Jesus loves the little children

I am the mother of five children. I had a miscarriage between Natasha my third daughter and Emma my forth. Why would I share something so personal on a blog site? I am not totally sure. All I know is that today I need to write it, to make it known.
We don’t always understand why certain things happen. Why some suffer and others never seem to suffer- as if it can be measured.
Today, I went to a funeral, a funeral for a six month old baby. The mother had been living at our shelter. She had the baby prematurely and it grew from two pounds to eight pounds.
I can’t say that I have ever seen a baby in a casket before. When we walked in we were led to the front of the Baptist Church to view the little one in his white christening outfit. The service began with the minister stepping up to the pulpit and singing accapella;
“Jesus love the little children, all the children of the world….”
Later at the graveside, everyone was given a white carnation to place on the casket. They lowered the little box and the mother let out a scream of grief that made my knees weaken and my heart want to scream with her. I looked down at my white carnation sprayed blue and thought…every life is valuable; every life has meaning- no matter how short.
So, I guess I mentioned my baby, the one I never held, not in grief nor to seek out sympathy of any kind but more to validate the existence of that life. A life short lived, held only in my womb like a dream. Yet, loved and valued from the moment it was conceived.
Jesus loves the little children.

New friends on Xanga and Blogger

I found this quote today on a friends xanga site , she is new to the xanga world and blogging. Stop by and say hi!

Now about the quote, maybe you have heard it before? It was new to me and hit me with a holy yes!

Brennan Manning:

" Quit keeping score altogether and surrender yourself with all your sinfulness to God, who sees neither the score nor the scorekeeper, but only His child redeemed by Christ. " ═ Abba's Child

I have another friend who has just joined Blogger he Walksinthewoods! You won't want to miss his writing. He is humble and a gifted writer ( and much more!). Check him out and throw him some encouragement.

Tired-Not the sleepy kind

Tired of effort,
Worn from the fight.
Thoughts race,
Opinions rise,
Speculations distract,
Rumors wound.

Silence is a virtue.
Quiet is under rated.
Even as an extravert,
Being still,

Resting

Quiet,

Silence,

is gold.

Too many

man made rules.
Too many walls.
So many subjects,
Too many words.

I like words

and yet sometimes
There are too many;
Spoken,
thought,
shared.

Words are not always preceded by thought.

Everyone wants to be heard,
No one wants to listen.
Everyone wants to be right,
Cutting edge of thought
and opinion.

A voice crying in the desert of my soul says :
“Be quiet, Be still,
Spend time in My Word.”

What is the rest?
Noise,
Interference,
Static.

Turn off the world and let me hear you Lord.
Turn off my mind and whisper my name.
All that’s within, Give it to Him.
Make still Lord, Come heal Lord,
And whisper my name.

ZAP! ZAP!- 2 Kings 1:1-11

Some passages of scripture just amuse me! This passage below makes me smile.

My imagination gets the best of me. I imagine Elijah’s tone being very matter of fact. I imagine him almost bored with the situation. I also think the angel of the Lord in vs. 15 has a great line and should be par-phrased with a New Jersey accent….

But most of all this passage makes me wonder.

Do we tremble at the word of the Lord?
As men and women of God, can we call down the fire of heaven?
Makes ya wanna say ZAP! ZAP! Doesn’t it??! LOL! ;)

– If you don’t have a clue what I am talking about take a minute and read the passage below!


2 Kings 1
The Lord 's Judgment on Ahaziah
1 After Ahab's death, Moab rebelled against Israel. 2 Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, "Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury."
3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?' 4 Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!' " So Elijah went.
5 When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, "Why have you come back?"
6 "A man came to meet us," they replied. "And he said to us, 'Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, "This is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending men to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!" ' "
7 The king asked them, "What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?"
8 They replied, "He was a man with a garment of hair and with a leather belt around his waist." The king said, "That was Elijah the Tishbite."
9 Then he sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, "Man of God, the king says, 'Come down!' "
10 Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men.
11 At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, "Man of God, this is what the king says, 'Come down at once!' "
12 "If I am a man of God," Elijah replied, "may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.
13 So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. "Man of God," he begged, "please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! 14 See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!"
15 The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.

