by Sue Forde | Feb 11, 2019 | encouragement, joy, peace
by Sue Forde
February 11, 2019
We’ve been getting quite a lot of snow in our western Washington area recently – to the point where many have been “snowed in” for a few days. The snow causes the earth to take a rest. And when it begins to melt, it nourishes the earth with water into the aquifer.
It’s only natural that after some time passes, we would start to get antsy – want to get out and get things done, at our usual day-to-day pace. But perhaps we should take a lesson from God’s nature – when a blanket of snow falls on the earth, it’s a “time-out”. Everything lies still and peaceful – and it’s beautiful! That white layer of snow, untouched by anything or anyone, is something to behold. We look out the window – or go outside for a short period of time – and enjoy it.
Our lives should be like that. In today’s world, we rush here and there, with so many things “to do”, that we often overlook the sheer beauty of nature, and we get no real rest. God has set the seasons for us – and with it, a lesson. Take time out of our busy day to “think on these things” – the greatness of our loving Father, all that He provides for us each day, hour, minute and second. Relax and don’t worry, as “everything” is in God’s hands – and YOU most of all! He holds us each in the palm of His loving hand – and knows exactly what are needs are – and meets them according to His power and riches.
Worry is a tool of our enemy. Stress, also, comes from that evil one who wanders the earth seeking whom he will destroy. It’s sometimes difficult to pull our thoughts away from worry and stress. We need to “make” time to just relax, read God’s word and His promises to us, and be filled with joy. And, like the time of snow, we will become renewed and fresh – and ready to go again.
by Sue Forde | Feb 1, 2019 | Family, General, love
by Sue Forde
February 1, 2019
There has been so much controversy over recent events in a couple of States – New York and Virginia, in particular. It is unbelievable to me that anyone could even consider taking the life of a baby – in the womb or after birth. Life is precious. Life is a wonder, and a gift from our loving Father. All one has to do is look at the physiology of a human body to see all the intricacies involved with how it works.
I am pro-life. To say that a person is “pro-choice” is misleading. “Choice” should come before intimacy with another human being. It’s the reason God spelled out in His Word – the Holy Bible – that sex before marriage is wrong. And we see, in our society, the results of following that wrong path for so many years. One parent families. Abortion. Drugs and alcohol abuse. Child abuse. Children removed from homes for many of these reasons, and placed in foster care or group homes to be raised by someone other than parents.
Why has this happened? It’s very simple, in my view. We as a society have gone off the path of righteousness. We have forgotten God. We put ourselves first. We don’t follow the moral code that was set up early on in our nation.
God has made promises about these things. There are many verses in the Bible which speak to these. There are “blessings” and there are “curses.” For many years, our nation has lived under God’s blessings – because we have paid attention to and followed His path for us. Over recent years, (probably since the 60’s with the advent of “free love” – and at the same time, making things like abortion “okay”, living with various partners rather than in a committed relationship called “marriage”, and the so-called “separation of church and state”), our society has moved away from the teachings of the Bible, and toward a hedonistic (self-loving, making oneself a “god”) approach.
To understand how both the blessings and curses can affect a society, just go back in time to the days of the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, where God made it clear what would happen when society follows His way, and when it doesn’t.
An example of blessings:
“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. … (Deuteronomy 8:1-68)
And an example of curses:
“Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.” (Deuteronomy 28:47-48)
And a warning:
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,…” (Deuteronomy 30:19 )
Blessings and curses can be found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. More examples can be found at Open Bible/Topics/Blessings and Curses)
If we, as a nation, do not repent (turn around and head in the opposite direction), we will experience not blessings, but curses. Please consider sharing the Good News of the Gospel with all you know who have headed down the wrong path – that we are all wonderfully created and loved by God. One person talking to another will sometimes be all it takes to start the change in direction.
SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Abortion’s New Level of Evil Opens Witnessing Opportunity
A 2015 video on YouTube reveals a high-level administrator in Planned Parenthood’s abortion field admitting that abortion procedures are carefully executed to preserve certain organs in the murdered baby.
Would You Consider Abortion in These Three Situations?
See how your answer could change the course of history.
“Adopted” Tract + the Lord = a Baby’s Life Saved
She used a simple tract to save a baby’s life.
by Sue Forde | Jan 14, 2019 | encouragement, joy
A couple of months ago, we got a couple of puppies. Yes, a COUPLE! You see, our dog Bear, whom we’d had for 14 years, died last year of cancer. Husband Bob said we should replace him. We looked for weeks, but there were no dogs available that caught our eye.
