Practicing φαρμακία (i.e., pharmakia)

Hey! That Children's Dimetapp® really works! See full recovery HERE.

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Born After 1972? Consider Yourself a Survivor!

If you were born after 1972, consider yourself a Survivor of the Abortion Holocaust. ONE-THIRD of your generation has been killed by abortion in the United States of America.

To believe it is above your "pay scale" to know whether or not this precious child is a life . . . is LUDICROUS! God's Word says:

". . . 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."
~Psalm 139:13-14

"The first thing I’d do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That’s the first thing I’d do."
~ President Barack Obama

The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) . . .

would eliminate every restriction on abortion nationwide!
It would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of Americans support.

Who do you know -- whether related by blood or friendship -- that has suffered the loss of a young child through either miscarriage or death?

And who hasn’t seen the throbbing heartache and life-long pain that these losses bring?

Someone please help me understand -- where’s the disconnect?

Why is a life lost to miscarriage or death so much more valuable that she/he is worthy of grief and bereavement and sorrow and remembrance?

Why does the life that has not yet tasted the air and experienced the brilliant light of day by the hand of the abortionist not receive the same expression of grief and bereavement and sorrow and remembrance?

And if these precious lives are grieved – how are we expressing it?

Oh, sure we talk about how appalling and horrific abortion is.

We can sign petitions.

We can put our names on lists that indicate we lift our President and legislators to the Throne of God in prayer.

But what are we doing to STOP abortion?

The majority of Americans wanted to stop a war in Iraq
and we elected the man who promised to do it.

The majority of Americans wanted to see the American economy reflect a more socialistic ideology and we elected the man who promised to do it.

If it’s true that the majority of Americans oppose abortion, what are we going to do about it?

Where is the CHURCH?

Where was the Church in 1973? Asleep? Apathetic? More engaged in the gospel of acceptance and tolerance than the Gospel of Christ and Laws of God?

Where is God’s Church in 2009? Will we remain engrossed and preoccupied with spreading love and acceptance that we allow the CULTURE of DEATH to permeate our country?

YES, we are called to walk in love . . . and thereby love those who agree that abortion is fine . . . but we are also called to further the cause of Christ, NOT the cause of evil.

God’s Word is absolutely and unmistakably clear on the issue of abortion. It’s EVIL.

What are we – as Christians -- going to do about it? What will we do to keep human interference from infringing upon God's Supreme right to create human life in His own image?

~ Esthermay

12:03 PM | 19 comments | Read More

WordFilled Wednesday . . . Study!

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth."

~ 2 Timothy 2:15

My Husband Mark and Son Tim -- in the Pizza Ranch Restaurant!

Visit Amydeanne at The 160 Acre Woods for more WordFilled Wednesdays!

4:31 PM | 7 comments | Read More

Can A Born-Again Christian Support President Obama?

"This is my Father's World.

O let me ne'er forget

that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's World:

Why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!

God reigns: let the earth be glad!"

~ Verse 3 of the Hymn, This Is My Father's World"

by Maltbie D. Babcock

We know from Romans Chapter 13 that it is God who ultimately selects our leaders. As Christians we are to trust God's sovereignty and goodness and remember this.

"The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble."

~ Proverbs 1:4

♫ This is my Father's World . . .

Believing what I do about Obama and -- more importantly -- believing God's Word to be the absolute final authority on all things, I cannot support his presidency. The question in the title is not rhetorical. I can PRAY for him. But as for supporting the man. . .

The answer is NO.

See, a true Born-Again Christian is a child of God who has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of their life. As such, the Born-Again Christian has agreed to replace their will with that of God. This person will have their eyes opened up to Truth that there is good and evil and anything that violates God's will is evil.

♫ let me ne'er forget . . .

A true Born-Again Christian does not tolerate evil (Amos 5:15)! The Bible holds several very specific passages whereby God expects us to condemn sin and He scorns us when we don't.

♦ Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 are two examples early in Biblical history.

♦ God condemned Eli for tolerating his sons' sinful behavior in I Samuel 3:12-13.

♦ The so-called prophets of Jerusalem "strengthened the hand of evildoers" and were an abomination in God's eyes (Jeremiah 23:14).

♦ Isaiah 5:20 warns those who "call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"

♫ . . . that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

The point is this: God expects those who call themselves by His name to be absolutely INTOLERANT of evil. Period. And He certainly does not want us to enable it!