Now don’t anybody get carried away…..The Sons of Thunder were rebuked by Jesus for wanting to call fire down from heaven on those who didn’t respond or behave as they thought they should. ( Luke 9:54)

If I am a woman of God....... :)

weakness and temptations

I have a weakness for dried Mangos. I buy them at Costco and to my shame...I can eat through a whole bag by myself. If they are in the house.....I am aware of their presence in the cupboard. It takes all my will power to fight the urge to take another and another. I justify myself and say..."it's fruit!"
I have gone weeks without buying them so the temptation would not be there.
Yesterday, I passed by them twice in Costco. A little voice said..." go get them, there are worse things you could be addicted to."
Justification won over and now they torment me in my home. Nothing seems to silence them except when the bag is empty and then the guilt comes. ( you should see the calorie count on these things!)
The Mangos may not be the worse thing in the world to be tempted by but the process of temptation is the same. It's all apples and....in this case mangos!

Change

Some change is good.
Like a metamorphosis
of a caterpillar to a butterfly.
Wings are given,
A fuzzy worm learns to fly.

Some change can paralyze.
Like Joni Eareckson Tada,
in a moment everything is different.
God says “My grace is sufficient;
my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Some change is for growth.
A seed placed in the cold dark ground,
The pruning of a rose bush,
The plowing of a wild field.
All, in time will produce a greater harvest.

God places us in an ever changing world.
Living through experiences that are unpredictable,
Relationships that can shift,
Weather and catastrophes that can terrorize.
In all of it, he says,
“I the Lord do not change.”

Today change becomes known to many. Whatever change may come to you,trust in the one who is greater. Trust in the one who never changes.
He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

His name is faithful and true!

What I consider loss

A few weeks ago we concluded a Bible study on the life of Paul. I was inspired by the words Paul wrote in Philippians chapter 3.
vs. 3-4 says “….we who serve God by His Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh-though I myself have reason for such confidence.”
Then Paul goes on to list his credentials within the Hebrew faith. He list what he could boast about by human standards and yet ends his impressive resume with vs. 7 “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”
He even is so bold as to say “I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

I began to think about the things that I could boast in, my “Army credentials” and I wrote the following:

I was dedicated to God under the Army flag before the age of 6 months.
I was a Jr. Soldier by the age of 7.
I was an Honor Jr. Soldier, Commissioner sunbeam, a graduate Corps Cadet and enrolled as a Sr. Soldier by my 15th birthday.
I attended every Youth Councils and worked every summer at an Army Camp.
I was a corps helper for a year and went on Summer Service Corps the summer before I entered the training school.
I was commissioned as an officer at the age of 22.
I am a fourth generation Salvationist on my mother’s side, a fifth generation Salvationist on my father’s side.
I am a 3rd generation Officer.
I know what it means to be “Army,” both the good and the bad.

But, as Paul…
"Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake for Christ. What is more, I consider everything loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ and be found in him, Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law ( or good programming :)-Carole's addition ) but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

Number 4 turns 4!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!



May 16th - Emma Jayne Bate

From the look on her face I would say the party on Saturday went well! We saved a few presents for her to open on her real birthday and she will also take cupcakes to her school.

Love this!

I can't seem to stop listening to this song!

Lyrics

I am not clever enough to have the song playing on my site so check out this link, choose this song and others at the bottom of the page.

Mother's day

My MOM

Red balloon game in the hallway.
M& M’s tossed, from a window high.
Ice cream cones just after shopping.
Memories of my mom, and I.

Sitting on the sandy beaches,
Splashing in the Kittles cove.
Skating on the frozen lake top,
Warming by an old wood stove.

Steaming bonnets in the kitchen,
Pointing to the songbook line.
Yorkshires cooked for Sunday dinner,
Movies, just the “girly” kind.

Now I look at my own daughters,
I’m the mom, how can that be?
When they stop to think and ponder,
I wonder what they’ll think of me.

Quotes of the evening

These quotes are from the instillation of our National Commander last night at the temple in New York.

" We need a leader who will call the legions of salvation soldiers to battles worth fighting!"
Commissioner Philip Needham in his charge to Commissioner Israel Gaither.

"We need to know what it is to be serving in the smile of our King" Commissioner Israel Gaither

" God doesn't take second hand glory! It is all for His glory.." Commissioner Israel Gaither

" Soldiers don't hide in citadels!" Commissioner Israel Gaither

Wild Life of Montclair

I know God created all living things.......

but..

There was a big,huge, size of a basketball, groundhog on my deck tonight.

The dog scared it to the fence of the yard and then caught it between it's teeth...shook it hard and then dropped it...only to look back at the 5 of us screaming at the top of our lungs like little girls! ( ok! so four of them were little girls)

I have seen some big rodents before but this wins the prize!!

