Cynthia’s Time

Can’t celebrate today

So many friends this week are celebrating the inauguration of the first african-american president, and even though I’ve tried to get excited (being the history buff, that I am) I have failed.  

I was thinking about why am I not excited and then I came across some things that the new president wants to accomplish right away and it all came back to me:

 ”overturning the so-called Mexico City policy that forbids U.S. funding for family planning programs that offer abortion; and lifting President George W. Bush’s limit on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.” quoted from the AP on Jan. 21   

So with the new president we get the government giving money to places that kill babies AND the government will give money to cell research that involves killing babies.  That money that government is giving is my money really or the peoples money.  Tax dollars at work.  Government genocide is what I call it.

 I know the african-american people wanted an african-american president, I think it would be great.   I just wish they would have waited for a man who upheld all that God stands for and wants for us.  I wish it would have been a man that truly values human life and the sanctity of it.

In the bible in the book of I Samuel, the Israelites starting asking for a king.  There had been a long series of judges but that wasn’t good enough for the Israelites.  Israel asked for a king like other nations (1 Samuel 8: 4-5).   God said that He was their king and why couldn’t that be enough.  They kept asking until God said OK but warned that this would not be a good thing.  The first King, Saul was rejected by God for his unfaithfulness.  

I wonder if history is repeating itself with us.  We wanted so much to have an african-american president but we weren’t willing to wait for God.

We will never forget

Here are some lyrics to a song that says it all:

I hear people saying we don’t need this war
I say there’s some things worth fighting for
What about our freedom and this piece of ground?
We didn’t get to keep ‘em by backing down
They say we don’t realize the mess we’re getting in
Before you start preaching
Let me ask you this my friend

CHORUS 1
Have you forgotten how it felt that day
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away?
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside
Going through a living hell
And you say we shouldn’t worry ’bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

They took all the footage off my T.V.
Said it’s too disturbing for you and me
It’ll just breed anger that’s what the experts say
If it was up to me I’d show it every day
Some say this country’s just out looking for a fight
After 9/11 man I’d have to say that’s right

CHORUS 1
Have you forgotten how it felt that day
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away?
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside
Going through a living hell
And you say we shouldn’t worry ’bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

I’ve been there with the soldiers
Who’ve gone away to war
And you can bet they remember
Just what they’re fighting for

CHORUS 2
Have you forgotten all the people killed?
Some went down like heroes in that Pennsylvania field
Have you forgotten about our Pentagon?
All the loved ones that we lost
And those left to carry on
Don’t you tell me not to worry about Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

Have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten?

Darryl Worley/Wynn Varble, 2003

Reminder-He keeps no record of our sins

I”m in the middle of a Beth Moor bible study right now and thought I should have been sharing the nuggets of wisdom I pick up along the way. So today’s “light bulb” moment came while reading this verse:

“If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand? Psalm 130:3

That is so true….but the cool thing is when you read Colossians 2:13-15

He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Where are those sins? Nailed to the cross. And remember it’s not the sins from when I was 10 or the sins from a month ago, it’s all the sins from what was, what is, and is to come.

Sometimes we generalize what happened at the cross thinking that Jesus thought of humanity in general and the sins that we would commit as a mass of people. No, he thought of your name, saw your face, and all the sins you were ever going to commit. I know in our feeble human brains that seems like that’s not possible. But remember he was God in the flesh up on that cross. And not only could he think of each one of us and each sin, more importantly he took the guilt and shame for each sin as if he had committed it himself.

As I tell my kids, you know that yucky feeling you get inside when you know you’ve done something wrong. Jesus got that same feeling but it was multiplied by like infinity.

And are there still consequences for your sin, sure that’s how this fallen world works; there are natural consequences to the choices we make.

But next time you get bogged down in your sin and thinking there is no way God would want you now. Remember that no record is kept of it. We are truly free in Him.

Stepping Up Bible Study

I finished a bible study about a month ago and was so blown away about it, I decided to facilitate the study at Legacy. We have about 30 women participating, which is huge. It’s good to see ladies making time to study God’s word.

Last week was the first week and Beth Moore wanted us to make a commitment to spend time on our face with God everyday during this study. We all joked about how uncomfortable it can be to lay on the floor, nose to the ground, praying. And when I did the study for the first time, I wasn’t too impressed with the suggestion of going down everyday to pray. But did it and it got better as time went by.

I was reading a book by Francine Rivers during this time. I think it’s titled the first priest or something. it’s about the life of Aaron and how he was appointed by God to be the high priest. you know the one to go into the tabernacle, pray for the people, ask forgiveness, offer the sacrifices. It was a big job. I never realized how big of a job until I read the book. After reading the book, I went to the bible and read the story in Exodus and leviticus and was impressed that the book followed the actual bible pretty good.

What caught my attention in both the bible and the book is that when Aaron and Moses came before God, it was always on the ground, nose to the ground kind of thing. And they never hesitated, they had such an awe of being in God’s presence they would not have considered doing anything different. Especially, if someone had just sinned and they were praying for mercy and forgiveness they fell to the ground immediately. When we pray we ARE in the presence of God and it makes sense to me to have my nose to the ground.

