I'm Ticked!

I am. I'm ticked tonight.

I'm ticked about several things.

1. I'm ticked about a person in my life who claims to know and love the Lord Jesus Christ, who is actively engaged in an adulterous affair, and shows no sign of repentance.

2. I'm ticked than sin affects relationships that are precious to me, and that because of it, fellowship with people that I love has been broken.

3. I'm ticked that every time I turn around, my beloved Pastor and his wife, a friend whom I dearly cherish, are being assaulted by health issues.

4. I'm ticked that churches in America have chosen not to go deep in God's Word, in the hope of reaching the many with milk, instead of feeding the sheep with meat.

5. I'm ticked that a tv preacher has convinced my friends that they can have their best lives now, when Jesus says that all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

6. I'm ticked that Stellan is in the hospital, and that his family is having to go through the heartache of not knowing what will happen, one day from the next.

7. I'm ticked that my President is making such poor, unGodly decisions.

8. I'm ticked that my husband has been putting in such long hours at work.

9. I'm ticked that I'd be ticked about that, when so many don't have a job.

10. I'm ticked that everytime I turn around, this stinking sinus infection returns!

11. I'm ticked that even though I'm on the "Do Not Call" list, and even though I've called the company and asked them to stop with the phone calls, I still get at least 4 offers a week from the SAME COMPANY to clean my carpets!

12. I'm ticked that my dog finds this the perfect opportunity to come into my office and pass gas!

13. I'm ticked that my house never looks completely put together. It's the nature of homeschooling, I'm afraid, but I'm still ticked about it.

14. I'm REALLY ticked about all the dust in AZ, and am SICK of breathing it in.

15. I'm ticked that my 10 year anniversary is coming up, and it doesn't look like we'll be having any sort of time away together. I'm saddened about that, more than anything.

16. I'm ticked, and more than anything, I want to go bang a tennis ball against the backboard to work out some aggression...but I can't because my husband is still at work.

17. I'm ticked that on nights like tonight, when escaping into a good movie would be a great sedative, it's almost impossible to find a good one that's not in black and white!

18. I'm ticked that someone is trying to manipulate their way into my childrens' lives, all the while completely disregarding the decisions that Shane and I have made for them.

So, what did I learn from the Word today?

I didn't spend any time in it today...can you tell?

Would you Die for Christ?

I am reposting this from January 2008. I read it tonight, and was amazed by how the Lord ministered to my heart, through something He led me to write over a year ago.

I pray it will minister to yours, too.

In His Great Love,

Jes

Would you agree to die for Christ?

What I learned from the Word tonight impacted me so much that I couldn't fall asleep, and just had to get out of bed and write about it.

The book of John opens, in verse 1:35-42 with the calling of Peter. It's at this point that Peter realizes that Jesus is the promised Messiah of Israel, and chooses to do as Jesus says, "Follow Me".
Jhn 1:35 
Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,
Jhn 1:36 
and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
Jhn 1:37 
The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
Jhn 1:38 
And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?"
Jhn 1:39 
He *said to them, "Come, and you will see." So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
Jhn 1:40 
One of the two who heard John {speak} and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
Jhn 1:41 
He *found first his own brother Simon and *said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which translated means Christ).
Jhn 1:42 
He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter). 

What Jesus was doing by changing Peter's name from Cephas, was making a covenant with him. In a covenant, one party agrees to live and die for the other party. So, Peter was making this agreement to live for Jesus, and die for him if necessary. Jesus was doing the same.

Yet, as we know, Peter wasn't perfect. His humanity failed him over and over again, even though I believe his heart wanted to follow Christ faithfully. It's just my opinion based upon Scripture, but I believe Peter was not yet clear on how his flesh could never sustain him in a walk with Christ...that it would always fall short.

Praise God that we aren't called to follow Him by the power of our flesh, and that God has so graciously demonstrated that to us through Peter's life.

