A couple devotionals to start your day!

Please see the link below for a devotional I wrote about respecting the Bride of Christ, and doing your part to be holy and pure as you prepare yourself for His coming.

Devotion on respecting the Bride of Christ


Please see the link below for a devotional I wrote about integrity.

Devotion about integrity

May God bless you as you walk with Him.

Recording SOLD OUT! for God, Family & Country

Hello Oklahoma!  I am so happy to be starting my recording today at Tate Music Group in Mustang, OK.  I am creating a double feature album called SOLD OUT! for God, Family & Country.  I'm super excited about this album because it has a lot of encouraging songs, some taken directly from Scripture, that will empower you to be fully committed to the Lord Jesus Christ.  There are songs that encourage families, including songs that encourage children to love their parents and families, and parents to leave a legacy for their children by building strong homes.  There is a song that encourages community workers, a patriotic song called, "A Country Without a Man" that encourages us to give to our country what it deserves - a righteous nation, and is going to be the song I do for my music video.  I end, like I end all my albums, with a beautiful, worshipful song, and this one is called, "This is Why I Love Him", and it's absolutely gorgeous with sweeping strings and a flowing feel. It was perfect listening to that song in my headphones while looking out the window of the airplane as we soared over the clouds!  It's bound to be a favorite!

Anyway, please pray for me as I record this album, that my voice will cooperate, and that all will go well.  Most importantly, please pray that God will be honored and glorified in it all.  I really believe my patriotic song, "A Country Without a Man", is coming at a crucial time in our country, and will inspire and encourage those who listen to it and take it to heart.

God bless you!

Noah Webster's definition of marriage

Noah Webster's definition of marriage

In Noah Webster's original dictionary (1828) marriage is defined as follows:  

"The act of uniting a man and woman for life; wedlock; the legal union of a man and woman for life.  Marriage is a contract both civil and religious, by which the parties engage to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them.  Marriage was instituted by God Himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, for promoting domestic felicity, and for securing the maintenance and education of children."

Here is a link for further reading about Noah Webster, with some great quotes and other related definitions.
An Example of How Scholars of the Past Were Often Bible Believing Men


Here is how a modern dictionary are defining marriage:

Merriam-Webster's definition of marriage

"The state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (2) :  the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage <same-sex marriage>

b :  the mutual relation of married persons :  wedlock

c :  the institution whereby individuals are joined in a marriage

2

:  an act of marrying or the rite by which the married status is effected; especially :  the wedding ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities

3

:  an intimate or close union <the marriage of painting and poetry — J. T. Shawcross>."

We can redefine marriage in the dictionary, and laws can change to make it legal, but what must be considered is that marriage is an institution that was created at the establishment of the sexes.  As soon as woman was made and presented to man, they were united in holy matrimony by God Himself. He is the one who instituted marriage before there were any laws established, other than natural laws. He created and designed the opposite sexes to compliment each other, both physically and spiritually.

There is a slippery slope that occurs when we attempt to change God's way of doing things for His created world.  This is an article that came out recently in response to the U.S. Government's redefinition of marriage:

By Heather Clark
Christian News Network

HELENA, Mont. — A polygamist in Montana is seeking to obtain a “marriage” license for a second “wife” following last Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring that all 50 states must legalize same-sex nuptials because of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

“It’s about marriage equality,” Nathan Collier, 46, told The Associated Press this week. “You can’t have this without polygamy.”

Collier went to the Yellowstone County Courthouse on Tuesday with his partner Christine to seek a second marriage license as he stated that if the Supreme Court really believes in equality, then he should have the right to marry as he wishes as well. He cited language from dissenting Chief Justice John Roberts, who stated that the “gay marriage” ruling “would apply with equal force to the claim of a fundamental right to plural marriage.”

“[The majority ruling] offers no reason at all why the two-person element of the core definition of marriage may be preserved while the man-woman element may not,” Roberts wrote. “Indeed, from the standpoint of history and tradition, a leap from opposite-sex marriage to same-sex marriage is much greater than one from a two-person union to plural unions, which have deep roots in some cultures around the world.” Click here to continue reading. 

Where will this end?  What other group will come forward and cry "Discrimination!"?  A marriage is not only a civil union, but a religious, sacred union as well.  It is a slippery slope when governments step over the line into religion and try to establish moral law, a duty that belongs to God alone.  Our government was founded upon those moral laws established by God as a basis, a foundation for everything else that was written.  It was something simply understood by the general public, whether Christian or nonChristian.  It was the glue that held our society together, and because America was "good", it became "great."

