tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52383115504814593502024-03-14T04:23:43.564-06:00MESSED AND BLESSEDmessyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-89389680459446531492022-07-06T00:00:00.009-06:002022-07-06T00:00:00.156-06:002016 and My Relationship with the Human Sexuality Report<p>In 2016 I was a delegate to CRC Synod. I had only been an Elder for less than a year; a Christian for 16 years and frankly I had no idea what I was doing. I was only selected for Synod because no one else put their name forward so my husband (via text) message said to do it. </p><p>Looking back at that Synod, I can say I learned a lot. Being a Canadian, I didn't understand what was going on parliamentary (watching numerous American Congress/Senate hearings, I now understand). I was naïve. I had hope that good things would come. I will admit that I did have a lot of fun. I was the Canadian Bible Study (underhanded understanding of going for drinks after session) Queen, with my own 5 minute sermon on the Jesus being a good son (one day I'll type that out). I made friends and I watched. </p><p>I watched as men from Classis Minnkota stood up on the first day and declared that women should not be delegates. I watched as 2 African American women from Classis Hackensack shared their stores of what it was like growing up Black in the United States. I watched as Pastors word smith already written forms of liturgy in committee because they didn't get a chance to do it before Synod. I watched as we debated the Document of Discovery and started the journey of reconciliation with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. I watched as Pastors sermonized (constantly) during deliberations when speaking to motions. I watched and I learned.</p><p>I learned that Synod is not perfect as we are all not perfect. I learned that there seemed to be a underlying of conservatism pushing at orthodox theology at that time (which finally reared it's ugly head this year). I learned that I have a voice and that an outcome may not go my way but I can speak.</p><p>Before I write about this year's synod, I need to repent of 2016. I am sorry that I did not truly understand the weight of the Human Sexuality Report and did not understand the true implications that we now face. In my naivety, I felt that we would have a report that would be for pastoral care which since 1973 we have not. I am sorry that my actions have hurt so many now, including myself.</p><p>I have read all 176 pages of the HSR. I have debated it with people. I have even entered into a letter condemning Section D (I couldn't remember asking for that) as part of the Calgary Campus Chaplaincy Committee.</p><p>Before the full report was released, I went over the draft with a small group from my church at the same time learning Grace/Truth from Preston Sprinkles. I wanted to listen and learn. I wrested with traditional marriage and same sex marriage as it pertained to scripture. I still do but I that is my personal journey that I do not impose on anyone, including people who are same sex attracted in marriage. I knew something more conservative was going to come down just based on the draft but what we got was a gong show.</p><p>On November 1 2021, I saw on twitter that it had been released and already people were not happy. I then was notified that we would be discussing in Committee so I downloaded it and started reading and highlighting. I was astonished. The only part of the HSR that I enjoyed was the section on pornography. It was well written and looked like people had put in the time to do their research that did not seem apparent in any other section. The "samples" they listed seemed to be badly written fiction. I mean not every feminist is a lesbian and not every lesbian is a feminist but to label someone as a feminist lesbian seemed trite and badly written. I could go on with the examples given but I won't. In full disclosure I read them out loud to my best friend in the voice of a back cover of a badly written romance because that is how they sounded. </p><p>This was what they spent 5 years writing. My daughter writes better papers for her liberal arts classes as a first year student. I was despondent and upset. When the leadership of our church was talking about reading this I asked that they think about the kids in our congregation and their friends who identified as LGBTQ.</p><p>What I got from leadership was an Overture that said how great the HSR was and that anyone who was against it was a "false teacher or prophet" I was not surprised as during Covid my church was making some very orthodox and legalistic ideologies and communicated this. I did ask if I was a "false prophet and teacher" and was informed that that was only for ordained Officers or Pastors. But I was a leader for Women Studies and I had been an Elder. In fact, our Pastor wanted us to think of our ordination of Elders to be like the PCA in that it was for a lifetime, but now that was not what was being practiced or preached.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I attended the following Classis as a guest and scribe as we were going to be doing mini session discussions with the delegates. Prior to that Kathy Smith and Mary Lou Bouma both had Q&As for about 15 minutes each. Delegates were rude and spoke during Kathy's Q&A but listened and were respectful for Mary's. The discussions were.....while frankly they were a joke as the host church refused to have a volunteer from another church that knew Zoom well be the technician. It had been decided ahead of time not to discuss committee reports but then they ask for the Chaplain's report and then all of the sudden we as a committee were being attacked because of our view of the HSR which wasn't even adopted yet. One senior very conservative Elder actually used the phrase "this looks like a witch hunt".</p><p>We as a committee spent the next months trying to deal with it and a subsequent Overture that was eventually defeated. Personally, it was the last straw with my church and I had no alternative but to leave (there were other reasons). </p><p>That leaves me with Synod 2022 and what happened with this document that I voted on in 2016. Again I am sorry. However, I have taken the position that this is not over. It took over 30 years for women to have rights in the CRC and I believe the same thing will happen with this. I am praying that God be with my LGBTQ brothers and sisters of the faith. Covering them and advocates with protection. I pray that God's will be done. Not because I want to be right but because I have been called to advocate and fight for those with no voice. I have a voice. I have a vote and I will use it to do what the Holy Spirit guides me to.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-40757752917394477482022-07-03T21:49:00.000-06:002022-07-03T21:49:29.828-06:00I'm Back<p>I haven't written in a long time. I believe it was in 2018 and my hair was still mostly brown. Ok, it was dyed as I was probably already grey at that time. Now I have a "crown of silver" as Liz Curtis Higgs would say.</p><p>There are many reasons why I stopped writing. One was pride. Was anyone actually reading? Did anyone care what a mom had to say? Did I even have a platform or a thought that would go viral? Why didn't I go viral? Why didn't people like me? I know, I know, blogging should never have been about that, but that is what happened. Remember the "Relevant" conference for bloggers? </p><p>Another reason was that was about the time I started to descend into a deep fog of faith. I had just come off being in council of our church as an Elder and had to deal with a deep break in the church that affected me. I lost friends and the respect of many others for decisions that I had to make. I live by those decisions. If I could go back would I make the same ones? I don't know. I know I would have handled it differently. It is true that hindsight is always 20/20. I repent deeply for some of my actions that hurt others and that I cannot take back.</p><p>You could say I was burnt out and broken. As a result, I just went through the motions with my faith. I stopped reading. While I did read but I read Fanfiction. Please don't ask and I won't have to tell you. However, some of the best YA authors have started with Fanfiction. Just saying it's not all 50 Shades of Grey. My prayer life slipped and slid further and further down a deep well I tried to climb out. I tried everything. Read deep theology books. Went to conferences. Went to Church. Led Ladies Bible Study and yet, I felt lost and alone. I was frankly a fraud. I was depressed and the more I tried, the more I lost myself. </p><p>Then Covid hit! In full disclosure can I tell you that I didn't think Covid was anything to be worried about in the beginning. I actually mocked people who were in Costco stock piling while I was just trying to get my weekly queso stash. I remember singing up and down the aisles the little ditty by REM - "It's the End of the World as We Know It!" Most people gave me dirty looks, however, 1 guy in a mask was laughing. I was fine for at least 2 weeks. I was shocked that I now had to school my kids but overall I was ok...until I wasn't.</p><p>About 3 weeks in I started having hot flashes and a weird nasal drip. I was sure I had Covid (this thought continued for 18 months). However it would turn out later to be early stages of perimenopause (so happy it started at the beginning of a pandemic). I then started to get anxious. There were a few days that I couldn't get out of bed. It felt like someone put a log on my chest. I ended up in a ziploc room at our local urgent care centre and was told I was having an anxiety attack (Yay me!). I then spent months with severe anxiety around Covid. So much so, that I couldn't go to the grocery store, church or be around people that didn't live in my home. I washed groceries for a good year. I even wiped down our fast food orders. That is how anxious I was. </p><p>I didn't know what to do. Well I did. I had to turn to God to get me through this. I immediately decided to read the Bible in 90 days. Something I had done before. I opened up my Youversion App and started reading. The weight lifted off my chest. It was like God telling me He was in control and I was not (oh but I wanted to be). I then started listening to podcasts that I thought would be interesting. One seemed to pop up at the perfect time - Aaron Neiquist's The Eternal Current. I listened to the first episode and immediately decided I needed to read this book. I devoured it like on water in the desert. It spoke to my soul about what I was going through. I then opened up my Common Prayer App by Red Letter Christians and started using it for prayer. God used these 3 things to heal my soul. To help me out of the fog that I had been living in. </p><p>I then spent a few months deconstructing my faith. I know people fear this concept but I embraced it. I wasn't breaking my faith to cease belief. God, through the Holy Spirit kept leading me to books, scriptures, speakers, etc to renew my faith. I had to let go false teachings and old ideas to get to a place to renew my belief system. Some may think I have become progressive or dare I say liberal. I recently heard a quote by Ann Voskamp who said" I am too liberal for my conservative friends and too conservative for my liberal friends." This is where my faith has brought me. Right to the centre. I have been listening to people and ideas on both sides and growing in learning to love and forgive not just others, but myself. </p><p>This is still a process. I can't wait to share with you where this journey is taking me to. I will try to write at least two times a week. Sharing my pain, struggles, wins, and faith story. I hope you join me. "We're in for a bumpy ride!"*</p><p><br /></p><p>*brownie points if you know who said this and where</p>messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-74008164845739198772018-05-14T00:00:00.000-06:002018-05-14T00:00:05.911-06:00Music Monday - If I Told You<br />
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Sometimes we hide who we really are from the people we should be sharing things with. I spent some time talking with friend about community in Church. I had to admit that I have felt like a "disposable" friend, even with people from Church. In the past few years I really felt like the outside looking in on so many things. I haven't felt enfolded. I have tried to get into community but it seems like I don't fit in. I know I am not the only one. </div>
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Church is a weird place because though it should be the place we are truly open and authentic about our brokenness it is the place where we are exactly the opposite. When people come and are open about their brokenness they make us uncomfortable. It's not them. It's us. I think the Western Church has sold us a false sense of who we are. We want people to think we are perfect and holy in our Sunday best. We smile when we should be crying out. We make small talk when we need to be really talking about the real things in life. </div>
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Church isn't for the perfect. It's a hospital for the broken. WE ARE ALL BROKEN. I can't say that enough. We all have things in our past and present that challenge us. We all have things that we need help whether it's physical, emotional or spiritual. We just want to know that no matter what we share or do, that people will love us anyway. Jesus loves us through all our pain and shame. As believers we are his representatives and we are called to love as Jesus loved us. So yes, we need to love everyone anyway......</div>
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<br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-47809102140450921092018-05-11T07:22:00.001-06:002018-05-11T07:22:34.441-06:00FMF - Include<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2018/05/10/fmf-link-up-include-free-training-offer/" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday</a> is a weekly blog link-up group that provides a one-word prompt and we set our timers and write for five minutes. This week's word is</i> ....INCLUDE<br />
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This word means a lot to me. Mostly because I am an advocate for inclusion of people with disabilities in our communities, schools and churches. My entry into this life had to do with my older son's autism diagnosis and then, of course, we were already in it when our youngest was diagnosed as well. </div>
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I have seen so many positive ways that people have been included in our communities and schools. I know it isn't perfect yet and may never be but there seems to be a push by society to include everyone and make sure that people with disabilities are living to their full potential. I may be living in a place where this is happening and you many not see it but believe me it is starting. </div>
