Heaven? Hell?

The distance between heaven and hell is less than two feet.

The difference between heaven and hell is just one bowed knee.

A Few More Things I've Learned From A Two-Year-Old

The Dance of the Dandelions

Don’t you just hate ‘em?  

Those dandelions I mean.  

Here in the Great Inland Northwest where we are presently hanging out, dandelions are cursed by all the natives.  Landscapers will inspect your yard and quickly point out any dandelions encroaching on the lawn.  It’s like there is nothing worse in the world than the Curse of the Dandelions.  Their encroachment into any part of your lawn is to be avoided, fought and no expense is spared to destroy these invaders.

We moved into our present home in January. No dandelions, just lots of snow.  When spring finally did decide to make an appearance here, we had dandelions popping up all over the place. They practically covered the yard. 

All adults said bad things about our dandelions. Kaitlyn and Kyra did the dandelion dance. They loved having so many flowers that they could pick. Micah saw his sisters picking flowers and he joined in with them.  All three were exclaiming how great it was to have the lovely yellow flowers in our yard.

Perspective you see.

The world saw a yellow menace; our grandchildren saw a reason to dance.

God tells us over and over in His Word that we are to look at things differently from the world.  We are to act, talk, walk, act and react differently so that others will see Jesus in our lives. If we see things the way the world sees them, how are we any different? How will that attract people to us to ask “Why aren’t you cursing the dandelions?”

Join with our grandchildren in the Dance of the Dandelions and make people wonder about you. 

Fight The Good Fight

Fight The Good Fight of Faith*

When you fight the good fight

struggling to make it right

and all the world stands against you

Is there a place for these warriors so few

Where the rewards are displayed

Where the world stands amazed?

You were not born to it

You were not given it

The victories came with a fight

Standing, saying ‘this is right’

while others mocked and railed against you

Yet, you stood as one of the warriors few

*I Timothy 6:12

A Few More Things I've Learned From A Two-Year-Old

The Power of 'No'

No is a very valuable word.  Two year olds use it a lot. I would have to say that ‘no’ appears to be Kyra’s favorite word.

I often admonish her for saying ‘no’ so much.

However, there just may be some really good reasoning behind it. 

How much do two-year-olds understand when someone tells them something or asks them a question?

If you don’t understand what is being asked of you, or what is expected of you, isn’t it better to say ‘no’ than to readily agree to something?

Pretty smart I think, to say ‘no’ in many instances.

As those same two-year-olds move into the teen years, have we so drilled into them the importance of responding in a positive way, ‘yes’  that they all too readily agree to things their peers try to pressure them into?  There are many times during those years that a very strong ‘no’ is the proper answer.

Our Heavenly Father tells us ‘no’ and He has very good reasons even though we often do not see the reasons.  Just maybe the God of the Universe has installed in small children the ‘no’ word for His purposes. 

There are things of this world constantly trying to entice us into the sludge of sin. We have to say ‘no’ from the beginning or we will find ourselves sliding into that pit of sin. 

The temptations abound.  In this world you will have trials and temptations, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. [John 16:33] That’s Jesus talking. He always knows what He is talking about.  When Jesus began His ministry, He began by saying ‘no’. The devil tempted Him with some powerful things, but He said ‘no’ and He said it quickly. 

Let your yes be yes and your no no. [Matt 5:7]  Do not be double minded. A double minded man is unstable in all that he does. [James 1:8]

And now - some good news for you

The Norwegian Curlers are back - the excitement builds

http://www.chron.com/life/style/fashion/article/Norwegian-curlers-are-back-and-so-are-their-pants-5172842.php?cmpid=lifestylehcat

Alone Yet Not Alone

Am I An Old Wine Skin?

I'm looking for that new wine but wondering if I'm not getting filled with the new wine because I'm an old wineskin.
Perhaps I should have entitled this Looking For the New Wine.

Now, I know some of you are thinking, 'well at your age, of course you're an old wineskin.  You're an old everything.'

That's your opinion.

I don't perceive this as having anything to do with the physical.  It is the nature of my spirit being and where I am in my relationship with the Holy Spirit.
I do believe that the Holy Spirit can and will fill me with new wine when I have a new wineskin.
The question that needs answering is 'How do I become a new wineskin?'

Again I think it is all wrapped up in my relationship with the Holy Spirit. He makes me into a new wineskin and He then fills me with the new wine.  Had he poured the new wine into the present wineskin, that is not ready to receive new wine, it would cause me to burst wide open.  Not sure what that means in the spiritual realm but it can't be a good thing.

In order to become a new wineskin I have to move beyond where I am at present. I feel like I may have developed patterns that are bordering on 'being religious'.  And you all know how Jesus felt about the religious types.  I don't want to fall into that category.