I have never seen groundhogs in our yard but our neighbor now tells me he has seen two. He also said they live in the creek near our house.

My dog has all her shots but by law she now needs to get another shot. ( there was blood seen after the struggle)

My husband is in Britain. Most people have the impression that I am independent...(they are wrong and not just when it comes to squirrels on steroids!!)

My daughter was to have a four year old birthday party in our back yard tomorrow.....

I'll be lucky to get her near the back door.

To tell you the truth.....I've been looking under my feet and over my shoulder ever since I saw it. You'll be lucky to see me in the backyard untill I shake it off.

Pest control said to call animal control.

Animal control said to call the police and if it is as big as I said...they told me it is probably pregnant.

What would the police do??

Yuck!

These things only happen when husbands are on band trips !

If you go to the link you can see the fun he is having!!

Intimate Intercession

I just finished this book. I enjoyed it so much and it will be one of those books that I will read again and again. Take a peek inside at this link:
The Sacred Joy of Praying for others

Here is a quote that was included in the book:
“I think about people I know, the saints with their swollen ankles or their knobby hands, the rickety prayer warriors who don’t have the physical strength to open a pickle jar but who set whole legions of demons flying for cover whenever they kneel. Some are pious misfits, holy eccentrics. Most are just ordinary, with nothing but the presence of God to distinguish them from all the other people on the face of the earth.”- Mark Buchanan.

I have been so busy lately but when I have had a moment this book has been inspiring. It has warmed my heart from the cold monotony of “list” praying and has called me to an intercessor prayer that fills heaven with a sweet fragrance.

BUSY

New Jersey Youth Councils this weekend…we leave today. My oldest daughter will be joining us…the first Youth Councils for her. WOW! They grow so fast.
May 6th is a special day, not only is it Youth Councils but more importantly in our house, Lydia my second daughter turns 12! She was upset that the Army always has youth councils on her birthday so we did a big bash with 12 kids last weekend.
May 6th will be a big day for David Payton and Marika ( last name to hard to spell…soon to be Payton) they will be getting married in Ithaca, N.Y. and a Baker wedding at our corps same day! Yeah Tracy and Brian!!!
We have Cadets on Sunday which is good since Al is here with three kids and I will still be at Youth Councils.
So it is a busy weekend and Monday is officer’s councils for N.J., they have asked us to speak about the corps. All the corps in the division takes a turn sharing what God is doing- Monday is our turn.
Then Tuesday the N.J. Youth Band leaves for the tour of Scotland and Ireland. Alastair is going with the youth band and will stay over in Britain waiting for our corps band. Our corps band has been invited to play at Royal Albert Hall at the end of the month beginning of June. So he comes back after all that. In- between all this we will have some of the wedding visitors from the Eastern Europe Command staying with us after the Payton wedding. It will be fun to see them!
In short, pray for us…it is a busy time and so much is happening.
God is good and He is faithful!
Carole

Dry bones- vast Army

Ezekiel 37:1-10 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Ezekiel 37

The Valley of Dry Bones

1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.
2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.
3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."
4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath [a] enter you, and you will come to life.
6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.
8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' "
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.


Only you know Lord if change is possible.
If I preach the word of God faithfuly - speak out your word and If I call for your breath, your Spirit to come and breathe new life into us.......
Will the God of Ezekiel bring it all together once again?

"and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet"- A VAST ARMY.

Thoughts on grace

Tim Miller has written some good thoughts on grace...they got me thinking. No time to put it all together....this is just what came in the moment. I am sure the list could be much longer. Thanks Tim!

Radical grace
A grace that saves
A grace that stoops down
A grace that listens to the long winded
A grace that hugs the clingy
A grace that welcomes the homeless
A grace that loves the legalist
A grace that forgives the unforgivable
A grace that forgets past offences
A grace that cares for the traditionalist
A grace that embraces the confused
A grace that comforts the wounded
A grace that gives boundaries
A grace that brings justice at just the right time
A grace that punishes wickedness
A grace that gives every possible opportunity to repent
A grace that doesn’t overlook but gently calls to account
A grace that pursues
A grace that knows it all and loves anyway
A grace that will call me a friend
A grace that will risk reputation for me
A grace that knows when to humble
A grace that knows when to praise
A grace that has no strings attached
A grace that overflows
A grace to give
A grace to share
A radical grace for those who do not dress like me, think like me, look like me, smell like me, see things the way I see them or agree with me……even when I know I am right.;)
The same grace that I want for myself
-undeserved
Give me, Lord, to share with others
-unreserved.