If you believe that God's Word is inerrant and True, then the following statements are FACTS:

♦ Abortion is evil. President Obama abets abortion.

♦ Infanticide is evil. President Obama enables and defends infanticide.

♦ The Lord hates hands that shed innocent blood. President Obama's hands are bloodied.

♦ Same-sex marriage is evil. President Obama supports same-sex marriage.

♦ Sodomy is evil. President Obama upholds sodomy.

♦ Homosexuality is evil. President Obama embraces homosexuality.

♦ The Lord hates a lying tongue. President Obama lies without remorse.

♦ The Lord hates a false witness. President Obama is unrepentant and proud.

♦ These are demonstrable facts.

"I’m rooted in the Christian tradition,” said Obama, who has declared himself a Christian. But then he adds something that will not sit well (at all!) with real Born-Again Christians: “I believe there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people.” (The man is clearly -- not only a friend, but -- a disciple of Oprah Winfrey!)

. . . And when confronted by a reporter with the words of John 14:6 where Jesus says of Himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” Obama played the interpretation game telling the reporter that it depends on how this verse is "heard." (Whaaaaat??)

Obama apparently thinks that “all people of faith — Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, animists, everyone — know the same God.” He goes on to say: " . . . There’s the belief, certainly in some quarters, that if people haven’t embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior, they’re going to hell. I don't believe I -- or anyone -- will go to hell.” (See the full transcript of Cathleen Falsani interview with Barack Obama here.)

♫ God is the ruler yet.

Obama can call himself anything he likes, but there is a clear requirement for one to qualify as a Christian and Obama doesn’t meet that requirement. Only God can judge a person's heart, but one cannot deny central tenets of the Christian faith -- including the deity of Christ as the sole mediator between God and Man -- and call himself a Christian.

Such people do have a label applied to them in Scripture. They are called “False Prophets.” And the level of idolatry that has followed Barack Obama for the last twelve months -- while unreal and unprecedented -- should not surprise us. See II Timothy 4:3 and I John 4: 1-2.

♫ Why should my heart be sad?

Over the last months since Mr. Obama's election victory, I've heard many Christians profess these words: "He is my president. I will support him. I want him to succeed."

You may call me anti-American. I do not want President Obama to succeed. This does not go against nor contradict my responsibility as a Christian to be subject to God-ordained authority. But . . .

God's Word has clear repudiation for those who enable and support evil men:

"And just as they [fools] did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

~ Romans 1:28,32

In other words, those who tolerate (and even laud, worship, idolize) the wicked are just as much of an abomination (or is it "Obamination") in God’s eyes as are the wicked.

If you are a true, born-again Christian, you cannot enable and support such openly and obviously evil actions by a man who denies the Lordship of Jesus Christ. . .

. . . Even if you agree with him on the environment, economy, or anything else. God's Word unmistakably compels you to reject him. However. . .

You can and must PRAY for HIM!

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men . . . For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

~ I Timothy 2:1-4

Pray for President Obama's Salvation.

♫ The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns: let the earth be glad!

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2009 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

This installment of InOtherWords is hosted by Loni on her blog Writing Canvas.

12:10 AM | 38 comments | Read More

Project 365 Week #3 - Photo of the Week. . .

Beautiful? Yes.

Visit Project 365 to see why this moment-in-time is not as beautiful as it first appears

. . . and see the rest of our captured moments for Project 365 - Week #3.

~ Esthermay

12:13 PM | 2 comments | Read More

Saturday Selah: Taking On the Taste & Color of Wine. . .

". . .Thy will be done," will be our prayer and our delight. Just as a little drop of water mixed with a lot of wine seems to entirely lose its own identity as it takes on the taste and color of the wine; just as iron, heated and glowing, looks very much like fire, having lost its original appearance; just as air flooded with the light of the sun is transformed into the same splendor of the light so that it appears to be light itself, so it is like for those who melt away from themselves and are entirely transfused into the will of God.

This perfect love of God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength will not happen until we are no longer compelled to think about ourselves and attend to the body's immediate needs. Only then can the soul attend to God completely.

~ Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 - 1153)
From his treatise On the Love of God

Bernard of Clairvaux spent his entire adult life in a monastery and writes in his treatise that he is not certain that this degree of love can be attained in this life.

That anyone in the 21st Century -- with all our selfish endeavors and needless distractions -- thinks that they can attain it is bizarre to me.

