Week2week's Weblog

week2week — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:23:58 +0000

My Father…

Loves me… John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Cares for me… Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Forgives me… Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Is compassionate... Psalm 103:4-5 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Is giving… Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Is understanding… Psalm 139:1-2 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

Is accepting… Psalm 139:1-6 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Satisfies… Psalm 107:9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Persistently persues me… Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

is Reason… Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Pardons… Psalm 103:3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

Heals… Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Redeems… Job 19:25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

is Loving-kindness… Psalm 86:15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Renews… Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Is Righteous… Jeremiah 9:23-24 This is what the Lord says “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

Is Gracious… Ephesians 1:7-8 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the richesof God’s grace ⁸that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,

Is Sovereign… Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

Betrayed, Crucified, Resurrected – Victorious

week2week — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 02:17:47 +0000

Isaiah 53

³He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ⁴Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ⁵But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. ⁶All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Matthew 27, 28

Betrayed by one of His own

Beaten

Mocked

Crown of thorns

Scarlet robe

Spit on

The nails

Three hours of darkness – the wrath of God

Forsaken

Earth quaked

Veil rent

“It is finished”

Tomb procured

Body prepared

Sepulchre sealed

Stone rolled

Guards in place

The earth quaked

Angel declared

“He is not here, He is risen”

The Magnolias

week2week — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:51:11 +0000

(this story is from an email I received)

I was getting ready for my daughter Patsy’s June wedding which was taking place in a church about forty miles away. I felt loaded with responsibilities as I watched my budget dwindle. So many details, so many bills, and so little time.

My son Jack said he would walk his younger sister down the aisle, taking the place of his dad who had died a few years before. He teased Patsy, saying he’d wanted to give her away since she was about three years old!

To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green leaves would make beautiful arrangements against the rich dark wood inside the church.

The big day arrived – the busiest day of my life – and while her bridesmaids helped Patsy to dress, her fiance Tim walked with me to the sanctuary to do a final check.

When we opened the door and felt a rush of hot air, I almost fainted; and then I saw them – all the beautiful white flowers were black. Funeral black. An electrical storm during the night had knocked out the airconditioning system, and on that hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died.

I panicked, knowing I didn’t have time to drive back to our hometown, gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding and I certainly didn’t have extra money to buy a new set from the florist in town.

Tim turned to me. ‘Edna, can you get more flowers? I’ll throw away these dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements.’

I mumbled, ‘Sure,’ as he be-bopped down the hall to put on his cuff links.

Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in the arched ceiling.

‘Lord,’ I prayed, ‘please help me. I don’t know anyone in this town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers – in a hurry!’

I scurried out praying for the blessing of white magnolias.

As I left the church, I saw magnolia trees in the distance. I approached a house…No dog in sight.. Knocked on the door and an older man answered. So far so good. No shotgun.

When I stated my plea the man beamed, ‘I’d be happy to!’

He climbed a stepladder and cut large boughs and handed them down to me. Minutes later, as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk, I said, ‘Sir, you’ve made the mother of a bride happy today.’

No, Ma’am,’ he said. ‘You don’t understand what’s happening here.’

‘What?’ I asked.

‘You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday. On Tuesday, I received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday… He paused. I saw tears welling up in his eyes.

‘On Wednesday I buried her.’ He looked away. ‘On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went back home, and on Friday – yesterday – my children left.’

I nodded. ‘This morning,’ he continued, ‘I was sitting in my den crying out loud. I miss her so much. For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse, she needed me. But now nobody needs me.

‘This morning I cried, ‘Who needs an eighty-six-year-old worn-out man? Nobody!’ I began to cry louder. ‘Nobody needs me!’

About that time, you knocked, and said, ‘Sir, I need you.’

I stood with my mouth open. He asked, ‘Are you an angel? I assured him I was no angel.

He smiled. ‘Do you know what I was thinking when I handed you those magnolias?’

‘No.’

‘I decided I’m needed. My flowers are needed. Why, I might have a flower ministry! I could give them to everyone! Some caskets at the funeral home have no flowers. People need flowers at times like that and I have lots of them. They’re all over the backyard! I can give them to hospitals, churches – all sorts of places.

‘You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to serve the Lord until the day He calls me home!’

I drove back to the church, filled with wonder. On Patsy’s wedding day, if anyone had asked me to encourage someone who was hurting, I would have said, ‘Forget it! It’s my only daughter’s wedding, for goodness’ sake! There is no way I can minister to anyone today.’

But God found a way. Through dead flowers.

‘Life is not the way it’s supposed to be. It’s the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.’

Whoosh! Time Flies – Almost 1 Year Already!

week2week — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:34:08 +0000

Is it possible? Almost a whole year has gone by already – my beautiful, precious grandson is almost ONE!

