Airplane Epiphany

I’ll never forget the time that I was flying somewhere and was studying something for a church leadership school I was in.  I was going through the verses of the Bible that were in the lesson and it hit me.  I welled up with tears of joy.  I can’t quite put to words how I felt at that moment.  Thankfulness was pouring out of me.  At that minute I was just so grateful to have been brought up in the Lord.  Which basically means I was brought up knowing about Jesus from a young age.

I can’t tell you I am overcome like that every time I read the Bible.  I have read the Bible most of the days of my adult years (and even before then), yet rarely do I have a moment of revelation like that.  It is like numbness was taken away.  Apathy was gone from me.  My eyes were open to a glimpse of the unbelievable spiritually rich inheritance I had received and been living on.  To this day I can’t tell you where I was flying, what I was doing, or anything.  But I will never forget how overcome I was with gratefulness at that moment.  Had I had a bottle of perfume and Jesus sitting physically beside me I could have easily been the woman washing the feet of her Lord with her hair and perfume as Mary had.  This moment impacted me forever.

Why am I telling you this?  Not in anyway to rub something in your face that I think I have that you may not.  But I tell you because of the back story.  You see my parents had a time in their lives that was pretty dark.  Before they found Jesus they were into drugs and we-gee boards, had “spirit guides” etc.  They almost lost their marriage at one point.  They were desperate, empty, and searching for something to fill them up.  Then my mom enrolled my brother in a local christian preschool.  The teachers (bless those teachers!) reached out to her and invited her to church.  It was there she found Jesus and she was forever changed.  My father followed soon after.  This was all before I was born.  My parents weren’t perfect from that point on.  They had things in their lives they struggled with.  But they had Jesus.  They had my brother, and soon had me and were determined that we grew up always knowing this great peace that only Jesus can bring.  

No matter where you are at as a person or a parent.  There is hope.  No matter what you have come from your children can still recieve a rich inheritance and never have to deal with the things that you may think have branded your life as irrepairable.  All you have to do is bring your crap to his feet.  Give your life to Jesus and know that all the things in life that were done to you, all the things you did, all were nailed on the cross with him and you are made new.  Can you imagine having that to pass on to your children.  As a child of that same inheritance I can tell you that it is amazing.

I now sit here with my children.  I still have things that I really struggle, no war, with.  Its a journey not a destination.  But everyday (that I let him) God is growing me and refining me.  I hope to pass on to my children not the things that entangle me, but freedom, peace, grace, love, zeal,and every other perfect gift that comes only from Jesus.  I pray that I won’t pass on the things that trip me up.  I pray that I will deal with them at this generation so that it won’t go on to the next.  May their futures be written by God alone and not by my failings.  May they always have the peace and hope that I had that moment on the plane.  May they never know a moment without Jesus.

PS- If you have any questons about how to know Jesus please feel free to email me at eejackson (at) mac (dot) com.

What a WEEK!

Well first of all I wanted to update you that Avery’s results came back almost PERFECT!  Her Hemoglobin F was where it should be as was her Monocyte count!  The only thing that they found that was cause for some monitoring is that her red blood cells (not all of them though) are the wrong shape.  They are what is called Piculated.  Right now it could mean nothing.  We will just be monitoring her weight and have another blood test in a month and a half to check it again.  We really believe that a miracle happened.  The Dr. absolutely can not explain her weight gain.

Another huge thing that happened this week is that Owen asked “Jesus into his heart” (so to speak in Christianese!)  He had started asking me a lot about death because he knows my mom died before he was born.  I answered all his questions as honestly as I could and as simply as I could for his level.  We started talking about Heaven and Hell and Jesus etc.  He decided he wanted to go to heaven to be with Jesus when he dies some day.  He got so excited about seeing Jesus.  We talked more about what that meant and he decided he wanted that.  We prayed together, it was so beautiful!  So he turns 5 and gives himself to God

THEN he and Lukas had swim lessons all week and they both learned to swim!  AND he learned to ride without training wheels yesterday.  Next week he graduates from Preschool (sniff sniff)… time is flying.

Kathy Ireland and Her PR Tour

When I first saw Kathy Ireland taking on a PR tour I listened to what she had to say.  Of course her message of mother overwhelmed struck a chord with me.  At the same time it didn’t seem like a super unique message.  I mean, how many of us have the same story?  Sure it is encouraging to see this gorgeous woman was able to let herself go from supermodel body to 30 lbs overweight because of her hagged schedule.  We can relate right?  But it also seemed like a pretty normal non-unique message… though I appreciated her humble nature to be so transparent with the public.  Still despite the fact that her story wasn’t uncommon I was drawn to her in every interview I saw.  Her demeanor is simply beautiful.  It wasn’t till this interview however that I realized why I was so drawn to her.  She is not only beautiful and a great mom who also runs a successful company, but she is bright, intelligent, thinks for herself.  She is a sister and she cherishes life.  Please take the 7 minutes or so to hear more of her story and catch the beauty that is not only outside her, but truly inside as well.