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The place I don't see this is in the Church. This is the place it should be happening and should have been happening all along. I know churches with special needs ministries that move people's loved ones away during worship. I know my boys can be distracting in our Church and I have received the "looks", especially when my youngest rushes the stage during the sermon or has a melt down during that time. What people don't know is how much he loves our church. All his projects at school this year were about the church and how much he loves to sing there and how much he loves it. He isn't very verbal but when he is it is important to him.....<br />
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Church is a community of broken people worshipping a perfect God. WE ARE ALL BROKEN. Some just have to admit it better than others. We as a Church need to include those who make us uncomfortable. We need to view people with disabilities, not as older children, but as equals. My sons may have neurological issues that make them different from societal norms but they are both intelligent young men who can contribute to our Churches and communities.</div>
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Psalm 146:9 says: <i>The Lord protects the resident aliens, and helps the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.</i> (CSB) When I did a LOGOS study on this verse the term resident aliens referred to those who were outside of social structures and vulnerable to injustices. If this term didn't include people with disabilities I don't know what does then. We MUST and SHOULD include people with disabilities in our worship and church communities as equals. They are not people to make us feel better about ourselves (don't get me started about inspirational porn), they are people who God sees and loves just as He loves us. </div>
<br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-38946331771382127382018-05-09T00:30:00.000-06:002018-05-09T00:30:17.231-06:00You Are Free - Free to be Rescued<i>We continue to journey along with me while I read and soak into Rebekah Lyon's You are Free...</i><br />
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In the chapter "Free to Be Rescued" Rebekah talks about her healing from anxiety and fear and the moment she cried out and was healed. She was actually surprised at first that it actually "worked". That it continued. She walked in trepidation, not knowing if it would last.</div>
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It is funny that we as Christians would question healing when the Bible is full of stories of God healing and redeeming people. I know God can heal. I know God can decide not to heal too. Everything is up to God. The problem is do I really trust God to heal knowing both of these sides of the coin? Can I trust that God has more in His plan if He doesn't heal or will I become bitter and angry and drift from God because of it. </div>
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Honestly, I do struggle with God's healing and deliverance. I have literally been on the floor praying and worshiping that my husband would be cured of his depression. At first it was just depression and now..... This journey has been going on for 9 years, as long as my youngest son has been alive. Sam does not know Leroy without the depression nor does he understand. Both times Leroy was hospitalized, Sam took it well but I knew, even if he couldn't communicate it, that it affected him. It affected all of us. Just as it continues to do so. My prayer is always heal my husband mentally, physically and spiritually. I know that there is a battle going on and that only God can heal him. </div>
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I know I need healing. I need to learn to trust and forgive. I have huge issues with both of these things which is probably why it is easy to push God to the side instead of inviting Him in. No one in my life knows 100% of anything about me. I keep it that way for a purpose. It protects me from hurt and pain. That little girl who hid out at church is still underneath all those layers and the woman I am today cannot take the pain and rejection so I build walls around myself. I confess I often ghost people from my life who hurt me because I don't want to deal with the pain of confrontation.</div>
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I have a lot of pain and suffering. Not physical (unless you ask me to run on the treadmill) but mental and spiritual. Emotional abuse lingers. Satan really does know how to attack us and he is good at it. The lies I heard from my mother, my father and my first step father remain. It lead me into making bad decisions in my early twenties. Things I will never be able to take back. Things that affect my life now. I equated sex with love and devalued myself. I allowed others to determine my value. I had an ex boyfriend who told me I was going to be a horrible mother because I was a horrible housekeeper. It's any wonder why I am so hard on myself about my house cleaning and mothering. </div>
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As a believer, I am healed and cleansed from my old life. I can decided to be like Lot's wife and look backwards constantly. She paid the consequence of that and what consequence will I receive if I allow my past and the lies to control me. Or I can decide to cry out to God for deliverance and healing. I choose to cry out to the One that can take all my angst, frustration, hurts and pains and break me and make me into something new.</div>
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<span class="text Ps-18-6" id="en-ESV-14125" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">In my distress I called upon the <span class="small-caps" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>;</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 6.73px; line-height: 0px;"> </span><span class="text Ps-18-6" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">to my God I cried for help.</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span class="text Ps-18-6" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">From his <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-14125P" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14125P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>temple he heard my voice,</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 6.73px; line-height: 0px;"> </span><span class="text Ps-18-6" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and my cry to him reached his ears.....</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Ps-18-6" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Ps-18-6" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="text Ps-18-16" id="en-ESV-14135" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">He <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-14135AG" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14135AG" title="See cross-reference AG">AG</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>sent from on high, he took me;</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 6.73px; line-height: 0px;"> </span><span class="text Ps-18-16" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">he <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-14135AH" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14135AH" title="See cross-reference AH">AH</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>drew me out of <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-14135AI" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14135AI" title="See cross-reference AI">AI</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>many waters.....</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Ps-18-6" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Ps-18-16" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Ps-18-6" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Ps-18-16" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="text Ps-18-19" id="en-ESV-14138" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">He brought me out into <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-14138AK" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14138AK" title="See cross-reference AK">AK</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>a broad place;</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 6.73px; line-height: 0px;"> </span><span class="text Ps-18-19" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">he rescued me, because he <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-14138AL" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14138AL" title="See cross-reference AL">AL</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>delighted in me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Ps-18-6" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Ps-18-16" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: &quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="text Ps-18-19" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Psalm 18:6,16, & 19 ESV</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-55351951516906223462018-05-08T00:30:00.000-06:002018-05-08T06:13:19.748-06:00You are Free.....Intro & To Be Free<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVfM4r7bpbqrx05sFbx8C0fZppY5SIO1EYpWuX8eO_w8LxCIFWmmjcHH2JcNzNtkmFpd5kNceCt9wbJEhtU5ydD6gAW8iJwANVB8mAJhAptWrlb3FOYMM21-gJroT16BmkDeUDlvW3Yk/s1600/61a7Nx1tboL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVfM4r7bpbqrx05sFbx8C0fZppY5SIO1EYpWuX8eO_w8LxCIFWmmjcHH2JcNzNtkmFpd5kNceCt9wbJEhtU5ydD6gAW8iJwANVB8mAJhAptWrlb3FOYMM21-gJroT16BmkDeUDlvW3Yk/s200/61a7Nx1tboL.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
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I have been planning on reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Free-Who-Already-ebook/dp/B01HAKH28K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525744933&sr=8-1&keywords=you+are+free" target="_blank">You are Free by Rebekah Lyons</a> since I bought the book last year as soon as it came out in February. It stares at me and taunts me. First from my book case and now from my side table of books that I have every intention of reading......but for some reason I don't. </div>
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There was a purpose to purchasing this book. It came out at a time that I was feeling pressured as an Elder, a Wife, a Mom, a Daughter, a Sister, etc... I felt like everything in my life held me in a vice grip and wouldn't let go. It was overwhelming and it was tiring. I knew I wasn't dealing with anything in the way I should. I was finding rest in all the wrong places - Netflix, YA fiction (I'll do a post on my favourites later), friends, shopping, food and of course my favourite......coffee. But all these things continued to leave me broken and wrecked. I wandered in the wilderness or what felt like the wilderness. I felt alone. I felt powerless. Since last year, there have been a few occasions that I have felt true rest with Jesus but those have been fleeting because the battle still rages and the endless shells in this battle have left me shell shocked. </div>
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The book description of You are Free is:<br />
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<strong style="font-weight: 700;">Have you bought the lie?</strong> Many of us do. We measure our worth by what others think of us. We compare and strive, existing mostly for the approval of others. Pressure rises, anxiety creeps in and we hustle to keep up.</div>
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Jesus whispers, <em style="font-style: italic;">I gave my life to set you free. I gave you purpose. I called you to live in freedom in that purpose.</em> Yet we still hobble through life, afraid to confess all the ways we push against this truth, because we can’t even believe it. We continue to grasp for the approval of anyone that will offer it: whether strangers, friends, or community.</div>
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<strong style="font-weight: 700;">Christ doesn’t say you can be or may be or will be free. He says you are free.</strong> </div>
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Christ came to make the captives free. (Galatians 5:1) Free from sin, condemnation, and comparison to name a few. If I proclaim that I am in Christ than I must be accept this basic truth - I AM FREE. Then why don't I live that way. Why do I still live as a captive to emotions, sins, comparison, expectations, lies, and history? Why do I not embrace His truth for me as His sister and co-heir? Why do I question God and keep Him at arms length when all He wants is to embrace me and hold me and guide me to safe places. </div>
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Now you may want to know why I am writing about this book now. I have decided while I read this book I will be posting my journal responses to the chapter questions. This will (1) keep me accountable to reading this book and (2) give me a space share my struggles in an authentic open way. It won't be pretty, of this I am sure. Nothing when it breaks ever is. But in the breaking comes new life and hope and promise. I hope you will join me on this journey and show me grace as I travel it with you.</div>
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<b>Chapter One - To be Free</b></div>
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There are very few times in my life I have truly felt free. I come from an abusive and neglected background. My parents married because of me and this was not a marriage that should have ever happened. There was cheating and abuse on both sides and I was in the middle. Often, my grandparents had to come and get me (also known as we have to save that baby). My parents divorced and we lived with my grandparents on and off for a few years until my mother's second marriage, which was no better than the third. However, it was during this time period that I learned about Church. </div>
