, when our country called, brave men & women have stood up & said yes! I'm thankful for them all! I'm also thankful for those soldiers who have served during peacetime. Thanks to our strong military, many wars have been avoided in the past! Our soldiers have given their time, their strength, their lives to protect those of us who appreciate them & even for those who "hate" them. Without our soldiers, those in our country & many of those in our world would not be free & would not be able to say & do the things they want. Many of our soldiers died so people could have the right to say they hate our soldiers, they hate our freedom, they hate our American way of life! I just can't comprehend how people in this world can not see that if it wasn't for the American Soldier fighting bad guys, much of the world would be imprisoned or slaves! And even in war, Americans are compassionate. Every city we've ever fought in or bombed, we have rebuilt!! No other country in the world does that!!! And many times, the rebuilding process has cost more soldiers their lives!!!!
So, to those who have served or are serving in the greatest military in the world, I humbly thank you!! Without you, I would not be free to say what I want, do what I want & worship God in freedom! For those of you who knock the American soldier & the American way of life, PLEASE look at history & realize you wouldn't be free to knock us if it wasn't for us fighting so you could have the freedom to do so!! I love America! I'm proud to say I'm an American! We aren't perfect, but we believe in Freedom! Do you??
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)