(However, I learned Peter's lesson in my own life this past summer. I learned it at a deep heart level, that my love for Christ will never be enough to carry me through the dungeon times. I MUST rely on the power of His Holy Spirit...and you know what? When a believer does that, GOD is the one who gets the glory. No one who saw me through this summer could praise me...they saw me and knew that ONLY GOD could have pulled me through it.)

For,after having failed repeatedly when trying to be holy of his own power, and then being clearly told by Jesus in John 21:14-17 what his new job description was, Peter's whole walk with Christ was about to change dramatically.
Jhn 21:14 
This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.
Jhn 21:15 
So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, "Simon, {son} of John, do you love Me more than these?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Tend My lambs."
Jhn 21:16 
He *said to him again a second time, "Simon, {son} of John, do you love Me?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."
Jhn 21:17 
He *said to him the third time, "Simon, {son} of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus *said to him, "Tend My sheep. 

This is the part, though, that really stood out to me tonight. This is what propelled me out of my warm bed at 2:30 in the morning because I just HAD to share it with you...

Jhn 21:18 
"Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to {go.}"
Jhn 21:19 
Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, "Follow Me!"

Do you see that? It's powerful, and it speaks VOLUMES about Peter's commitment to following Christ now..by now I mean now that he's on the other side of his failed humanity. By now, Peter has been humbled and broken. He has seen how his own power is so weak, and that it would never be enough to make him a faithful follower of Christ.

He MUST have the indwelling Holy Spirit in order to truly Follow Jesus. He MUST, for his flesh is weak, as is ours.

Peter had just seen his Savior crucified on a cross, and now Jesus is prophesying for Peter that the same will happen to him.

The next line is so powerful: "Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would GLORIFY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Do you ever think about that? Tradition and History teach that Peter was crucified under Nero's reign. History says that Peter refused to be crucified upright,saying he wasn't worthy to hang as his Savior did, and rather was hung upside down.

The thing that was so huge to me in this statement of Jesus' was that He was clearly telling Peter that his DEATH would glorify God. We forget that sometimes, don't we?

We spend our time crying out in anger, "WHY HIM, GOD?! WHY HER, GOD?!"

Instead of asking God, "HOW are you going to be glorified through her death God? Show me LORD, how his dying will bring you glory!"

It's hard to remember that God can and is glorified even through the death of the believer, especially hard when those who don't understand the full counsel of God tell us that God wants us alive. That He wants us healthy. That He never wants us to die.

That's just not Biblical teaching.

If Jesus prophesied to Peter, his cherished friend and disciple, His apostle, that he would die on a cross....and then the very next words that He said to Peter were, "FOLLOW ME", it seems to me that Jesus was calling Peter to a standard that didn't weigh Peter's personal comfort into the equation.

It's as if Jesus was telling him, "Look...there are lives to be saved. There are mass millions who need the good news of the Gospel. You're going to have to die to self and be real willing to Tend My Lambs, Shepherd My Sheep, and Tend My Sheep. Then, after you do that, you'll die a horrid death so that God can be glorified through it. So, FOLLOW ME. You'll be doing the things I did here on earth."

Wow!

That's a high calling, don't you think?

No promise of fame or fortune.
No guarantees of winning the Roman popularity contest.
No hope that all his Jewish brothers would love him.

And no living to a ripe old age and dying in his sleep to comfort him.

So now, how about you and I?

What kind of followers of Christ are we?

Are we willing to stand on the truth of God's Word, even when it means that others will call us zealots?

Are we willing to put all in God's hands, full knowing He can take it as His leisure?

Do we ask God, "Lord, be glorified in my life..whatever it takes....just be glorified in my life, today!"

What might our walks with Christ look like if our prayer life changed and we aligned it with God's will and God's designs for our lives?

Just think...even at that point, Peter could have walked away. Instead, he chose to follow Christ, and at Pentecost, not much later, about 3,000 souls were added as new followers of Christ.

You can read about it in Acts 2.

But, Acts 1 makes it clear that Jesus told the disciples to wait until the Holy Spirit came upon them. It was at THAT TIME that they'd have all they needed to be His witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.