One day, on a whim, I checked out craigslist, and there was a photo of the cutest little puppy! AND the people offering him lived in our town! We decided to go check him out. When we arrived, the owner was holding the little cutie in his arms – and then, his wife came out with the puppy’s sister. We looked at one another: that was that – we had to take them both! How could we separate them!?
Mick and Ebbie were 10 weeks old when we got them. Babies. And of course, babies need training, just like human babies!
The first thing was to train them to use the outdoors for a bathroom. That means taking them out every hour until they get the idea. Kind of like potty-training a baby! They got the idea fairly quickly, and now, at 3 months, they are doing well.
Other things they’ve learned are how to sit, lay down, stop barking, and when it’s time to eat!
They have personalities all their own, just like children. Each one is different, and it takes a learning curve to understand their wants and needs. We’re still learning to communicate, but it’s not difficult to understand when they want something. One thing they know, though, is from the tone of my voice, whether they are pleasing me or if they are doing something wrong. Teaching them to do what is right at this young age will bring a lifetime of joy for all – both dogs and owners. This lesson applies to children, as well – teach them to live right, to love God, to think of others and be polite – will bring much joy in their lives and to those around them.
Pets are a joy when they are trained to obey. Like children, they can become spoiled, or they can be “brought up in the way they should go”, to understand there are parameters and expectations for behavior in society.
Too often, I see a man or woman with their dog, where the dog seems to be in charge of them, not the other way around. Likewise, some children are always pushing to get their own way, to the chagrin of all around them, as they throw temper tantrums until the parent quickly gives in to keep them quiet. Those actions will often last a lifetime, and wreaks havoc on not only individuals, but society as a whole.
Puppies and children have several things in common: They are loved, and they need to be trained so they will be a blessing to others around them, not a burden.
by Shauna Millar | Jan 7, 2019 | Fruits of the spirit, General, kindness
When I think about all the things that are coming against us as our nation “matures”, my heart breaks. Yet, the hope is for our family. Have you noticed that family values have been decaying over the last several decades? That our children are running around dictating what can and can’t be done? That those who have said, “let children decide” if they want to do something or not; believing that children can know the value of something; like friendship, kindness, sharing, without being taught?
While I do believe that the innocence of children can lead us in many ways. Such as how they will make friends with anyone, no matter the color, race or religion of that person, they also need to be taught the value of those friendships they make. We don’t focus on teaching our children that yes is just as important as no. Or that their behavior, interrupting someone while they are talking or trying to grab attention at not only an inopportune time but for a something that can wait “I want candy”. The value of putting away their own toys after they have played with them, cleaning up after themselves, no instead society says. “aw that is cute.” Not giving thought to how these attributes are going to develop over the months and years to come.
An undisciplined child goes up to be an undisciplined adult. A child who grows up thinking that they should be given everything goes up into the same type of adult. It is the values we instill in our youth, both good and bad, that are seeds to what they will grow into. Yet, these same attributes are what many leaders will focus on. They understand the value of training a child from an early age. They know that by watering the seeds that are planted in a child, will grow and flourish in the adult version. These tendencies, while at times may stray, will always take deep root form. Anchoring an individual through their life. This is where the term, “and a child shall lead them” takes on a different perspective. The child grows to be an adult who influences others with what they believe.
I can point to cases where teenagers will shout out what they believe to be true, any adult who contradicts them will not be heard. However, take another teenager who doesn’t share their point of view, and that person is heard. We can ‘hear’ and we ‘listen’ to the voices of our peers before we do the same for any other generation. It is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
I am thankful for Focus on the Family. I believe that the ministry says and does so much for the family. However, I want to challenge you that this year, not only should you focus on your family but also on doing random acts of kindness. Doing something to help someone else. Whether that is a child, teenager, adult, family, friend or a stranger. This year, why not try to do small random acts of kindness from the heart. Not because you have to. Not because you ‘feel’ you should but because you truly want to. Perhaps this year through these acts, we can change lives, we can stem the tide that is running so rampant away from the family. Perhaps we can help bring the focus back to helping to instill values into individuals who will then influence others.
Remember, we are a pebble in the lake, but the small wake we make will ripple farther than we will ever know in this life.
by Shauna Millar | Nov 14, 2018 | encouragement, Fruits of the spirit, kindness
Do you live your life in the way that you should in some ways or in all ways? Do you pick and choose how your life is lived depending on what “hat” you have on? The work ‘hat’? The social ‘hat’? The church ‘hat’?
The thing to remember is that we are imperfect beings living in an imperfect world. I am not writing this to judge what you do or how you do it. I am writing this in hopes that you can step back from your life and look at how you are living it. Are you living it in a way that you if you were to stand before your maker today, you would be able to face your life with little remorse or regret for the path you have chosen?