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We lived in a military base in the middle of no where British Columbia (in fact, that base doesn't even exist anymore). For some reason, probably because it was the social thing to do, I was forced to go to Catechism classes at the base Catholic Church. I remember our Priest was a little man who was originally from India. He was lovely and answered this little girl's question. My family did not go to Church and never had in all my childhood. My best friend's family did and I would sleep over at her house and we would go to Church together. I loved that little congregation and the smells of candles burning and incense and the sights of the wooden pews, stained glass windows and the pomp and circumstance of a Catholic Church. Many times to escape my wretched home life I would go to Church and I often beat the Priest there. He always welcomed me and showed me love and acceptance. I don't know what happened but after 8 months my parents informed me that since I was baptized as an Anglican I had to go to the Protestant Church. I never felt the same way about this congregation as I did that small Catholic one. The Pastor and Sunday School teachers didn't know what to do with me and I slowly stopped going to Church. If I had been older (this all happened when I was 8) I probably would have kept going to the Catholic Church. This Church and it's people showed me what it meant to be the hands and feet of Jesus and not surprising, it is the way I expect all Churches I attend to be now. You never know when a lost little girl seeking true freedom and love will walk through those doors.</div>
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It's funny that the lies of adults slowly creep into our lives as children and society's norms become our chains. I think back at that little girl who played with the boys and ran in the mud and biked everywhere and loved being outside. I am sure those close to me are shocked at my saying this. I am not really an outdoors person per se. I love hiking but not a lot. I will continue to assault your idea of me because I was one of the kids who regularly hunted for frog's eggs in the bogs. I did things and went places that I have never allowed my children to do. Of that I am sorry. They'll never know playing outside until the street lights come on and only coming in for food (some of those boundaries have to do with the boys' autism though). </div>
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When did I start to care what others thought of me? When did my value come from my looks? When did it stop being OK to hang with the boys? When did I start to believe the lies? I am praying that as I continue through this book that I will push through the lies and embrace the freedom that Jesus died on a cross to give to me.</div>
messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-64816784242430951282018-05-07T07:15:00.005-06:002018-05-07T07:15:59.921-06:00Music Monday - Human<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I think sometimes we as humans, even Christians, put too much on ourselves and others. We want people to define us, justify us, and encourage us. We alternatively want to define others, justify other's actions to fit our narrative and encourage those we agree with and attack the ones we don't. </div>
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I am in the process of reading the Book of Mark through the <a href="https://www.ifequip.com/" target="_blank">IF:Equip</a> studies and we continue to journey through the Book of Luke at Church. People often wanted to define Jesus. The Pharisees wanted Him to play by their rules. The people wanted Him to fit into their narrative and do miracles. The Disciples wanted Him to justify and encourage them. Jesus refused to be anything other than who He was. He didn't want fame or popularity (Mark 3:7a). He didn't want people to control the narrative of His mission or reveal when His true identity would be revealed (Mark 3:12). Jesus didn't allow anyone to define who He was or what His mission was. He would do that on His terms and in His time.</div>
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We are so busy looking around and comparing ourselves with others and comparing others with ourselves that we have lost the point. We are only human. We are imperfect images of a perfect creator. Of course, we are going to make mistakes and yes, others are going to make mistakes too. We all need to have grace for ourselves and each other. When that grace isn't shown, we need to move on. Not dwell in what isn't but to continue to run the race that Jesus has set out for us. We need to be people of love, grace, and compassion, not hate, anger or jealousy.</div>
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I have been struggling with this concept through the difficulties. Last week, this song kept coming to my mind and I know it was a reminder that we are only human. As the song says: </div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I'm no prophet or Messiah</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Should go looking somewhere higher</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: #444444; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I'm only human after all</span></div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/L3wKzyIN1yk/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L3wKzyIN1yk?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="pvc_title_with_frows" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="paratitle" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; box-shadow: none; clear: none; color: #444444; display: block; height: 28.8px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; visibility: visible;">
<h2 aria-label="" class="b_topTitle" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border: 0px rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 28.8px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
Human</h2>
</div>
</div>
<div class="b_factrow" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #767676; font: 400 13px/17px Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 2px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a h="ID=SERP,5350.1" href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=Rag%e2%80%99n%e2%80%99Bone+Man&filters=ufn%3a%22RagnBone+Man%22+sid%3a%2260f6dd93-9dd8-0eba-759c-d3116d212086%22&FORM=SNAPST" style="color: #001ba0; text-decoration: none;">Rag'n'Bone Man</a></div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border: 0px rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font: 400 13px/19.5px Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
I'm only human<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm only, I'm only<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm only human, human</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border: 0px rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font: 400 13px/19.5px Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Maybe I'm foolish<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Maybe I'm blind<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Thinking I can see through this<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />And see what's behind<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Got no way to prove it<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />So maybe I'm blind<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />But I'm only human after all<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm only human after all<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put your blame on me<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put your blame on me</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border: 0px rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font: 400 13px/19.5px Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Take a look in the mirror<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />And what do you see<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Do you see it clearer<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Or are you deceived<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />In what you believe<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />'Cause I'm only human after all<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />You're only human after all<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put the blame on me<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put your blame on me</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border: 0px rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font: 400 13px/19.5px Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Some people got the real problems<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Some people out of luck<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Some people think I can solve them<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Lord heavens above<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm only human after all<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm only human after all<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put the blame on me<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put the blame on me</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border: 0px rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font: 400 13px/19.5px Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Don't ask my opinion<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't ask me to lie<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Then beg for forgiveness <br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />For making you cry<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Making you cry<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />'Cause I'm only human after all<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm only human after all<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put your blame on me<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put the blame on me</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border: 0px rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font: 400 13px/19.5px Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Oh, some people got the real problems<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Some people out of luck<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Some people think I can solve them<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Lord heavens above<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm only human after all<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm only human after all<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put the blame on me<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put the blame on me</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border: 0px rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font: 400 13px/19.5px Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
I'm only human<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I make mistakes<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm only human <br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />That's all it takes<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />To put the blame on me<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put the blame on me</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border: 0px rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font: 400 13px/19.5px Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
I'm no prophet or Messiah<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Should go looking somewhere higher<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm only human after all<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm only human after all<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put the blame on me<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put the blame on me</div>
<div class="b_paractl" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-image: none; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border: 0px rgb(68, 68, 68); color: #444444; font: 400 13px/19.5px Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif; letter-spacing: normal; list-style: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
I'm only human <br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I do what I can<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I'm just a man <br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I do what I can<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put the blame on me<br style="border-bottom-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; border-top-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 19.5px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Don't put your blame on me</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-43848650904785553902018-04-14T00:00:00.000-06:002018-04-14T00:00:29.914-06:00Caffeinated Randomness - April 14, 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKHdEMmbIOxo7h5C7Tuli1qUC-sO5a58VB3M57WT5mKEsG6Dv6Q6OZ0_rq8_CLEyjFjDAYKKGQXbbs2p8tRLXT7hIaWVtb2MBSr9fatmtBEwn561YgGD48gtbe8rKg0oEuNcxMF6J7Ws/s1600/Caffeinated+Randomness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKHdEMmbIOxo7h5C7Tuli1qUC-sO5a58VB3M57WT5mKEsG6Dv6Q6OZ0_rq8_CLEyjFjDAYKKGQXbbs2p8tRLXT7hIaWVtb2MBSr9fatmtBEwn561YgGD48gtbe8rKg0oEuNcxMF6J7Ws/s320/Caffeinated+Randomness.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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It has been a while since I have written. No I did not stop writing because of Lent, though it all happened at the same time. No I did not stop writing because I was giving up blogging, although I have in the past. As I alluded to in my past writings I was dealing with some major issues as Chair of Council and it was all consuming. I was in pain and just sheer exhaustion so much over the last few months. I was overtired and emotional, that I couldn't sleep (I wish I could add eat but it seemed I did more of that). I normally read when I feel this way but I just couldn't seem to get any enjoyment out of that simple enjoyable act. When I'm not reading I talk to friends and family but during this period I was on the phone so much dealing with church politics that I actually cringed when my phone rang. At one point I actually had to tell my Evil Twin that I needed to choose a ringtone just for her so that I knew when she called and not hesitate to answer.</div>
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During this season it seemed that not a lot has brought me any joy. I know Ann Voskamp, if she were here would have told me to list out all the things I am thankful for or give. But frankly as much as I love Ann Voskamp, I just couldn't do it. I wondered what Jen Hatmaker would do? Probably dig in and marathon Netflix. But even the idea of that didn't bring me much joy.</div>
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There have been a few things that brought a smile to my heart. Simple comedy on YouTube. Have you seen some of these videos. They are hilarious. I thought today I would share my top 3 YouTube channels that make me laugh and in no particular order.</div>
