Keepers At Home

This is one of my favorite blogs by my friend Julie. We met on a forum and she has been a true comfort to me. I am so excited that God has answered many many people's prayers for she and her husband. They are going to have a baby!! God is generous and so good. I was just reading her post about the picture frame and it gave me such a spiritual lift that I had to share. =) I have something here at home that has been a reminder of my greatest wish and prayer, but I had put it away some months ago. I am getting it back out and and putting it where I can look at it everyday. Reminders are a good thing!!

Poor Patrick

I do not celebrate St. Patrick's Day. I think if Patrick knew people were worshipping him, he would be sad and mortified! The following is an great explanation of who Patrick was, and also the little known fact that he was a SABBATH KEEPER!! I don't have the website I got this off of, but I could probably find it, if someone wants it.
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“And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” —2 Timothy 4:4

Maewyn Succat’s legacy to Ireland is both ironic and inspirational. Born to a Christian family around A.D. 380 on the banks of the Clyde in Scotland, he was kidnapped by a gang of ruffians, smuggled to Ireland, and sold as a slave to a cattle and swine herder.

At the time of his capture, Succat was unconvinced about following Jesus. By the age of 15, the troubled boy was given to the earthly pleasures of lust, hate, and deceit, and he ignored the teachings of his father, a respected church leader. Succat believed this selfish incredulity doomed him, albeit temporarily: “It was according to our deserts, because we drew back from God and kept not His precepts.”

But during his six years of harsh captivity, wearing rags for clothing and with minimal shelter from pounding rains and frigid nights, he soon gave his life to God. During long evenings of endless hunger and immense suffering, he would hear the voice of his mother and father urging him to follow Jesus. Finally, he began to listen rather than just hear them. And at last, he realized there was something more to life than just himself.Gazing into the starry heavens, he said to God on the evening of his conversion, “I will arise, and go to my Father." Soon after, he escaped and at last returned to his homeland, ready to follow heaven’s call. Invigorated by his new devotion, Succat found and joined a church whose voice in history is unfortunately, though not surprisingly, silent to the general public.

Against the grain of the day’s religious teachings, the Celtic Church not only kept the Sabbath as holy, they followed God’s health laws and practiced baptism by immersion. They believed God’s Law was paramount, and they would only give their allegiance to Christ. In short, they believed there was no difference between obeying the Law and ultimate morality—faithfully obeying God’s Word was the ultimate sign of their love and devotion.

Succat quickly rose in the ranks of this church, fighting against the onset of paganism from the outlying Briton isles and Europe. Sometime in his late twenties, he began to dream of the green island he once regretfully called home. He dreamed of how the heathens there suffered under economic and spiritual poverty—and eventually he believed God was calling him to return to Erin, which once held him prisoner, to set it free with His Word. He followed without hesitation.

The conversion of the island is both baffling and miraculous. Succat led a band of like minded believers across the isle, establishing churches that would glorify the kingdom of God by expressing their faith through obedience to the Decalogue. Queen Margaret wrote about this and other “peculiar” practices of the growing Celtic Church, complaining '”They are accustomed … to neglect reverence for [Sundays].”Though the major religious leaders of the day threatened, cajoled, and attempted to otherwise provoke allegiance to their doctrines, Succat’s church continually turned these temptations away. Because of his strict adherence to God’s desires, Succat is believed to be directly responsible for the establishment of more than 350 churches and the conversion of over 120,000 converts.

In the centuries to follow, Succat’s legacy as a faithful Sabbath-keeper would quickly be shrouded with half-truths and mysticism due to the eventual overthrow of the Celtic Church. (The victors attempted to change history.) Indeed, the ire of all of Europe eventually besieged the tiny, peculiar island until it capitulated and adopted more culturally acceptable norms under force.