Sure we all have some regret and/or remorse. Again, we are imperfect creatures. However, if you choose kindness to be a guide in your life – does that guide have a set of rules that you live by or is it all-encompassing. Do you let kindness guide your every decision in dealing with everyone you meet or does it come with a set of guidelines that say, “I deal differently with this person than I do that person.” Or are you humble only with certain people and not haughty with others? What is the moral code that guides your life and does it falter or change depending on your circumstances?
I choose to be kind to the people I meet. Sometimes, it is not always easy when they are spiteful and unkind to me. However, that doesn’t mean I walk out to meet just anyone and everyone. I don’t seek out individuals and in all honesty, there are people I try to avoid. Yet, if I am unable to do those things I am kind in my actions and words. I might not always be humble but I do try to be kind.
We are asked to show the fruits of the spirit in our lives on a daily basis. This is what we should strive to do. We fall short in those things, I am sure. This doesn’t mean you can’t pick one and try to use it an as a guide along this earthly journey. It also doesn’t’ mean you should pick and choose who you are going to shine your light on. We are called to do out best in the things we do. We are called to show the love of Christ in our actions. It doesn’t make it easy. It is not simple. It doesn’t mean we will succeed a 100% of the time. What it means is we have a goal that we can strive toward. We may fail. We may fall short. We may fall down. Through all these things we will learn.
I encourage you today to meet and treat others as you would have other’s treat you. Do your best in all walks of life, no matter if it is to those close to you or those you are passing by. Those you are working with or those you are playing with. The importance is that we strive to do these things.
Remember God sees your heart and knows you. He created you. He knows if you are doing your best or not. You know too.
Father God,
You know our hearts, our minds, and our words. You know our struggles and our strengths. We ask that you help us to walk in the way that you would have us to go. We ask that you help us to overcome our own insecurities and struggles. To seek you in the high places and in the low places. To know your word and your voice intimately. To follow the path that you have set before us.
If we fail or fall off. We ask that you help us to find our way home. To find out way back toward you. We thank you for your mercy and grace that is new every morning. We thank you for all that you have given us and continue to do for us.
In Jesus Name we pray,
Amen.
by Sue Forde | Dec 27, 2017 | Fruits of the spirit, General, joy
By Sue Forde
I’ve heard individuals say, “I just want to be happy!” Some people seek happiness in the pleasure of relationships with other individuals; some try to find it in drugs or alcohol. Still others pour themselves into their work to the exclusion of everything else, or seek to become rich in order to be “happy.” “I can only be happy if I have a new house.” Or, “I will be happy if I get that man/woman to be my spouse.”
Yet time after time, we hear people sigh that these things never bring real or lasting happiness, and there always seems to be a “hole” in their lives. This type of happiness is based on emotions and circumstances; it’s temporary and must be sought again and again. It only lasts for a short while. As the great King Solomon said, “all is vanity,” as he sought to find happiness in all these ways and more. (Eccl. 1:2).
True happiness or joy is an attitude that does not rely on emotions or circumstances. In the book of Proverbs in the Bible, we learn what can bring long-lasting happiness or joy. It starts with a good relationship with God. Psalms 144:15 says, “Happy is that people whose God is the Lord.” And more astonishing, we find that God himself can be happy (pleased), when His people do the right thing. “And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing,” (referring to Solomon’s request for wisdom, instead of material things). When King Solomon pleased the Lord, he reaped the rewards from his loving Father God.
In other places, we read: “The Lord had done great things for us; we were joyful.” (Psa 126:3) The joy of the Lord also brings strength in hard times. (Neh 8:10).
Joy starts with the Lord who created us in His image. And, as followers of Jesus Christ, the son of God, we also become sons and daughters of the Father. (2 Cor 6:18).
Can you even imagine this? Think about it: Jesus Christ is Lord of Lord and King of Kings. (1 Tim 6:15; Rev 17:14, 19:16). As sons and daughters, we become princes and princesses in His kingdom. See yourself in this new light. How would a prince or princess act? Would they be kind, loving, giving – when all that their Father has, has been given to them? These freely given gifts include salvation (Jesus died to bring us that, paying the price for our faults and failures in life); joy, peace, love. All the good things we all seek, every day. There’s a simple way to tap into this type of happiness/joy. That’s by seeking God’s will first and foremost; and everything else is added to your life in return (Matt 6:33).
No matter what your circumstances, joy can be yours by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ into your life, by turning your life and your will over to Him, and then start each day with a recommitment to His will for your life. You’ll find amazing things start to happen – sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly – but exactly on God’s time schedule as is best for your life! Why not give it a try? You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
