Another story, one we've all heard before, but maybe different side

Have you ever read something that you get one side of the story? That side was the only one you've heard all your life and soon you believe there is nothing else new in that story? I am beginning to learn, even year after you study the scriptures or a particular story there's usually always another side.

If you do not mind, I'd love to invite you to an old, old story. One even the littlest child has probably heard. It's the story of the Lost sheep. Please, join me as I write out the story.

Now the tax collectors and the "sinners" were all getting around to hear him. But the Phariseees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them"

Then Jesus told them this parable: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. THen he calls his friends and neighbors together and says 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety- nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 15

I have been told many times the story up to a point. So many times I have been told " The shepherd rejoiced over the 1 lost sheep over the ninety- nine who were not lost," I believe it be true.

If just one person accepts Jesus Christ, there is GREAT rejoicing in heaven. Trumpets are probably blown, angels shouts, and I have this vision of God actually getting up and dancing. I'll have to ask Him if He really does do that, but I think He does. God rejoices over just one sinner who come accepts Jesus Christ over the ninety-nine.

Here what I am trying to get to. Please take note of the beginning of the scripture and the very last sentence. Now the tax collectors and the "sinners" were all getting around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them" The last sentence, I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety- nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Do you see the connection? The Pharisees and the teacher's of the law were in that parable. The verse states "...There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents over ninety-nine righteous persons who do need to repent. That one person accepted Jesus who is grace. He was free to live, a clean slate wiped to start over. The ninety- nine (pharisees) who did not need to repent , there were no rejoicing over.

I don't know what to write really. My mind is musing over many things. Over responsibilities I must do and over the things I must study. Right now, all I want is to mull over thoughts aimless thoughts perhaps. Just write even if its not important.

Have you ever noticed the blue sky? Just stare at it, how in the middle of the sky it is the bluest. Toward the ends no matter which directions you look, north, east, west, or south it fades to the palest blue or grey? Did you ever wonder why God made the sky blue?

I love listening. To me listening is not granted to you, listening...hearing is a privilege. the rain drops falling on rooftops. The wind singing as it twirls around me. Birds twittering their glad songs. My mom telling me "She is glad that I'm hers and she loves me" My Dad saying "I'm proud of you" My sibling laughter. Most of all...I hear my Beloved voice.

Of late I've been pondering grace. How I long to get it! No matter how hard I've tried it doesn't seem that I have even grasp what grace is. My Pastor has preach for many a weeks now on the subject of grace. Yet, it seems I can hardly get it. I want to. Grace? What is Grace? How do you receive grace? Well...I know for a fact with faith come grace and from grace comes healing. Jesus and Grace goes together, they can not be separated. Jesus is grace. Who is Jesus? The Son of God. The son of God? He is life. Grace... freedom. The ability to be free. Grace is the opposite of Legalistic. There's no list to make with Grace. Grace? For a five letter word grace gives a much deeper meaning than it appears.

Mercy...to forgive. Extended grace...to be saved or to save. Does mercy go with grace? My mind is wandering. I want to get so much what my Pastor is excited...no thrilled about! I long to understand. I pray that I may grasp the understanding of grace fully.

Forgive me if my writing is barely readable . My fingers have longed wanted to write, and my heart is heavy and yet light. Sometimes it is good to let random pondering thoughts peek out through the busy seasons. I hope next time my thoughts will be more organized, but tonight I just had to share.

My Best Friend

Today, is my dearest Kate's birthday. Two and Twenty years old, brown hair beauty has the prettiest blue eyes you'll see. This gorgeous woman of God is one of my dearest friend and I am so glad that she is my sister! May God bless her on this day!

A quote from Leaves of Gold

A world without a Sunday would be like a man without a smile, like a summer without flowers, and like a homstead without a garden. It is the joyous day of the whole week.
~Henry Ward Beecher

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre...
~Luke 24:1

A newspaper clip

Normally I don't read newspapers. There are only 3 reasons if I do. 1, for comics and puzzles ( I am sucker for comics especially Archie's) 2, cheap sales/coupons and 3, for jobs. At any rate, My grandparents have a newspaper subscription in which I eagerly go for the comics and puzzles. My eyes caught a Dear Annie clip. Since it was Thanksgiving I decided perhaps this time there will be something good, I'll learn something from this. I'm glad I did. Here down below is a clip from Dear Annie...please enjoy.



From Annie herself:



Today is Thanksgiving. We hope you are lucky enough to be spending the holiday with loving family and friends. Here's one of our favorite Thanksgiving pieces author unknown:

Thanksgiving Prayer,

We come to this table today, O Lord, Humble and thankful and glad. We thank thee first for the great miracle of life, for the exaltation of being human, for the capacity to love. We thank Thee for jobs both great and simple- For wonder, dreams, and hope; For the newness of each day For laughter and song and a merry heart; For compassion waiting within to be kindle; For the forbearance of Friend and the smile of a stranger, for the arching of the earth and trees and heavens and the fruit of all three; For the wisdom of the old; for the courage of the young; for the promise of the child; for the strength that comes when needed for this family united here today of those to whom much is given, much is required. May we and our children remember this. A-men



Dear Annie: I lived on the streets of Los Angeles from 2001 to 2003. I won't go into reasons why, but I didn't think I could go home. The ravages of homelessness took their tool on my eye-glasses pretty quickly. One of the earpieces was missing and a lens kept popping out. It was terribly demoralizing. People are less apt to give you opportunities to better yourself when you go beyond a certain point in appearance. I was ready to give up.

One day on impulse, I stopped into an eye wear boutique on Melrose Avenue. It was a nice store and I was bedraggled, so I expected to be immediately escorted out the door. That didn't happen. I asked the lady behind the counter how much it would cost for me to purchase on earpiece. I braced myself for a sarcastic comment, but instead she asked me to have a seat. She came back in about 5 minutes and said, "Try these one. Do they fit?" And then she handed me a brand now pair of frames. I stammered that I couldn't afford them and she replied, "don't worry, sweetie. You don't owe me anything."

