A Sad Anniversary - Part 1

Forty years ago this week, Roe vs. Wade became the law of the land.  Since then, 55 million babies have been aborted.  Today, I read the following statement:

If we honored each baby 

aborted since 1973

with a moment of silence,

we would be silent for

100 years.

My heart is grieved over those little ones who never had the chance to grow up.  Who would they have been?  What would they have done?  We will never know.  

I watched a video from Planned Parenthood today that just turned my stomach. A handsome young man, dressed in a tux, holds a red rose and talks about celebrating "our" anniversary (Roe vs Wade).  He speaks in a smooth, sexy voice in a seductive way, like he's wooing a lover.  But his tone is one of a player who uses women for his own lust.

As I watched the video, I saw the evil one (satan) personified.  He knows how to make sin looks so good, so inviting, and such a cool thing to do.  I know that's what he did to the women who aborted their babies.  He lied to them.  He told them their lives would be better. Sadly, their lives have to be worse, because you reap what you sow.  The sin can be forgiven, but the consequences can never be erased. The abortion not only hurts the baby, but also the woman, the father and grandparents...if they know.

I've read reports of the long-term effects of abortion on these who've been deceived.  They suffer depression, anxiety, and a variety of other emotional disorders.  As much as they desire to say "it" was just a "clump of cells", in their hearts they know the truth.  Denial of that reality leads to a troubled mind and troubled emotions.

Our merciful G-d stands ready to forgive these women and give them hope.  A key to freedom from the guilt and pain is to admit the truth:  abortion is murder.  Murder is sin.  But there is hope.  Yeshua's  grace and blood will cover and forgive the sin for those who repent and turn to Him.  Lives can be rebuilt and hearts healed through His love, forgiveness, and by living according to His Word.

I also read this week that Norma McCorvey (aka Roe), the woman on which this case was built, has vowed to spend the rest of her life working to overturn the law.  Most people don't know that she never had an abortion, and says the court case was the worst mistake of her life.
 
She concludes the 60 second ad with the words: “You read about me in history books, but now I am dedicated to spreading the truth about preserving the dignity of all human life from natural conception to natural death.”

My prayer is for Roe vs Wade to be overturned, and for Americans to agree with G-d's view of abortion.  I will continue to put feet to my faith by working to share the truth about abortion, and to work toward ending abortion on demand in America. 

Please read the follow up to this post:  A Sad Anniversary - Part 2.

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My Prayer Place - Part 2

Prayer Request Cards at My Prayer Place

During my youngest daughter's teenage years, I often spent whole days praying at My Prayer Place  while she was in school.  The prayer chapel has a team of dedicated prayer warriors who pray over the written requests left in the room.   I, too, wrote prayer requests related to my daughter's problems.  Many of the cards were blurred by the tears that flowed as I wrote.

The teen years were rough and rocky, but we made it through with flying colors.  My prayers were answered. The rebellious teen developed into a beautiful G-dly young woman. Below are pictures of my daughter and her husband, eleven years later, praying together on their wedding day.   They went to My Prayer Place to pray together because they, too, had prayed there many times.

The joy I feel when I look at these pictures cannot be expressed unless you know about sowing in tears and reaping with joy.  The pictures from their wedding day were taken in 2005.  The picture of the baby is my grandson, who was born five years later, and after four miscarriages.  More joy and tears come when I look at this picture.

Sometimes prayers take time.  My daughter didn't marry young, and I'm so glad she waited.  Her husband is the answer to many, many prayers and he is a wonderful man, husband and father.   He was worth the wait.

My prayers for a grandchild took time, too.  My daughter (and all of us) suffered four miscarriages before the birth of their son.  He, too, was worth the wait.  He is the joy of my life.

Sometimes we pray and wait, but G-d is good.  Just as in gardening, we sow seeds and then we wait.  Joy comes when those seeds bear fruit.  The germination process through the reaping of the fruit is sometimes a long wait.

Last spring, we planted pepper seeds.  Those plants did not bear fruit until September.  I almost gave up and thought about pulling them out by the roots, because I thought they'd never bear.  Since the fall, however, the plants have continuously born fruit, and still have blooms coming out.

