Constitution Day!

From www.ushistory.org:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed"

It cannot be the truth if it is not self-evident.  Something that is false just feels wrong.  To me, it is like a scam artist.  They tell you, if you invest $100 with me, you will be guaranteed a $500 return.  The truth is not in that statement and is feels wrong - even though you would *like* it to be true.

All men are created equal - We are God's workmanship (Eph 2:10) and He has created each and every individual in the universe.  There is no mistakes with the God of the universe.  We are different sizes, sexes, male, female, black, white, brown, and yellow.  This is part of the beautiful tapestry that God has made.  I am a huge knitter.  I can tell you that if I only had one color of yarn, I would be so bored.  Why do we think that God is different.  God gives each of us gifts and we all have the same ability to be His hands and feet.

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness are the three things that God has provided each of us with.  Life is the beginning when God breathed life into Adam.  It is against the Ten Commandments to take another person's life.  Happiness cannot be pursued without the opportunity that liberty to do things that bring us joy.

It is critical to note that government derives its power from the consent of the governed.  The founding fathers wanted to give future generations the ability to alter or abolish the guiding principals.  But in today's wording is the warning to be thoughtful about changes.  There is thousands of years of history that has been written.  This is a collective of wisdom.  It also allows people to see examples of regulations that are harmful.

Teaching myself history

I feel so blessed to live in the United States.  But the culture is changing and everything that seemed solid is now liquid and upside down is right side up.  So...I have decided to read and teach myself about the founding of this country.  I am starting with the Declaration of Independence.  First, it is a separate document than the Constitution.

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

This is from www.ushistory.org.

So what does this paragraph tell me?  This wasn't a situation that happened quickly.  It was a course or a process.  There were events that occurred to drive people to want a change.  There was a political connection that was felt.  There was a desire to be separate and equal as a country.  The laws of nature do not obey geographic boundaries and neither does God.  It is respectful to tell the other country WHY you want to separate.

It seems even from this first paragraph that there is a sense of not feeling heard.  The tone in the letter (?) doesn't seem angry or frustrated.  It seems as if there was a desire to be pleasant.  (Maybe like when you break up with someone and you say, "let's still be friends").  When I walked through my divorce, I strove to be sure to separate the behavior that I didn't like from the person.  Through the power of prayer, we managed to part ways without hating each other.  Being vicious and negative wasn't going to change the situation.  Choosing to honor God even in a difficult place has lead to where co-parenting is easy (most of the time).

Simple Sunday

Today in Job, I read:

"Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty."

It is really difficult to see the beauty in this verse when you are in the midst of a season of discipline.  However, when you are in a season of ease, it is easy to see that one SHOULD want to be corrected.  I say this to my boss all the time.  I want to be a better employee.  How much more should I want to be better child of God?  And, if I could figure out how to be better on my own, then I would be able to sell a LOT of books!.

Then, I look at my own children.  I teach them things so that they will be productive adults.  Occasionally, they need discipline.  Now, discipline means taking away their electronic pacifiers.  But this punishment leaves them space to contemplate why they are in trouble.  Don't I think that God wants me to spend time contemplating Him?  Wouldn't he remove any obstacle to me searching inside myself to see where I have drifted?

Learning to be humble

2012 was a difficult year for my marriage.  Thankfully, God has given me a loving special husband.  He was willing to fight my apathy and indifference.  We had found a Christian counselor who was working for each of us separately so that we could bring our best selves to the marriage.  One of the things that I determined was that I had never learned in 40+ years that it was ok to have a voice.  I never learned how to tell my husband when he had upset me or if I disagreed with him.  Part of this was because my parents had divorced when I was very young so I did not see two adults working things out in a reasonable manner.  The other part was an incorrect understanding of scripture that a man should be the head and his word was final.  I had to understand that God did not want me to live in a dictatorship.  What He wanted was for two people to work in harmony.  You can't live in harmony if you don't tell the other person what is in your head and heart.  You can't meet expectations if you don't know what they are.  Having a different opinion or vision is ok.

My hope is that 2013 I will grow stronger in know who I am and WHOSE I am.  I want to be a better wife, mother, employee...

An odd week

This has been an odd week.

Friday, the 14th was my anniversary with my first husband.  So, I texted him and wished him a "happy not anniversary" which he seemed to appreciate.  I am incredibly happy that I prayed for him during our divorce as we can be kind to each other now.  I think that only comes through the grace of God.  A friend is walking through a valley called CANCER and it is breaking my heart.  I have poured my love into some homemade spaghetti sauce for the family and continue to ask for the Great Physician to hold the family in the palm of His hand.

Then, tragedy struck.

One of my dear work friends son works as a police officer locally and was shot in the head on Monday and died early Tuesday morning.  He was 24.  My friend was so happy because her son had gotten the job he always wanted but at the same time, she was scared about his physical safety.  As much as I am broken hearted, good will and has come from this.

My older son lives with his dad (see first paragraph), so I sent son a text telling him that I loved him and was hugging him from an hour away.  I hugged my stepson and my younger son and my husband.  I made a point to tell them that I loved them.  I called my sister in-law to tell her that I love her and want to spend time with her.  The bonds of family are too easy to fray with the stress of work and busy-ness.

Lastly, it is Advent and I am waiting in peace for the coming of my Savior.  This is my favorite time of the year.  I don't care if Jesus may not have been born in December.  He was born.  He did die.  He rose again in victory over my sin.  That is what is important.

I have learned to be a better listener to God this year.  I am learning that it is ok for me to have a voice.  I have found ways to improve myself and my marriage.  My husband works second shift and it has been difficult, but I have consistently made an effort to have "lunch" with him almost every day.  It has made a trying schedule much easier to tolerate.

Feeding my soul

So, I got in a mood this weekend to create some yummy stuff to eat this week.  Made everything gluten-free just in case!  I made some crackers from the new issue of Living Without.  The main ingredient was aramath flour which I have never used before.  The end result tasted like cheese straws that my granny used to make.  Yum!

Today's creation was a granola with quinoa.  The original recipe called for maple syrup but I wanted to keep it sugar free, so I used a little bit of agave syrup and sugar free pancake syrup.  I am waiting for the granola to cool but it looks yummy.  The recipe called for applesauce and I used a mixed berry flavor, so the granola is reddish.

Looking forward to some good treats this week!

Trusting God

Psalm 57:3

"He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me;  God sends his love and his faithfulness."

Little by little, God is teaching me to hear His voice.  In the past, he has needed to yell at me for me to hear.  I have been walking through a "valley" in my marriage this year.  Things are getting brighter and better as I learn to depend on God.  But my flesh is weak.  I was struggling with trusting my husband.  I *thought* that he was lying to me.  However, I decided to turn to God with my negative feelings.  And, he chose to send me this verse.  Praise God!