Succat is still revered and celebrated as few others—he is as much a cultural icon today as he was when he conquered a nation for Christ. Succat is worthy of remembrance and honor—though he, throughout his writings, directed all the glory to his Savior. Sadly, the truth behind his powerful work is twisted and dimly lit, but that doesn’t mean the real truth can’t be told. Ireland prospered in peace for centuries as it obeyed God’s commands by Succat’s lead. After it incorporated unholy doctrines and practices, it fell into despair and was subjugated by oppression and cruelty. If you haven’t guessed it yet, Succat is better known by the name Patrick of Ireland—or even more familiarly, Saint Patrick.Other interesting facts....Patrick believed that Christianity should be founded with the home and the family as its strength. Too often the Christian organizations of that age were centered in celibacy. This was not true of the Irish Church and its Celtic daughters in Great Britain, Scotland, and on the Continent. The Celtic Church, as organized and developed under Patrick, permitted its clergy to marry.

The absence of celibacy in the Celtic Church gives added proof to the fact that the believers had no connection with the church at Rome. Thus Dr. J. H. Todd writes: “He [Patrick] says nothing of Rome, or of having been commissioned by Pope Celestine. He attributed his Irish apostleship altogether to an inward call, which he regarded as a divine command.”

One of the strongest proofs that Patrick did not belong to papal Christianity is found in the historical fact that for centuries Rome made every effort to destroy the church Patrick had founded. Jules Michelet writes of Boniface, who was the pope’s apostle to the Germans about two hundred years after Patrick: “His chief hatred is to the Scots [the name equally given to the Scotch and Irish], and he especially condemns their allowing priests to marry.”

Patrick rejected the union of church and state. More than one hundred years had passed since the first world council at Nicaea had united the church with the empire. Patrick rejected this model. He followed the lesson taught in John’s Gospel when Christ refused to be made a king. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”(John 18:36.)

Food for thought, huh?

The Clutter of the Matter

I hate clutter and yet, for someone that hates it, I sure have a lot of it. I seem to accumulate stuff without even meaning to. You should see my pantry! It is a disgrace and quite frankly, embarrassing! Now, I am not saying I need to be on Clean House or Hoarders, but I do need to get some serious de-cluttering done!! It is amazing to me how much clutter weighs down on me and makes me feel blah!

I happened to catch Peter Walsh on Oprah awhile back. His specialty is getting rid of the clutter. So, to that end I bought his book and workbook called It’s All Too Much. I am hoping this book and workbook will give me some practical tools to use in getting the clutter out and keeping it out. I will get them in about a week.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t taught how to do a lot of this growing up, so I am making up for lost time. =) I am sure my mom would love to come help me now!! LOL She might enjoy the finished product more.

Cause let’s face it, if I can’t keep a clean house when it is just me and my dog, how in the world am I going to keep it clean for a husband and kids?! See? You know I was going there, huh?

I am tempted to post pictures of the before and after, but I am not sure I could get past the embarrassment of the before pictures. We will see how brave I am feeling.

Great Quote

I love this quote from Margaret Truman Daniel, who was the only child of President Harry S. Truman and his wife Bess. She and her husband had four sons and were married for 44 years before his death in 2000.

"I've had three or four different careers," she told an interviewer in 1989. "I consider being a wife and mother a career. I have great respect for women -- both those who go out and do their thing and those who stay at home. I think those who stay at home have a lot more courage than those who go out and get a job."

Work Boyfriend?!

I found this article very interesting. People often turn a blind eye to the statistic on how many people have affairs with their co-workers. I would think more men would take that into account when deciding their wives should work outside of the home, especially if the women want to stay at home. That can create a situation where a woman is very vulnerable. Not always, mind you, but it can be tempting!

Platonic work flirting: Good for business?They ate lunch together almost every day. They commiserated over professional and personal woes, and when projects ran long at the San Francisco architecture firm where they were both summer interns, they checked building plans together until they were sprung from the office at 10 p.m.

