"Praise You In This Storm"

"Praise You In This Storm"
Lyrics by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now

God, you would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen," and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For you are who you are
No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find you

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"

And as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For you are who you are
No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of Heaven and Earth

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of Heaven and Earth

And I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For you are who you are
No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

Though my heart is torn
(Though my heart is torn)
I will praise you in this storm
(Praise you in this storm)

Teaching Children Responsibility

Good Job  !!

Teaching Children Responsibility  by Laurie Moulton

When my children were able to assume some responsibility (around age 3), I started adding in some basic chores like picking up your toys and putting them in the toy box.

As they grew, the more chores were added, and distributed amongst them, as they were able.  Being a single parent and working full-time, everyone had to pull their own weight.

For completing their assigned chores, they were given a weekly allowance (as in the real world, you work a job and you get paid for it).

As they got older, they could choose to save or spend their money. If they didn’t have enough money for what they wanted (and the request was reasonable, like some extra money to go see a movie or go shopping with a friend, or to buy a special item ), then they could ask for a loan; however, also, as in real life, the loan had to be paid back with interest—generally at 2%. If the loan was not paid on time, then items were repossessed until the loan was paid off.

I repossessed stereos, video games, CD’s, and at one time, a cell phone. My kids were angry that things were taken away, but they learned a very valuable lesson. This is how the real world works.

Now, as adults, they know how to live within their means and make wise monetary decisions. They all have great credit, and none of them has dug themselves into an extreme debt situation or had anything repossessed or foreclosed.

Yes, different circumstances and hard times befall many people, and there are things beyond our control like company layoffs, company closures, large-ticket items like cars and appliances that at times need repair, or a sudden illness, but this is why we live within our means and save what we can, so we are prepared when these things occur.

We don’t NEED flashy materialistic things that are the newest in fashion, technology, vehicles, or what have you. We need to be practical and buy that which we need to meet our needs.

It’s okay to treat yourself to something nice every once in a while, but spending beyond your means to obtain it, creates a deep and difficult hole that is very tough to climb out of.

       Sorry to say, I have witnessed this with way too many people.

There’s Only One Number 1

In today’s world, in several countries, including America, there is a societal push to win, to get out ahead, to be number one, to “have it all”, no matter what it takes.

Now, while striving for improvement and achievements are great goals that deserve being encouraged and worked towards, we need to be careful to discern the intent. Is it for personal growth and development, or is it to stand out to others in an effort to garner praise and focused attention?

Life on this earth is certainly not fair, because we frequently fall into humanity’s goals, desires, and perceptions —-who is the most popular, the smartest, the fastest, the strongest, the prettiest, the richest, the most favored by the boss or teacher.

The problem with this belief system is that it wreaks havoc on everyone. Everyone is in a race to the be the best. What happens is a false sense of security for those that do fall into “being the best” categories, and a lower self-esteem for those who don’t.

What often goes unrealized is that “the best” is just a temporary place. Tomorrow, next year, next decade, etc., someone else will be “the best,”  and those previously in those categories will quickly be dismissed as society’s new best honorees replace them. It is a very vicious cycle.

Now, let’s look at the above versus how we were originally designed:

God created man and then woman. He created man to have dominion over animals and the land. He created woman from the rib or side of the man.  This meant that she was to be beside him for support and encouragement—not above, below, in front, or behind him, but by his side.

Man was also given authority over the household, but with authority also comes responsibility. Responsibility as a leader, a role model, and a protector. Authority does not equal ownership, dictatorship, or absolute power over others. It does equal responsibility and rising to the requirements of the same. So, men and women were created each with their own individual roles and responsibilities, but to support and encourage each other side by side. No winners, no best, no number one.

God was already number one. “You shall have no other gods before me”—Exodus 20:2. This is made abundantly clear in many, many verses throughout the Bible.  "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'—Luke 10:27.

God knows us better than we even know ourselves. He knows our daily comings and goings. He knows how we work, how we behave, everything. His desire is that we serve Him and allow ourselves to let Him work through us, utilizing our God-gifts to the best of our abilities according to His purpose. What is the purpose? “Love one another as I have loved you.” —-John 13:34. Not to be the best in any category of humanity, but only to be the best you that you can be.

