Be Careful Little Eyes...

(photo taken in 2004)

Last evening, I sat down at my computer and checked one of the national news sites. There I was confronted with the headline and accompanying gruesome pictures from the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, where over 100 have been brutally murdered. My stomach sank. I sat there motionless staring at the carnage depicted before me. Suddenly, Matthew appeared from upstairs. Not having time to toggle to a different web page, and not wanting him to glimpse the bloody photos, I snipped, "Matt, go back upstairs!" He immediately complied, but I felt the pang of having raised my voice to him, and his confusion at my doing so. I went quickly upstairs to seek him out, and he was playing and seemed to have forgotten all about it in a matter of seconds. I gave him a big hug and explained that he had not done anything wrong, but that I didn't want him to see a scary picture that was on the news.

At 6:00 this morning, Matt came into our bedroom and, like many mornings, crawled in between David and me. As he snuggled into my shoulder, my mind went back to India, and I held him closer. I know that I will not be able to protect him from the horrors of the world much longer. His innocence, and Emma's, right now is so precious. Matt and Emma's tender hearts turn away from all things scary or disturbing. Last year, we had to leave the latest Veggie Tales movie ("The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything") before the first scene was even complete, because Matt found the bad pirate zucchini too scary!! Emma could not watch "March of the Penguins" because the discovery that some of the penguins die in those desolate conditions was too much for her to bear. We laugh, but this morning I thought about the children who were surely witness, and perhaps even victim, to the terrorism in Mumbai, and how their little eyes should never have to see such wickedness. Their innocence has been brutally stolen from them, never to be regained.

This Thanksgiving morning, I thank God for many things. My country, where such attacks are rare. Our armed service men and women who put themselves into those gruesome scenes so that we are protected from them. For the innocence of childhood, and the hope of innocence one day restored through Christ. Advent is upon us when we celebrate Christ's first coming into this world. And I say, Maranatha, Lord Jesus! Return!

Went With the Wind

Sometimes, you just need a good laugh. The Carol Burnett Show was my favorite as a kid! Carol was totally my hero, and I mimicked her at school every chance I could, earning me the "Funniest in the Class" award in 5th grade! But enough about my glory days (groan). I wish they still made TV shows like this, but unfortunately, they, like this sketch, have "Gone With the Wind". So take 15 minutes to sit back and enjoy!


PART 1




PART 2

Pray for our Country!

Election Tuesday is just around the corner and I doubt there is anyone who thinks this election is not one of the most important in our lifetime. I urge everyone not only to get out and VOTE, but also to PRAY!

• Pray that God's will be done in this election!
  
• Pray that whomever gets elected will uphold our country's Constitution and not seek to reinterpret and rewrite it according to their own ideals and agendas!


• Pray that our new President will have wisdom on how to keep our country safe from our enemies who, make no mistake, want nothing more than to see America destroyed! By the way, our enemies have endorsed a candidate. Do you know who?


• Pray that laws that protect innocent life will be upheld, and more put into place! How can we as Christians support legislation that directly violates God's Law?


• Pray that the man God chooses to lead us will be a man of prayer, seeking God's perspective and will on all matters. May he be a man who understands and acknowledges the Christian principles this country was founded upon and seeks to stand firm on those principles, not giving in to special interests or clanging voices who shout "Rights and Tolerance!" when what they really want is approval of their sinful behaviors.
  
• Pray that our freedoms which were fought for with the blood of our founding fathers would be upheld! May we as Christians always be able to preach, witness, and raise our children without fear! Brothers and Sisters, do you know that in many countries (even in Europe) this is not the case? There are many in this country who would love to label the preaching and teaching of God's moral law as "hate speech."


• Again, pray that God's will be done, that He would be glorified, and that He would be lifted up once again in this nation which He has blessed so richly. May our Lord's hand of blessing and protection never be removed from us. Pray!