"She was fun to hang out with, and sometimes she would do things that some might consider flirty, like run a hand through my hair to mess it up," says Hayes Shair, now 25. "Sometimes I'd sort of flirt back."
But Shair was dating his college sweetheart at the time. This woman was more like his "work girlfriend" -- a coworker with whom one flirts platonically during office hours but without any romantic intentions.
It's hardly a unique situation. The career information Web site Vault.com reports that in a 2007 office-romance survey of 575 employees, 23 percent said they had a "work husband" or a "work wife."

As with real spouses, work spouses turn to each other for mental and emotional support, perhaps share inside jokes or even bicker like married couples. But that's where the line is drawn.

Having a work spouse can give you an emotional connection without a professional nosedive. Heidi Reeder, associate professor of communication at Boise State University in Idaho, says it can be a good thing.

Good for work?

"There are some cases where the motivation of flirting is to get the person into bed. But I think what a lot of people don't realize is that there are other reasons why people might be motivated to flirt, like developing a positive relationship with the person with compliments and touch," says Reeder, whose teaching specialties include gender and workplace communication.

"It's an esteem booster for both men and women to have a little flirtation in their day -- it makes them feel a little better, gives them a little more energy."

Liking your co-workers might make you more excited about coming to work, too. "You're happy to see them," Reeder says, "instead of, 'Ugh, I hate these people.'"

In fact, flirting might even have some indirect benefits on the job, says Reeder, citing research conducted at the University of South Alabama in 2003 showing that people who don't flirt very much have lower energy levels and rate themselves as less attractive than people who flirt a lot.

"It seems like having higher energy levels and thinking that you're attractive might help you make the sale, and it can help you be more responsive to your partner in the bedroom," she says.

Flirting with trouble

Of course, there is always the risk that platonic work flirting may be asking for trouble.Last summer, Cheryl, 26 -- happily married for two years and six months pregnant with her second child -- found an easy self-esteem boost in her work boyfriend's adulation. "He fawned over me, complimented me on my cutting wit, my sassy outfits and sizzling personality," she says, which left her "flustered and giggly schoolgirl-ish."

Though her husband complimented her constantly, his words paled in comparison: "It's like how your mom always tells you you're beautiful. It's expected," she explains. "Getting the compliments from an outsider was refreshing."

Cheryl, who asked that her last name not be used given the sensitive nature of the topic, had no intention of starting an actual affair. In fact, even though she was suffering from a waning sex drive because of her pregnancy, her work flirtations sparked a flame at home with her husband.


But eventually the office flirting crossed a line, and she had to stop it.

"Over the months, our banter had more of a sexual overtone, at times downright raunchy," Cheryl recalls. Moreover, she became obsessed with his affection, and jealous when he flirted with other female coworkers.

Cheryl, now tending to her two young children in Wisconsin, acknowledges it wasn't her finest hour. Was it emotional cheating? "Probably," she says.

"When our conversations became so explicit I couldn't repeat them to my husband, I knew I had to cut it out," she says. "And I did ... though it wasn't until I quit working to become a stay-at-home mom and he started dating someone at work that the book finally closed on that chapter."

Where to draw the line

Is your work marriage crossing the line? Reeder outlines some questions to ask yourself:

• Would you behave the same way if your romantic partner were standing next to you?• Are your flirtations consistent with the way you normally behave?• Are you thinking about your "work spouse" while not at work?• Do you compare your "work spouse" to your real romantic partner?

As flirting can include physical contact, even though the intent is innocent, it is wise to keep in mind how such behavior might be misinterpreted by some people.

Shair, now a graduate student at Columbia University in New York City, doesn't make too big a deal of his work relationship.
"What were we supposed to do to prove that we were just friends? High-five each other?"

A Sad Goodbye

Deana

11/4/72 - 2/28/10

I got some news last week that I was not expecting. A childhood friend of mine, Deana, was murdered by her boyfriend.