In the end, we are all His children and adored and cherished equally. We are all winners with no one standing at the top with a gold medal, certificate of achievement, trophy, riches, luxurious homes, cars, or otherwise.

Just beautiful, beloved men, women, boys, and girls, standing side by side in His sight and His heart.

All honor, glory, and praise be yours, oh Father Almighty. Amen

by Laurie Moulton 10/25/18

Finding peace in troubling times: by Laurie Moulton

 

Finding peace in troubling times:  by Laurie Moulton

This world can be a dark place many days. News reports of shootings, innocent lives being lost too soon, terrorist attacks, unrest, social and racial prejudices, and struggle are constant reminders that we live in uncertain times. Past hurts cling tightly, our present reality filled with pressures, the future may seem to loom with fear.

Many times we wonder, is finding peace in the midst of all this even possible?

One quote reminds us, “Peace. It doesn't mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.”

Another says, "No God, no peace. Know God, know peace."   And both are true.

Without knowing the perfect peace and calm assurance of God Himself, in this crazy, mixed up world, we will live always struggling to gain control; finding ourselves in the inner battle with stress and anxiety.

Yet focusing on God’s words can bring life to our souls, no matter what swirls around us on any given day. He is able to bring security, so we're not overcome with fear, or find ourselves sinking down into a pit of worry.

Jesus is the answer to our place of refuge. We can never fully escape all the mess this world may bring our way. We live in a fallen place. But in the midst of what life deals us, we can remain steadfast, strong.   We ask:  How?

Often, living a peace-filled life comes down to a choice. Choosing to come to Him, choosing to set our minds on His Word, choosing to trust Him no matter what, choosing to pray in all that we face, choosing not to be anxious, choosing to believe that He's always with us and in control, choosing to set our thoughts on those things that are true and right.

God reminds us in His word that peace will not naturally just come our way, He tells us to “Seek peace and pursue it,” Psalms 34:14.

Some may offer their own advice, “Get away for a few days, relax, be happy, take a vacation, tune out, just don't think about stressful stuff.”   Understand it is only temporary relief in a crazy, struggling world. Vain attempts to cover desperate places of our souls with superficial, external fixes.

But the peace God offers is vastly different. It's lasting, Confident, Real; Breathing deep reassurance in the midst of all that we face – past, present, or future.  Rising up against the fear that would seek to choke our lives. Bringing comfort and freedom. 

God's words give strength, purpose, grace. They alone are what can bring inner calm to a whirlwind of crazy.

Enjoy here: 13 Verses of Peace to Guard Your Hearts and Minds in Him:

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“The Lord gives strength to his people, the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.”1 Peter 5:7

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” 1 Corinthians 14:3

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

“…the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things…and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

“For He Himself is our peace…” Ephesians 2:14

“The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26 (one of my personal favorites)

No matter what we go through in this life, or what we're up against today, we don't have to be shaken.  We're safe with Him; At rest, At peace.

He sent His only Son, pure essence of Peace Himself, to give us lasting freedom and peace that only He can give.

(Pray this with me)  Dear God,
Our world is hurting and broken. We pray for those who have lost loved ones this week, please comfort them in their grief and loss, cover them with your peace and presence, as only your Spirit can do. 

We know that in whatever we face, you are our Peace and Refuge, a very present help in times of trouble. Thank you that you remind us throughout your Word, we do not face the storms alone, but you are always with us. Whispering calm. Speaking peace. Bringing rest to our souls.

We confess our need for you. We ask you to forgive us for trying to figure everything out on our own, for not trusting that you are more than able and powerful to work on our behalf. Forgive us for picking back up what we already determined to lay down at your feet. Give us the ability to trust you more, give us a heart that finds rest in your presence, give us the wisdom to seek peace and pursue it, remembering it’s only to be found in you alone.

Thank you that your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Thank you that you care for us. Thank you that the peace of your loving and strong presence guards and protects our hearts and minds in you. Thank you that we do not have to walk in fear or live in overwhelmed cycles of worry and stress.

Thank you for your voice that breaks through the greatest wind and storm swirling around us, and whispers “Peace, be still.”  Thank you that you sent your One and Only Son to set us free.  In the Mighty Name of Jesus,  Amen.