Have you ever really thought about the lyrics to the children's song, Jesus Loves Me?

They've always troubled me. They don't tell the whole story.

YES! Jesus loves me. Duh! That's a given. . . .

The greater question is this: "How Much Do I Love Jesus?"

♥ When we love Him with all our heart, we love the same things that He loves. And it follows conversely that we hate the things that He hates.

♥ When we love Him with all our soul, we choose to act on the things He loves by reaching out to the world around us and helping those in need. It also means that we choose to stand against the things He hates and work to either prevent them from occurring or end them.

♥ When we love Him with all our mind, we understand that all of what we have learned and desire to learn academically belongs to Him.

♥ When we love Him with all our strength, we give up our will. . . and as Bernard of Clairvaux so eloquently puts it, we "melt away from [our]selves and are entirely transfused into the will of God." We become the drop of water in a beautiful vessel of wine. We lose our identity. And we take on the taste and color of wine . . . .

I'm not there. I'd like to be . . .

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2009 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~ * ~~~

Saturday Selah a time of encouraging one another with words that have touched our hearts or made a difference in our lives over the past week. Your post could be a Scripture passage, a devotional thought, the lyrics to a song, or anything else that ministered to you this past week.

Your post can be brief. Your post can be long. Sometimes brevity speaks volumes. And sometimes God gives us much more to share!

To be encouraged and to encourage others, link up with Patricia at TypingOneHanded.

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Thankful Thursday . . .

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members on one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
~ Colossians 3:15

♦ I am thankful for homeschooling and how it ties into our overall life priorities, world view, and need to sleep-in till 11:00 a.m. every morning.

♦ I am thankful for fellow bloggers. Thank you for enriching my life by sharing your lives, ideas, opinions, wit, wisdom, passions, pastimes, prayer requests, rants, ramblings, and dreams.

♦ I am thankful for Peace & Quiet. As in the absence of any sound made by children and/or pets. I treasure it in its brevity because it will inevitably vanish.

♦ I am thankful for a good King Size feather pillow .

♦ I am thankful for Bubble Bath.

♦ I am thankful for Peanut Butter & Jelly. Because some days that's all you've got and it truly is the greatest desire of your children's hearts.

♦ I am thankful for Disney® Videos.

♦ I am thankful for Hair Spray.

♦ I am thankful for a Handsome Husband who supports everything I do regardless of how unproductive or silly.

♦ I am thankful that where I am pathetically weak, Handsome Husband is unashamedly strong.

♦ I am thankful for Avon ANEW Beauty Age-Transforming Concealer SPF 15.

♦ I am thankful for a sense of humor. It comes in handy in times of stress.

♦ I am thankful for Humane Societies everywhere.

~ Esthermay

11:55 PM | 10 comments | Read More

The Post Where I Apologize to Linda @ 2nd Cup of Coffee. . .

On Sunday, January 11th, Linda @ 2nd Cup of Coffee challenged each and every one of her easily amused dedicated readers to an Ugly Mug-Off. Whaaaaaaht? You ask. (Exactly. . . )

Now, who among us doesn't appreciate the chance to link up our blog -- join a blogging contest, meme, whatever - enjoy the visitors on our own blog and etc, etc . . . and who better to link up with than the Queen of Witticism herself?! It's not that we're easily amused. Linda is effortlessly hilarious and we love her.

But, come on . . . "Ugly Mug Contest?" What's next? "The theme song of this blog should be ______." (Actually, that's not a bad one.)

And alas, other readers were on the same cynical page as moi with reference to the bona fide-ability of this contest and we were not kind to Linda. Not at all. The poor thing had to admit two days later that her "Ugly Mug Contest" had indeed "tanked." Here's my own not-so-kind comment:

Monday, January 12, 2009
Esthermay said...
Oh Dear Linda, I feel so much better sharing this with you this evening now that you've seen the truth on your own. See I've been researching this. . .
Pr[r] =
n
R (N-r) πr(1−π)
N−r (6)r
= r
= ∑(zxzy)
This, of course is a Bivariate Equation using Pearson's Correlation. The rho measure of the liner relationship between the variables x (number of readers who have gosh-awful ugly spit-face "mugs") and y (number of readers who are willing to admit it) differs from Pearson's correlation only in that computations did not disqualify "travel" mugs as they are just as filthy scum-encrusted ugly as your "traditional" stupid mug.

