Down
to stand firm.
Just as the floodwaters carved out a new landscape in my backyard, the tide of fear, shock, sadness, and anger that followed carved out a new reality for me. Life is different now. In some ways, it will never be the same again.
The pictures above were taken in our yard on 8/27/2011 - the afternoon before Irene arrived. This is our yard just 4 days later...The force and power of the water was incredible...
I was thinking today about Noah's flood...how incredibly powerful that must have been. Imagine the fear that filled Noah's heart as the rain pelted the ark and all living creatures outside perished. Imagine the faith, as he waited in the ark for the waters to dry up. Imagine the hope that welled up in his heart when that dove returned with an olive leaf!
Imagine the mud they must have stepped into when they exited the ark!
I found my "olive leaf" today -- a single, straggly stalk of green. It had been badly battered by the power of the flooded creek; power that had downed trees, moved trucks, relocated boulders and bridges, had even moved houses off their foundations. It had stolen away large chunks of grass and yard, plants and flowers. Yet here, on the very edge of the eroded lawn, still rooted in the earth where I had planted it just this spring, reaching toward the sun, was my butterfly bush -- the survivor. This little bush not only hung onto its scrap of dirt - it waited until the waters receded and then mustered up all its strength to produce -- a blossom. A beautiful purple flower. Promise of another season to come, when all the debris will be finally cleared, grass will be planted, and (I promise) there will be new butterfly bushes planted alongside my survivor to keep him company....
Irene may have taken much, but I am finding so much more that she has given. But that is the subject of another blog.....
Today is a new day. Tomorrow is a new tomorrow. I will hope, trust, stand, and reach toward heaven, and rooted firmly in the soil of my Father's garden, I will blossom, just like my little butterfly bush.
"For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Revelation 7:17
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1
Please join us in prayer for our friends John and Diane and family.
John's daughter Kimberly passed away very suddenly today.
Did you ever face a big decision wondering how to find God's will? There's a song that David Patillo sings, called "When To Do What" which I have sometimes felt is the recurring theme song of my life. Did I make the right choice yesterday? Last week? 20 years ago? Am I making the right choice now?
"Sometimes I say yes, sometimes I say no, sometimes I hold on, sometimes I let go; sometimes I am right, but not always so; when to do what, that's what I want to know."
I have found that, in my life, the right choice is always to stay close to God. He will lead, and He will bless and use me as I seek His will. It's not easy to see where the path is leading today or tomorrow, but if I keep my hand in His we won't go wrong! The following article gives some insight on this too. Blessings!
The Table Cloth
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Start: | May 8, '09 7:00p |
End: | May 8, '09 9:00p |
Location: | Lighthouse Bible Church, Main Street, Hunter, NY (across from the Hunter PO) |
Why do I have to be commanded to love God, my Creator, my Heavenly Father, my Rock? Could it be because of my rebellious, fallen nature?
How can I help but love Him? Click on the link above for some thoughts on the subject.
In His Love,
Nancy
This is amazing, and worth the few minutes it takes to read/watch....At the end of the article is a link to watch the film.....Enjoy! -- Nancy
Moviemaker’s Goal: Real Life Imitating Art
Homeschoolers, production company depict challenge to Roe v. Wade
World Net Daily Article
October 11, 2008
Debate teams representing the 300 students at Patrick Henry College have won the Moot Court national debate crown twice in the school's eight-year existence, and they've defeated debating bastion Oxford twice, including once in England using UK laws, but now they're reaching higher. They are hoping that real life will imitate their art.
Combining with Advent Film Group, the Virginia evangelical school's debaters are featured in a new film presenting arguments that one day could be used to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that found a right to abortion in the U.S. Constitution. "Come What May," which already has been shown to packed houses in Grants Pass, Ore., and Harrisonburg, Va., is expected to
be available for screening online later this month.