Deana and I became fast friends, and after a particularly bad period in her stepfather’s house she moved into our house (whole different story). She lived with us for about a year. We shared just about everything, including a room. I had my license by then and we used to drive everywhere. We loved to just to drive because we could. We did some stupid stuff back then, like driving way too fast out past the Naval Weapons Station, but we felt happy and free. It was some of the best time of my childhood. During that time I think she was able to see how a “normal” (but then who is normal?) family functioned. She got to witness my parents going to our high school and taking the art teacher to task for treating Deana very badly. I really remember how much that meant to her.

One of the other bright spots for Deana and I was Danielle. Danielle was Deana’s half-sister and we had a blast taking her places and just being with her. Later, when Melissa got older, we did the same thing with her. We loved to have them with us. I have to admit that I still have a huge love and soft spot for Danielle. Who is now a loving mother of her own beautiful daughter.

Deana was an amazing friend. I knew without a doubt I could tell her anything. She always made me feel at ease and as though we were sisters. I deep regret that I didn’t keep in touch somehow. I know she had a lot of problems, but don’t we all? I always assumed there would be time. I think I always thought that some day I would see her back at church. I am so sad and a bit mad that someone took away that chance. But I KNOW ultimately it is God who decides and I have great comfort in that. I know that I will see Deana in the Kingdom of God and I will be right there to greet her.

A Quote of A Quote

I love this quote of a quote from Wendy Shalit's book Return to Modesty (pg. 131)

“As one 27 year-old Orthodox woman put it to me, with a toss of her long black hair, “there is a saying that goes Einb’not yisrael hefker. It means that the daughters of Israel are not available for public use.”

I really like that young woman’s quote. So many young women are more than willing to share their bodies with anyone who asks. You see, I watched a movie awhile back called, Watch Jane Date. I thought, since it was an ABC Family movie that it would be clean. Well, while it was in spots, funny (yet painful), it was not clean. Jane, the main character goes so far is to sleep with someone on the first date and then is devastated that things don’t work out with him. Say what? The reasoning behind that boggles my mind. When we treat ourselves cheaply, we should be surprised when other people do the same, should we? They are only following our example.

I just finished reading Return to Modesty and would highly recommend it. Wendy Shalit is very easy to read.

An Interesting Quote

I think this snippet is worth sharing and very insightful. From The Power of Femininity by Michelle McKinney Hammond.

Femininity vs. Feminism

I think the subtlety of Satan would be laughable it if wasn't so dangerous. I'll give you an example. The "feminist movement" is not about empowering women to be feminine; it uses masculine tactics to achieve its agenda. Get it? Feminism - which is anything but feminine - does not stand for femininity, which is where a woman's true power lies. Though it pursues some causes that most of us would consider honorable, it masks an agenda that is far more sinister than the masses, or even some of the movement's leaders, could believe.

In the end, "feminism" will do us all more harm than good. Anytime a power struggle takes place between two opposing forces, any so-called "movement" that operates under any form of sexism becomes divisive at best. This is a mode of transportation we cannot afford if we really desire to reach of relational destination. Once we're all on the bandwagon of "feminism", we will find ourselves heading in the opposite direction of where we really wanted to go.

Some say that the "feminist movement" is a lesbian movement masked with a few honorable agendas to seduce the masses. After all, who would argue with equal pay for equal work? But women going off to fight in wars and leaving babies at home? It seems that the main women fighting for abortion rights are not interested in ever having children, anyway. I find this very disturbing. How far do we push the envelope in the name of equal rights? And do you really want to do everything that men do? These are important questions you need to ask yourself.

In short, I must say that I feel the "feminist movement" is out of control. Its charisma and passion for defending the rights of women have distracted us from noticing the fractions it is causing in the basic, everyday exchanges between men and women. All movements are dangerous when they result in fighting in the flesh. As spiritual women, we must forever be cognizant of the fact that we battle "not against flesh and blood, but against principalities" (Ephesians 6:12) Lasting victory over any issue in our life will only be gained as we war in the spirit. God is the true champion of liberation; we must submit our causes to Him.