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1. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/HISHEdotcom" target="_blank">HISHE or How It Should Of Ended</a>. They animate our favourite mega blockbusters and give us alternate endings that make me laugh everytime. The one my daughter and I still quote is from Jurrasic Word. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n-7LBKi8z0k/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n-7LBKi8z0k?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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You need to check these guys out. The coffee shop endings with Superman & Batman always make me smile because.....I'm Batman.<br />
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2. I have to admit that I am a Bravo TV junkie. In Canada we don't get to watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBh8UUGyw6lV_NUH74Yu4og/featured" target="_blank">Watch What Happens Live</a>. I wish we did, so I end up having to watch recaps but then you usually just get the funny situations and Plead the Fifth/Spill the Tea anyway, so maybe I am not missing much.</div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Hq02Dw5_SP0/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hq02Dw5_SP0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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3. I also love watching the web series the Lizzie Bennet Dairies. This is adaption written as if Lizzie Bennet lived in Southern California and was working on her Mass Communications graduate degree and Lydia was a teen who was looking for fame anyway possible. If you are an Austen fan, you will enjoy this adaptation of the beloved Pride and Prejudice (really, is there ever too much Austen inspired anything??).</div>
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<br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-75469746945663001092018-04-13T20:13:00.001-06:002018-04-13T20:14:57.745-06:00Other<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXWh_BwigLXfhMFN0zveV6dDmkxt_YFTgBd_x2xGItqlZbYsK6l36HGULYt_OBJl6Mc_K6W8bt-LEDwSFxubDA1fd3ZSljxaqfkcKaEsT0r5Sn12ytQZKxWNqPbhfDCOYbIx3UlQIi6w/s1600/FMF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXWh_BwigLXfhMFN0zveV6dDmkxt_YFTgBd_x2xGItqlZbYsK6l36HGULYt_OBJl6Mc_K6W8bt-LEDwSFxubDA1fd3ZSljxaqfkcKaEsT0r5Sn12ytQZKxWNqPbhfDCOYbIx3UlQIi6w/s1600/FMF.jpg" /></a></div>
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Sometimes it is easy to view oneself as the other. The other parent, other spouse, other friend... But it is hard to think about the actual other. </div>
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I live in a world of other, especially people with mental illness, people with disabilities.... these others are often left out, ignored and pushed aside. However, Jesus never did this. He embraced the other. He loved them. He saw them for who they were - image bearers of God. He never saw the disabilities as something that made them less than. He saw them as He sees all of us broken people needing love.</div>
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Inclusion is social justice. Why does the Church struggle with inclusion of these others? I believe it is that we forget that Jesus came back broken. He came back imperfect to make us whole. Not perfect. Lets remember that when we look at the other that we so often ignore and marginalized.</div>
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Joining up with the <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2018/04/12/fmf-link-up-other/" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday</a> link up, where you write on a topic for 5 minutes. Check it out.</div>
messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-91145687616577421412018-03-05T07:07:00.001-07:002018-03-05T07:07:41.314-07:00Music Monday - You're Not Alone<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sorry for being away for the last few weeks. I have been pretty busy with Church Council business and then last week I prepped for our IF:Local. I accomplished about 2 months of work in 1 week. It was all worth it. It was an amazing weekend with 21 women gathering, being equipped and then unleashed into our communities.</div>
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This year was exciting because we had ladies from our sister church attend. They came with their experiences and we got to learn more about these beautiful sisters. My prayer for next year is that more of these amazing women can attend.</div>
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Right from the beginning of planning our IF:Local we were under attack. As our leadership is all on Council at the moment we are having to deal with matters that are slowly taking over everything. Then on Friday, we woke to what can only be explained as a SNOWPOCOLYPSE (I wish I had pictures for you). In 24 hours we had over 1 foot of snow fall. God was faithful and protected our women as they traveled and participated through the weekend of which I am truly thankful. Some of food didn't cook when it should have and our amazing youth leader fried up chicken quickly so that we could eat. Again, I am so thankful for hands that are willing to serve our women. Men of our church came out periodically and shoveled and snow blowed our Church parking lot so that we were able to get out. </div>
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One of the speakers, Christine Caine, talked about the pressure we face as believers and how we must run with endurance because the baton is now in our hands. This baton that has been entrusted to us is the Word of God. We are going to be pressured and the race will be tough. Only through endurance will we build the spiritual muscle to complete our race.</div>
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I should have remembered this because once I was home I was attacked. I came home to emails that had to be dealt with. These emails had allegations that if true, made me look very bad. It broke my heart. I felt defeated. I felt deflated. I was a literal mess. I have to admit that I wallowed and then I remembered everything that had been said at the conference, even words I had spoken. You can't hide. There will be darkness and there will be pressure. That at those times take every thought captive and fan the flame of faith. God meets us in the darkness. Go to God in doubt and pain and pressure. He will be there. I opened my Logos app and started reading an devotion by Charles Spurgeon and then some Psalms. The words were the cry of my heart to God and the response was peace and love. Exactly what I needed and I had an amazing night's sleep.</div>
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The next morning while I put on the coffee pot. I put on my favourite worship playlist on Spotify (I will share one day when I figure out how). The first song that played was an old one that so resonates with me. You're Not Alone by Meredith Andrews. We are not alone. When we search for Him, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). He has seen us. He does see us. He is with us. Truths that I need to be reminded of more often then I care to admit.</div>
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<br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-16525543635965555722018-02-24T00:30:00.000-07:002018-02-24T00:30:34.225-07:00Caffeinated Randomess - Grey Hair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am a very vain person. I will admit that I pay a lot of attention to how I look. I was raised that you don't leave the house unless you are dressed appropriately. Clothes should not be wrinkled. Make up applied but not too much. I don't think I ever went to the movies without wearing a dress or skirt until I was in my early teens.</div>
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I still iron my clothes and am so very colour coordinated. I can let you know that I haven't passed this on to my daughter and I cringe at some of her outfits. As long as they are appropriate, I let her wear what she would like. Again can I tell you I cringe.</div>
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You may wonder why I am sharing all this. This past year I have stopped dying my hair. Something I swore I would never do as I was that vain. I started going grey at the age of 24....that is right, 24. Going grey is hereditary and my grandmother who raised me was completely grey at 39. This also happens to be the year I was born so she does say that I caused it. </div>
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I have fought this battle for so long and had many great stylists who assisted me and kept my hair shades of auburn and blond and brown. There were times Ms. Clairol assisted in keeping the grey at bay. The last few years I have had to book colouring appointments closer and closer. It was so bad that I had to purchase root spray so that I could have cover up. Yes, this is the similar product that men have been using for generations to cover those bald spots, we women have just renamed it and claimed it. All of this was costing a fortune to keep up my vanity.</div>
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Last year my hairdresser suggested I grow out my grey as silver hair seemed to be a current trend. I informed her I wasn't ready. I was only 43 and didn't want to be a silver hair old lady with short hair. But she planted a seed...I started reading articles and going through Pinterest for stylish cuts with silver hair and found articles by women who embraced their natural grey at a young age. It appeared that the people who embraced their natural grey actually looked better and younger. It made sense as our skin changes colour as we age. Maybe it changed because our hair colour changed...just a thought. </div>
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After some reflection, at my next appointment I told my hairdresser that I wanted to start growing out the grey. We did a trim and booked my next appointment for 8 weeks to allow for growth. I then told a few moms at school my plan and got told I was crazy. Maybe I was but I was willing to see what happened.</div>
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At my next appointment, with 2 inches of growth, I had my hairdresser pixie my hair to get as much colour out of it. You then could see the grey. I don't know what shocked me more the grey or the short hair. At Church the senior ladies were shocked at the grey. Many of them were confused as many of them still colour their hair in their 70s, not that I am judging. To each their own.</div>
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Now after 6 months, my hair is grey with a few highlights left from my last colour which is too stubborn to leave. I receive so many compliments of the change and believe it does look way better. My hair appointments cost 1/3 of what they were. I feel free and love how my hair feels. It isn't over processed or frizzy. I once heard Liz Curtis Higgs call her grey hair her crown of silver and I love my crown.</div>
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I am still pretty vain but I am embracing the person that I truly was made to be.</div>
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messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-13526111952514010302018-02-23T09:31:00.001-07:002018-02-23T09:32:29.561-07:00FMF - Beauty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I see beauty around me in so many things. Give me a camera and the photos I take reflect that. I love the simplicity of a seed pod in a plant in the fall. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Leaves that have fallen in a lake. </span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit49sWfTU-XiwMo6irrznWMj8tgTkvl5TIHqUtUrZctHj72p5nx6Q7ZzTIj-Qb7hxqX3Ju_7pwMNabhwuiI8q-HXhwb1Wwv1N04fyUWJGYDXXsYei06GaTeohMEyqkC3K3g0VUwKdi4c4/s1600/DSCF3075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit49sWfTU-XiwMo6irrznWMj8tgTkvl5TIHqUtUrZctHj72p5nx6Q7ZzTIj-Qb7hxqX3Ju_7pwMNabhwuiI8q-HXhwb1Wwv1N04fyUWJGYDXXsYei06GaTeohMEyqkC3K3g0VUwKdi4c4/s320/DSCF3075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mountains that proclaim God's creation and remind me how small I am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Beauty is all around us. God's creation is beauty. There is beauty in joy and beauty in misery. There is beauty in things that destroy and beauty in regrowth and refining. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We live in a culture that teaches a false sense of beauty in the physical but beauty can come from within. The saddest thing I heard was from our teenage girl saying she was ugly. How can she not see that she is beauty?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">She is who God created her to be. She is one of his image bearers. She is beauty as fragile as the seed pod and as strong as the mountain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am joining up with the <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2018/02/22/fmf-link-up-beauty/" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday</a> link up. Come check it out.</span></div>
messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-50049088630174406922018-02-22T00:30:00.000-07:002018-02-22T00:30:45.749-07:00#TBT - I Thought I Was Older....<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Going through everything lately and my reactions to it have reminded me that I am not as old or mature spiritually as I want to be. It is a reminder I get every few years. I am glad that our faith grows daily and differently in the seasons of life we are living. I share with you a post I wrote a few years ago when I realized this for the umpteenth time. I wish I could tell you that I finally learned the lesson but it is a lesson I keep on learning.</span></div>
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Yesterday, while driving to church I silently prayed for each member of my family. When I got to Sam, God gave me an epiphany. Not one about Sam. No, about myself. You see lately I have been complaining about Sam. He's up and at'em by 7 am every morning and makes himself quite noticed. He runs here, he runs there, especially when he knows its time to get ready to go. Just when you think you have him, you guessed wrong. He quickly shoots to another direction. If we work as a team we can usually corner him, unless he decides to "hide" in the couch (this means he lays on the couch with his head in the cushions. He can't see you, so he thinks you can't see him).</div>
