a word from Frances.....

"So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts." (2 Peter 1:19)

Has the morning star arisen in your heart yet?
It's a beautiful picture of the night sky gradually receding and rolling back from the approaching light of day. Slowly, gradually transitioning from night to day, something else occurs: before the dawn breaks, the morning star begins to shine its light on the eastern horizon. "It is a faithful herald of the coming day".
The morning star appears at the right place and at the right time to announce to those in darkness, "the sun/Son is coming, the day is soon at hand."
It appears as a herald while it is still night, for it can't be seen during the day.
Peter tells us the before the millennial "day of the Lord" dawns, in anticipation of Christ's return, the morning star shall rise in our hearts!
What does that mean?
I believe that just prior to Christ's return for His faithful, the actual spiritual "wattage" of God's presence will increase.
Of course, we know that such "light" does not emanate from us, it comes from our union with the Lord Jesus and it is worked in us through the Holy Spirit.
Over and over again, Jesus warned His followers not to become caught up in the world or weary in the battle. He told us that it is to those who overcome that will be given the morning star.
A day is coming before the rapture of the Church, before the second coming of Jesus, when those who follow Christ will be positioned, like the morning star - in the right place at the right time - and they will herald Christ's return.
If we don't allow ourselves to encumbered in the cares and issues of this world, if we remain faithful and true, a time will come when the presence of the Lord, like the morning star, will rise and be visibly seen upon us and the word of Isaiah shall be fulfilled:

"Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the Lord will rise upon you.
Nations will come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising."
_ Isaiah 60:1-3

we went-we saw.....

To celebrate LIFE(after almost 3 weeks of near-death experiences) our entire family went to see the much anticipated "2012".
We were breathless for nearly 2 and a half hours!
I mean this thing took us to the brink and back again over and over and over-it was so great-loved it....from an entertainment standpoint, come on, keep it in perspective, after all this is Hollywood, not the TRUTH project.
The special effects had me grabbing my seat and making sure on several occasions that the floor of the theatre was still there and hadn't fallen into the abyss and beyond.
And, I have to say they did a pretty good job of developing the characters so that when they died...you actually cared.
All in all one of our favorite movies of all time, honestly.
The only criticism I have is this: everybody knows(except Hollywood) that when planes fly into buildings, or terrorists hijack planes, or the economy goes into the crapper, people get scared and go to church....in hordes.
People, when scared, turn back to the Lord if they've turned away or they get closer to the Lord because all of a sudden negative circumstances causes our focus to shift back to what is really important, right?
So, here's a movie that depicts the END OF THE WORLD and there is not a word spoken through the characters dialogue of God, faith, church...NADA.
This shows how OUT OF TOUCH HOLLYWOOD REALLY IS to what is really important in life: a relationship with God, our relationships with our family, leaving behind a legacy of LOVE.
On a side note: this movie is NOT plausible!
I KNOW how it ends and....this is not even close....very nice try-great effects-WOW!
I slept like a baby last night, it didn't even affect my dreams which speaks to how unplausible that scenario really is.
So, go, enjoy-be entertained....while you still can......;0)

To sift or not to sift......

Here's my struggle...my area of weakness in this blog-world: writing things from my heart that contain a very clear message, usually given to me by God, without coming off condemning.
All of you write so skillfully and with such sensitivity to the reader, you are encouraging and uplifting which leads to wonderful introspection--Love that!
Not me- I go for the jugular(mine included).
I am very direct in my writing, I am a direct person, you know, a "cut-to-the-chase" "what's the bottom line?" person, but I know that I am much more sensitive in person because I respond to body language and facial expression, etc, which affects my directness.
So, when I am online- I am direct, however, I do want to encourage and challenge my readers, as well, just like the rest of you, and I want to cause positive self-examination---ALL with an under-current of LOVE-for that is my heart.
I do not wish to be a clanging symbol.
Anyhoo, on to my thoughts for Thursday.
I was talking to Tricia yesterday and she asked me how I was doing to which I responded, "Well, now I have the flu."
"Oh", she said, "so, are you sad?"
"No", I told her...then we talked a little more about her and her family, then we hung up.
I have pondered in my head over and over that little, tiny, insignificant, just-friends-checking-on-one-another conversation.
I'm not sure why she asked me if I was sad but, I think that what is bubbling inside of me that so desperately wants to escape is the overwhelming question:

WHAT DO I HAVE TO BE SAD ABOUT?

Yes, true, I have been sick for awhile....so what?
I am a child of the Most High God.
Yes, true, my husband has been sick, as well...so what?
God loved me so much that He made a way for me to be with Him for all eternity.
Yes, true, now my girls are sick...so what?
God promised that He would never leave me nor forsake me.
Yes, true, I have been isolated from friends/family and life for that matter....so what?
Someday, very soon, I will be with my Heavenly Father and the Heavenly Host will be praising His name and I will be part of that!
Yes, true, the maid has NOT come....so what?
The Lord lifts me up and calls me beloved.
It doesn't get any better than that!
And so I've learned to "pick my battles" by NOT sweating the small stuff, things that will NOT last, temporal things.
My new favorite song is one by "Kimber Rising":

"I don't wanna waste this time....I just wanna make this count...Let your LOVE be my guide cuz IF IT AIN'T YOU....I DON'T WANNA DO IT......"

will blog for comments....

really....

more evidence.....