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, be with you always.

I Go to Prepare a Place for You

Our Sunday school lesson this week focused on John 14.

We began with a short history lesson of our modern day Bible as we know it.  Stephen Langton was a Catholic Cardinal, who was commissioned by the Anglican Church of England to be the Bishop of Canterbury (and later the Arch Bishop) during England’s break from the Catholic Church into Protestantism.

The Anglican Church of England is the Diocesan Head of the United States Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Ireland and Wales. With each country having its own Lead Bishop for the country, (Ours is Bishop Micheal Curry) and each sub-diocese its own General Bishop (ours for Northern California is Bishop Barry Beisner, who’s seat is at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Sacramento). In 1227 AD, Arch Bishop Langton divided the books of the Bible into the chapters and verse that we know today.

Another scholar of theology, in 16th century France, Robert Etienne (also known in Latin as Stephanus) was the first to actually print the Bible into the divided chapters and verse that we know today.

In 1560, the first mass printing of the Geneva Bible was completed. It was adopted by the Church of Scotland as their official Bible.

This version of the Bible is significant because, for the very first time, a mechanically printed, mass-produced Bible was made available directly to the general public which came with a variety of scriptural study guides and aids (collectively called an apparatus), which included verse citations that allow the reader to cross-reference one verse with numerous relevant verses in the rest of the Bible, introductions to each book of the Bible that acted to summarize all of the material that each book would cover, maps, tables, woodcut illustrations, and indices.

* * *

In John 13:31 through John 14:21, we read of the last Passover , which was marked by the first Holy Communion.
While Jesus was dying on the cross, the world was cloaked in darkness. The sun was eclipsed from noon until three in the afternoon.

Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44–45 state the darkness lasted three hours:  (Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.)

It was during this period of darkness that God Himself, turned His back on Jesus. The weight of the sins of the world on His son, - - it was too much to bear. Jesus cried, out Father why have you forsaken me?  The Heart of Jesus was broken and he gave up his spirit and died.

So we have journeyed through the Gospel of John from the Baptism of Jesus, to the teachings of Jesus, to the Last Passover, and to the crucifixion. We are left to ponder:
Is it the journey or the destination? Which is important?

You decide. But before discerning this, let’s look at the following versus:

Exodus 23:20 —See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.
God prepared a place for the Israelites. The place was Canaan. However, in order for Canaan to be their new land, the Israelites has to remain in obedience to God in overtaking the current occupants.
God also has prepared a place for us, but what must we do to get there?

This is our own, individual as well as corporate journey.

In John 14:1-2, Jesus comforts his disciples:
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

Here, we are told that we will have a place prepared for us. In Hebrew, the word for rooms is monai. This word is only mentioned in two places. In Israel, it was quite common, as families grew, to add on more rooms (often in an upwardly versus horizontally fashion), and so, we will have rooms of glory prepared for us, when our journey is complete.

In John 14:23, Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

So here, we also learn that through our love and faith and obedience to Jesus and the New Covenant, we will make our home with him at our journey’s end.

Hebrews 11:8-16 and 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. Also speak to both the journey and the destination.
It is through the journey that we gain experience and wisdom and learn through God’s guidance, discipline, testing of us, as well as His great love, mercy, and grace, and our own strengths, weaknesses, failures, and achievements.

It is through this journey that Jesus grooms us to be true and faithful disciples of the Word, so that we are well-deserving of and prepared for our final destination.
So, is it the journey or the destination? Which is important?
You decide.

 

What do You Want for Christmas?

 

 

The two questions I get asked every year after year after year:  "What do you want for your birthday and what do you want for Christmas?"

I know it irritated my kids when I would offer up the same reply every year, to each of these questions—-a clean house and peace and quiet. I have everything materially that I need, and am more practical than materialistic, so as long as the things I have fulfill my basic needs — roof over my head, food in the cupboards, clean clothes, comfortable shoes, and reliable transportation, then I’m good. 

 

I don’t NEED designer handbags, expensive jewelry, or the latest in fashion trends. It’s not about the price tag or the name on the label. For me, it’s about what’s practical, and back then, with 3 kids, what was practical to me, was a clean house and peace and quiet.

