Palm Sunday 2003

I wanted to share with you a little bit about the upcoming holiday tomorrow and what it's significance means to me.

I had made a new friend at work that year and he seemed like he was always so full of joy. Back then I struggled with lack of joy. I asked him one day why he was the way he was and his straight forward answer slapped me in the face, but in a good way.  He said, "It's because of Jesus".  I had grown up in various churches and I had even been baptized when I was 10, but I had fallen away from the church for various reasons and never gave it a second thought. However, with a lot of turmoil in the previous couple of years at that time in my life, I had often prayed and thought about going back to church. I just didn't know where to start.  

So, I asked my friend where he went to church. He told me where he went when he was attending UNH, but that he was currently attending his parent's church.

That Sunday, I put on my best dress and went very early to the church.  My heart was beating in my chest and I was really nervous not knowing what the expect.  I walked into the doors of the downstairs of DEC and instantly I was calm.  This odd feeling came over me and I felt like I was supposed to be there. I hadn't felt that kind of peace in a long time in my life.  It was a bit overwhelming, like how silence can be deafening from time to time. 

I went upstairs into the sanctuary and sat in the very back row.  People smiled and said hello to me but no one asked me any questions or attempted to engage me in conversation-which I was glad for at the time.  As I looked around I realized I felt a little out of place as people started to flood the sanctuary.  I was really over dressed for the occasion. I guess I should have known this since half of the congregation were college students.  I fell in with the other half of older people who had dressed like I had when I was younger.  We always dressed up for church.

As the service started it was then that I realized it was Palm Sunday. I hadn't seen the reeds on my way in because I was so early to the service. A few minutes into service we all started singing Hosanna and the little kids had come up and were waving palms through the sanctuary. I felt myself overwhelmed and started crying, but although I was crying there was still this sense of peace and belonging.  

That Palm Sunday, which was April 13th, 2003 was the beginning of my journey back to God and what has shaped my life since. Every Palm Sunday I tear up thinking of that day and the little kids waving their palms are now mine. 

As a side note, 13 is my favorite number and always has been. Now I guess it has even more significance for me.

I also started to dress more comfortably the next Sunday for Easter and every Sunday after that.  Realizing that God wants to know our hearts, not our clothes. 

Ever wonder about Palm Sunday, here's a cool Explanation of Palm Sunday.

My favorite Palm Sunday song is Shout Hosanna by Passion ft Kristian Stanfill

If you want to know more about Palm Sunday and Easter and want a visual tool I would suggest watching The Passion of the Christ, but make sure you have a box of tissues with you.  Even if you aren't sure you are a believer, this one will tug at your heart strings a lot and if it doesn't then maybe you aren't ready to hear the Good news.

Until next time!  Always in awe of the cross and His sacrifice.

Matthew 21: 7-11
They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Thankful for Community

Community comes in all shapes and sizes and is unique per person.

For me, my community starts with my husband.  He is first and foremost my brother in Christ, then my husband and best friend. 

Then it fans out from there.

One of the most important communities is with those we share the same belief system. The bible calls us to worship together, to have fellowship with one another.

There are plenty of people in my community of believers that I don't have much in common with, but there is always one thing I can count on, their belief in Jesus. We may differ politically, socially, economically, even in age, but in the end our belief in Jesus is what brings us together.

If you don't have a church you attend, you really should start looking for one. If you don't have a small group of people to study the bible with, you should look into that as well.  

As an introvert, it is really hard to want to get together with a lot of people. I force myself into things that make me uncomfortable because I know that God loves me and has plans for me, that includes being disciplined to obey his commands.

Matthew 18:20
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Remembering 9/11 among Hurricane & Fire Devastation

I felt led to write a little something about remembering 9/11 as well as the current state of my country with all the hurricane and wild fire destruction going on.

I personally didn't know anyone directly affected by the 9/11 attacks.  I do know where I was when it happened and how I felt.   I was at work when it happened, when someone ran into the office area to tell us all. We all filed into the cafeteria where the news was playing to see what was going on.  The feeling of tense quiet in the room was crazy. It felt like every nerve was on fire and no one knew what to do.  We were all waiting to see what was happening.  I had to pull myself away after a little while to pull myself together and threw myself into my work, because quite frankly I didn't know what else to do.  At that time I wasn't attending a church, I did believe in God but I wasn't actively seeking him.  I was walking in the wrong direction.  That day was sobering. It made me angry and sad, it made me pray and cry.  Back then I knew about terrorism but not at this magnitude.  I had such anger toward these people that caused the attack.  I had fear and frustration, not knowing what to do next and I was safe and comfortable and not directly affected by it.  But, I think every American can say they were affected by it in someway. It was an attack on my country.  I certainly wasn't praying for the people who did it, those left behind from their deranged group or even their people group at the time.  I didn't know the difference.