Bottom line: Probability of ANY valuable data from your silly contest: ZERO. So sorry. We understand.

Your creativity is obviously diluted right now as your mourn these last precious days before the Great Government Job Creation Program eliminates your blog and replaces it with something more suited to the needs of the American people. Great last attempt though!

OH! I was mean. (Concurring comments forthcoming - 5...4...3...2....) And I left this comment while working on this post for my own blog: The Evidence of Wisdom is a Restrained Tongue.

Aiy Yi Yiii!

My clumsy witticism and completely inaccurate -- not to mention bogus -- statistical equation had clearly contributed to the sadness in Linda's life over the lack of enthusiasm for her Ugly-ma-Hugiddly' Mug Contest and I shall take this opportunity to apologize.

Linda, I am sorry. Please forgive me. In my honest and earnest effort to make amends, I offer this:

My entry into your splendid, well-received, and relevant "Ugly-Mug" Contest:

Ugly: ŭg’ – lee (adj.) def: displeasing to the senses; surly; inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace; despicable; morally reprehensible; atrocious: provoking horror . . . .

Honestly, depending upon your political persuasion, this is The Ugliest Mug ever!

Indubitably!

Let me repeat that: "Depending upon your political views, this could be the Ugliest Mug."

This happens to be my Favorite Mug! . . . Which fact (in my right-wing, wacko, pro-life, conservative little mind) encompasses the entire reason the "Ugly Mug-Off" never got off the ground/off the counter/out of the cabinet: One woman's trash is another woman's treasure.

Nonetheless, there is a sisterhood here in blog-world. . . (Oh, let's call it a "kinship." I do have male "followers" and so does Linda.") Does anyone else owe Linda an apology? Has anyone had second thoughts about participating in the "Ugly Mug-Off?" Say, "Yes."

Wouldn't it be nice to participate in Linda's lame contest? Say, "Yes."

Yes!, you say? You'll find the details here: Contest With a Prize: I Challenge You to a "Mug-Off!"

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

12:10 AM | 11 comments | Read More

Satisfaction . . .

"That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil -- this is the gift of God."

~ Ecclesiastes 3:13

. . . Oh! that we were as eager for our Spiritual food as our furry friends are for theirs.

The purpose of WordFilled Wednesday is to share God’s Word (no famous quotes or other literature — only the beautiful word of our Father) through photos and a Bible verse! Amydeanne hosts this meme every Wednesday on her blog, The 160 Acre Wood. Link your own WFW post and visit others every Wednesday and share the Word!

12:51 AM | 26 comments | Read More

In Other Words. . . The Evidence of Wisdom is a Restrained Tongue

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
~ Mother Teresa

How many times have you been in a conversation with a person who has already made their point but just won't let it go? Worse yet, are you that person?

And did you notice at all during the Oh-I'm-so-glad-it's-over 2008 Presidential Election how the two candidates pretty much reiterated the same points over and over and over and over. . . -- refuting the other's talking points in the exact same manner as the last time they had the opportunity? Arghhh!

I think we all wish this was an isolated situation in today's society -- you know -- pandering politicians with more words than wisdom. . . and long-winded, loquacious friends. Don't be so quick to roll your own eyes. The problem extends far beyond presidential politics and girlfriends that never shut-up!

Our society is addicted to repetition in all its forms. We repeat for various purposes -- to respond to what we consider to be an unwarranted attack or unfair characterization, to break an awkward silence, to convince an authority figure to give us what we want -- maybe we just like the sound of our voice. Perhaps we're just plain selfish.

We'd rather fill the air with an idea that we've repeated a hundred times before than let others have the last word. Admit it. You've probably done it. I know have!

Oh yes -- repetition does works. It's the foundation for much of early childhood education and the theory extends throughout our lives. Practice makes perfect. (Repetition certainly works with puppy training!!) And if you watch television at all, you know that repetition is the bedrock of product advertisement. But there is a reason why those commercials for the homeopathic headache remedy HeadOn®, which repeatedly urge the viewer to apply the product "directly to the forehead," are so annoying. Repetition can really gets on one's nerves! No?