I didn’t “get it” that whole “Grandma” thing. I heard about it, I was warned that it was a feeling like no other, the love you have for your grandchild…NOW I get it!

I love this little boy so very much. There aren’t adequate words to describe how much I love him.

He is…….

Adorable

Precious

Captivating

Beautiful

Sweet

and so much more.

I can’t believe how quickly this year has gone – he is walking and communicating – not exactly talking but he gets his point across. He is so much fun and I just love him so much.

Please let the next year go by slower!

Mothers

week2week — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:09:19 +0000

MOTHERS

Real Mothers don’t eat quiche;
They don’t have time to make it.
Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.
Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough
Doesn’t come out of carpets.
Real Mothers don’t want to know what
The vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask ‘Why me?’
And get their answer when a little
Voice says, ‘Because I love you best.’
Real Mothers know that a child’s growth
Is not measured by height or years or grade…
It is marked by the progression of Mummy to Mum to Mother…

The Images of Mother
4 YEARS OF AGE – My Mummy can do anything!
8 YEARS OF AGE – My Mum knows a lot! A whole lot!
12 YEARS OF AGE – My Mother doesn’t know everything!
14 YEARS OF AGE – My Mother? She wouldn’t have a clue.
.
16 YEARS OF AGE – Mother? She’s so five minutes ago.
18 YEARS OF AGE – That old woman? She’s way out of date!
25 YEARS OF AGE – Well, she might know a little bit about it!
35 YEARS OF AGE – Before we decide, let’s get Mum’s opinion.
45 YEARS OF AGE – Wonder what Mum would have thought about it?
65 YEARS OF AGE – Wish I could talk it over with Mum.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries,
or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she
Shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

Where were you when the world stopped turning? 9/11/01

week2week — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:11:43 +0000

Remembering Tuesday, September 11, 2001

2,993 people, including the hijackers, died in the attacks

Early on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, nineteen highjackers took control of four commercial airliners en route to San Francisco and Los Angeles from Boston, Newark, and Washington, DC. At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 was crashed into the World Trade Center’s North Tower, followed by United Airlines Flight 175 which hit the South Tower at 9:03 a.m. Another group of hijackers flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. A fourth flight, United Airlines Flight 93, whose ultimate target was thought to be either the United States Capitol or White House, crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m, after the passengers on board engaged in a fight with the hijackers.

The south tower (2 WTC) fell at approximately 9:59 a.m., after burning for 56 minutes in a fire caused by the impact of United Airlines Flight 175. The north tower (1 WTC) collapsed at 10:28 a.m., after burning for approximately 102 minutes.

The United States and even the world have not been the same since the terrorist attacks on Sept.11/01, it was a day that many will never forget,nor should we.

God Bless all of the families of those who lost their lives that day.

What do you see?

week2week — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:23:08 +0000

What do you see?

What do you see nurses? . . . .. . What do you see?
What are you thinking . .. … . . when you’re looking at me?
A crabby old man . .. . .. . not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food . . . . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . ‘I do wish you’d try!’
Who seems not to notice ….. .. . .. . the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not .. . . . . lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to fill?
Is that what you’re thinking? . .. . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . you’re not looking at me..

I’ll tell you who I am. . . .. . . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . as I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of Ten . . .. …. . with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . .. who love one another.

A young boy of Sixteen . . . . with wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now . . . . . a lover he’ll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . .. …. . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . .. And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . .. . With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons . . . . . have grown and are gone,
But my woman’s beside me . . . .. . to see I don’t mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play ’round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . .. My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . . my wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . .. . . . young of their own.
And I think of the years …. . . . . and the love that I’ve known.

I’m now an old man . . . … … and nature is cruel.
‘Tis jest to make old age . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . . where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . . . . . a young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I’m loving and living . . . .. . life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . .. . . . gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . .. . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . … . . open and see.
Not a crabby old man . .. . Look closer . . . see ME!!

There is a story that goes with this poem that has circulated via email, the story is fiction but the sentiments in the poem are all too real….that makes this “story” worth sharing in my humble opinion. Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there too!

Please help Somalia – Feed the Need

week2week — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 17:07:44 +0000

Twelve million people are being crushed by a famine made even more fierce by the worst drought in 60 years

Ever use the term “I’m starving to death?” Most of us have and yet most of us have NO IDEA what it means to starve to death.

This is what it looks like!

Famine-hit Somalia is facing a cholera epidemic amid poor sanitary conditions, World Health Organization officials say.

The suffering is compounded by the constant violence and strife in the region.

The United Nations estimates 30,000 people have died, and many more are at risk.

More than half the children in Somalia are malnourished, and one in three could die.

Money raised will provide food, water, shelter and medicine.