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I'm like this with God. I run around dodging Him. I run around in circles while He is trying to lead me in the direction He wants me to go. When I hide, I don't do a very good job at it, because He knows where to find me all the time. He follows me around and corners me, just like Sam does with us. The only difference is that I am almost 38 years old and Sam is 3. Sam is expected to run. I am expected to listen and behave and follow when told or commanded to. I am not to try to dodge what is expected of me, which I have been doing lately. </div>
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Another way I am like Sam is when he attaches himself to the wrong mom. If you are a mom of a toddler you know what I mean, for all others let me explain. When we pick up Thomas from kindergarten, we have to pick him up inside the school. The little kids run up and down the hallways while we wait for the kindergarten kids to be dismissed. From a toddlers perspective that's a lot of big people and legs. So often a toddler will cuddle in eventually to who he/she believes is mommy because aren't all big legs their moms. Unfortunately when they finally look up, way up, they realize "that's not my mommy" and go and locate their mommy. </div>
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You see, when I do slow down and look for God, I grab onto a set of "legs" I think are His. It's only after while do I actually look and realize I haven't been following who I should be. During these times I feel lost, lonely, broken and defeated. When I am walking with the Father, I feel loved, secure, peaceful and hopeful. </div>
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I need to grow up. I thought I had reached that spiritual adolescent or teenage age where I asked questions and longed to know more about God. I didn't think I was still in the toddler phase, running around like a chicken with my head chopped off wanting security, but dodging it as well. I know this has a lot to do with my prayer life. I realized that today as I finished my Good Morning Girls study on Ephesians 6:18. </div>
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Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.[ NLT]</div>
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As I wrote last week, my prayer life has been sporadic. This verse reminds me to be alert and persistent in my prayer life, not just for myself but for others as well. It reminds me to pray at ALL times and on EVERY occasion. Not just when I need something. Not just when it gets hard. But to pray daily. Pray about what I need, what I long for for my children. Praying for my husband. Praying for family and friends. Praying for my government. Praying for God's kingdom and will. </div>
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I thought I was older. Apparently, God has other ideas.</div>
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<em>What do you think you're spiritual age is? What do you think you have been dodging that God wants you do? Have you been heading toward the wrong "set of legs?"</em></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-55810199871128755532018-02-13T00:30:00.000-07:002018-02-13T00:30:23.223-07:00Nevertheless She Persisted<span class="text Rom-5-3" id="en-NIV-28051" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />
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<span class="text Rom-5-3" id="en-NIV-28051" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8nWJ8djs10Qas2E314H0BeeGGviaB7dP8cBCEf0OwzrgrA2H0vHznqmKVu82Mfrin7LRzqBadR74pLmGT6kyR1BUCxrbNOxw5k3T8B-xm4jUbEWK1pwKut31UJ5N_BLFs-IYCIr2MXU/s1600/Persisted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8nWJ8djs10Qas2E314H0BeeGGviaB7dP8cBCEf0OwzrgrA2H0vHznqmKVu82Mfrin7LRzqBadR74pLmGT6kyR1BUCxrbNOxw5k3T8B-xm4jUbEWK1pwKut31UJ5N_BLFs-IYCIr2MXU/s320/Persisted.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span class="text Rom-5-3" id="en-NIV-28051" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{e948585d-f0ec-4c58-bd89-f72388d08cef}{147}" paraid="254296227" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If one hasn't bee</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">n under a rock or on another planet one must have heard the comments by Sen. Mitch McConnell about Sen. Elizabeth Warren: "</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” This cry of "she persisted" has become a rally for many feminists. In fact, Chelsea Clinton wrote an amazing children's book called "She Persisted: 13 American Women who Changed the World." Some of these women that Chelsea Clinton wrote about were believers. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{608a93be-1753-4ca7-955f-0d8eb92d5b42}{73}" paraid="1612523415" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{608a93be-1753-4ca7-955f-0d8eb92d5b42}{78}" paraid="1678347639" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You may wonder why I am even mentioning this whole situation. This week I was doing my Beth Moore study called "Entrusted" and she ended the chapter with </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{b148a34e-ec62-444e-b400-bf097f606add}{57}" paraid="1055855684" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{b148a34e-ec62-444e-b400-bf097f606add}{62}" paraid="1609520535" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<i><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Persist. Jesus is on His way. Your </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">an</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ointing</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> has not run dry. Heaven has not forgotten you're alive. You have not believed for nothing. The results of your faith will soon sprout from that fallow ground. Just a little more rain. Just a little more thunder. Your obedience will pay off. You have not wasted a single breath on prayer. There is still life in your bones and, child of God, there is still life in His Word. Persist. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></i></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d0d5cf07-4186-4c69-b6a3-bbd201c3abd2}{240}" paraid="930906771" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">These words come as a reflection of the verse: </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: &quot; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d357f600-504c-4624-817c-33bc08ba5036}{142}" paraid="1690773914" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<i><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #001320; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. HCSB 2 Timothy 4:2</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></i></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d357f600-504c-4624-817c-33bc08ba5036}{142}" paraid="1690773914" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d357f600-504c-4624-817c-33bc08ba5036}{14}" paraid="1489609205" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We as believers are to persist in proclaiming the Gospel. This as Beth Moore states through the "Entrusted" study is the gifting that we have each been entrusted with. It may not be convenient to us. I know personally how hard it is to persist in sharing the Gospel. I have lost a few friends and even family members treat me with an air of distain</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d357f600-504c-4624-817c-33bc08ba5036}{14}" paraid="1489609205" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{72306377-c0d8-4c2e-90e6-232cdcd039ac}{234}" paraid="1256605299" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I know how hard it is also to persist in life. Sometimes life comes at you with so many things that you just don't think you can take. I was at my </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position-x: left; background-position-y: bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">IF:Table</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> group today and admitted that I don't ask God any more "When??" my cry lately is "How much more am I expected to endure?" I think we all feel like this sometimes. As women there are so many societal expectations on us as </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">wiv</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">e</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">s</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">, mothers, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">daughters</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">, sisters, friends, in our homes, places of business and, sadly, our places of worship. Last week I had to call out a dear friend for the "old boys club." This was in respect with an Elder's meeting. We think we have come so far in this respect and in realty we have barely scratched the surface. As a wife and mother, I have taken a very traditional role in my home. It was something that my husband and I both agreed upon. With my role as an Elder in our Church and as Chair of Council I have taken a very non-traditional role. Sometimes the two clash. It is hard to be the me that wants to be a role model for my daughter and a </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">show her</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> that God has gifted us with </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">g</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ifts </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">that we are called to use and show her that traditional </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">roles do have value.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{8f49ace1-17d3-4fc2-998d-235417d4d3f9}{184}" paraid="1625835529" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: &quot; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{8f49ace1-17d3-4fc2-998d-235417d4d3f9}{191}" paraid="1140483265" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We will all face suffering. In fact I once heard that if you aren't suffering that you should ask yourself why not or that you should expect it to come. God will allow</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">things into our lives that make us bend. He is working on our faith. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{e948585d-f0ec-4c58-bd89-f72388d08cef}{34}" paraid="763807320" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<i><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Not only so, but we </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">also glory in our sufferings,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> because we know that suffering produces perseverance;</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">perseverance, character; and character, hope.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">And hope</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> does not put us to shame, because God’s love</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 NIV</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></i></div>
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<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: &quot; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{77f662ff-9508-488e-9ba0-321199c97a5d}{15}" paraid="579137599" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Did you notice on</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">e of the words in that verse: Perseverance. It means </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Can you think of word that may mean the same. The one I started with: Persist. Persist literally means to </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">continue firmly in a </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">course of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, or failure. We as believers are called to continue </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">through t</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">he difficulty, </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">through the things, that hurt through the opposition. Yes we will fail sometimes but we need to persevere and persist through these times. I can tell you that the last 5 years have been very hard. My husband's depression has been a roller coaster of emotions. We have had 2 hospitalizations for long periods and 2 out </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">pat</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ient</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> programs. I wish I could tell you that he is not struggling at this moment but it is there taking control of our lives. There have been many times we have both said "I'm done." I'm done with the stress. I am done being tired. I am done feeling this way. There are</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">many days that I have watched my husband barely get out of bed because t</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">he depression has stolen joy and hope </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">from</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Him. This verse reminds me that I need to persevere through the pain and suffering because there is hope.</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" paraeid="{1ed2eefd-134b-4b10-8038-5926ee4172ee}{111}" paraid="944085410" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "times new roman" , "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We need to persist. Whether in our calling or our lives. God didn't just plunk us here and then say lets see what they'll do. God wants to see us grow and become the people that he created us to be. He wants us to use the gifts that He gave us to advance His kingdom. He refines us through fire so that we can be purified and our faith can be solid. I want to hear from God at the end:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW1642995" lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW1642995" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Nevertheless She Persisted."</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW1642995" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":1,"335551620":1,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" style="-ms-touch-select: none; -ms-user-select: text; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span>messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-40429243821457869422018-02-12T07:24:00.000-07:002018-02-12T07:24:10.474-07:00Music Monday - Broken Praise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