But they had to WAIT for the Holy Spirit.

Good lessons here tonight.
1. Will power will fail us in our walk with God.
2. God can be glorified in anything He chooses to be...even the death of one of his saints.
3. To be in the center of God's will, we must wait upon the leading of the Holy Spirit, and then we must follow....period!
4. Following Christ may mean giving up things that are dear to us...either in the here and now, or in the future. Will we love him enough, trust him enough, and wait on the Holy Spirit enough to follow Him through even the painful times?

Will we be like Cassie Bernall when faced with our future, or lack of it? Will we stand firmly and say, "Yes. I believe in God", no matter the possible outcome?

Will we live our lives in such a way that we are cities on a hill, as Jesus told us to be in Matthew? Will we let our light so shine before men that they will see our good works and glorify (NOT US!) our Father Who is in Heaven?

I encourage you, if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, to talk to Him. Talk to the Father. Be honest about where you need help, about where you're failing, about what your fears are.

Tell Him you want to be faithful, trusting, and trustworthy.

Ask Him to put you up on the potters wheel...to mold you into the you He designed you to be.

It may take refining fire. It may take molding and shaping.

I promise you, though, as one who has been through a LOT of God's maturing work, and continues to go through it...you will come out on the other side with a deeper love for your Lord, and an excitement to be used of Him, as He desires, for His glory.

There is no better life than that, if you ask me.

In Him,
Jesica

Comforting the Saints

Precious Friends,

Our new assistant pastor taught at our church on Sunday morning, stepping in at the last hour to relieve our pastor who was ill.

His sermon so impacted me, as it is all about comfort in the midst of pain.

I was so encouraged by it, and found myself thinking, "This so speaks to my heart...to all that I've just gone through with my health."

The message is so good, and I encourage you to take 1/2 hour and listen to it.

If you, or anyone you know is going through a time of testing or pain, I pray this sermon will minister hope to your hearts....

Thank you, Pastor Mark. This hit home!

Click our church name below, and then scroll down to 

"Other Guests Teaching or Ministering" and then click the little 

"HQ" button next to Mark, 3/15/09...you can even save it to your iPod.

 Standing Stones Community Church

Ever Wonder What Jesus Looked Like?

I want to share a precious story with you today....I hope it brings joy to your heart, as it has to mine.

But first...a little background....

Several years ago, our next door neighbors put their house up for sale. They were great neighbors, and we were sorry to see them go. But, from the minute that they put the sign in the yard, we started praying that God would send a family with a young boy, close to Caedmon's age, who could be a true friend for him. 

We prayed for a family who knew and loved the Lord. You see, for many years, our neighborhood had been a mission field. I suppose it's that way for all of us, really. It's not that we were hoping to abandon God's purpose for us here, it's just that we longed to have other believers on our street, whom we could have fellowship with...and we really wanted a friend for Caedmon who would be a heart friend, as David and Jonathan were. 

Well, it took months for the house to sell, but it finally did. I'll never forget the night that Shane came home and boasted like a peacock, "Our new neighbors have arrived...and I saw their van....it has a Christian fish symbol on it!"

I kid you not when I tell you that at that very moment, I looked like a bag lady who hadn't bathed in 3 weeks. I had my favorite baseball cap on, and I think you could have oiled your car with my hair! I was in my "best" sweats, and probably smelled like I'd been deep sea fishing for 3 days, but I didn't let any of that stop me...I RUSHED past Shane and out the front door, and ran next door to "welcome" my new neighbors. 

(They were likely wishing I hadn't!)  :)

It was so great to meet them, and to find out that GOD HAD ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS!

They have a son who is just a little older than Caedmon, and in no time the two of them became the best of friends!

:) His name is Jonathan, and he is the most wonderful friend to Caedmon! The two of them spend hours together, and love each other like brothers.

Oh, I forgot to tell you what I prayed for, for me! I asked the Lord for an "iced tea drinking, drop in friend"...and Jonathan's mother is just that to me. She is a friend who has seen me at my very worst, and yet loves me like I'm always at my best. I can share anything in the world with her, and know that she will keep it to herself. She is truly one of the dearest friends I've ever had. 