As I grew in my Christian faith (especially this year with my series on How to Pray for Muslims during Ramadan, Followup 1, How to Pray for ISIS-Followup 2 & Wrap Up on How to Pray for ISIS) I found myself understanding radicalism within different religious organizations.  I found myself no longer grouping people into people groups for this type of reason.  Rather I saw people as God see us all, as children of God-if you accept him into your heart.

My husband and I took a trip through NYC in 2014 and we made sure to visit the Memorial, this picture below doesn't do it justice.  The sheer awesomeness of the gaping whole was humbling and made me shiver with thoughts of what those people must have gone through.  We took a walking tour where they showed us the the memorial for the firefighters that gave their lives in their efforts to assist others.  As well as St Paul's Church that wasn't touched during the whole thing, where people came to volunteer after
the attacks.

In the world we live in today it's hard not to see the violence when we are surrounded by it almost daily.  If we personally aren't affected, we see it splattered all over the news. And if violence from terrorism wasn't enough, it's among our own.  Racism, hatred, division.  The video and song below: We all Bleed the Same spoke so much to me the other day about division and hatred.  Listen to the lyrics, they are amazing and full of truth.

While remembering 9/11, our country was in the midst of cleaning up after Hurricane Harvey in Texas & Louisiana and trying to batten down the hatches for Hurricane Irma in Florida and all those islands to it's South.  I do have to say through it all it's interesting how when tragedy strikes we seem to stop thinking about color and differences and pull together as a nation to help one another.  

Could it be coincidence that it happened?  Sure.  

Could it have been intentional for God?  I know some of you are cringing right now.... Yes, He could have sent those Hurricanes, we've seen destruction at his hand before in the bible.  I know that we would like to think that he wouldn't do something as devastating as this, I know I struggle with this, but the Bible is full of examples of it.  

Could it be global warming?  Sure, I am guessing that due to the fact that we trash our world on a minute by minute basis that we are going to end up with some serious consequences.

What I say though, is that no matter the cause, the result is people helping one another. We don't have time to fight with each other when we are reaching out a hand to pull people from destruction.

If you would like to help in the wake of these recent hurricanes and don't know what to do?

1. Ask your church if they are doing anything special with other local churches and maybe pairing with some churches in the affected area.

2.  There are ways of going to help if that is something you want to look into under Convey of Hope Field Teams

3.  You can donate your money and/or blood to the American Red Cross

3a. Now, here you might be saying to yourself "I don't have the extra money."  Read my blog here on making a budget before you donate.

4.  You can also donate to a Christian based Charity called Convoy of Hope

5.  Last but not least, pray for the people affected by these tragedies.  Think about what it would be like to be in their shoes and pray for them like you would pray for yourself or people close to you.

Remember 

Even though you may think your one time donation, your monthly donation, your prayers, your blood donation isn't enough, IT IS!  These people are in for the long haul. If you gave $5.00 a month to one of the above charities for a year or more that would make a difference.  Because you aren't the only ones who can't do much.  If 100,000 people donated $5 a month, that would be 1/2 Million dollars a month!!!!!!!  For a yearly commitment would bring it to 6 Million in a year.  That's a lot of help.  Pray and Think about it!

I'll leave you with this:

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Movie Review: Instant Family PG-13+

I think you all know how much I love to watch movies.  I try to watch things that I can review here, things that make me contemplate life and the world and stretch me in ways I am not normally stretched in my day to day routine.

I've never felt the tug to adopt, but I know others who have felt the desire to and have.  So, when a movie comes out that is PG-13 and deals with this subject I gravitated toward it.  Who doesn't like Mark Walberg, right? Yeah, I know, a lot of people don't. 

Anyway, I laughed and cried a lot throughout the movie.  It was funny where it needed to be and serious where it needed to be.  HOWEVER,  ....  Yeah, holy moly have some language.  I guess I should have looked up the reviews online like I do with a lot of movies whem I am unsure of it's content.  I just didn't think it would be that bad with this specific subject matter.  Here are the reviews from 2 of my favorite sources:

Common Sense Media review
Focus on the Family Plugged In Review

It really was a lot of unnecessary language in the movie.  I was a bit surprised. I mean I shouldn't be surprised seeing the state of our culture these days. Most of the time, although I am put off my bad language, it doesn't bother me.  I think the subject matter in this movie didn't warrant the types of language there was.  

My opinion is that it's a decent movie in a lot of ways, but it isn't for kids and I probably wouldn't even show it to teenagers either.  I would consider it an adult only movie.