In the movie, Caleb, a Christian student attending Patrick Henry, is caught in a moral tug-of-war as he challenges Roe v. Wade at the National Moot Court Championship. At the same time, the character's mother, a feminist attorney, argues the case at the U.S. Supreme Court, but on
the opposing side.
The microbudget project – essentially created with a volunteer team of students advised by a handful of movie professionals – already has had half a dozen offers for distribution, according to George Escobar of Advent Film Group. He told WND the plans are for the movie to be streamed online on GodTube later this month, but exact details still are being worked out.
"Our intention is that people see the compelling arguments for overturning Roe v. Wade if there are the right Supreme Court justices on the bench," he said.
In the Roe v. Wade opinion, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun hinted the decision eventually could be overturned, leaving abortion laws up to individual states. He concluded that if the "personhood" of the preborn could be established, "the case, of course, collapses, for the fetus' right to life is then guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment."
The advances in scientific and medical knowledge over the past four decades have created huge conflicts over the issue of the beginning of life. Voters in Colorado will decide Nov. 4 on a ballot initiative that would recognize the unborn as a person – given the same constitutional protections as anyone else – from the moment of conception.
Grants Pass Valley Family Forum director Dean Welty believes the time for the issue to be given to American citizens is now. "This movie tells how Roe v. Wade can be reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court," he said.
"Moviegoers [at a screening] were excited or agitated on both sides, because the movie shows in dramatic fashion just how flimsy the legal footing stands for Roe. "New Justice appointees who believe in constitutional original intent will likely overturn Roe," he said.
Since the next president is expected to appoint at least a few new justices during the coming term, the tipping point for many of the previous 5-4 decisions that have upheld abortions could be approaching.
Welty noted it's possible a handful of voters in each precinct across the nation could make the choice between GOP candidate Sen. John McCain, who has a long record of largely pro-life votes, and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, who has advocated for abortions beyond even the demands of the
National Abortion Rights Action League.
"If this new movie gets widely known, and it could break out because it's very controversial, then watch out," Welty said.
Escobar has worked in the American Film Institute and in Hollywood as a freelance story analyst. He was assistant to the director on several television shows and vice president of product technologies for Tele-TV, which then was headed by Howard Stringer, now CEO of Sony. The founder of Advent Film Group in 2007, he confirmed distributors already are bidding for the rights to distribute the movie.
"We know that Christians love 'Come What May,'" said Escobar. "What surprised us were the secular, pro-choice audiences, some of whom have told us that 'Come What May' is causing them
to reconsider their position." He cited the huge impact of recent low-budget movies, "Facing the Giants," and "Fireproof," as a sea change in the movie industry. "Giants," about a high school football team, was made by Sherwood Baptist Church in
Albany, Ga., on a budget of $100,000. It earned $10 million in box office sales and – so far – has sold more than a million DVDs. "Our mission is to change culture for Christ through media," said Escobar. "We are drawing from the outstanding talent and strength of the homeschooling community.
"If homeschoolers can turn the public education monopoly upside down, they can do the same for cinema," he said.
Statistics indicate homeschooling is growing at a rate many times the rate of growth for schools nationwide, and there now are estimates of more than 2 million students who are homeschooled.
Endorsing the project were Michael Farris, founder and chancellor of Patrick Henry College, the nation's only Christian liberal arts college established to serve homeschooled students; Graham Walker, president of the college; and Michael Smith, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association.
The project, in which students also received on-the-job training in the film industry, already has been
honored. It was given a Redemptive Storyteller Award for 2008 from the Redemptive Film Festival.
Kurt Ramspott, founder of the pro-life group Guys-For-Life, said the film "could be a tipping point in this dramatic battle of Good vs. Evil in our lifetime." "It is a 'must see' that will spur you onto action," he said.
Click below to watch the film (it's free):
http://www.onenewsnow.com/comewhatmay/default.aspx
Job 19:25 But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth,
And at last he will stand up upon the earth.
This is a beautiful example of a father's love -- and what great love our Father has shown us, that we should be called the children of God!
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513