I love her dearly, and thank God for her often. Her name is Peggy, but I call her Peggy Sue. :)

OK...so here's where all of this background is leading...

Jonathan is here today. He came to see if Caedmon could play and I said, "Oh, honey. He's cleaning his room most of the day today."

Jonathan quickly responded, "Well, I can help him!" 

So in he came. :)

A few minutes ago, I heard Jonathan calling me...."Miss Jesica. Miss Jesica....Miss Jesica..." 

He was quite insistent. I could tell he had something of utmost importance to talk with me about.

I told him I was in my office, and in he came. I could never have expected what he would say to me!

"Um, when Jesus was a baby, was He ever cross-eyed?"

I couldn't help myself...I just burst out laughing!

When I finally got myself together, I asked, "Why do you ask that?"

So he ran out of the office and went into Caedmon's room, and came back with the baby Jesus from Caedmon's nativity set. 

Please, no comments. Now you know why they are cleaning their rooms today...it's March, for goodness sakes, and their creches are still in their rooms!

"See Miss Jesica. He's cross-eyed. Both of them..Caedmon's and Brennan's...they're both cross-eyed."

I didn't take the time to tell him that this baby Jesus was likely manufactured in China, in some assembly room, and that they probably didn't take much time to measure the distance between his eyeballs. 

Instead, I said, "You know, Jonathan. I really don't know if He was cross-eyed. I do know that the Scripture tells us that He wasn't very handsome, but I don't know if he was cross-eyed." 

"Why wasn't he handsome?", he asked.

"Well, I think maybe it was because He didn't come to Earth for people to be drawn to His looks. He came to save people from their sins. Maybe if He'd been really handsome, they would have been attracted to Him for the wrong reasons."

And, since the door of conversation was open, I added, "And he wasn't white, like this baby Jesus is. Did you know that?"

"Hmmmmm?"

"He was likely more brown. He came from the middle east, and people there have darker skin than you and I do. So, it's doubtful that Jesus was white like we are."

He was so cute...he just pondered all that I'd told him for a few minutes, and then said, "Um, OK..." and out he ran, content as a he could be. All was now well with his soul, or so it seemed. :)

When we all sit down for a snack in a bit, I'm going to read this passage of Scripture to the kids. 

After all, I don't want him to believe all of this because I said it.....I want him to hear it for himself, from God's Word. 

This is such an amazing passage of Scripture...I pray it teaches you something new today, about the Savior of the World.

Isa 53:1	Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
Isa 53:2	For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no {stately} form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
Isa 53:3	He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Isa 53:4	Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5	But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being {fell} upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
Isa 53:6	All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
Isa 53:7	He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.
Isa 53:8	By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke {was due?}
Isa 53:9	His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
Isa 53:10	But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting {Him} to grief; If He would render Himself {as} a guilt offering, He will see {His} offspring, He will prolong {His} days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
Isa 53:11	As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see {it and} be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.
Isa 53:12	Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors. Blue Letter Bible. "Isaiah 53 - New American Standard Bible." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 16 Mar 2009.  < b="Isa&c="53&t="NASB">

Oh My Goodness! This man's music is AMAZING!

I just have to share...I stumbled upon Stephen Hinkle's music today, and can't put into words how much I love it!

My favorite is "May I Have This Dance."

Click below to sample his gift....you'll be so happy that you did!

Stephen Hinkle

He used to work with Precept Ministries, and I found him through Kay on Facebook. 

Amazing...expect to be blown away!

Teaching Teens How To Study The Bible

I just have to share today...I'm so excited!

Veracity Group and Precept Ministries have teamed together and now have inductive Bible studies geared for Jr. High and High School aged kids!!!!!!!

Yippie!

These are ideal for Homeschoolers who are looking for a homeschool Bible curriculum! They are also perfectly geared for use in Christian schools, and I'm hoping to use them to lead the youth in our church on Wednesday nights.

