DebraBee – Page 121

November 5, 2008

A New Sheriff In Town

Okay, so there’s a new sheriff (Obama) in town and he’s looking to “change” the world we know. What does that really mean? Liberal judges, a cut in military support, higher taxes? All of these have been threatened but do we know this to be truth? Personally I don’t want to paint the guy as bad for this nation.

We need to take responsibility for our own actions as a whole. Those who voted for him are our neighbors, friends and family. Will we separate ourselves and point at others saying he’s yours not ours? How silly could that be? Let’s embrace the leadership we have been given and do what we must to be supportive.

We live in one of most free countries on our planet and although no man’s government is perfect we surely have opportunities other nations are striving to have. My hope is not in the man but in the heavenly Father’s mercy. As He has allowed this new king to arise we speak blessings over Obama and his family for their service to our country.

November 4, 2008

Determined To Be Part Of Something Special

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Our nation stands before the precipice of a shift in ways we can’t even see just yet. In these last hours before our nation’s leadership is determined I simply pray. The outcome of our world has been determined long ago and there is no mystery that what we know will all come to an end. The big question is when? Until that question is answered we are asked to do our best to make the most of our hours here and now.

Many people feel that no move at all is needed because the outcome has been predetermined. I can’t say I agree with this. We are all given choices and our individual outcome is only determined by our actions and in some cases our inactions. In this moment I think of a young boy who is not yet four years old. He means life to me, both his and mine. My actions will determine how he may spend his school years and God willing, his college years, perhaps even his future career.

I am a woman with a cause and that’s to make a difference in the lives of those I love. My votes may seem small to them but my determination to be a woman of action and conviction will speak volumes into the future of the young in my own family. I will not live my life as an armchair quarterback. I will live my life on the field being in the moment where changes happen; knowing I was part of something special.

November 4, 2008

Hands Offered In Love & Friendship

He was a man in a wheelchair I saw on a distant sidewalk early in the morning. He seemed to be with a friend and I wondered at his lack of warm clothing. He was wearing shorts and although it wasn’t extremely cold a chill was in the air and rain threatened to fall.

A couple hours later I saw a woman with others behind her push this man’s wheelchair into the tent. He looked to be sleeping and she could be heard telling those nearby at how he had been found sitting in the rain, his friend nowhere in sight. A few folks grabbed some of the blankets they had been giving away to those in need and tried to wrap the man up for warmth. He didn’t stir too much.

One woman was so moved by compassion for this unconscious man she reached out her hand to his shoulder and quietly began to pray. As if one in accord the hands of all who stood nearby joined her and gently touching him, praying with her. The man’s eyes began to twitch but still he did not open them.

A paramedic team came to our side of the park and this man was wheeled out to them. I lost track of him for a couple hours in the crowds as I took a break to meet up with my husband across the park.

Returning later, I found the man was once again sitting in the tent wrapped in a blanket. He was now very much awake so I walked over to chat with him. His blanket was starting to fall off the back of the wheelchair so I grabbed it and put it back on his shoulders. He thanked me and reached out his hand. I grabbed it in my own and he was so cold I used my other hand to wrap around his big paw. This is when I noticed he didn’t really have fingers, just stubs where his digits used to be. Looking at his other hand it was the same and he was also missing most of one leg.

Another young woman came up on the other side of him and he reached out his other deformed hand to her as well. She didn’t flinch and freely grabbed it. He apologized to her and said he wasn’t trying to grab her backside, he was just trying to lift his hand. She laughed and said she knew that. I watched them have a conversation and it was obvious this man enjoyed us holding his hands. I kept wondering how long it had been since someone had touched this man and showed him love and friendship?

November 3, 2008

Serving The Needs For A Future Generation

Tomorrow is the day of decision and it’s a big one. Let us put our personal feelings aside and vote the consciousness of what is right and good. This doesn’t always agree with our politics or our agendas but it’s time for us to mature and do what is right for our country and what is right for the next generations. It’s time we sacrificed our selfishness of wanting something to serve us now and look forward to serving the needs of those in our future.

November 2, 2008

A Promise To Keep

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Saturday it was raining heavily in the park there in San Francisco but we had several tents to shelter us. There was a serving area for people to come and get something to eat. We offered prayer to anyone who desired it. That is how I met William. He was an older man whose black hair was fading to gray and his face wore a certain sorrow. Sitting down in a chair beside him, I had heard him tell my friends he wanted prayer for more love.