A few years ago our Church journeyed through the <a href="http://www.thestory.com/" target="_blank">Story</a>. From our youngest members to our oldest we went from the beginning to the end together. Because sometimes I am nerd and have to go and do research on things I found that The Story actually had a soundtrack. It immediately became one of my favourite playlists on Spotify. I loved listening to songs as I read and studied. Many of the songs spoke to my heart. The one that still speaks to me is the one written about Job, which is funny because Job isn't even in the Story. </div>
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The words of the song talk about a man in deep struggle and pain being accused of unconfessed sin, "buck up", you can't see the bigger plan..... When you are going through struggles you hear so many things from people in the Church. The one you rarely hear is the one of listen. There are so many hurting people in our pews that just want to be listened to. To be understood. The problem is that our church culture has some cute quips supposed to make us feel better. But really they don't. </div>
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I have heard many of the quips over the years in regards to my husband's depression and our boys' autism. The one that drives me up the wall is "God doesn't give you more than you can handle...." I will write about that another day. One only has to look at Job to see what God allowed to happen to him: loss of children, loss of wealth, physical pain, etc... We will suffer as believers. What we need to learn is how to empathize with those who are going through suffering. Allowing them to cry out and wrestle with God and then allowing them to come to a place of shalom and healing. It isn't ours to do. It is His.</div>
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<br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-4636290010922056412018-02-09T07:11:00.001-07:002018-02-09T07:11:41.534-07:00FMF - Privilege<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXWh_BwigLXfhMFN0zveV6dDmkxt_YFTgBd_x2xGItqlZbYsK6l36HGULYt_OBJl6Mc_K6W8bt-LEDwSFxubDA1fd3ZSljxaqfkcKaEsT0r5Sn12ytQZKxWNqPbhfDCOYbIx3UlQIi6w/s1600/FMF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXWh_BwigLXfhMFN0zveV6dDmkxt_YFTgBd_x2xGItqlZbYsK6l36HGULYt_OBJl6Mc_K6W8bt-LEDwSFxubDA1fd3ZSljxaqfkcKaEsT0r5Sn12ytQZKxWNqPbhfDCOYbIx3UlQIi6w/s1600/FMF.jpg" /></a></div>
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I always tell people it is a honour and privilege to serve as an Elder in our church. It is not something I have every taken lightly. I acknowledge that I am probably not the best Elder in the bunch but I know that God has chosen me for a "time like this."</div>
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I always say God has a sense of humour since I am an Elder and I truly believe God chose me as our church choses Elders through lots. I don't believe in chance, fate or coincidence. I believe God choses every name that He places in leadership at our church. We may not always get along but we always want to see the Church of Jesus be enriched and grow spiritually. </div>
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Lately our council has come under attack. While it seems like individuals, I believe it is the enemy. Since I am the Chair of council I have had to be involved in much of the discussion surrounding this and it hurts and I have grown weak. I actually almost quit. I had my letter drafted. After some amazing advice from friends and a time of rest from the situation I have regrouped and found space to breath. </div>
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Leadership in the Church is hard. But it is a privilege that I don't take lightly.....<br />
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Every Friday I join the <a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2018/02/08/fmf-link-up-privilege/" target="_blank">Five Minute Friday</a> community where we get one word and write for five minutes. messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-65613081027486461292018-02-08T00:30:00.000-07:002018-02-08T00:30:17.372-07:00#TBT - Warrior<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNJNC5m4VUK3yAYGAy87neL1Vk1_ZmuipdgTRRI6X6E8zF11QksWIZYKTjwSnVGRYtC13uwP_iYpy9wWGs28Fm6njI9sTKxp7jGdhuKeVWKlSeM2ETGj4DLAh8xZimDc-_-LlMxq7wRQ/s1600/Warrior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNJNC5m4VUK3yAYGAy87neL1Vk1_ZmuipdgTRRI6X6E8zF11QksWIZYKTjwSnVGRYtC13uwP_iYpy9wWGs28Fm6njI9sTKxp7jGdhuKeVWKlSeM2ETGj4DLAh8xZimDc-_-LlMxq7wRQ/s320/Warrior.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am battle beaten and frankly worn out. My spirit, mind and body cannot take anymore of the arrows being thrown my way. I am ready to throw in the towel so much that I have actually drafted a letter of resignation. I know that in my pain I can be impulsive. How else are we supposed to be? We all come with a trigger of fight or flight and I am usually a fighter. Right now I just want to run away and hide.</div>
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I was going through my old posts and this one popped out immediately. I wrote it after a friend called me a "warrior." I really struggled with that image. I am not a warrior. Survivor yes, warrior no. But maybe survivors can be warriors. Just reading this post has given me some perspectives I had forgotten.</div>
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<i><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />I'm tired </i></div>
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<i>I'm Worn </i></div>
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<i>My heart is heavy</i></div>
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<i>From the work it takes to keep on breathing.</i></div>
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These are the first lyrics of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zulKcYItKIA">Worn</a> by Tenth Avenue North. These are the also the words that describe how I've been feeling lately. </div>
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I have a friend who calls me a warrior. But I don't feel like one. I feel like the victim. The person tied to the rock waiting for someone to save them. Warriors are powerful. Warriors are strong. Warriors are brave. They are the heroes. They are the saviors. Dictionary.com defines warrior as a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness, as in politics or athletics. That definitely does not describe me.</div>
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This version of warrior is seen throughout our culture. You see it in our literature and our mythology. You only have to look at current media to see what society thinks warriors should look like. When I think of warriors in our current media I think of Aragon from the Lord of the Rings series. </div>
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He's the fighter in the story. The one who will bring peace. The one who will overcome evil if he takes up his birth right. But what I forget when I think of his story is his heartbreak. His hopelessness. His struggle. His running from what He knows he is. The Battle of Helms Deep reflects this. Ten thousand Uruk-hai against 300 Rhoinians. Then you add a few hundred elves, but still the numbers don't look good. At the beginning of the battle he argues with one of his friends, Legolas, about the battle. Legolas believes the battle to be foolhearty. Aragon acknowledges it, yet says he will fight anyway. </div>
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You see that is what a warrior really is. Merriam Webster defines a warrior as : a man engaged or experienced in warfare; broadly : a person engaged in some struggle or conflict. A warrior is tired. A warrior is worn. A warrior doesn't know when the battle will end, but keeps on fighting. A warrior may realize that they may lose the battle, but that the war is still undecided. In this aspect I am a warrior.</div>
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<i> For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Ephesians 6:12 AMP</span></i></div>
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We are all warriors. We are all fighting some battle. In fact, we should be fighting. It means that we are worth trying to defeat. It means that we are in line with God. The enemy hates this. The enemy wants us to have a false sense of hope. But it is just that, false hope. Only God can give us true hope. Only He can bring us true peace. He doesn't just send us out into the battle. He doesn't send us out unprepared, as well. He arms us.</div>
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<i>Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Ephesians 6:13-17 AMP</span></i></div>
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We also don't fight alone. He fights with us.</div>
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<i>The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Exodus 14:14 AMP</span></i></div>
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God knows the end of our stories. We don't. He doesn't leave us alone. He is with us, even we think hope is lost. He guides us and fights with us. He will lead us to restful waters (Psalm 23:2) He will refresh us and restore us (Pslam 23:3). Lean on Him in the battle. You may lose this round, but know that the War has been won.</div>
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<i>Are you in the midst of a battle? Are you worn? Have you sought out God for rest? Have you leaned on Him for guidance and assistance?</i></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-67310906992093703892018-02-06T07:30:00.000-07:002018-02-06T07:30:30.414-07:00Go Through the Hard Places<div style="text-align: justify;">
I truly believe that when God wants you to know something He will bang you on the head until you get it. Lately I have had a similar message from God: Go to the hard places.</div>
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At Breakforth, Albert Tate, of Fellowship Monrovia in California, opened the conference with a message on the <a href="https://willowcreek.tv/sermons/south-barrington/2015/03/woman-at-the-well/">Woman at the Well</a>. We laughed and we cried and we were convicted by the Spirit on his message. But the part of the message that really stuck with me, and I wrestled with, was the information about Samaria. </div>
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Samaria was the central region of Palestine between Judaea and Galilee. It was the heart of the kingdom of Israel until the Assyrian conquest. The Jews did not consider them pure blooded but diluted as the remnant of the Israelites left behind intermarried with other groups that relocated there. They believed in God and used a version of the Pentateuch as their sacred writings. However, they did not worship at the Temple but at Mt. Gerizim. The Jews really did not like them because of this and many other reasons. Albert Tate explained that the feelings and belief were bad that the Jews would go around Samaria just to avoid dealing with them. </div>
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However, Jesus did not avoid going through Samaria.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text John-4-1" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">When Jesus learned that the Pharisees<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26148A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26148A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> had heard he was making<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26148B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26148B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> and baptizing more disciples than John<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26148C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26148C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> (</span><span class="text John-4-2" id="en-CSB-26149" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">though Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were), </span><span class="text John-4-3" id="en-CSB-26150" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </sup>he left Judea<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26150D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26150D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> and went again to Galilee.<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26150E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26150E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> </span><span class="text John-4-4" id="en-CSB-26151" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </sup><i><u>He had to travel through Samaria</u></i></b>;<sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-26151F" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-26151F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 8.26px; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup> John 4:1-4 CSB</span></span></div>
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Did you read that? Jesus "had to travel through" to get to where He was going. He didn't go around. He didn't by-pass it. He entered into the place that was undesired, hard, and dangerous to do ministry. In his message, Albert Tate states that that is what we are to do as Believers. We are called to enter into the hard places, the uncomfortable places..."When we follow Jesus, we go through Samaria, we have the hard conversations" We don't go around and avoid the hard things. </div>
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You can see why I am wrestling with this idea. However, God didn't just leave me with that message probably because He knew I didn't quite get what He wanted me to know. As we travel through Luke as a congregation, we hit the Luke 4:14-30. As we were going through the verses I pulled out my phone....No I did not check Facebook....and opened my Logos app. I then opened one of my Study Bibles. The verse that hit me right away was verse 14.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,</span><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-25070A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-25070A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 8.26px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; top: 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sup><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> and news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity.</span><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-CSB-25070B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-CSB-25070B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 8.26px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; top: 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sup><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Luke 4:4 CSB</span></span></span></div>