Last summer, at our Precept retreat, there was a teacher from a private Christian school who had been piloting these studies with her students. She brought several of the girls to the retreat, and they were such an encouragement to the women in attendance, as we witnessed first hand their understanding of God's Word.

These girls had learned to study the Bible inductively, and for their final exam, they had to fill out a blank "At a Glance" chart. 

Basically, an "At a Glance" is a blank chart which the student fills in with appropriate chapter titles, after having studied a book of the Bible and chosen a title for each chapter.

So imagine...these girls knew the book of the Bible that they had studied so well, that they were able to fill in chapter themes for the entire book, by memory!

Isn't that amazing?!

Oh, did I tell you that these girls were YOUNG? The average age was about 14!

Are you encouraged that YOU too can learn to study for yourself?!

You just have to go and check out Veracity Group's web site! 

I hope you're inspired, and if you're a youth Bible study leader, I hope you'll order some studies and ground those kids in the truth of God's Word.

Have a great day!

Precept and Men - An Interview with David Arthur of Precept Ministries

David Arthur, son of Kay and Jack Arthur was interviewed recently by the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Much of the focus of the article is on his heart for seeing men get into the Word of God for themselves.

This is my favorite quote... "I know the Bible is for men, I know it’s for teenagers. ... One of my callings is to men. If we’re going to lead, we’ve got to have the truth, and if we’re going to delegate that to our wives, we’re going to continue to see the trouble we’ve got. That’s one of my passions — to get men into the word themselves."

Amen and amen...women are starving for our husbands to fall in love with God's Word, and to order our home lives according to what they learn from their time spent with Him.

For the past 5 years I've been leading women in inductive Bible study, and I've lost count of the number of them who have said that they just want their husbands to be the spiritual leaders in their homes...they are begging for it!

I tell my husband that he's irresistible when he's spent time with the Lord on his own. There is simply nothing more attractive to me. :)  (I love you, sweetheart!)

OK...back to David's interview...it will only take you a few minutes to read.

Click here to see it.

Tuscon Planned Parenthood & Abortion

I encourage you to take a few minutes and watch this undercover investigation of a Tuscon, AZ "Planned Parenthood" (hereafter called PP, because the name they use is so deceptive) employee's counselling session with an under aged pregnant teen, whose boyfriend was supposed to be a 27 year old.

In AZ, it's a felony for an adult to have sex with a minor. A crime which requires reporting to the local authorities!!!

Yet, in this video, the employee works to hide this crime...not expose it, as the law requires.

Just think...your tax dollars are helping to fund crime! 

Would you want your teenage daughter to be instructed in how to obtain an abortion, with court approval, without your knowledge of it? 

Would you want to punish a 27 year old man if he had sex with your 15 year old?!!!!!!! 

Where is the outrage in this?!!!!

Where are those who love this young woman? Does PP not think it important for a young woman to have the support of those who care the most about her, when sorting through such a monumental "choice"?

Go to LiveAction.org to see more videos exposing "PP". This is not an isolated incident.

This makes my heart sick!

John Piper to President Obama

This is an awesome message from Pastor Piper to President Obama, regarding the sanctity of life. 

I hope you'll click the link and watch the video...it's only 3 minutes long.

He's so right...no loving father would truly ever wish for their daughter to have the right to abortion on demand. 

Who wants that for their children?

Here's the YouTube link...

Pastor John Piper speaks to President Obama from the pulpit...

The Truth About Abortion, Crisis Pregnancy

Dear Friends and young mother who has found my blog,

This post is from a precious friend of mine, who I love dearly. She has opened her heart up to share with you honestly about abortion, having made this decision herself. If you're considering having an abortion, I hope and pray that you'll read her words here first.

Ask for an ultrasound.

Talk to someone who has had an abortion before you choose to have one.

Call an adoption service, and just talk with them about how adoption works...many adoptions are OPEN ADOPTIONS now...meaning that the birth mother gets to be a part of the lives of both her child and the adoptive family.