I copied this article from Joel Rosenberg's blog-more evidence to the "end is near":


"An evil wind is blowing against the State of Israel and the Jewish people. This resolution — written by the Arab League — calls for a investigation of Israel for “war crimes” during the January 2009 Gaza war in which Israel was defending itself from some 12,000-plus rockets, missiles and mortars that had been fired by Hamas at civilian centers in southern Israel over the course of several years. Yet the resolution never even mentions the word “Hamas.” The resolution has no balance, no sense of fair play, and effectively denies that Israel has a right of self-defense, which is, in fact, a basic right affirmed in the U.N. charter. The resolution affirms the findings of anti-Israel and ultimately anti-Semitic Goldstone Report and recommends the Secretary General require the Security Council to take up the issue and condemn Israel. After all, the war crimes were committed by Hamas for firing rockets at civilians, for using civilians as shields in Gaza during the war, for using elementary schools, hospitals and mosques as military bases during the war. Yet the U.N. cares not one bit about such bitter truths."

Israel still has friends; Canada, Germany, US, Australia, Italy, Ukraine, and few more.
Please pray for Pres. Obama that he will stay soft on Israel and remain their friend and please pray that this resolution will not be voted in by the majority who seeks to dismiss/surpress Israel as a sovereign nation.
Woe to those who seek to divide Israel....

this just in.....

I'm hoping this little "tid-bit" will make you a believer.....

I found this on Joel Rosenberg's blog:
(He is a former aide to PM Netanyahu)

"The Cornerstone for the Third Temple, weighing 13 tons, that the Temple Mount Faithful Movement prepared to be laid on the Temple Mount and start the process of the building of the Third Temple, was carried by the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement as they marched from Ammunition Hill to the Temple Mount on "Jerusalem Day", 27 Iyar 5769 (21 May 2009). The holy Cornerstone was driven from Ammunition Hill to Jaffa Gate and along the western walls of the Old City to the downtown streets of Jerusalem and was presented to the people of Israel and to the entire world for the first time since the destruction of the Holy Temple in the year 70 CE."

This I found quite compelling:

"On their way to the Temple Mount the marchers demonstrated in front of the United States consulate in Jerusalem against the pressure that is growing from president Barack Obama and His administration to divide the land of Israel and to establish a foreign terror Arab state inside the sovereign Land of Israel given by G‑d in an eternal covenant only for His people Israel for a Holy purpose: to be a Holy nation, a kingdom of priests and a light to the nations (exodus 19;5-6) . They warned President Obama concerning his pressure to stop the Israeli settlements of the Land, to remove the settlements in Judea and Samaria and to divide Jerusalem the eternal Capital of the G‑d and the people of Israel. They called-out to President Obama: 'Take your hands off the Land of the G‑d and the people of Israel and off Jerusalem!' They warned President Obama to be careful of the divine judgment from the G‑d of Israel as the Prophet Joel prophesied: "For behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down in the valley of Jehosophat, and will enter into judgment with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and have divided up my land." (Joel 4:2)"

Are you getting it?
My Rapture Index says: fasten your seatbelts!
Now is the time to live like there is no tomorrow...
NOW GO TELL SOMEONE ABOUT JESUS!!!!!!
Love you.

;0)

Book Club update....

Yesterday, I hosted our ladies book club in which we discussed Glenn Beck's "Common Sense."
It was a delicious time of sharing ideas and speaking to our common concerns regarding the way this country seems to be embracing socialism, and the fact that our Constitution is being labeled irrelevant in this society, we spoke of the upcoming election process and what concerns us most, and what sort of future are we creating for our children?
It is always amazing to me how quickly time flies when you don't want it to....seriously, I could have done that all day...that is how good the company of those women is to me.
We are all very like-minded which creates wonderful intimacy and trust...it is so refreshing in this "gotta-go-don't-have-time-pulling-my-hair-out" society that we live in.
Interestingly, though, a common thread woven throughout was the idea that yes, we can identify the problems readily, however, what are we to do about them?
From there we discussed different ideas, different possible solutions, different ways of looking at the problems, etc.
What I got from all of that is this: we are all gifted in different ways, and God will equip us with the wisdom and knowledge to accomplish the solution.
Some of us are called to action.
Some are called to encourage those called to action.
Some of us are called to be prayer warriors.
Some of us are called to teach the younger generation.
Some are called to reach out to their neighbors.
Some are called to reach the masses.
God is the dream-giver and He will finish the work in us if we will allow Him.

"He who began a good work in you will complete it unto the day of the Lord."

This month we will be reading Sarah Palin's new book: "Going Rogue".
Come join in the discussion, we meet the first Monday of the month, and prepare to be challenged and encouraged, delighted and engaged.
Have a blessed day.

Todd Agnew is amazing in concert!
His voice, lyrics, music, he gives to the glory of God!
Amen, brother....you got it right!
Kimber Rising was such a refreshing surprise...they have brilliant harmonies!
Watch out Barlow Girl- here's comes Kimber Rising.