I have learned prayers are sometimes the same.  We pray.  Sometimes we pray and weep because we think the prayer should be answered immediately. Our Heavenly Father does know best.   He hears our prayers, and answers them in His own time and in His own way.  I know from personal experience, through many years and many tears, that He does all things well.  May His Name be praised for ever.
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You may enjoy reading Part 1 of My Prayer Place

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G-d Knows

My tattered copy of Streams

A book I've used for over 40 years

Since the early 70's, I have enjoyed the daily devotional Streams in the Desert,** by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman.

Yes, the language is quite old-fashioned, but I find it precious and enjoy it immensely.  The devotionals often use poetry, and those poems have been a great influence on my own poetic pieces.








The following devotional deeply touched me. I hope it encourages you, dear readers.

(I have taken the liberty to change the name of G-d to reflect my honor and respect of His Holy Name.  I've also made some personal observations at the end.)

G-d Knows

"He knoweth the way that I take" (Job 23:10).

Believer! What a glorious assurance! This way of thine--this, it may be, a crooked, mysterious, tangled way--this way of trial and tears. "He knoweth it." The furnace seven times heated--He lighted it. There is an Almighty Guide knowing and directing our footsteps, whether it be to the bitter Marah pool, or to the joy and refreshment of Elim.

That way, dark to the Egyptians, has its pillar of cloud and fire for His own Israel. The furnace is hot; but not only can we trust the hand that kindles it, but we have the assurance that the fires are lighted not to consume, but to refine; and that when the refining process is completed (no sooner--no later) He brings His people forth as gold.

When they think Him least near, He is often nearest. "When my spirit was overwhelmed, then thou knewest my path."

Do we know of ONE brighter than the brightest radiance of the visible sun, visiting our chamber with the first waking beam of the morning; an eye of infinite tenderness and compassion following us throughout the day, knowing the way that we take?

The world, in its cold vocabulary in the hour of adversity, speaks of "Providence"--"the will of Providence"--"the strokes of Providence." PROVIDENCE! what is that?

Why dethrone a living, directing G-d from the sovereignty of His own earth? Why substitute an inanimate, death-like abstraction, in place of an acting, controlling, personal Adonai?

How it would take the sting from many a goading trial, to see what Job saw (in his hour of aggravated woe, when every earthly hope lay prostrate at his feet)--no hand but the Divine. He saw that hand behind the gleaming swords of the Sabeans--he saw it behind the lightning flash--he saw it giving wings to the careening tempest--he saw it in the awful silence of his rifled home.

"The L-rd gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the L-rd!"

Thus seeing G-d in everything, his faith reached its climax when this once powerful prince of the desert, seated on his bed of ashes, could say, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." --Macduff

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I agree with the author, when she asks, "Providence?  What's that?"  I also feel sad when people give credit to "the universe".  I have a loving Father who is very involved in my life and with whom I communicate daily.  I see His hand moving in my life in every circumstance of every day, no matter how joyous or painful.

Having lived over sixty years, I have been through many fires of affliction and trial myself, so I identify with and relate to my ancestor, Job.  I, too, have learned to say,  "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him"  and  and "The L-rd gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the L-rd!"

I did not learn this over night, believe me.  There have been times I've thought, L-rd, what are you doing?  Can this be right? I don't understand why you have allowed this.  But over time, as I have seen all things work together for my good, I know Him to be a kind, loving, tender Heavenly Father, and have learned to trust all His dealings with me. 

****  

**My first volume of Streams was discovered at a garage sale.  That copy was read daily, and completely worn out, so I purchased another used copy.  I've made many notes in both copies, and I treasure them as a sort of journal of my walk with the L-rd over the last 40 years.    My second copy, too, is now falling apart, so I'm looking for another.  I want an old (antique) version, as both of mine were published over 50 years ago.

Recently, I was delighted to find the Streams devotionals  at CrossWalk on line,  because now I can not only read them online, but also share them with others. I can't tell you how many times I have made copies of a day's devotion to give or mail to a friend, and this will make it so much easier.   Here is the link, and I hope you enjoy and are blessed by this daily devotional as much as I:  http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/desert/

Shalom Y'all!

Linking up with my friends today at:

Sharing His Beauty

Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Teach Me Tuesday

Homestead Abundance Tuesdays #4
Titus 2 Tuesday 

Domestically DivineTuesdays

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A Wise Woman Builds
Cozy Book Hop
 Thankful  Thursdays
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and Spiritual Sundays