Just something to think about…..

Scary witches, bats, and cotton swabs…

The other day Madison and I were drawing pictures. She suggested we make a scary picture. I asked what made a picture scary and she replied, “You know scary witches, bats, and cotton swabs.” “Cotton swabs? What’s scary about cotton swabs?” She said, “you know, they are all white and hang from everything and look scary.” Do you mean cob webs? “Oh yeah, cob webs!”

We are still laughing about that one!

Dinner with Friends

Here are the pictures from Dinner w/friends.
A couple of weeks ago we had our 7th Annual Dinner With Friends at Legacy Church. The tables were great as usual. This picture with the sandcastle was one of my favorites. It looked so real.
Oddly enough, I did not get a picture of my own table. ha! I will have to find someone who took a picture of it. It was basically a Fall theme with apples. We had a great time and had a great speaker named Julie Ann Barnhill. She was hilarious!

Hoping and Praying

As the school year starts, I’ve heard alot of people say what they prayed, hoped, or wished for their child as they go off to school. And it got me to thinking about the difference in praying, hoping, and wishing.

We all wish the best for our kids, and we all hope the best. So why pray, doesn’t God already know what’s in our heart. A few people have told me that they have a long standing deal with God “There kids have to be ok” He’s got to make them “OK”.
I don’t think God is much on deals.

Praying adds a whole new level to “wishing” the best for your child. Because in praying your not just repeating what your heart wishes for, you are listening to the wisdom God is going to give you. He’s going to give you pretty specific ways to help your child. But you’ve got to take the time to listen.

“What am I going to hear a voice?” Maybe, maybe not. It may be something that somone says to you or a thought that won’t go away. Or it may be no answer which means stop worrying about it, be patient, and wait.

It’s taken me a long time to see that’s there is a big difference in wishing and praying.

Bathroom remodel

The first 3 weeks of the summer I worked on redoing the downstairs powder bath. I got the idea of a french quarter themed bathroom from the internet. I decided to do venetian plaster and I like the results. It was alot of work but not too bad for such a small area. I wouldn’t want to do a large room with that.

Here are some pictures.

I like the end result and can’t wait to get started on the upstairs bathrooms.

Change/getting rid of things

I really do hate change. And for some reason I have such sentimental attachment to things. I keep having to remind my self they are just things.

After thinking about it for over a year now, I finally decided to get rid of my piano.

This is the piano I practiced on as a child. Soon after moving into my own house Steven had it moved to our house. I played it often before we had kids and when they were babies. But as they got bigger it was more of a challenge. They often would toddle up and want their own time on the piano. So I rarely played a whole song through without an interruption or without other notes being added by little hands. Eventually all the kids were taking piano lessons and practicing on the piano themselves. Once Steven started working from home (3years ago) it was hard to find a time for anyone to play on it without disturbing dad. Then there was the space issue. When we turned the formal living room into an office there was no room for the piano. We moved it to the dining room. The dining room has been very cramped since.

I started trying to find info on the piano to see if it was a valuable antique. It is an antique (1920’s) but not valuable. So on Thursday I decided to list it on craig list and see what happened. I really thought no one would want it and that I would be stuck with it. Within 2 hours I got a call from someone who was interested. Later that day she came by to look at it. Within 30 min. she had paid me and arranged to have movers come and move it. They will be here Mon. She has 8 year old twins who love to play the piano but only have a small keyboard. They were excited.

I’m glad it sold so fast. It will be nice to have my dining room back and a place to put the christmas tree this year. But I will miss the piano.

Steven’s lease expired this week on his beetle. His new car is great but I’ll miss the bug. It was fun to drive. But it’s just a car. right?

Summer is almost here!!!!

I’m finally finished with my classes for this semester. And the grades were finally posted. I got an A in both! It was worth it!

Kids are almost finished with school, so that means I’m almost finished with all my volunteering up at school
It’s been fun, but I was ready for a break!

So what to do this summer? The boys are going to camp in June and we are taking a family vacation in June. We will take a 9 day trip around the Southeast. Our first stop is Gatlingburg,TN to see the Smoky Mountains. Second stop is Chatanooga, TN to go to Ruby Falls and Rock City. Then down to Talladega, AL to visit family then head back to Texas. We are looking forward to the change in scenery!

I will be redoing the downstairs bathroom, paint, new fixtures, new decor. And also redoing the upstairs game room. Mainly painting and packing away of toys up there. I’ve got everything picked out just need to get started.

I hope to get started on scrapbooking and get Madison involved in that. Also, plan to continue the kids learning through the summer with a summer reading program- not the library one- one that I make up. And I will do a science camp and art camp for them. Still in the planning stages for those. I’ve got all the stuff here (leftover from homeschool) just need to come up with a plan.

Anyway, that’s what’s going on around here! I would love to hear everyone’s summer plans.