Trick or Treat and Life in General

Well….  We did go trick or treating, but my battery was dead, hence no pictures.  So Jenn, Pam, Peggy, Jodi… please send me any and all  We had a blast and went in a whole pack of kids.  Our neighborhood is prime trick or treating because of the closeness of the houses and vast number of children.  We started the night on our street.  Most of the streets had what is called a “cider home” that would have cider, drinks, chili, and snacks.  That was great.  

People in this neighborhood go all out.  Many of the homes were decorated like they would be for Christmas, but with orange lights, webs, and spiders.  Some were a little scary for my taste, but most were just cutesie and fun.  

After the kids’ bags were so full they could hardly carry them we ended up with incredible chill time at my friend Peggy’s house.  She was so generous to open her house up last minute.  The kids’ played upstairs and the adults hung downstairs just having great chats and bonding  Trick or treat was a lot of fun for all involved.

Yesterday church was amazing.  My friends Peggy and Ian are going with us now and we love that.  My friend Jenn came along this Sunday and liked it.  The message was all about how the Kingdom of God is not an earthly one, not tangible, but the Israelites were looking for that.  He compared it to how we are looking for that in our political system, that we have to remember regardless of the outcome we have an intangible kingdom that can not be shaken.  That maybe even if Obama wins it will actually energize his people to pray and seek out rivival instead of sitting back and doing nothing like the religious right did during the Bush administration.  He said regardless of who is president our call is the same.  

This wasn’t used during the sermon but in Psalm 146:3 it says, “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.”  I cling to this verse right now.  The fact is you have not seen on this blog a ton of McCain excitement.  Not that I don’t like McCain, I do… but this time around I don’t think all in the Christian world will be right if he is on the “throne” (so to speak)…. But I do think a lot will be wrong if Obama is.  But either way it should not shake our resolve.  We trust in a supernatural authority of our Lord God Creator of all.  I do think that Obama’s policies will not be good for the health of our country and I feel they are in direct contrast to how our fore-fathers set up our government and authorities.  I think if he does all he says he will that our nation (after a few years) will see some pretty depressing times that make the times we are in now look like the “good ole days”.  But regardless, we will serve the Lord. In good times and bad times.  I’m so thankful to have more than our President and Congress to trust in.  

Ecclesiastes 7:14- “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.

That’s all I got for today.

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HOPE

After a stressful night, this is what I woke up to this morning.  A beautiful rainbow,  which reminded me what true hope is about.  Even when things don’t go the way I want them too. I wish the picture actually showed how beautiful the rainbow was.

Abortion and Palin Around the Blogesphere

I don’t typically post political and activism stuff so close together.  Because this is not a political blog but rather a mommy blog that sometimes posts about political stuff, I typically try to space it out more.  There has been much that has struck a chord on me lately, so in keeping it real, I’m posting politics again.  

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BEFORE that, I want to make a statement regarding my recent abortion posts.  Please understand that they are not a condemnation of any of you who may have had an abortion in the past.  I believe our generation has been greatly deceived and largely unaware at the depth of the abortion issue.  I know friends who have deeply regretted their abortion/abortions in the past.  There is hope and healing for you in Christ.  If you are looking for resources on that please email me using the contact page and I will make sure to get you information.  God’s love is so wide and so deep and his forgiveness can cover anything.  That is the great Hope we have in Christ.  Onto news.

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The extreme left has ranked itself with Perez Hilton (actually Perez usually reports true stories so they aren’t even to Perez’s level).  They are now claiming that Trig, the youngest of Sarah Palin’s children who has down’s syndrome, is really the illegitimate child of one of her daughters.  Colmes of Hannity and Colmes questioned on his blog whether or not Palin took care of herself during pregnancy and if she possibly brought on the down’s syndrome.  ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!  More on both stories here.  (hat tip Missy and Matt Drudge)

Meanwhile certain prominent democrats are joking about hurricane Gustov.  Michael Moore says,

“I was just thinking, this Gustav is proof that there is a God in heaven…To just have it planned at the same time, that it would actually be on its way to New Orleans for Day One of the Republican convention, up in the Twin Cities, at the top of the Mississippi River. (hat tip: 4 Simpsons)

Don Fowler the former national chairman of the DNC states in the video below,

“The hurricane’s going to hit New Orleans about the time they start [the Republican convention] . . . The timing is, at least it appears now, that it’ll be there Monday. That just demonstrates God’s on our side.”