But what about the age-old art of Conversation? Should repetition be our guide here? We have established that repetition is annoying. Ask yourself this: "Do I want to be annoying?" "Do I want my life as a Christian to reflect society's obsession with repetition?" "Or do I want to use wisdom in the art of conversation?" Regardless of the topic of our conversations, we can take great lessons from Mother Teresa's words:

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”

One of the greatest problems in this life is the pain we cause to others and the pain others inflict upon us by way of words spoken. A great deal of it is intentional, but the largest amount is caused unintentionally. Selfishness, ignorance, stupidity, thoughtlessness, clumsy witticism, and a thousand other things are the means of wounding and hurting feelings, stinging pride, dampening enthusiasm, and quenching the effort of those around us -- Christians and non-Christians alike.

Whether spoken directly in conversation or indirectly by way of gossip, the words we speak are the most dangerous weapon we possess.

So powerful that the first member of the body to be under the Holy Spirit's control after we experience true Salvation is the tongue. James 3:8 says,

". . . but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."

In stark contrast, Proverbs 31:26 says this:

"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."

And in Proverbs 17:27, we find this:

"A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered."

So where's the disconnect?

And is it possible that this obsession our society has with verbal repetition has anything to do with the problem of the tongue -- so clearly addressed in God's Word?

We are capable of using the art of conversation to wound with exacting precision and at the same time we read the thoughts in Proverbs without thinking twice of their application to our own life.

Here's a challenge: Practice testing the thoughts and ideas that you want to express in [any] conversation to determine if they are worth saying. As Christians, God's Word always takes precedence over society's consensus and unwritten rule on anything.

When it comes to the art of conversation, the book of Proverbs gives us unquestionalby clear direction and remarkable wisdom. The evidence of this wisdom will always be the restraint of our tongue: Our words will surely be kinder words . . . shorter words . . . and words that echo in the lives of the hearers and -- more importantly -- reflect Christ.

Here's the test:

♦ Always speak truth - Proverbs 6:16,17, 19

♦ Speak few words and speak wisely - Proverbs 10:19, 17:27, 29:11

♦ Good words can make people feel better - Proverbs 12:18, 25; 15:30

♦ Stop quarrels with soft words - Proverbs 15:1

♦ Speak out for justice - Proverbs 31:8,9

♦ Use words sparingly - Proverbs 10:19

♦ Are your words worth listening to - Proverbs 10:20

♦ Do your words nourish and instruct others - Proverbs 10:21

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen
© 2009 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

This installment of InOtherWords is hosted by Susan on her blog Forever His.

9:17 AM | 11 comments | Read More

And Her Name Is . . .

Meet Gracie Isabelle Goossen!

The Top Ten Eleven Names:

Ava

Belle/Bella

Gracie

India

Isabelle

Molly

Reah

Reilly

Sadie

Sheba

Tippy

. . . To each of you that suggested names here and on Facebook: "Thank You!"
Click HERE to see more pictures at Project 365!

~ Esthermay

11:17 PM | 8 comments | Read More

The Needs of Our Animals . . . (AKA Amazing Cat Rescue)

A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

~ Proverbs 12:10

~ Esthermay

* This is what we get for leaving our Christmas tree up after January 1st.

YouTube link if Blogger Video does not work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJntkLMnjac

3:13 PM | 21 comments | Read More

Facing The Winter Seasons of Life . . .

". . . Moving to Disney world is not an option. There will be tribulation; Jesus said so. But be of good cheer: He’s still in the business of guiding and strengthening and healing and overcoming. . .”
~ When the Glass Slipper Doesn’t Fit

by Claire Cloninger & Karla Worley

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Scripture -- often overlooked -- is a verse that brims with meaning and emotion. Reflect on these ancient words from the pen of Job:

“From the city men groan; And the souls of the wounded cry out”

~ Job 24:12

Slip into the landscape of this verse for just a moment: Beneath the loud splash of commotion and bustle in our homes and neighborhoods, behind the flurry of display and showi'ness in our churches and communities and cities, there are invisible, wounded, broken hearts --- souls aching from shattered relationships, illness, death, financial despair, crushed hopes, unforeseen disaster, hidden sins, shame, the list goes on and on. Job calls them groans.

In Hebrew, the word suggests that this groan comes from one who has been wounded. Perhaps this is why Job uses this very meaning in his poetic line: The souls of the wounded cry out. In this line, “wounded” comes from a term meaning pierced -- as if stabbed.

But . . . it is the soul (not the physical body) that is crying out! . . . because the deep hidden lacerations of the heart can be -- and are -- far more painful than a physical stabbing. Does this describe you today? Someone you know?

And why is this 'crying out' so often likened to a 'winter season' in one's life. Why is that?