 

Here are the words of my friend, Janan. I pray that they minister to your heart... (I love you, Nanner!)

"So I check out your blog today and here you are talking about abortion! Can you believe ABORTION has been on my mind since last Friday night, ever since I heard a program on the radio talking about it. This program was talking about having an ultrasound first - that in some places as many as 2/3 of the people having an ultrasound will change their mind about aborting after they "see" that indeed they are carrying a living child! 

I had an abortion when I was 18 years old (I'm 55 now). I was so blind back then - I had to be because I would have never aborted a live human being. I did not know then what I know today. I was unmarried and stunned to find out I was pregnant. What to do?? My older sister said to abort - she was adamant about it. I was 18 and obviously not very bright - I really didn't think of the baby as alive. Sadly, my boyfriend and family supported that decision. If someone had another opinion, they didn't speak up. Where was my ultrasound? Why didn't someone tell me to have an ultrasound before I made such a life-altering decision?

For years I had doubts and regrets about what I did, but I pushed those feelings down very deep. Years later, I got married (to another man) and had two beautiful sons and today I have two beautiful grandchildren. I think this has been what has made my heart so sick with wonder of what could have been with the baby I aborted. How could I have not given my baby a chance to live? I always thought I was a loving, giving person - but I never gave my own flesh and blood a chance to live. 

You are right Jes. God does forgive. But you first have to repent and then ask for that forgiveness. 26 years after my abortion, I gave my life to Jesus Christ. He has allowed me to "see" my sin for what it was. I know with every beat of my heart that I have been forgiven. And God has blessed me with beautiful children and grandchildren, even after what I have done. He is a GREAT God, and my hope is this - if there is ANYONE who finds this blog and reads it, I want them to know that there are people all over who care - Jes has given you a clinic to contact where you can begin getting help immediately. Call the number or go there - please seek help! 

Most importantly, I personally want you to know that there is a GOD WHO LOVES YOU! He cares about your unborn child most definitely, but please know that HE CARES ABOUT YOU TOO! I know for a FACT that if you call out to Him and ask Him to help you, HE WILL WALK THROUGH THIS WITH YOU! You don't know what to do - but God does!

Consider the words of Psalm 139:13-16...

 "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depts of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body!"

My heartfelt prayer for you is that you will understand and believe that there is hope - and help - out there for you! Be smart! Allow someone to help you! Please don't live a life of regret, always wondering about what might have been, always knowing you took a life. Life is God-given. Regardless of the circumstances, God gives LIFE! 

Love, 
Janan "

Abortion in Phoenix - How Do I Get An Abortion? Should I Get An Abortion?

I just read a wonderful blog post from a man in another state who is hoping to adopt a child soon. He wrote a review of a ministry in Phoenix that works with women who are pregnant, and considering their options and want to make informed decisions.

This ministry is called "With Child Ministry" and their aim is to preserve the life of children from the time of conception.  

You can read this father's blog post here, and you can link to With Child Ministry here. 

If you live in the Phoenix area, and are considering having an abortion, PLEASE at least call this ministry first!

Goodness gracious, if you live ANYWHERE and are considering having an abortion or are asking yourself "Should I get an abortion?", then please take just a few minutes and call, write or visit this ministry.

You can't imagine the heartache that you'll deal with, should you decide to abort your baby. 

Help can be harder to ask for after the fact...please, just call and talk with the people at the ministry before you decide to abort...don't wait until it's too late.

Abortion is unforgiving. God isn't, but the consequences of abortion are. 

An abortion clinic, or "family planning" clinic isn't likely going to take the time to be honest with you about the consequences of a decision to abort your baby.

Let's be honest...abortion costs $500+. Why are they going to try to talk you out of having an abortion, when that is going to take money out of their pockets?

Abortion is a MONEY MAKER for the abortionist.

You'll live with your decision forever.

Don't you owe it to yourself to at least make one phone call to talk with someone who has your best interest at heart? 

Please... call "With Child Ministry"...they want to help you and your baby.