I began to cry. She made a few adjustments and never flinched away from me in spite of my obvious need of a shower. She was kind enough to give me a drink of cold water. She even hugged me before I left.

I don't know the woman's name and cannot remember the name of the shop, but for years I've wanted to thank her for helping restore my dignity and preserve my safety. She also reminded me that there are wonderfully people in the world who don't judge you, based on your appearance or circumstances.
I give her much credit for my getting off the streets because shortly after that, I regained the courage to turn my life around. I'm now a wife and mother to a beautiful little boy, my family is speaking to me again, and I'm about to graduate from college.
Ma'am, if you're reading this, God bless you! Your kind gesture saved my life. I've been and will continue to paying it foreword to others in need, and you will be in my heart forever.
-I can see clearly now

There's not much I can say. Every time I read this clip, I sit in awe and with tears in my eyes. We do have the power to make a difference...the question is are we willing? Will we get outside of ourselves and reach out to others? Will we look past our comforts to look for those who need our help whether it is obvious or not? The choice is yours. What decision will you make?

A last glance at 18 years before tomorrow

Wow. Nearly a year has gone by. Tomorrow I will wake an eighteen year old and go to bed as a nineteen year old. The fact whether I like it or not, my birthday is nearly here. I wish time would stand still for a moment, but that is a hopeless wish. Like every night before my birthday arrives, I sit and ponder what I have learned.
Last year I had my birthday in Honduras. 20 or 30 people sung to me. For the first time I had little Debbie's as my cake for my birthday. Mom and Dad brought two gifts (Kate brought me two one a beautiful yellow rose which was brought quite recently and scotches which I have yet to find)...a happy camper cap and my all time favorite Archies Comics. That was it. You know what? It was perfect. That was it. My birthday entailed being embarrassed by singing people ( which shall remain foevere in my memeory and I'm so glad they sung), little Debbie's, and gifts. I wouldn't change a thing other than the fact I'd wish Chris would have come.
The law viewed me as an adult. The problem was...until recently I saw myself NO where near as an adult. To some degrees I still don't. Yet, I look back and see how far I've come.
I went on my 1st mission trip. For three months I took care of the house and family. Started college. Went to a prom with a guy. Yes...I actually agreed to go to a prom as friends with a guy. My 1st outing so to speak with a guy except to give boys rides back and forth to destinations. I've taught two classes in Jubilee Shores ( kid's church); the first time with an adult who was just there to help, and the second I taught by myself. Started my blog. Took pictures for a wedding. Asked to take pictures for a wedding down in Flordia. Crochet my first adult blanket and 2 baby blankets. House/pet sit for a week. The list goes on, but I shall stop here. All of these are my "1st".
I've had to think a lot of my future. Now I have a good idea of what will happen. But of course, I am prepared if God say nope! I want you to do something else. This has been the only year that I've had to think a lot of the future, more than I care to actually. But I must be perpare and not forget to enjoy today for "today".
For my birthday, I'll have homemade soy icecream. Mom's allgery won't allow her to have dairy prodects much. Until evening comes, it'll be me and mom. Chris works, and Dad works. Last year I had a brother who did not come to my birthday. This year, my best friend and sister will be for the first time will not be attending my birthday. It's hard to imagen my sister not being there. But I know she'd be here instead of Chili if she could. At least we'll be able to celebrate her birthday together and on the beach too which will thrill me.
So I have the most blessed oppertunity to have mom for my birthday. What a gift! Tomorrow is going to be a wonderful, incrediable day. Despite I want something very different...like actually have friends my age over, I'll take time with mom any time. The best part...is my Father will be here celebrating.

Reflections of Daniel and King David

Last Wednesday, as I was getting to leave for house sitting for the night I took a glance at my mom. She was doing Beth Moore's devotions. My eyes caught the name Daniel. Daniel...had been long my favorite name and book of the bible. I always wondered why? What was about Daniel that I loved? Mom and I fell into a conversation about the men of the bible and how God used them.
I did not relate to Moses, Abraham, Elijah, Elisha, as well as I did Daniel and David. To be sure I learned much from the other men, please do not mistake that I am passing them by. No...simply Daniel and David have longest held my attention.
As I talked with mom I made an astonishing discovery. Was it perhaps I relate to Daniel because of his faith? Daniel had FULL confidence in God. If Daniel had full confidence in God, he must have known grace. Because with faith there must be grace. Daniel's relationship with God I believe was a foundation of faith, grace, and love. How else could he have stood up to Nebrazzarah; willing to risk everything, but his relationship with his Father? I began to think of Daniel a grace filled man because of his faith.
My equation may be wrong. When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, you experience love. From love come faith, and faith grows into grace. You can not have one with out the other.

David...the second king of Israel...a man after God's own heart. As usual I am always amazed, at the thought of God calling David a righteous man and a man after his heart. How awesome, how great that is. Just IMAGINE! David, who had faults just like me was called a righteous man.
What I have learned from David is...you will mess up and you will fail. BUT... when you find where your mistakes lie...turn to God. You can't fix your mistakes on your own...it's IMPOSSIBLE, however, He understood that with God that he can overcome his weaknesses. David wanted God's heart, he yearned for it.
Despite David's short comings...God gave him one of the best gifts. The Messiah would come from the line of David. David...knew what he wanted and He recieved God's heart.

I can't express what I am trying to say...my writing is probably all in shambles. But I hope that you get what I am trying to say. Daniel, who understood faith was a man filled with grace. David...longed and yearned for God's heart. God loved him in return though he was not perfect.