Americans are donating the most to help ease the suffering. The United States has given $580 million in aid this year. Britain comes second, contributing $205 million so far, while Saudi Arabia is the largest Muslim donor with $60 million.

The government of Canada has pledged $72 million in support funding for the region this year, apart from the current fundraising drive.

To make a contribution, visit:

humanitariancoalition.ca

redcross.ca

unicef.ca

worldvision.ca

Book Review…”Double-Wide”

week2week — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:13:27 +0000

Will Jesus Buy Me A Double-Wide? (Cause I Need More Room For My Plasma TV)

A Zondervan Book by: Karen Spears Zacharias

“Author Karen Spears Zacharias believes Christians have been paying good money for a false doctrine—the Cash and
Cadillac Gospel.” (credit: Zondervan synopsis)

Intriguing title isn’t it? In “Double-Wide” Karen shares 19 stories from “The Evangelist” to “The Mogul” to “The Entrepreneur” and several others along the way, illustrating with laughter and tears the message that a relationship with God is not about (or should not be) what He can do for us, how He can prosper us and bestow His favor on us.

What is the prosperity gospel? It has been called the “name it and claim it” gospel, “gospel of success” – the “Cash and Cadillac Gospel” and so on. It is the “good news” that God wants believers to be materially wealthy. Dr. Robert Tilton is a well-known proponent of the prosperity gospel – according to his website “All of the books Dr. Tilton’s has written inspire the reader to Expect Greater Things from God.” A common message amongst the prosperity preachers is giving. They encourage their followers to give generously, which is all well and good, but the motive for giving generously is that God gives back more in return and then this leads to a cycle of ever-increasing prosperity. That is about the gist of it – it is all about you and you gaining wealth and prosperity because, you know, you deserve it! The thing is, it is these “evangelists” who are becoming wealthy on that money people are sending in to God.

Some details from Zondervan’s website on this book:

Description:
What does it really mean to be blessed by God?

With Southern charm and razor-sharp wit in Will Jesus Buy Me a Double-Wide?, author Karen Spears Zacharias shows how the “prosperity” gospel has led us astray from true Christianity and helped create people and churches focused on greed.

Zacharias unpacks story after story of families and individuals using the name of God as a means to living their own “good life.” You’ll hear shocking tales of those who exploit the gospel for their own gain, and mega-evangelists who live in million-dollar mansions with children groomed from the cradle to sell the message of Christ while their parents rake in the cash. Discover churches that have modeled themselves on Wall Street and unbridled materialism, and see what is happening to them now. Is this the good life?

You’ll also meet some unlikely folks who live with genuine biblical integrity. People who know that God is more than some cosmic genie who gives them an easy life, a fat bank account, and a second home in an exotic location.

Come discover stories about authentic Christianity and the true “good life” in Will Jesus Buy Me a Double-Wide?

From the book jacket:

“We have this notion that God owes us better than we’ve gotten.”

“We treat God like a slot machine, yanking on the prayer cable, hoping that the triple 7′s will appear.” writes Karen Spears Zacharias

Endorsements:

“Behind this satirical title lies a book filled with insight and wisdom. Karen Spears Zacharias provides parables of people who confront their faith with truth and grit. It’s an honest and timely read.” Michael Morris, author of Slow Way Home

“An honest, raw account of some who use God for their purposes and some who seek to follow God to use them – a huge difference!”
Rev. Dr. Layne E. Smith, senior pastor, Viewmont Baptist Church, Hickory, North Carolina

You can also read Karen’s blog at: http://www.patheos.com/community/karenspearszacharias/

I enjoyed reading “Double-Wide” and regularly enjoy reading Karen’s blog. Looking for a copy of “Where is Your Jesus Now? Examining How Fear Erodes Our Faith” and “After the Flag Has Been Folded.” I cannot find any bookstore or Christian bookstore selling “Where is Your Jesus Now?” – maybe I’ll find a resale copy at Amazon?

Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

week2week — Sun, 01 May 2011 22:47:37 +0000

Please pray for these adventurous young ladies as they embark on a life changing trip to Zambia.

This is Erika’s request:

We want to thank you all for your prayers, and ask you to continue to pray as we leave TODAY and begin this incredible journey God has given us the opportunity to experience! We love and will miss you all; please know that you are in our prayers as well. May God bless you and keep you ♥

“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”" - Mark 16:15

These three young Christian women have decided to spend the next (almost) 7 weeks of their lives working at Sakeji Mission School in north western Zambia. Erika has just finished year 2 of university in her pursuit of a teaching career. Erika is my cousin’s daughter and the other girls are her friends from university.

Please pray for their safety as they travel and for their time in Zambia, serving the Lord.

This photo was taken on July 15, 2007 in North-Western, ZM

Please click here to read about their adventures in Zambia on their own blog “Voices of the Faithful”