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It seems simple enough but here is what the Faith Life Study Bible says about verse 14: "<b>Galilee</b> Jesus begins His mission in the most ethnically and culturally diverse portion of Israel. The rest of the Jewish people viewed Galilee as only moderately Jewish. Jesus begins where He is most needed - among the marginalized."</div>
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Remember where Samaria was and remember where Galilee was...if not here is a map</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwXu5RlqrNAplMlSaChByvI3XeItHNgCpRe3dp3sX4hmJrbqTQ5LdAp5aTTbUENdaRqdVmlrVl6EeHXc1PcEn28aV88Eax4hCM4EKCmbdZFkt83Jjt0nmzzj0r6lpuhCTJ0TFq_cWzcI/s1600/map-of-samaria.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="362" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwXu5RlqrNAplMlSaChByvI3XeItHNgCpRe3dp3sX4hmJrbqTQ5LdAp5aTTbUENdaRqdVmlrVl6EeHXc1PcEn28aV88Eax4hCM4EKCmbdZFkt83Jjt0nmzzj0r6lpuhCTJ0TFq_cWzcI/s320/map-of-samaria.gif" width="299" /></a></div>
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Jesus didn't go around Samaria. He went through it. He didn't start his ministry off in Jerusalem where some might expect him too. He started it in Galilee. Both these places were not places that an upstanding young Jewish teacher would want to be. It was the place that people looked down on. It is the places that we would think would be dirty and dangerous....think skid row or the ghetto or the low income housing in your neighbourhood or city. This is where Jesus went and these are the places we are called go.</div>
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We as believers :</div>
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1. Need to go to these hard and undesirable places because that is where Jesus would have gone and these are the places that Jesus needs to be. These are the places that the broken and the hurting need redemption and true healing. They need help. I wold encourage you to enter into the places that make you feel uncomfortable. It can be as easy as going up to the least desirable person at church and talking to them. Finding out about them. It doesn't have to be hard and you might even meet a new member of your family. One of my dearest friends is a person that we all just didn't want to talk to. We were prideful and he made us uncomfortable. He is amazing man of God who had some amazing insights. See when we leave our <i>status quo </i>what we find.; and</div>
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2. There are hard places in relationships we need to go into. We can't skirt around issues and we can't avoid people. This causes tension and dissension in the body of Believers (believe me I know). We need to stop placating people and calling them on things. We also have to own up to our part of disagreements. Jesus never avoided an argument. He entered into the uncomfortable conversations that people didn't want to have. Look at the rest of John 4 and you only have to see the conversation that He had with the Samaritan woman. Through His honesty and grace and entering into her hard places, she saw Him for who He truly was and she then went off to become an evangelist for Him. Wouldn't it be amazing that the people we have hurt or have been hurt by could become our greatest cheerleaders.</div>
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So you can see, when God wants to let you know something. He will. I am going to be entering into some hard places that the non confrontational Michelle wants to avoid. Through His peace and grace and wisdom, I am trusting Him to lead me and be with me in those hard places.</div>
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<br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-30532529342500550772018-02-05T09:20:00.001-07:002018-02-05T09:20:22.180-07:00Music Monday - Lord, I Need You<div>
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I have mentioned that there are some tough things that are going on in Council. Because I am Chair I am having to deal with them and to be honest I am not leading well. It is hard when people don't respect you because you are a woman. A friend also gave me the advice that it is because I do not exude fear and am pretty approachable. His thought is that people equate fear and respect. Not that I am ready to throw out my belief it is because I am a woman, it has given me something to think about. </div>
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Yesterday, I went to church with my stomach in knots and very little sleep. This whole thing is really affecting every inch of my life. I have been trying to lean in on God but I don't always get that right either. After an altercation with a member, I will confess that I threw my Synod Calvin College mug out the door in frustration. I am part Irish and have a temper. I will totally own that one. I then went into to the Sanctuary.</div>
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After a quick organization, I started to listen to the worship. It is true that worship can definitely change your poster. The team started playing "Lord I Need You." In those first words God had my attention...</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial; font-size: 13.4px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">"Lord, I come, I confess</span></div>
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Bowing here I find my rest</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial; font-size: 13.4px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial; font-size: 13.4px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
Without You I fall apart</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial; font-size: 13.4px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial; font-size: 13.4px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
You're the One that guides my heart"</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial; font-size: 13.4px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial; font-size: 13.4px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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I did need to confess. My brokenness, my control, my pride, my anger. I have realized that I have been trying to solve the problem and probably not in a good way. I don't have the answers. He does. You only have to go into His word to find them. He always has the answers, because He is the answer. And, Yes, we need Him. He is our defence and our righteousness. </div>
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I often need to be reminded of this. </div>
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messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-22608348926642793942018-02-03T14:37:00.002-07:002018-02-03T14:37:36.184-07:00Caffeinated Randomness - February 3, 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKHdEMmbIOxo7h5C7Tuli1qUC-sO5a58VB3M57WT5mKEsG6Dv6Q6OZ0_rq8_CLEyjFjDAYKKGQXbbs2p8tRLXT7hIaWVtb2MBSr9fatmtBEwn561YgGD48gtbe8rKg0oEuNcxMF6J7Ws/s1600/Caffeinated+Randomness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKHdEMmbIOxo7h5C7Tuli1qUC-sO5a58VB3M57WT5mKEsG6Dv6Q6OZ0_rq8_CLEyjFjDAYKKGQXbbs2p8tRLXT7hIaWVtb2MBSr9fatmtBEwn561YgGD48gtbe8rKg0oEuNcxMF6J7Ws/s320/Caffeinated+Randomness.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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This last week has been an emotional up and down. Things are crazy and in all of that I have never felt closer to God. </div>
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There has been lots of things that I have been doing and most of them on the phone. I am a talker and I have probably been on the phone at least 15 hours this week alone and not all of it for personal talk. Yes my Evil Twin and I are still talking at least once a day but that is the fun conversation. I love talking to her because we can go from talking about misogyny in the Church to John Piper to Francis Chan to a great sale at one of our favourite stores in 0.5 seconds flat. </div>
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This week I thought I would share some of my favourite sites lately.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1k3ccmYRHxdO1P-79GxXYUo6ON_w7-3nDL2_BEU44IB-xyI1W5YCe8LUo-ao4wJzfz_CNhWpPdeHyL9Ooxomy5kecRZzPtlZGLcAV9-e9ZqPhjSTU_AjhyWjhMykZ5UhHAjAL58Y-Kg/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1k3ccmYRHxdO1P-79GxXYUo6ON_w7-3nDL2_BEU44IB-xyI1W5YCe8LUo-ao4wJzfz_CNhWpPdeHyL9Ooxomy5kecRZzPtlZGLcAV9-e9ZqPhjSTU_AjhyWjhMykZ5UhHAjAL58Y-Kg/s1600/untitled.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.ca/">Pinterest</a>: I think it self explanatory. As I have dived back into blogging I have realized that I have forgotten so much. Some of it is coming back slowly and there is a lot that has changed and I am playing catch up. Pinterest is great for searching for sites that explain things or share ideas. It has been so helpful. I was able to get this Blogspot template for free by doing a quick search until I figure out what kind of design I want or if I even want to create my own design. </div>
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I will note that blogging has changed so much that when I first blogged unless you were wanting to build a large platform or sell something, you didn't use Wordpress. Now it seems that the norm is to use WordPress. I am however, going to stay with what I know and am familiar with.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4G132OEXb8IgACKc6cRxJSieqTRD3hfngZOhG1vs5gf-A7a1Nw1V1RUJIyocKC-5yNra_oG3qAiq3kEC4VCocTjkAIeKIPXnHmwf3QdzCEQffSXuyeK9LHcrTlPXub_gRqCmUEK7HOIs/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4G132OEXb8IgACKc6cRxJSieqTRD3hfngZOhG1vs5gf-A7a1Nw1V1RUJIyocKC-5yNra_oG3qAiq3kEC4VCocTjkAIeKIPXnHmwf3QdzCEQffSXuyeK9LHcrTlPXub_gRqCmUEK7HOIs/s1600/untitled.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.picmonkey.com/">PicMonkey</a>: When I was first blogging there was program that we all used and they we would up load to Photobucket to get the html code so that we could post on our blogs or create favicons and other blogging materials. That has all changed and I am now using PicMonkey and I am loving it. Just look at our Caffeinated Randomness picture. I just went into their templates and played around a bit the same with my picture on the side. I love when people have done all the hard work and all I have to do is jump in and add or subtract to make it my own. I am hoping to become more familiar with it so that I can edit some of my photos or create my own Bible verse prints. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lMO2cqUy1DNb0fhzXW57SZNucwJQjmIFMfuGtzsG1vyqFGX41ifbVMmzSSIpsQz0TZ9a12p_qOYyMdNZYPnU7WBpM5c4ZTsOQnt8YT_j5mqxkEVcXL1BJW8Ny7PWgb66IEm6Hpvj1mY/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8lMO2cqUy1DNb0fhzXW57SZNucwJQjmIFMfuGtzsG1vyqFGX41ifbVMmzSSIpsQz0TZ9a12p_qOYyMdNZYPnU7WBpM5c4ZTsOQnt8YT_j5mqxkEVcXL1BJW8Ny7PWgb66IEm6Hpvj1mY/s1600/untitled.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.plantoeat.com/">Plan To Eat</a>: This site has NOTHING to do with blogging unless you are blogging about food. This site is a meal planning, recipe organizing machine. You can enter in recipes you have or add some of the ones you pinned on the aforementioned Pinterest. If your recipe is added from the site it will actually generate a grocery list for the time you want. </div>
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Every Black Friday they offer a membership for 1/2 off. It is well worth full price though. </div>
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I hope everyone has a great week. I am now going to go call someone while I search Pinterest and upload recipes to PlantoEat. I wonder what I can do to get PicMonkey to help.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #002000; font-family: "georgia";"></span></b><br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-66207555240256280622018-02-02T16:31:00.001-07:002018-02-02T16:31:24.225-07:00Agree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXWh_BwigLXfhMFN0zveV6dDmkxt_YFTgBd_x2xGItqlZbYsK6l36HGULYt_OBJl6Mc_K6W8bt-LEDwSFxubDA1fd3ZSljxaqfkcKaEsT0r5Sn12ytQZKxWNqPbhfDCOYbIx3UlQIi6w/s1600/FMF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXWh_BwigLXfhMFN0zveV6dDmkxt_YFTgBd_x2xGItqlZbYsK6l36HGULYt_OBJl6Mc_K6W8bt-LEDwSFxubDA1fd3ZSljxaqfkcKaEsT0r5Sn12ytQZKxWNqPbhfDCOYbIx3UlQIi6w/s1600/FMF.jpg" /></a></div>
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It is hard to agree with each other. We all come with different backgrounds and perspectives. We all come with motives, some productive and good and others ....not so much. As believers we are called to work in unity together. This doesn't mean that we have to always agree 100% of the time but it does mean that we have to focused in unity on the end goal, that of spreading the Gospel message.</div>
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I am on church council. Lately not everyone in our congregation is in agreement with how we feel lead to move the church forward to do the hard work of the Gospel. Some of the dissension in our congregation has come over money, others values, and lastly some of it personal. It is hard to be Chair and not take the attacks personally and attacks is what they are. Our enemy would love nothing less than to see us divided and in disagreement.</div>
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My friend was counselling me in disagreement in the church and told the story of an older gentleman who was in disagreement with his council's direction. It went to at vote and his side lost. Later at a work bee that had to do with the disagreement, he was there helping. She said to him "I am surprised you are here". His response "I may not be in agreement, but I will concede to the decision." .....STOP<br />
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You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. Ephesians 4:4-6 The Message</div>
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I am linking up with<a href="http://fiveminutefriday.com/2018/02/01/fmf-link-agree/"> Five Minute Friday</a>. Please come and join us.messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-34934967446998569792018-02-01T06:44:00.002-07:002018-02-01T06:44:43.601-07:00#TBT - Fight Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I am feeling bruised. Being in Church leadership one has to make decisions that others don't like. It hurts when friends attack because of a difference of opinion. It hurts when people can't separate you and the office. This year has been particularly hard because not only am I on council but I am also the Chair and subsequently I am the one who is the face of all decisions the body of council makes. One would believe that because we are Christians that we would get along better. However, we are still human and we are still sinful.</div>