Winter is more that just a season of the year . . . Here in Minnesota, it is a way of life for many (many!) months. And we do not escape to Disney World!

Hardly! Here's what we do: We wear turtlenecks and scratchy wool sweaters and coats and hats and mittens (and boots and scarfs and hand warmers and earmuffs and long thermal underwear and sometimes spikes on the bottom of our boots), and we make industry of our climatic condition: Snowmobiling, skiing, ice-skating, hockey, dog-sledding. The more foolish and irrational among us chose to support the Minnesota Vikings. Who knows why -- really. The cold air does something to our rational thinking processes.

For the most part, Minnesotans love winter! And if I've learned anything in North Country it is this: We cherish the Summer months because we know that Winter is inevitable.

In very much the same way . . . Jesus told us that we would inevitably face tribulation:

". . . In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

~ John 16:33

Winter most definitely speaks of barrenness: Icy shadows. Naked branches. Short days. Long nights. It is an ideal time to slow down in quiet reverence and remember that

“God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.”

~ Psalm 115:3

If you've been a Christian for very long you know that our lives here on earth are indeed God’s agenda. Not our own. If you are a mature Christian, you know that our plans and designs are actually laughable in God's grand plan for us and for His Kingdom.

Look at your own life today. Were there any designs ten years ago for the current state of things in your home and family? Be honest. Who in their proper mind would ever predict how life will turn?

But is God still working in your life? Can you look back and see His guiding hand throughout those last ten years?

If we're walking in fellowship with Him, His blessings and His agenda become more evident with every step we take -- despite what "season" we happen to be in at the moment. When the despair of a winter season has past, we are always wiser, stronger, and deeper in love with Jesus. Because He is most assuredly "still in the business of guiding and strengthening and healing and overcoming. . .”

Every Christian reading this post stands at a crossroads as this New Year - 2009 - begins to unfold. We can look backward or we can look forward. The backward glimpse is often devastating. It hurts. For many of us, unexpected circumstances and Satan's handiwork to injure and impair occupied and dominated a great part of 2008.

The good news is that God’s Word holds answers. The Word of God brings light and understanding to the perplexities and heartaches of life. BUT. . . the only way to discover these precious Scriptural principles to direct and sustain us in the winter seasons of life it to actually open our Bibles and read from it!

Oh! how sad it is to see Christians whose knowledge of God's Word is so obviously lacking. There is only ONE thing that will guide us through tribulations of this life -- the groanings that we will inevitable experience. It is God's Word!

Is it winter right now in this season of your life? Are you weighed down with feelings of confusion, depression, and loneliness? Do you feel forsaken, spiritually on hold, barren, cold?

There is absolutely no questioning it – our lives here on earth will always include winter. But, beyond the thick gray clouds of winter…is God! His agenda is miraculously greater than ours. And some days His Light just makes everything beautiful and shiny! Let HIS WORD be a blessing and a source of comfort to you in 2009!

Heartlight's Daily Bible Reading Plans http://www.heartlight.org/devotionals/reading_plans/

Bible Gateway's Reading Plans
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans/

BiblePlan's Reading Plans
http://www.bibleplan.org/

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

©2009 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

This installment of InOtherWords is hosted by Bonnie at Ink It Blog.
And. . . Yea! That's my front yard in the photo!

12:01 AM | 18 comments | Read More

The Newest Member of Our Family. . .Please Help Us Name Her!

On Saturday, January 10th, our family will drive west on Interstate 90 to the Martin County Humane Society in Fairmont, Minnesota to officially adopt "Gyspy," an eight-week old female black Labrador puppy.

"Gypsy" had surgery today to remove the tip of her tail due to an incident before arriving at the Human Society. She's doing fine and recovering with her foster family for the next few days.

Here's the problem: We need to name our new baby. "Gypsy" is the name the volunteers at the Humane Society gave her. And frankly, we all hate it!

When we lost our beloved Siberian Husky Dakotah (she died in October 2007), we knew we would someday have another dog. We just assumed it would be a male. Our new male dog's name: Boaz.

Here's as good as it gets for female names in the Goossen household:

Mark: Sheba

Esthermay: Sadie

Selah: Angel

Shepard: "We need a boy dog."

Comments PLEASE! Help us name our new baby! Our cat's name is Chloe and we'd like the two pets' names to sound good together. Any suggestions??

~ Esthermay

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