I wrote a post a little while ago about a charity we support that works with adoption.  You can check out the post here.

Interested in a post about how I feel about movies you can check that post out here.

Adoption and/or fostering is something that we need to keep on our hearts in one form or another.  We are called to care for widows and orphans.  This will look differently for each of us.  Prayer, Financial Support, Community programs, actual fostering and/or adopting. 


James 1:26-27
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world

Movie Review: Indivisible

I have to be honest, I've had a rough summer and let my writing go by the wayside for some time now. But, sometimes when we need it the most, we need to slow down and just care for ourselves in a way that means shutting some other things out for awhile.  So, that's what I did.  I got this movie from Netflix in April.  I started watching it and it was so dramatic that I just needed to put it away until I was ready to watch it some more.  Sometimes, that means being ready for a drama in a way that you'll be able to be moved by it.

So I told myself that I wasn't going to send it back until I watched it, so I watched it in the afternoon of the first day of school. I took some time for myself that day in the morning and then after lunch I finished the movie.  I'm very glad I did.  It was a great movie about family, faith and perseverance through hard times. But, it also shows that family requires work, like any relationship you want to keep intact.

Here is a video about the movie that might peak your interest if you already aren't, labeled The Heart of Indivisible.

Another thing that really gives this movie an edge up is the acting, like a lot of Christian films the content is great but the acting is lacking, but this film has a lot of established actors who do an amazing job with all the emotion that the film needed.

This is based on a true story, which I didn't know going into the movie.

See it, it's worth it, but make sure you have tissues and make sure you are in the right mind set for something this dramatic and emotional.

When life throws you struggles it is hard but, Sometimes you just gotta have faith.....

4th of July, America's Independence Day, Are YOU really free?

Do you know the history of the 4th of July in America?

Here is a link that talks about the history of the day we declared our Independence from England, dissolved our political connection the State of Great Britain and absolved all allegiance to the British Crown.

This is a definition of Independence:

Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over the territory. The opposite of independence is a dependent territory. Independence does not necessarily mean freedom.

This is a part of the definition of Freedom:

The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

What is true freedom in Christ?

This is a really great link that talks about what freedom looks like from a biblical perspective.

During this day of celebration of independence for our country do we think about our personal freedom, what makes you free?  

A lot of us, me included, are slaves to things of this world.  Money, electronics, family, entertainment, ministry, my own thoughts and feelings, etc.... this list could be never ending in our world of freedom and independence. 

Have you ever looked up the definition of slave? There is the obvious one most of us think about:  a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.

BUT, the one I am referring to is this one: a person who is excessively dependent upon or controlled by something.   Yowsa!  That's a doozy!

Here is a rather lengthy bible study on the topic, but the context is this:  Do not be a slave to sin, rather be a slave to righteousness through the Holy Spirit.

We are all walking our own paths, have you taken a wrong turn?  It's never too late to turn back, it might seem a little scary at first but true freedom in Christ can overcome the world.

Want a little more historical information?  

If you want to learn more about the Declaration of Independence here is a great link to a Khan Academy video.

For more information about the Constitution you can visit this website, where it's interactive.

Of course, some interesting facts from the History website, even talks about fireworks.

Looking for some 4th of July music?

If you want to see the most played songs 2015-2016 on the 4th of July here is a link.


John 16:33
“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.”

USA Flag Day-Do you wave the Red, White and Blue proudly?

As a kid I remember always saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in school. I also remember learning to be respectful to the flags we were given.  It seems to me that somehow we've lost that respect for a symbol that means so much to our freedom. People burn the flag now out of protest.  Protest for what? Your freedom to do whatever you want?  Just because we have the freedom to do such things doesn't make it respectful.  

I don't want to rant to you about this too much.  I want you to remember why the flag was created to begin with, share when Flag Day was born into a national holiday and ask you to join with me in remembering all those who have fought for this symbol of unity of our great land.

Here is an interesting article about Flag Day.

If you haven't seen the exhibit at The National Museum of History in Washington, DC here is a link to check out The Star Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired our National Anthem.  Here is a cool video about the creation of the Anthem.  Google Star Spangled Banner and you get some seriously talented musicians singing it.  I don't know what my favorite one is, but you better believe that every time I hear and sing it , it chokes me up a bit.  

Here's another cool website for Patriotic songs.

So, next time you see the Flag flying high above, think about the symbol that it is and all those who served and are still serving to make this country safe and free.

I also encourage you that if you are an American to Thank God for all our freedoms, and if you aren't and you are reading this, I encourage you to pray for your country.  As Americans we often times don't understand the freedoms we have and we take them for granted.  


1 Peter 4:10-12 


10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.