Remembering 9/11/01

I remember every detail of September 11, 2001. Like everyone else, I sat glued to a television screen, not believing that America could be attacked.
But we were attacked. Our Freedom was attacked. Our nation was attacked! Our belief in God was attacked!
As I sat watching the smoke, the towers, the people... I prayed to God! I heard of more attacks, the pentagon and Flight 93. I saw the towers collapse. I prayed to God. I was not alone.
Churches were flooded with people turning to God for answers. Bookstores were short of bibles as the people ran to buy them. Lives were changed because people turned to God.
People gave from their abundance, and from their lack, to help those in need. People gave their food. People gave their time to help. People gave their prayer. People gave blood. People gave unselfishly.
America, for the first time in decades, actually came together, as One Nation Under God. It was an awesome event to see. People united in their faith and goal.
And then we began to hear the word "tolerance". We must tolerate, because everyone has a right to live. (removed my comment here...)
When we began to "tolerate", we began to separate. We were no longer united. We tolerated until we have forgotten.
I remember the planes, flaming out of the sides of the towers. I remember ash-covered people, in shock, walking dazed from the buildings. I remember seeing people jump, in desperation. I remember hearing "Another attack - the pentagon!" I remember the frenzy of information as planes were sought, and hearing that there was still one more plane...
I remember, vividly, and with horrifying detail, how slowly each tower seemed to fall, before our eyes. I remember seeing this on live tv! Watching the mass death of an attack on American soil. No one played any commercials.
The world stopped a couple of days, as Americans united to help each other. People drove hundreds of miles to give someone water or a sandwich. Everyone prayed together. Strangers talked, hugged, cried together.
UNITED!!! ONE NATION UNDER GOD.
9/11/09 I tried to watch a memorial. News talked about a few victims, showed a scene of a service or two. Families read names at the sites, and tv flashed them quickly across the tv screen. No one wore a flag lapel pin. No one was united. We have tolerated until we have forgotten.
I will not forget. I remember.

Dog teaching God...

Since I've adopted Pixie, I've seen a variety of lessons God is trying to teach me in her!
First, I have promised to pray regularly, but always get tired, something comes up, don't feel like it, etc... Well, we adopted our dog and dog's don't know excuses. They know routine. If you wake up every morning and take them outside, then to your prayer closet, they learn that after waking up, the prayer closet is the place to go.
So, when I have a lazy day and try to sleep in, she whines until I get up. When I have a lazy day and try to sit and watch tv instead, she whines at the door of the classroom until I sit in the chair where she gets on my lap.
Since none of my friends are up at 5:00 am to chat, there is no excuse once I get to my desk. A little, abandoned dog has taught me a lesson on commitment. On being faithful.
Second is unconditional love. I am the one who rescued the dog, I cook for her, I train her and she is mine. But, let my granddaughter hold her cookie too low, and Pixie loves her for being short and "offering" a treat. Rub her belly and she loves you. It's not what you have done repeatedly for her, you just walk in my house and she is ready to love you. It's really that easy!
Third is how to rest in God. My husband is a doom and gloom kind of person, searching the net for all the doomsday info. It gets rather scary for the kids to hear it, and depressing to hear all the horror going on. I was getting very stressed over it, until I began to watch my dog. She has her "people" for times. Every morning, she lays on my lap, and just rests. No cares, no worries, just rest. Every afternoon, she rests on hubby's lap or by his leg. Every evening, it's the kids, taking turns to share the love with all of them. She doesn't worry about food, money, or chasing cats (ok, sometimes she will stop and chase a cat). But resting in God is that easy. You just DO IT.
So, I guess Preacher Pixie was supposed to be my dog from the start. She kept running away from people to get to me, because I've been praying for help to be faithful in my prayer life, to learn to love unconditionally, and to rest in God and not worry.
Now, should I tell my pastor that my pooch is preaching and reaching me better than he is at the moment?? LOL!!

Two year olds are awesome!!!

After years of avoiding working in the 2 year old room at our old church, I signed up to coordinate the toddler room. The kids have begun to have small group lessons in a separate room, to avoid distractions of too many kids or toys.
This has the little guys actually listening to and learning the lesson! Last Sunday, I had my first 2 yr old say our memory verse... well, a shortened version supplied by the curriculum we use. I gave him a hi-5 and he kept saying it. He actually shouted it when he changed rooms!!
We then had a situation with a toddler and his brother getting sick. The little guy was concerned so I asked if he wanted to pray. He said yes and took my hands. Well, all the kids saw us praying and began to grab hands. Before I could finish a prayer condensed and simplified for 2 yr olds to repeat, almost every child in the class was in the circle trying to pray.
Since, other kids have begun to say our memory verse. When a child falls (which always happens in groups of kids) we pray "Ouchie go away in Jesus name". I start and several of the kids will come up and say their version while laying their hands on the fallen child.
Seeing these little guys and their innocent faith is so awesome! I have been truly blessed to be allowed to work with them.

Walk by Faith, not by Sight...

I have heard this at church and from every preacher, pastor and evangelist alive. It seems to be the heart-cry of many during this time. Like everyone else, I keep trying. Like everyone else, I mess up.
But God is so good, He meets me on my level, and teaches me His way.
Walk by Faith, not by Sight... Ok.
So, my gas gauge is now broken - sort of. It works sometimes. I never know when it is working. I fill up and the next day, the need gas light comes on. Common sense tells me to check the gas, go and top off, if necessary... the light is on and it's there for a reason.
But faith tells me how big my gas tank is, how many miles I've driven and computes these numbers. I can confidently drive from my house to Katy, Texas, an hour away with the gas light on. I was a bit concerned when starting out, but I went over the calculations, and decided to trust them. I made it to Katy.
So, this is how it works... I don't look at the gas light in my car.
Why is this so difficult for outside the car?? It's not. I'm not looking at the gas light. The gas light is not reporting good information to me. I'm getting it...
The Fuel is the Word of God. If I fill up, I'll be fine. However, I need to keep fuel, or I'll be in trouble.
the gas tank is me. The gas light is my situations... bank account, car repairs, rising costs...
So, I fuel up at Godco, and stay full. I know that He meets my needs and I should not worry. This is my calculations.
Object lessons... what I use to teach my kids, God has now turned and is teaching me.

Life is tough

Like many Christians, I thought that when I accepted Jesus, I would never have any problems.
This was proven over and over in my life to be incorrect. I have had troubles, my kids have gotten into trouble.
What many of us realize at different times is, that though life is tough, God gives us the strength to endure, and He's with us during our tough times. You can pray anywhere, anytime, out loud or to yourself, and know that He hears you is is with you.
My current journey is becoming a godly wife and mother. Proverbs 31 is very high standards, that I don't meet yet, but I'm working on it.