Whatever your view, the simple truth is that we are all sinners.  We are all in the same boat.  We are in need of a Saviour to save us from all of our sins.  Whether the sins you struggle with are primarily fornication, or alcoholism or other addictions, gluttony, lying, cheating, uncontrolled anger, selfishness, theft, jealousy, greed, murder, laziness, rebellion, whatever it may be, there is hope.  There is life.  There is salvation for your lost soul.  Even if you think you have no sin, you were born in sin, so you are still facing the same destination and the same struggles as the rest of us.

Satan loves to take good things, godly things, and pervert them.  Think about it - men are supposed to hang out with men!  In the "olden days", men would go out hunting and fishing together, building barns together, plowing fields together, hanging out.  Women would cook and clean together, sit on the front porches and quilt together while they talked, there was a lot more bonding time, which is something we need and is God-given.  I believe that the intimacy of same sex friends is something we all crave, and in this super busy and high tech world we live in, we really miss that time.  I'm going to say it again: that desire and attraction for intimate friends (and I'm not talking sexual) is God-given and beautiful.  Where it crosses over the line into sin is when lust and sex come into the picture.  I think we all have to admit that this nation is sex-crazed!  Marketers use it to sell things, billboards and advertisements use less than appropriate pictures to communicate a message, and it's affecting the way we think and react. 

Jesus said in Matthew 19:4-6: "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

According to the afaJournal July-August 2015 on p. 18:

The Bible tells us that man and woman were created by God as distinct acts of creation, and that being male and female was an aspect of how they were created in His own image (Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."  and 2:7: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." see also vs. 18-19).  Marriage is the joining of these distinct genders into one flesh.  Thus marriage is between one man and one woman.  Further the Bible teaches that while sex within marriage is pure and honorable, sex outside marriage is sinful and will be judged by God (Hebrews 13:4: "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge."). The seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery," protects the sexual relationship between a man and woman who are united in marriage by forbidding marital infidelity, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, bestiality, and the use of pornography (Exodus 20:14).

The article goes on to talk about celibacy. Have you heard of this word? It's not a word used very often in our society! 

Outside biblical marriage, God's standard for sex is celibacy, saying "no" to both heterosexual and homosexual lusts ([Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."]). Celibacy is a gift of God that allows the unmarried to live a life of purity and contentment, so that a person does not have to engage in sex to have a full and satisfying life (1 Corinthians 7:7-9: "For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.").  

Homosexuality is highly addictive and difficult to stop, but those who find themselves in that lifestyle should know that God's grace is sufficient to forgive them and cleanse them from their sin (1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.").  Think about that! Those are POWERFUL words!  Forgiveness, cleansing, and this applies to ALL unrighteousness! This doesn't guarantee that because you are forgiven and cleansed that those temptations and feelings won't still be there, but you can live a celibate life and be in the center of God's will for you life, and live an abundant life (John 10:10). 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,n or thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. " (emphasis placed by me)

Did you see that? "And such were some of you!"  He was talking to the church members at Corinth.  Like I said before, we are all in the same boat, sinners in need of a Savior.  We may not all struggle with the same sins, but they are sins nonetheless.  We are also in the same grace boat - we all have hope of eternal life and forgiveness.  Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."  

Titus 1:2: "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began."  That's a long standing promise! Praise the Lord! And God cannot lie, so you can take that promise to heart and claim it!

2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  Not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance!

Yes - repentance.  That is being sorry for your sin and coming humbly before a pure, holy, almighty God with agreement that your sin is what is sin - sin, or rebellion against God - and desiring to turn away from it and toward God.  That is the only way forgiveness can be accepted, but it is there waiting for you to get to that place in your soul.  This applies to every single one of us, those who have sexual sins, those who have anger, bitterness, hate toward people, hate toward God, whatever your sin may be. Now is a good time to soul search.  That is a good practice to do every day.  The apostle Paul had to humble himself and die to those selfish lusts and desires every day of his life, as do we, because they keep creeping up. Galatians 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

In conclusion, Noah Webster had a definition of marriage that tied into not only the Bible, but recognized its importance in the lives of children and our society as a whole. It is not hateful to disagree with someone or disagree with something that has been made legal.  There is healing for our nation, and whether or not others will rebel against God's design, we as Christians can and must stand on the truth from God's Word, not only because it is right, and because it is good, but because we will be held accountable for the choices we make in this life.  Let's have healing and be able to stand before God one day as He smiles on us and is proud of us, not ashamed and saying He never knew us.

2 Corinthians 5:10: " For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

Romans 14:12: "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

Jesus said in Matthew 7:23-24: "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man..."

Proverbs 14:34: "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."

2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 

Aren't those some of the most beautiful words you have ever read? THERE IS HOPE AND HEALING FOR OUR NATION! PRAISE THE LORD! May it begin with me.

What Makes a Country Great?

What Makes a Country Great?

By Dawn Foss

I wasn’t alive when our forefathers wrote

America’s constitution.

In History class I read how they

Found a political solution.