We put our arms and hands out to touch William who seemed grateful as he bowed his head with us in prayer. I could feel him start to shudder and tears began to flow from his eyes as we spoke to the Lord about the love William was looking for. He reached into his pocket for a small piece of pink material he was using for a handkerchief and kept dabbing at his face. This man’s sorrows were deep and his cry for help hurt our hearts too. No one should suffer this much alone.

After we finished our prayers William stayed there with us and continued to share his heart. I tried looking deep into this man’s eyes; I didn’t want to forget any line on his face. He kept apologizing for the tears but said they felt good, like a needed cleansing. We let him cry with us and listened to all he had to say. I didn’t want to interrupt so I just kept my arm around his shoulder to let him know we were there in love.

Before he left, William looked around and asked us to remember to pray for him. It was an easy promise to make. I hugged him and whispered into his ear that though I may not see him again this side of heaven, I’d be looking for him on the other side.

November 1, 2008

Roy, His Name Was Roy

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Turning away from the stage I felt the need to look behind me. Across the park I could see two men standing together in the pouring rain. One man was dressed in a dark coat and hat. He had his hand on a younger man’s shoulder in such a way I knew he was praying for him. This same young guy passed by a few minutes earlier but he didn’t notice us as we stood under our umbrella. He seemed under the influence of something more than the music.

Watching the interaction between these men, I was inwardly moved by something I couldn’t define. I began to pray and as I spoke from my heart I could feel hot tears on my cheek. It felt important to engage myself in this moment despite not knowing these men or them even seeing me.

After a minute or two the young guy seemed agitated and pushed himself away from the praying man. By the body language of the one in the dark coat, I could see determination. He did not stop loving and praying for this young man. He kept walking with him a short distance and finally something spurred the young man to turn back and hug the man tightly. His hug was long and genuine. The younger man was seemingly being drawn away but he kept stepping in close to hug the man in the coat as though apologizing. Clearly he was hearing the love being offered and still he struggled to accept it. Finally he waved once more and walked away for good.

My heart was wrenched as I watched the man in the coat look after him for a long moment before he turned back and began making his way towards the stage where we all stood. Trying to focus again on the music, I kept glancing over to check on this man. He was about twenty feet from us and whether from tears or from frustration, I could see him begin to wash his face with the rain water coming down over him.

Hesitating for a mere moment or two I looked at my husband and simply told him I’d be right back. The man in the coat was kneeling in the rain and it was clear he was beginning to pray. I already knew who he was praying for. Kneeling down next to him on the wet cement I merely asked, “What was his name?”

“Roy, his name was Roy” was all he said.

There under the pouring rain I latched onto my friend’s arm in the dark coat and we prayed together for Roy’s soul and his salvation. I never asked the name of my friend in the coat and hat. Him I recognized as my brother.

November 1, 2008

SoS 813

You who dwell in the gardens,

The companions listen for your voice

Let me hear it!

Song Of Solomon 8:13

October 31, 2008

The Challenge Of Listening To…

The Challenge of listening to others…….

The asked question….

How can you ever forgive that person for what they did to you?

Their answer before you ever answered them….

I could never forgive someone for such a thing; you’d have to kill me first!

Their unsolicited opinion…..

If I were you, I’d sue their butts and put them in prison for the rest of their lives!

The Answer Not Often Received…

Mat 6:14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you

October 30, 2008

A Question For Our Generation

The news again. Full of liberal shifting agendas and a painting of Obama to be a hero to come. I cannot guess at what the future holds for us but there is something important to think upon. No matter who ascends to the highest office of this nation, without the people (that’s you and me folks) backing his or her play, we are a joke.

Can we talk? I confess I get tired of our spoiled attitudes where we want everything but will sacrifice nothing to get it. How far we have come away from the dreams of our forefathers? How many of us had grandparents and great grandparents who suffered through tedious jobs so we could have a better future? Now that we are living that future, what have we really done with it?

Did they really want us to waste our money and talent driving fancier cars, to have television sets in every room of our house, to text message our lives away rather than draw closer to our family members, to waste hours each day playing video games or watching mindless music videos? Is this really how we want to spend our time? What will be said of us at the end of our lives, the end of our generation? What are we contributing to society?

October 29, 2008

Pardoning The Unpardonable

“To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.” G.K. Chesterton