Halloween and Being Wasteful

I despise Halloween. I hate all the evil imagery that goes along with it. Most of all I hate the waste of pumpkins for jack o lanterns. I think about how many people can be fed with all the wasted pumpkins and how God must be disappointed to see this. There is more to pumpkins besides jack or lanterns. In addition to the favorite pumpkin pie, there soups, roasted pumpkins,  stuffed mini pumpkins and more.
It's really a shame how we as a society have become so used to wasting food.

This is such a beautiful song I really had to share it with you all. It comes to you from The Cyberhymnal
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MY ANCHOR HOLDS

Courtesy of the Cyber Hymnal™

An anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19

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William C. Martin (1864-1914)

Words: William C. Martin, 1902.

Music: Daniel B. Towner (♫ ).

Daniel B. Towner (1850-1919)

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Though the angry surges roll
On my tempest driven soul,
I am peaceful, for I know,
Wildly though the winds may blow,
I’ve an anchor safe and sure,
That can evermore endure.

Refrain

And it holds, my anchor holds:
Blow your wildest, then, O gale,
On my bark so small and frail;
By His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, my anchor holds.

Mighty tides about me sweep,
Perils lurk within the deep,
Angry clouds o’ershade the sky,
And the tempest rises high;
Still I stand the tempest’s shock,
For my anchor grips the rock.

Refrain

I can feel the anchor fast
As I meet each sudden blast,
And the cable, though unseen,
Bears the heavy strain between;
Through the storm I safely ride,
Till the turning of the tide.

Refrain

Troubles almost ’whelm the soul;
Griefs like billows o’er me roll;
Tempters seek to lure astray;
Storms obscure the light of day:
But in Christ I can be bold,
I’ve an anchor that shall hold.

Refrain

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08/27/2014 15:10:09

PAGE DESIGN & CODE © 1996-2014 RICHARD W. ADAMS

Being Patient

 I have been rather hesitant about writing this post. I actually have been putting it off for a number of years mainly out of fear. My fear is rather silly perhaps but nonetheless it's there so I'm posting this and let the chips fall where they may.


I really don't have patience. When I want something done I want it done right away. Not five minutes later but now. Being patient and waiting on God is even harder for me. You see many years ago we met some sweet Conservative Mennonite fiends and when we go visit them we visit their church. Ever since then we have learned so much about the Anabaptists and what the early Anabaptists went through. You can read about them in Martyrs Mirror.


They believe in following the New Testament teachings of nonresistance, nonconforming, women's veiling etc. All these I have been embracing long before we met our Mennonite friends. Ever since then I have been praying that God would either open the door  for us to go either to our friend's church which is nearly two hours away or put a local congregation in our area.


We thought we were getting a Conservative Mennonite congregation here after some friends from Squaw Valley came to visit. They were interested in possibly starting a fellowship here along with some other families from their congregation. But after spending some time here and checking out the costs they decide that Santa Barbara was way too expensive.

So the prayers go on and I'm getting rather impatient!  At this point neither my husband or I really know what God wants us to do.


We both know that it would be a little different if we were at a Mennonite church. The singing is done acappella which I actually enjoy. The ladies and girls all wear dresses exclusively which I already do but our girls would need to adjust to that. It's a good thing they like dresses! 


Well that's my post that I've been afraid to write. I have many reasons why I was afraid to write this post but I think seeing my thoughts in writing actually rather comforting.

Self!!!

Last weekend I went to a women's retreat with several ladies from church. Truth be told I originally didn't want to go. It got down to only one remaining spot but I refused to sign up to take that spot.  As it was getting  close to one week before the retreat I started to pray and ask God if He truly wanted me on the retreat I would need someone to call me and ask if I wanted to go. The cost needed to be taken care of too since we couldn't afford the cost. At this point I still had no desire really to go but I was willing to go if God wanted me to.

Sure enough the Saturday before retreat weekend my friend called me to say she can't go on the retreat and asked if I wanted to go in her place and it was all paid for. I'm thinking "Really Lord?" I told her I'd ask my husband Tim and will call her back.


I hung up and went to explain to Tim about not wanting to go on the retreat. I told him about my prayer. He told me that I needed to obey God in this and to go on the retreat. My heart sank. I was hoping he would say no and that I heard wrong from God. So I called my friend back to let her know I will be taking her spot. She was very happy I was going. As a matter of fact when she knew she couldn't go, I was the first one she thought of!




Now you may be wondering why I didn't want to go on the retreat. It's because of self! I was pretty much consumed with my own feelings of awkwardness, shyness, and not wanting to explain why I dress the way I do and why I have such conservative convictions. I was concerned with ME! How selfish is that?


The theme for the retreat was Restored: Unveiling a New Heart. And wouldn't you know it, one of the workshops on Saturday was called "Overcoming Me"! Talk about God's planning!
Some of the characteristics the speaker said of "me " people is they 1.Complain, 2.Compare, 3.Criticize, 4.Have diminished view of God.




I couldn't believe what God had revealed to me that weekend! This scripture jumped out at me and it is found in Philippians 2:3-8:




3. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.


4. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.


5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.


6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:


7. But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:


8. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even death of the cross.


I was reminded again of "self" when I read Eleneaor's post on www.radicallyforjesus.blogspot.com




It's very humbling to have the Lord reveal the flaws and be willing to allow Him to mold and shape us into the woman He wants us to be. So in regards to the woman's retreat I'm glad I went. It doesn't matter that nobody else may share my convictions.
What matters is I need to make sure that I have an attitude like Jesus. I want my actions and attitude to please God and not do anything that would dishonor Him and cause me to be a poor witness. I know there are many areas in my life that need improvement. I'm willing to allow the Lord to help me to get rid of  "self"!