"Children Are A Heritage..."

O Baby dear, I'll hold you near,

And your little cheek brushes mine,

As closer to me, you I bind.

O Baby dear, so many want you to be thrown out,

But I will hold out stout!

Your life is important to the world,

For God has sent you; I will not let you be hurled!

O Baby dear, I'll fight for your life,

And many others like you who are caught in the strife.

Many don't want you here,

But I'll hold you near.

O Child sweet, playing at my feet,

How can they say you should not live and eat?

Your life brings joy to many a heart,

a smile to many a sad face.

How can they say that you were misplaced?

Now as they say, "Get 'em out of the way!"

Come and with me stay!

Wipe away your tear,

You are welcome for Christ is here!

by C.D.B

T oday I read this article that made me feel so awful. I felt so sick that someone was talking in such a way. Look ma'am, if you don't want children, you don't have to have any more. But how dare you mistreat an innocent child? How can you talk in such a way?

I was relieved as I got near the end of the article and saw that someone else had written too, giving all the reasons why children are wonderful! It wasn't just one sided, they had both sides.
I wanted to tell the first woman that she was incredibly selfish, and the second I wanted to cheer her for standing up for the little ones.

"The truth is that becoming a parent makes you less selfish - it forces you to devote yourself to another being more than to yourself.
It allows you to experience the joys and challenges of that little person's life as they live it."

Children are such a blessing. Yes, they are a lot of work. Yes, I am sure it hurts to give birth. Life is not all rosy anytime let alone with children in the house. But you know what, it is worth it. It is worth all the sticky messes, all the hours of cooking, you'll find your reward in watching them gulp it down and thank you for making something so delicious. And when they complain about how they hated it, you can teach them how to be thankful and tell them about all those who don't have anything to eat, and would be glad for some crumbs.

As an older sister cooking and baking for those older and younger, cleaning weekly and spending hours ironing fresh clean clothes. I do have a little of an idea of the work involved. At least the housework anyway. :P

And as I am sure you got the gist, no I don't have children, but I am from a semi-large family. I spend a lot of time with children, especially babies when there is one around. I am not all-together blind and I read a ton. I am not stupid (at least I hope not), I know it is a lot of work. But I still love children. And I think it is worth all the work. It is worth all the pain and heartache.

You'll spend hours on your knees praying for them, it will draw you closer to God. I do believe that in the end it will be worth it all. Maybe someday I'll have an opportunity to discover it really for myself but for now and I don't plan on changing my opinion, I will repeat myself...I am sure it is worth it.

Wrapped in the Arms of Jesus

The cry of man's anguish went up to God,

"Lord take away pain:

The shadow that darkens the world Thou has made,

The close-coiling chain

That strangles the heart, the burden that weighs

On the wings that would soar,

Lord take away pain from the world Thou hast made,

That it love Thee the more."

Then answered the Lord to the cry of His world:

"Shall I take away pain,

And with it the power to endure,

Made strong by the strain?

Shall I take away pity that knits heart to heart

And sacrifice high?

Will you lose all your heros that lift from the fire

White brows to the sky?

Shall I take away love that redeems with a price

And smiles at its loss?

Can ye spare from your lives that would climb unto Me

The Christ on the cross?"

T he path of pain that many have to take in this life goes to the depth of the valley, touching your deepest heart and wringing it until you think that there is no more life left. Only when we are wrapped in the arms of Jesus can we face the trials that beset us. When the winds of pain blow, the only shelter we have is under His wings.

I see many people hurting even among my dear friends, those who's hearts are bleeding, wrung by the icy hand of pain and grief. I long to wrap my arms around the globe to hug them, but the miles seperate the space between and I have to leave it to Christ to comfort them. I pray only the Lord would give them grace and strength for the trials that have come upon them.

When faced with pain I think it is no wonder that many people go crazy. How could you bear up without Christ? So many times I would have succumbed if it weren't for the Lord holding me up.

The older I get the more I understand, the more I see, and the harder the trials. It is not that you don't feel pain when you are little, but you don't understand. You are majorly carefree. The older you get the more cares you have, and the more you need Jesus.