(hat tip: again 4 Simpsons)

Fowler later apologized claiming he was poking fun at the Rev. Jerry Fawell’s 911 comments.

Obama, Late Term Abortion, & Infanticide. (Chicago Senate Bill 1662)

Part of me wants to chicken out of posting this video… but this time I can’t.  I have MANY dear friends that are voting for Obama this November.  I see some of the appeal.  Some of these people are some of the most sweet, compassionate, beautiful people I know.  They feel Obama is the best way to help the poor, get everyone health care, and improve our image around the world.  In some terms I disagree in others I don’t.  For example, the rest of the world will probably like us more with Obama as our president.  But when it comes down to November, for many reasons, he will not get my vote.  

A sweet friend, whom I agree with a lot politically sent me the video below.  It is hard to watch.  If you have a dry eye you are either one super anti-depressants or maybe you need a heart check.  

Last time I posted on Obama and his refusal to support the ban on Late Term Abortion (a barbaric practice) I recieved many emotional comments that took the post out of context.  With some I wonder if they even read it.  I said no where in the post that the president could overturn abortion.  I have a brain and understand how our 3 branches of government work.  Please do not comment if you did not pay careful attention to my words and watch the video attentively the whole way through.  

Why do Obamas extreme (even for his party) views of abortion ensure I will not vote for him this November? (let me be clear though, this is NOT the ONLY reason I will not vote for him, but those are other posts.) 2 main reasons:

1. It is likely the next president will be choosing a supreme court judge.  Obama would make sure a pro Roe v Wade judge is in.  McCain will more likely choose a judge that would support overturning it.  Could overturning it be a long shot?  Possibly.  But while many of those in my generation have given up on the pro-life movement even though they personally are pro-life.  I have not.  I know of no where else in our laws where we are able to murder our own people, and I consider abortion a form of murder.  Therefore I just can not follow the crowd on giving that issue up.  To me it is not a choice that fits under the free will God’s grace has given us.  

2. As my first big Obama, late term abortion post, was about…  I feel that someone that could know fully about the Late term abortion procedure and vote the way he did must have many character issues.  We may not see them yet, but that is a character issue.  And now, knowing what this video explains, that Obama at one point was in support of babies that are born alive being left to die.  I’m beyond sickened.  

Please don’t comment here about how this isn’t true when there are provable written records to prove it.

Now all disclaimer and explaining aside… the video.

EDIT A FEW HOURS LATER:
My friend Velvet who sent me the first video posted a link to this one in the comments, if you want further information watch this video.  I’m working on getting even more concrete proof.

EDIT A FEW MORE MINUTES LATER:

Here is a link to the bill that Obama Proposed.  Senate Bill 1662.  The bill basically says (if you don’t want to go to the link to see the proof.  

   Amends the Statute on Statutes.  Defines "born-alive  infant"  to
   include  every  infant  member of the species homo sapiens who is born
   alive at any stage of development.  Defines "born alive" to  mean  the
   complete  expulsion or extraction from the mother of an infant, at any
   stage of development, who after that expulsion or extraction  breathes
   or  has  a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite
   movement of voluntary muscles, regardless  of  whether  the  umbilical
   cord  has  been  cut  and  regardless  of  whether  the  expulsion  or
   extraction  occurs  as  a result of natural or induced labor, cesarean
   section, or induced abortion.  Effective immediately.

On Obama’s own site there is a chart from planned parenthood defending what bills “threatened” Roe V Wade. They saw defining a baby as alive once born as a THREAT! A THREAT! Here planned parenthood has shoved down the throat of my generation the lie that an inutero baby is not alive and therefore has no rights. Now they even say that of the born alive baby??? This is absolutely counter-intuitive.  

Go here to view Obama’s “no” vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 6, 2002.  Bill 1663 Was a direct copy of bill 1662 and considered a “companion bill.

Transcript of Obama’s verbal opposition to Born Alive on the IL Senate floor, April 4, 2002, pages 28-35

Obama’s “no” vote on the IL Senate floor, April 4, 2002

**Major hat-tip to Jill Stanek for finding these links.  You can check out her full post here.

What Can I Say About Love?

Love. The Apostle Paul already wrote on Love in the Bible better than I possibly ever could. It sums up the entire concept. In his words, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Love is patient with my children when they aren’t responding fast enough.