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It feels like I am a target for all attacks whether spiritual, verbal, or emotional I literally feel like I walk around with a target sign on my chest (maybe I should buy the T-shirt). At first I thought these were just feelings but lately it has become evident. It hurts. It hurts a lot. I am not one to cry openly, in fact I have been called out on it. It takes a lot for me to cry in front of people. Last night after a particularly hard meeting I left sobbing. I couldn't even speak. I am actually surprised I made it home. I really haven't stopped crying. </div>
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When I got home I needed to do something because I needed to focus on something else rather than utter defeat. A few years ago during a particularly long session of Synod I walked from the hall to my dorm and rapped Jump Around by House of Pain. This was a song that came out in 1992 (which is also the year I graduated) I made it my fight song. I am making it my fight song now. It is not spiritual. It is not even clean. It is, however, all about fighting and it is what my soul is longing to hear. </div>
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I need to fight. I need to fight the good fight and stand. I need to allow God to stand with me and follow His lead. I need to pick up my sword and arm myself against the attacks and yes, some battles will be smooth and some battles will be messy but I will fight. </div>
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<br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-88202892637374799492018-01-31T07:29:00.001-07:002018-01-31T17:15:14.387-07:00Let's Talk.....<a href="https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/19283717/?claim=2z6nyvmsw4t">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
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Today in Canada it is <a href="https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/">Bell's Let's Talk</a> day. It is a day that we are encouraged to be open and share about mental health issues and to raise money for organizations that support individuals and families that suffer because of mental health.</div>
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This day means a lot but I feel the same about it as I do International Day of Autism on April 2. I live it 365 days a year. We don't get 364 days off from it. It affects us 24/7. Mental health isn't some easily cured disease. Many times people who suffer, suffer quietly and alone until it gets too much and they take their own lives. Some individuals get help and work through it. They are not cured. They are just able to live day to day. Some individuals do try to get help, only to have the system repeatedly let them down time and time again. That is our story. </div>
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Mental illness is a disease. It isn't because you are weak. It isn't because you are a failure. It isn't because of anything you did or didn't do. Mental illness is a disease that is just as bad as cancer. It is just as debilitating and can be just as deadly. The problem is that historically in society it is a shame to admit that you have an mental illness. Just look at what we call people derogatorily to see this - psycho, idiot, retard, mental....you get my drift. These words were and are actual diagnosis of people with mental illness. With cancer everyone jumps on the bandwagon to help and assist where they can. When a mental illness is involved there is very little support and in fact many times people actually shy away from you. </div>
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We need to do better. We, the people of the cross, have an amazing message of hope and faith that a drowning world needs to hear and we aren't doing it. We add to the stigma of mental illness by asking people how they have sinned or telling them they don't have faith or the good ole "make it till you fake it" and "buck up." The problem is that mental illness is just that, a mental illness. We as the church need to support people. We don't always need to talk. We just need to show up and show up better. We need to make sure that people know they are not alone. We need to make them know they have people who are willing just to listen and to pray over them. We need to let families know that they have support and a place of soft landing. </div>
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I write these things because I have been wrestling with how the church supported our family during my husband's hospitalization this year. We were very open with where my husband was and why he was being hospitalized. We did not hide this from anyone. The first week, I had some support and people willing to help me with the kids. This slowly faded. Within at least 3 weeks I felt like I was on my own. I had to hire people to help me with the kids so that I could visit with my husband. Life went on. There were a few people who visited my husband and supported him and a few stuck around. </div>
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This year it has felt that the mental health system has let us down as after my husband was released there was very little support within the system. But it also felt like my church neglected us. I can honestly say that I have said to friends who ask about the support I received "They are praying for us.". I know that but praying isn't always what people need. They need to feel like someone is there for them no matter what.</div>
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<i><span class="text 1Cor-12-21" id="en-NIV-28656" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "quot"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></sup>The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-22" id="en-NIV-28657" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "quot"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">22 </sup>On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-23" id="en-NIV-28658" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "quot"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">23 </sup>and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-24" id="en-NIV-28659" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "quot"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">24 </sup>while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-25" id="en-NIV-28660" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "quot"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">25 </sup>so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text 1Cor-12-26" id="en-NIV-28661" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "quot"; font-weight: 700; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">26 </sup>If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 1 Corinthians 12:21-26</span></i></div>
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<span class="text 1Cor-12-26" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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"<i>If one part suffers, every part suffers.</i>.." .people are suffering. It could be the person who has announced their need. It could be the person suffering in silence sitting beside you each Sunday. Jesus didn't shy away from those who were sick and suffering. He entered into to it with them. That's what we believers are called to do. We are ALL part of the body and some of the body is dying and dying in a bad way. We need to show up and help our brothers and sisters no matter the costs because that is our family and that is our ministry field. We all suffer when one of us suffers from mental illness. </div>
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We need to be better. We need to make sure that the people around us matter. We need to put ourselves out there and go to the mission field that Jesus has provided us. We need to be made uncomfortable and enter into another's uncomfortable. We need to listen and pray. We need to bring the coffee and do the laundry and bring the meal because then people don't feel like they have been abandoned. We need to overly love people just as Jesus did. </div>
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We need to be better. It's what we are called to do. </div>
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<b>Please visit your social media outlets and retweet, share and like as many times the Bell Let's Talk posts. Bell Media will donate 5 cents for everyone of them to mental health organizations and projects.</b></div>
<b></b><br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-62239706843006998682018-01-29T07:30:00.003-07:002018-01-29T07:30:40.254-07:00Music Monday - Be Still<div style="text-align: justify;">
This weekend I had the amazing privilege to attend the <a href="https://www.breakforthcanada.com/">Breakforth One Conference</a> in Edmonton, Alberta. This is the largest Christian Conference in Western Canada, if not all of Canada. It is an amazing time of teaching and worship and prayer. It was a time of refreshing and renewal for me. Also a time of pruning and cutting and realizing hard truths.</div>
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I have to admit that conferences like this can be so uplifting but they are draining as well. Sarah Bessey said it best during one of her sessions "I feel like I am drinking water from a firehose." That is how I felt. Through the amazing worship of Hillsong Worship and Ben Cantelon to simple leading of Steve Bell and Carolyn Arends to the teachings of Albert Tate, Levi Lusko, and Margret Feinberg. and the sessions with Sarah Bessey, Brian Haynes, Brady Josephson and Eddie Kaufholz, I felt a renewal and revival of my faith. I will admit now that I am not a crier, unless watching sappy movies, but I cried so much this weekend in joy, in pain, in thanksgiving and humility. The walls were broken and the spirit let out. I am praying that this will remain the case for the rest of my life. I long for this to be my reality.</div>
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Hillsong was amazing. We were able to be just off stage for their second show (a blessing from the conference for assisting us with a 100 birthday message for one of our congregants while we were away). I felt like a the two twenty somethings we came with who were dancing and jumping and singing. I attempted to jump but it really just was me bending my knees in time (you ladies who have had three kids will know why). </div>
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One song resonated with me all weekend. It is a song Hillsong wrote in 2017 and so it is not on an album....yet. It is a song about being still (now you know why it had my attention). But in it's words it is a reminder of how we are to posture ourselves...be still..won't be afraid, find rest, don't strive, and watch......enjoy and be renewed by the words that are still filling me.</div>
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<br />messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238311550481459350.post-87980746402816498072018-01-28T01:01:00.000-07:002018-01-28T01:01:25.022-07:00Caffeinated Randomness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwFdgYbP63C083Oj2Jljq2ag-9HTaGj3U2CoJR_vCw1xtuJiW4jiMW2klsFuKO3uqnWzx6rhFeDjpcxcDwIpkatA8Npm1ENZmvI944CYP_Xe2BNqRsRXDwshINO1aAHTVW9KvZjh0IKE/s1600/Caffeinated+Randomness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwFdgYbP63C083Oj2Jljq2ag-9HTaGj3U2CoJR_vCw1xtuJiW4jiMW2klsFuKO3uqnWzx6rhFeDjpcxcDwIpkatA8Npm1ENZmvI944CYP_Xe2BNqRsRXDwshINO1aAHTVW9KvZjh0IKE/s320/Caffeinated+Randomness.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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My ILRBF (In Life Real Bloggy Friend) Andrea used to post Caffeinated Randomness on Fridays. It was a time where we could post random thoughts, posts, pictures. I continued on with this even when she ceased to blog. At the time it was a link. At this poimt I am going to use the title and rebrand as my weekly follow up. I am not going to have link. I am going to share things that I am reading, doing, watching, enjoy,.....you get my drift. </div>
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This week I am reading....</div>
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I will admit that I LOVE Duck Dynasty, so does my social justice loving teen. We love the family and the comrarderie. We love that they speak about their faith and live it out. I miss Duck Dynasty. This week I listened to <a href="https://www.focusonthefamily.com/media/daily-broadcast/finding-strength-in-gods-blessings-pt1">Focus on the Family with Jace and Missy Robertson</a>. Then I went to the library and saw this book. I had no alternative but to pick it up. It is simply wonderful. It is so nice to read a book about and by 5 women who deeply love each other no matter what and respect each other. They are about building each other up and loving each other through the broken amd messy.</div>
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What I am watching....</div>
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As you can see, the complete opposite of the Robertson family. This is about an improverished family in southside Chicago. IT IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. This TV show is not Christain and should be rated R, if it isn't already. I find myself fast forwarding though many scenes. At the core these are a group of siblings trying to stay together no matter what and trying to survive. My childhood, while not as crazy as their lives, was a train wreck. I know what it is like to raise your siblings because of parents who don't.</div>
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While you are reading this I will be at <a href="https://www.breakforthcanada.com/">Breakforth</a>. I am so excited to get into the word and worship with 1000s of believers. I am excited to see Hillsong. I will be spending the day with <a href="http://sarahbessey.com/">Sarah Bessey</a>. I will attempt not to stalk her but NO promises. I read her book Jesus Feminist and as a woman leader in my church I feel it so important to share our stories and allow women to use the gifts that God has uniquely given us. </div>
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I hope everyone has an amazing weekend. I will hopefully share some of my escapades on Monday. </div>
messyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16179696270469688255noreply@blogger.com0