I'll be praying for those of you who find this blog post.

God loves you, and He can turn the ashes of an unwanted pregnancy into beauty if you'll let Him.

You really will be in my prayers.

Here is the contact information for With Child Ministry:

We are located at:

3121 E Greenway Rd, suite 303 
Phoenix, AZ 85032

Call Us at:

602-788-5434

Email Us at:

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Kay Arthur's Blog

Hey Blog Fans...

Just wanted to let you know that Kay has officially entered the Blogosphere.  

Comments are disabled, though. You'll just have to read and "digest" on your own...I know, that's tough for many of us in the blog world. ;)

Her blog address is KayArthur.blogspot.com 

As always, she is transparent and open and shares both God's Word and what He is doing in her heart and life.

What a blessing to have her example of what it means to be honest and real with people!

We love you, Kay!

Anna and "Simon"

I want to share a story with you. I hope it will touch your heart as it did mine....

Last night I was checking my e-mail around 9pm. We had just put our kids to bed, and Shane was busy doing something..although I don't recall just what it was.

I was making great headway in clearing out my e-mail in-box....

Note from American Airlines...delete.

Your statement is ready to view from (my bank)...delete.

Vision Forum is having another 70% off sale...delete.

Your SW Gas bill is here...(whoopie!)....archive.

But then, I saw an e-mail from my dear friend, Anna. Anna and I have been friends since we were 8 years old. She is precious to me. She saw me through all of my years of rebellion and idiocy, and still loves me. (That's a GOOD friend!)

The subject line was simple..."nerves".

Except, I had a feeling in my heart that it wasn't going to be as simple as it might look....

you see, Anna has been feeling really strange lately...muscle weakness, tingling, numbness. 

Her PCP doctor basically told her she had a virus and should go home and get over it. 

(Don't get me started on this! If there's one thing I've learned from the summer of illness I've had, it's that as the patient we must press on until we get answers.)

Well, just as I was opening Anna's e-mail, and right after having put my kids down for bedtime, I hear this horrid banging noise outside.

It didn't take but a few seconds to recognize the noise...it was the kids next door again, with their blaring "music". 

If you'll allow me, I'm going to digress here for a few minutes...we live next door to 3 young men...I think one of them is a teenager, but I'm pretty sure that the other two are in their early 20s. There is a constant stream of cars in and out of there, and most often the cars are speeding through our neighborhood. We deal with broken glass strewn all over the street, with no one willing to take responsibility for it; loud noise at all hours of the night; trash all over the street, which we spend hours at a time picking up; and language that would make a sailor blush...which is often times being yelled at loud decibels while my children are playing out front.

Here's the kicker, though...these young men have been so responsive any time that we've asked them to quell the language or turn the music down. 

Granted, we don't always appreciate having to ask at crazy hours of the night, but when we do, they respond graciously.

They've also been quite thoughtful on more than one occasion and have helped us with moving heavy items. They don't hesitate..they just jump right in and help.

I've made them cookies, and taken them baked items, and always say "hello" and take a few minutes to talk with them. 

However, my flesh doesn't always want to be nice when their actions are inconveniencing my family!

Last night was one of those moments...I was just about to read the e-mail from my sweet friend, hoping to find out what has been plaguing her, and JUST AT THAT MOMENT comes the banging, irritating, moronic music from next door!

 I might mention here that before I became a Christian, "Salt & Peppa" was my favorite group...so I once favored moronic music, too! Can you say, "compassion and understanding?".

I tried to ignore the noise and just read Anna's note.

There it was..."i am so tired. had spinal tap today. must wait 5-10 days for result.          3 lesions seen on my brain mri so doc does think ms. must have spinal tap result b4 meds i'll call soon

love anna "

Instantly the tears came...this is my dearest friend from childhood. I was the maid of honor in her wedding. She was mine..twice. In that moment, a flood of memories came pouring through me...pictures of all the sweet times we'd had together over the past 31 years. 

And then, the fear...fear of the unknown. Fear of what she must be feeling. Fear of the future. 