Love is kind even when I’m in a bad mood.

Love does not envy. Envy is a destroyer of friendship. I have seen it happen. I commit to not envying my friends but rather be happy for their good things.

Love does not boast. Applying this is a little more tricky for me. I suppose it means I view accomplishments humbly and do not boast about them.

Love is not proud. Pride is all about oneself. Pride is selfish. Pride is the root of all sin because it says, “I can be like God.” Pride definitely destroys relationships. Not being proud means saying I’m sorry when I wrong my husband or kids.

Love does not dishonor others. That means love honors others. Not repeating things people are ashamed of. (Especially your husband!) Sometimes honoring someone and possibly their wishes means doing something you don’t want to do. There are so many ways to honor others.

Love is not self-seeking. The flip-side on this one is it is other-seeking. Not thinking what I can do for myself in a relationship but what I can do for others. This means when I’m with a group of girlfriends and can’t get a word in, that I love that I can sit there and listen to them. I don’t have to butt in the conversation.

Love is not easily angered. For me, this really comes back to my children and husband and being patient. Giving the benefit of the doubt to those I love most. The people you know most seem to be the easiest to not give slack to for some reason.

Love keeps no record of wrongs. This means not bringing up something my husband may have done years ago. Letting it go, forgiving.

Love does not delight in evil. For me this would be gossip. Not being anxious to talk about someone. In a sermon my brother once preached he called gossip the “devil’s intimacy”. If I find I have a relationship that seems based on talking about someone else I realize that we don’t have a true bond. It is interesting to see what happens to those relationships when you determine not to do that anymore. Is anything left?

Love rejoices with the truth. This is speaking truth at all times to those I love. When they are hurt or depressed speaking truth into their life can be a fresh breath. Obviously this applies at home too!

Love always protects. This means when I love someone, even when they are doing something wrong, protecting them by not telling others about it. I know that this will come in handy with my children when they are teenagers. Not that there isn’t a time to share with someone close and prayer, but not to just air it out in your general atmosphere. I have been unprotective before and it is a bad feeling left in your mouth when you realize what you have done has hurt someone.

Love always trusts. This can be a hard one. Especially when we know their are legitimate reasons not to. I feel blessed to have a husband who I am not suspicious of, but the fact is not everyone is in that positions… so I’m not sure how to apply this one.

Love always hopes. Hope sees the bright side and believes it can be. Having hope in love doesn’t say… “things will always be like this, I can’t take it!” but hoping and praying always for more.

Love always perseveres. This means also that we don’t give up. Even when things are so tough. It’s that “sickness and in health, richer or poorer” part of the marriage vows. Persevere through good and bad.

And lastly, LOVE NEVER FAILS.

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Written for Skribbit’s February Write Away Contest.

What is Socialism?

These are some thoughts I jotted in my journal some time ago. I haven’t taken the time to fully complete them but thought I would share anyway.

Socialism is man’s attempt to take the place of God. Government was not intended to take the place of God, but rather meant to aid in the establishment of order according to the example of God.

In effect, Socialism is the modern tower of Bable. The modern forbidden fruit. The error lies in the fact that Man is no God and therefore can not deal with his power with out it resulting in destruction and chaos. The more power given to men results only in more ultimate destruction.

I remembered I wrote those paragraphs after reading this post on why socialism will never work.

Death By Suburb- Book Review

Death by Suburb by Dave L. Goetz has been a buzz book in Christian circles for awhile now. It has long been sitting on my stack waiting to be read. Often, I feel let down by the “buzz book” in Christian circles so I suppose I was 1/2 curious and 1/2 jaded toward reading it.

What a pleasant surprise. I found it hard to put down! I absolutely love that Dave has spent much time reading some of the older Christian classic texts… the ones that most suburbanites (or anyone) will go near. He took those books that are full or rich morsels of wisdom and translated them into modern day speak in a way many could relate too.

The readability of Death by Suburb in no way waters it down or shallows it out. It maintains depth while still holding it’s relevance. It could be considered the entertaining version of cliff notes for the classics of the Christian faith.

What I thought would be a major Christian guilt trip on living amongst suburbia was nothing of the sort. Instead Dave comes against the idea that you can not live a deeply spiritual life in the midst of the suburbs, but rather that the “thicker” life needs to be pursued in spite of that. It can be found in the suburbs! What an encouragement!

If you, like me, are a Christian, drive a minivan, know what it means to be off sides in soccer, have fretted over your child’s costume for an activity…. If your life whatsoever resembles suburbia… read this book.

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