Things today seem kind of mixed up,

I hear the parents complain.

They talk about biblical values

That brought America fame.

I’m a little confused, what do they mean?

What values do they miss?

My teacher taught us these things

Are needed for God to bless.

First, a country must do right

And strive to please the Lord.

Second they must work hard,

Contribute to the world.

Third, they must value life

And not harm one another.

Fourth they have the right

To protect their sister and brother.

Fifth, in everything they do,

They treat each other well

With kindness, love, compassion, truth,

So safely we all dwell.

Other things a country needs

Are for its citizens to obey;

Uphold the laws and do what’s right,

Put selfishness away.

They have the right to vote,

To speak their conscience, too.

To worship God in public,

The religion that they choose.

They won’t breach the peace,

They don’t cross their neighbor’s fence.

It seems to me these things,

Are simply common sense.

Living moral lives for God

Will wipe out sin’s pollution.

What’s the problem, turn to God

For America’s solution.

Message to the Children and Youth of America by the President of the United States

Message to the Children and Youth of America

By the President of the United States

H. Clay Trumbull, the editor of the Sunday School Times, wrote the President of the United States and requested him to write a message to the children and young people of America. The President graciously responded:

"WASHINGTON, June 6, 1876.

To the Editor of the Sunday School Times, Philadelphia.

Your favor of yesterday, asking a message from me to the children and youth of the United States, to accompany your Centennial Number, is this moment received.

My advice to Sunday Schools, no matter what their denomination, is: Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of your liberties; write its precepts in your heart, and PRACTICE THEM IN YOUR LIVES.

To the influence of this Book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization, and to this we must look as our guide in the future.

‘Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.’

Yours respectfully, U. S. Grant"
 

Praise the Lord!  I want this message to get to every child and youth of America in 2015 as well!

Part 5 (and final part) of Short Story: the Story of Maddie

We left off with a sick cat!  Maddie called their landlords in Turkey, but the person answering the phone didn't speak any English.  Maddie had a sense of urgency in her voice.  When she realized that there was no way of communicating, she finally sadly hung up the phone.  It wasn't too much later that the phone rang.  It was her landlords!  They were told by their family member who spoke on the phone with Maddie that someone called, speaking English, and mentioned the name of their cat!  That was all they needed to know!  It turned about this precious cat had been sick, even close to death, a few times before.  No worries - just give the medicine, and we'll hope for the best.

The dog also ended up getting sick, so Maddie and William had to give the dog the medicine in a piece of cheese.  Easy task! But giving this cat, which was the sweet one of the two, medicine in his mouth was next to impossible, and made Maddie late for work sometimes.  But there was no way she was going to let this cat die.  That cat was getting the medicine no matter what!

Both cats and the dog, as well as all the plants, lived.  The landlords came home, pleased to see all was well once again.

Maddie and William loved their apartment.  It had a view of the ski slopes.  It had a kiddie-cornered brick fireplace, and wall to wall tan carpeting.  Big beautiful windows and a large porch made this place special. Plus, it was their first apartment.  They enjoyed playing badmitton in the back yard.

Well, the day finally came when they moved out, as they bought a house in the hopes of having children one day.  Their first pregnancy was a miscarriage.  Maddie felt disappointed, similar to the feeling she would expect if they drove half way to Disney World, and then had to come back home. William was sad, too, but was determined to try again.  Maddie had her first beautiful baby girl, and twenty months later, a second beautiful baby girl!

They grew up with a family pet - a bunny named Thumper.  I know - you're probably thinking, "How original."  But this bunny was named that because he would thump his back leg really hard when he was upset.  Thumper lived for 8 years, and then died when there was a fierce thunder storm.  Oh, he didn't die that night, but had a stroke when the lightening hit close to their house, blinded one eye, and caused him to not be able to eat well.  Maddie nursed him with a medicine dropper and baby food like the vet said, but it was no use.  A trip to the vet's gave him some fluids, but he died anyway.  Maddie was a secretary in a hospital working evenings, and when she came home, he was almost dead.  She put him on the cozy carpet, and he pulled himself under the drapes and died within a half hour.  Maddie, William, and the girls held a funeral for him the next day in their backyard.

Later they had a second bunny, and they had him for a couple years, but he died of the Snuffles, which is like a bunny pneumonia.  He lived in a cage in their kitchen, like the other bunny, so they weren't sure how he came down with that.  Oh, how Maddie and the girls cried when they brought him to the vets to say good-bye.  He was not able to recover from this, because his kidneys were in failure. With their best efforts they couldn't cure him. They had him put to sleep so he wouldn't die a slow, painful death.  They later got a kitten at a rescue agency.