And then, the desperate longing...the longing to hear her voice, although I knew she didn't feel like talking. The longing to hold her in my arms and cry our eyes out together. The longing to find things to make us laugh through the tears. The longing just to be with her.

And, in a rush...the deep desire to call my Mom, who knows and loves Anna so dearly...and tell her, and ask her to pray...knowing that she'd fill e-mail in boxes all over the world with prayer requests for Anna. Yet, my Mom is not in my life today...this is something that I haven't shared here publicly, as I haven't wanted to dishonor her in any way. 

It just is what it is for now, and I'm not going into it any deeper than that...I'll just tell you, I miss her so much. 

I miss her during every holiday. I miss her when my kids do something funny that I want to call and tell her about. I miss her from Thanksgiving through Mother's Day...each month a new reminder of her absence. 

And, I miss her terribly right now...when I want to call and tell her about my precious friend. 

I want to talk to her as only a mother and daughter can talk to one another. I want to hear her tell me that God is in control. In a word, I want my Mom.

I'm digressing again, I know.

Back to the noise...it seemed to be growing...louder and LOUDER and LOUDER. 

Reminded me of the Tell-tale heart in Poe's story, it did!

I sat at my computer, dealing with this flood of emotions, and wanting that noise to CEASE so that I could process in solitude, with the peace of knowing my kids wouldn't soon be running into the room to tell me about "the teenagers".

In an instant, I decided I'd just go ask them to turn it down. Now mind you, I never know what "them" it's going to be. Would it be one of their kind friends, or one of the ones rich in attitude?

I just didn't think I could deal with attitude in that moment.

So, I walked downstairs and out the front door without saying a word to Shane about anything..he didn't know what I was doing, and he didn't know what I'd just read. Usually, I'd ask him to talk to the teens, but I didn't even have the energy to ask in that moment.

Out the door and down the walk I went...and then I saw whose car it was that was blaring the music. For sake of privacy, we'll call him "Simon". ;)

I knew this kid by name. He's my favorite of all of their friends. He proudly boasts "Calvary Chapel" stickers all over his car, and is quick to talk about church with me should I bring it up.

I walked to his door..."Simon?"

"Oh, hey!" he says as he pops out of the car wearing his cross necklace.

"Simon, would you do me a favor? My kids have just gone to bed, would you be willing to turn your music down please?"

"Oh, sure." and he does it immediately.

"Thanks," I say and turn to go back home.

But then I pause, and I turn back to him...

"Don't you go to Calvary?" I ask.

"Yes. I do."

"I just found out that my best friend from childhood has MS...." and then the tears flow...having been held back as though by a dam, they are now pouring out like a flood.

"Would you be willing to put her on your church's prayer chain? Her name is Anna."

"Sure! I'm going to Youth Group tomorrow night. I'll put her on then. Anna, you said?"

"Yes." was all I could manage through the tears...

And then, "Simon" amazed me....he held his arms wide open and walked over to me and just took me into his arms and gave me the biggest bear hug and patted my back as I boo-hooed on his shoulder.

It was a loving, compassionate hug like one you'd get from a fellow Christian.

I don't even remember anything else he said to me. In truth, I don't think he said much, as I don't think there was really anything to be said....but I was so amazed by his merciful heart and his tenderness in that moment...I don't even know how to put into words how much this young man touched my heart, or how perfect his response was.

That was it. 

I thanked him, and came inside and fell into my husband's arms as I wept for my friend, and explained to Shane what I'd found out.

Thinking back over things from last night, I am blown away by how quick I can be to think that teenagers with moronic music don't have a brain in their heads....last night was a great awakening for me.

I know this post has been all over the place. I appreciate you just reading along and showing me grace.

Please pray for my precious friend, Anna. I love her so much, and I wish like anything that this diagnosis was mine and not hers.

And, with regard to that teenager in your neighborhood who makes you crazy...give them a chance...it's pretty cool to see them rise to the occasion.

I'm not going to grammar check this post...I'm just posting. 

I know you'll understand.