  

But times have changed, and the kids have grown and so have I.  So this year, I have a different reply. What I really want for Christmas is still practical but it’s not a one-time, because it’s Christmas kind of thing. It’s an everyday, 365 day per year request.

What I want all year round is the following:

-I want you all to know happiness, joy, and peace. Take one day (There are several to choose from. God gave us 7 each week.) and do something just for you. Let go of all worry, anxiety, sadness, despair. I know it’s hard, but you can do it. Doing something for yourself doesn’t necessarily have to be extravagant or expensive. It could be just closing your eyes for a few minutes and letting your mind drift to a wonderful memory, image, or thought that calms, comforts, and brings a smile to your face. 

- Please stop worrying so much. The future is still going to come. Tomorrow comes after each day. We can shape our future through our decisions and choices, but we can’t stop it from coming, or any hidden curve balls that may be contained in it. Ask yourself, is this really going to matter 5 years from now? If the answer is “no”, then let it go. If the answer is “yes”, then write out your plan and stick to it. Determination and follow through are key. Trust me on this one. I know.

-Do one act of kindness each day for someone else. Even if you’re having a miserable, rotten day, just do it. You’ll feel much better, and guess what? You’re day just got a little less rotten. This doesn’t have to cost anything either. Hold a door open for someone, offer to help out with the workload if you are able, give a genuine (never forced or fake) and sincere compliment or word of praise. Of course, if you do have the means, offer to pay for coffee, lunch, or dinner. What may seem like a small act to you, may be a huge blessing to another.

 

 

-Make time for others who are alone. Not everyone has a spouse or special someone that they share their daily life with. Go and visit your single or widowed friends. Your spouse or partner will survive one morning, afternoon, or evening, out of the average 30-31 days every month, without you for a few hours, and your single friend (s) will be grateful for the time you spend with them. It is very hard, sad, and lonely when you come home to no other human day in and day out, go out to eat alone, go to a movie alone, go shopping alone, and pretty much do everything alone because everyone else is too busy to make any time for you. Trust me on this one too, as I know it all too well. 

- Reconcile your differences with each other. We all have different opinions, different perspectives, different beliefs. Don’t let them destroy your relationships. Refer back to the 5-year rule. Is this all going to matter 5 years from now? Think about it. 

- Make a bucket list and do one thing on it each year. Take the risk. Do it. It’s not just a cliché, you really do only live once. 

- Learn something new every day. It’s amazing who your teacher will be—a parent, a close friend, a colleague, a small child, an elderly senior, a stranger in line at the store, the homeless person sitting on the corner, or your own enemies??? Yes, we can learn much in how not to behave from them.  

 

-Please put away the phone when listening to or spending time with each other. Be present for each other. 

 

- Write and send someone (yes, good old-fashioned snail mail) a heart-felt letter. It’s a beautiful and meaningful surprise for the recipient. Much more so than store bought items or gift cards, and will only run you the cost of a postage stamp.

 

- Pray. Pray in corporate worship. Pray together. Pray alone. There is much power in your prayers.
- Laugh, dance, and sing every moment you can. It’s ok if you have “2 left feet” or sing off tune. So what? Enjoy the moment.

-Parents: the work world will still be there in the morning. Pay attention to and lend that time to your children, for the time WILL come, when it’s not “cool” to hang out with your parents and friends tend take first place. It comes way too fast.

- Children (no matter your age): make time for and always respect your parents. They love and adore you and appreciate your time—even if it’s just a phone call. Strained relationship with your parent? Never stop trying. Reach out and let them know you are still there for them. Very difficult, I know, but be the bigger person and at least make the effort.
-Lastly, I want you to know that you are loved, you are worthy, and you are beautiful. You are welcome to visit, raid the fridge, vent, and call me any time (yes, ANYTIME) day or night. I will be here waiting. 
THIS is what I want not just for Christmas, but every day. For, if we can draw a little closer as family and friends and practice good will towards others at Christmas time, then we can do it at any other time as well. Why only one time per year? Christmas is for everyone, every day. It’s truly not about the tinsel, the lights, the expensive gifts or toys, the big table-filled dinner, or the how much one gets. It’s oh, so much more.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy life filled with blessings and joy, now and each and every day.