It is comforting to know that the future is in His hands and in any sorrows yet unknown He will be there to carry me through. There is a good reason why there is a veil over the future for us. If I knew all the pain that the future holds I would lose my mind, if I knew the joys I would go crazy wanting them to happen.

But the Lord is wise. He leaves us in suspense to know the joys so we have something to look forward too. He leaves us in the dark as to the sorrows so we can enjoy the joys we have now. And at the right moment He gives us just the right amount of strength we need to carry us through the valley of pain. He binds up our broken, bleeding hearts. He puts ointment on the open wounds. And He carries us over the rough, stony ground that the path of life leads us over. He rejoices with us in our joy, and in our pain He bears a part that none can bear below.

We rest safe in the arms of God.

Songs of Deliverance

Though waitest for deliverance!
O soul, Thou waitest long!
Believe that now deliverance
Doth wait for thee in song!

Sigh not until deliverance
Thy fettered feet doth free;
With songs of glad deliverance
God now doth compass thee.

What About Alcohol?

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 20:1

I sat at the table listening silently as family talked of various family members who drank, who abused their wives and children. I listened as some told of experiences with drunken parents and others; of the pain, emotional damage and heartache that it caused.

Then there were those who only drank on occasion and never got drunk...

Tears sprang to my eyes as I heard how friends' of my parents son was killed while he was out drinking and driving with his friends. Only 24, he had wasted his life and now is called away from this life, to give an account before God for his actions, for his wasted life.

Sudden tears again sprang to my eyes when I received the message of the death of some friends' dear son and brother. At only 15 he was hit and killed instantly by a drunk driver.

I saw once again the pain that alcohol has brought to lives. I have never seen it do any good, but I have seen it do a lot of harm and leave lasting scars on lives.

One evening I sat at a 'party', a silent observer. All those present professed to be Christians and yet, and yet...most of the men were going around with beer bottles! Drinking....at a 'Christian' party?

I looked around at all the waitresses going around waiting on people, girls who didn't know the Lord. Here was an opportunity to share God's love! The Gospel of Jesus Christ with those who didn't know Him. But...the opportunity went by...unused.

Is religion only a going to church on Sunday? Yes, it is. Is Christianity? No, real Christianity is lived daily, hourly. It is shown in our actions and words. It is not only warming our pews every Sunday (or Saturday). Yes, we need to go to church for fellowship and encouragement. But do we walk out the door and forget everything we just heard? Or do we go home resolved to strive better and stronger to be what God has called us to be - lights in this dark world of sin and shame? Avoiding every appearance of evil.

Should Christians drink? Does it bring glory to God? How does it look to an outsider looking in and seeing all these Christians going around drinking beer? Does it make them want the Lord? Or does it make them say, "They arn't any different than us."

After personally seeing the affects of alcohol, it hurts when I see those who say they are Christians drinking. They say, "Oh but I don't get drunk and/or hurt anyone, so it has to be ok, and everybody does it." But is it ok? Does it really not matter? Does the Bible say to avoid every appearance of evil for no reason?

I know. No one likes to be different. But...as Christians we are called to be different. To "come out of her my people," "to be set apart from the world."

Are you a Christian (or anyone) who drinks on occasion? You might say, "I don't get drunk, those scenarios don't apply to me." But... please think about it and revaluate at your stand. Let us once again start an all out temperance movement - and avoid any and all alcohol. Brothers and sisters, always remember that you may be the only Bible your neighbor will ever read.

Think about these points:

1. Rather than ask the question: Is it sin?
Believers should ask the question: How does it help me to run?
2. Is this holy in the sight of the Lord?
3. How does this help me fight temptation?
4. Does this give honor to Christ?
5. Would this make the Lord unashamed to be my God?
6. Would this be a true witness of Christ to unbelievers?
7. If Christ should come today, would I want Him to find me with a beer?

Remember, we have a charge to keep and a God to glorify.

To any of you that do not yet know the Lord, don't think that you have lots of time. Any of us may be called today. Are you ready? Or will you, like the first young man I mentioned, die in a drunken stupor? Think about it seriously. Are your ready, if Christ should come today?

Or.... will you be found drunken?