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!!

Job Update

I got a job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been out of work since April 16th, and while it wasn't a monetary hardship yet I was surprised by how depressing it can be. I have way more sympathy for people that are unemployed!!

I am so excited! Just another example of God answering prayers!!!!!! :)

Dark Day

Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

On Saturday that was a terrible tragedy in our area. Four Oakland Police Officers were gunned down by a man (I use that term lightly) that was on parole (which he had already violated), had been arrested a month before on suspicion of murder (he was released, due to lack of evidence) and who just happened to have an AK47 in his sister’s apartment where he was living.

It was the worst police death toll in the history of the State of California. I don’t personally know any of the men or their families, but I do know people that were friends of the killed officers and it makes it even more tragic, if that is even possible. Maybe it is not more tragic, but more personal.

Police officers risk their lives every day for the community, many of them are ex-military who risked their lives defending this country, before ever joining the police force.

As we all know, not all police officer are good guys. But some people brush a whole group of people with the brush of corruption, but this is unjust, just as other generalizations are completely unjust. There are many “armchair quarterbacks” if you will, that will judge the actions of others, as though they have any idea of what a situation calls for.

In my book these four are certainly heroes. They made the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect.

Please pray for the families of officers Romans, Sakai, Dunakin and Hege. They were all sons, brothers, fathers, and husband to people that are now grieving and need comfort. And please pray for the shooters family. No matter what this bad man did, he too had a family that will be grieving.

So sad.

Nothing Like Gunshots to Liven a Day

Do you ever feel like the evil in the world is encroaching a little too closely into your own world? Boy, did I get a big dose of that at about 4:15 this morning. I had my bedroom window open because it was so hot last night (upstairs). I was woke up to the sound of a man and woman yelling at each other and then gun shots, and it was close. Gun shots are very distinctive and I don't know if it is the percussion or what, but its definitely different. I rolled over and grabbed the phone and dialed 911. As soon as the dispatcher picked up and said, "what's your emergency", I said, "shot fired". "shots fired"? I think that phrase was stuck in my brain from TV, but the dispatcher didn't laugh at my lingo. She asked for my address and while we were talking, there were more gunshots. I could hear at least one of the gunshot hit the guy, it make this strange sound and then he cried out and then nothing from him again. There was more yelling (lots of cussing), two guys took off in a car, but were caught by the cops about five minutes later. Police cars, ambulances and a fire truck poured into the neighborhood.

I tried to go back to sleep but my heart was racing and then I started to cry. I am not sure why, but I think it was just the adrenaline leaving. This reaction isn't surprising for me, since I can't stand raised voices. I was finally able to sleep for about another hour or so. And then while I was getting ready for services a police officer knocked on the door to interview me about what I heard or saw. I realized while talking to her that it had never occurred to me to look about my spare bedroom window, which would have given me the perfect vantage point. When I mentioned that I was sorry I hadn't been awake enough to do that the police officer said to be glad that I hadn't. I asked her if the guy was going to make it, but she couldn't tell me. I found out later today that he died and that another guy was stabbed, but will recover.

Come to find out they are gang members, but the shooting wasn't gang related. It was over a girl...go figure. I guess bad relationships will do that to you. It is just so sad. That was someone's son, and could have been someone's father or brother and now he is gone.

It has freaked me out a bit, but I know that God will protect me and my home. Ironically I live in a really nice neighborhood, but stuff happens everywhere.

Oh, and do I have great friends or what? Stacey and James offered to stay with me for a couple of nights in case I was scared...and Brett and Becca offered for me to stay with them. It is such a blessing to have friends that truly love me. I didn't take them up on it because I really believe that God will protect me.

I am sitting in my very quite home and giving thanks that God protected me and watches over me. Nothing like a shooting to remind me how thankful I am to have God as my Protector and Comforter.

Right Priorities

I came across this article in the United News by Joy Porter called Making Prayer a Priority(page 10). I was curious to read it because I have met her and her husband at the Feast several years ago. I have to say I was very impressed. I am always looking for tricks or ideas on how to pray better and more.

I am blessed that my father really installed in me the need and importance for prayer. While I was growing up, he would come in every morning to pray with me before he left for work. I am sure I said the same thing every morning, but it did instill the habit of praying every morning. Like Joy talks about in her article there have been times when I haven’t prayed everyday, but I can honestly say that although they may have been short prayers I have never gone for longer than two days without praying.

In my mind when I don’t pray I feel like I am letting Satan win. That by my not praying I am allowing him to separate me from God. I think this is one of the ways that sin separates us from our Father. It can be very hard to face God when we have sinned.

I love Joy’s idea about making a prayer/Bible Study basket. I love pretty things, so that really interested me. I am going to think about doing that myself.