Maddie went back to school to become a nurse.  Her father would babysit the girls when she went to school. She worked part time at the hospital. She worked in the ICU, and when she graduated, she changed from a secretary to a nurse in that same department.  She worked there a couple years, and then went to another hospital and worked in the recovery room.  She went back to school to become an advanced practice registered nurse.  She eventually worked in family practice.

Maddie went on to write and publish books and music, as she continued working in church ministry, which she did since 7th grade.  She played the piano and sang, taught Sunday School, and led a choir. She taught music at a Christian school part time while working in the family practice part time.

They moved to a bigger home, and her girls grew up.  Her oldest daughter got married, finished college to work in physical therapy, and was very happy.  Her youngest daughter went to college for video production. Both daughters attended the same Christian university (Liberty University) as Maddie, as well as community college.  Maddie and William celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

If you haven't figured it out yet, this was an autobiography, and I changed the names.  Everything you read really happened, to the best of my memory.  Just a short synopsis, but I hope you enjoyed it!

Below are some pictures to document my story, just to highlight a few things.

Our first apartment (we lived downstairs). Notice the greenhouse. These were serious plants (and so beautiful)!

Bridal party in the library before the wedding

My dad and I entering the church immediately after the veil fiasco

Clearly something was wrong with my veil...

I knew something was wrong with my veil, but had no idea it was that bad!

My husband saving the day with the veil at the end of the ceremony. Girls, if something goes wrong in your wedding, as horrifying as it is at the time, it's something to laugh about later!

Married at last! 6-16-1990

Our reception, back in the day when a church gym was just fine!

Notice how nicely I am feeding him his cake...

...and then not so nice! LOL!

My daughter and one of our bunnies

Our first house.

A nursing school graduate, a kindergarten graduate, and a photo bomber!

Hershey Park

Mother-Daughter Banquet 2014

Yankee Candle 2015 - our 25th wedding anniversary

God bless our family, and may God bless yours as well.

Part 4 of Short Story: the Story of Maddie

We left off as Maddie and William were nervous about leaving all the bubbles in the tub, but after trying and trying unsuccessfully to dry out the tub of the massive white bubbles, they finally left.  They felt guilty.  They wondered if the maid would have any success, and even if she would, if she would be upset with them!  When they returned later they were delighted to find the tub clean and shiny, sparkling without even one bubble to be found!  And no nasty note!  All was well with the world once again.

They went to the store and looked around at things for their new apartment.  They had a lot of fun browsing the various departments.  They bought a mat and a couple other small items.  As they were returning to their resort, they were driving around a windy road with a huge rock outlining the road on the right, a drop edge on the left, and a speeding car coming around the bend into their lane! Talk about being between a rock and a hard place!  Fortunately the car moved back into its lane and Maddie and William were safe!  Maddie reflected about how sad it would be to die on their honeymoon.

They liked where they were staying, but they got a little bored.  They felt they did all the activities they wanted to do.  They asked if they could leave a day early, which they did.  They enjoyed the comedian, the various games and activities, but were anxious to go do something else.  It was very woodsy where they were, and felt like they had enough of the woods.  They drove off to New Jersey, and found a hotel along the way.  It was kind of exciting for Maddie to look at the various possible hotels, and pick one that looked good.  Some were full, but they found one that was just right that still had vacancies.  It was a beautiful drive from Pennsylvania to New Jersey.  They stayed the night, and then went to Action Park, which was a fun park they had been to before.  They went on bumper boats, the alpine slide, go carts, etc.

When they finished their day, they drove home to Connecticut.  They were happy to come home to their apartment.  Their matron of honor and best man stayed at their apartment while they were gone.  When they got home, all their wedding gifts were stacked nicely on their kiddie-cornered fireplace.  Their furniture had already been moved into their apartment, because William stayed their for a month before they got married.  This would be Maddie's first night sleeping there.  It was beautiful!  It was an apartment from a retired doctor.  They had made the apartment downstairs for their grown children, but their children were off getting doctorate degrees, so it was available for rent.  Their landlords were from Turkey, and were very kind to them.  They loved staying there!

One of the conditions to renting there was that they would water their plants and take care of their dog and cats when they went away.  They were happy to!  Maddie, unfortunately, didn't have a green thumb, so to speak, so one time when they went away, she accidentally killed one of the plants!  It turned out it was from Hawaii!  When the landlords came home, the retired doctor was able to revitalize it.  He said, "The root is still good."  Whew!  Maddie was so relieved!

Another time they went away the cat got a tick on her.  William held the cat while Maddie pulled out the tick.  It was gross!  After William let go of the cat, the cat scratched William and then ran off.  Not a word of thanks!

Then one day the other cat got sick.  They took the cat to the vet, and the cat needed medicine.  They tried to call Turkey to tell them their cat might die, as they wanted to let them know she was sick, but the person answering the phone did not speak any English.  What would they do?  Stay tuned!