The Truth About Abortion

I am not normally an opinionated person, other than when I am talking to my fiance, my parents and siblings, and a couple close friends. However, I am finding that, over time, that is changing. I have found myself in impassioned discusions with coworkers, or even customers. I feel that I have been silent about what I beleive far too long and that I simply cannot remain so any longer. I pray that this continues, and taht God makes me increasingly bold.

One of the things that I feel most strongly about is the subject of abortion. Now, I realize that this has not been mentioned much during this election. But it is something that I feel we must talk about much more than we do. These babies, little people, have no voice, no say in what happens to them. It's time someone speaks for them.

There are many web sites, causes, videos, etc. devoted to this subject. Here are just the two that I have seen this week:

- http://www.abort73.com/

This site has a video showing babies that have been aborted after just a few weeks. They have little hands, feet, skeletons, faces, and are very clearly full formed human beings. It is very hard to watch, but something that I think more people need to see. There are also stories about and testimonials from people who have had abortions.

- http://www.durarealidad.com/

This video shows older babies being aborted, as well as the result of the abortion. I realize that many of you have already seen it. My fiance and I watched a few evenings ago. It was the worst thing I have ever seen in my life. I didn't make it through the whole thing - I had to stop watching. And afterwords, I sobbed as I have never sobbed after watching a video.

I fail to understand how so many people can say that abortion is NOT murder, and thus should not be illegal. How is killing a baby in the womb with sterile tools in a clinic any different than killing a person outside the womb with a gun or knife? Abortion is murder, and murder is a sin. It goes against God's commands. Abortion is never an option. Many people will say otherwise, particularly if having the baby could "be dangerous to the mother" (which is very rare with today's technology), or if the baby is the result of rape (it is not the babie's fault).

I realize that many will disagree with me, but, having been convicted over the past week, I strongly felt that I needed to write this. I don't know who will actually read it, but I must do as God prompts. I pray that you will read this, go to the sites, and that you will consider the information they present.

STOP WHINING!!! YOU'RE GIVING ME A HEADACHE!!!

I realized today just how negative I tend to be. I'm currently going to school full time, and working a lot of hours in a very short period of time. All this makes me very tired and brings out my "inner whiner:"

"I'm tired!"

"I want a life!"

"I really hate my life right now!"

"When is this going to end?"

"We're going to have how many people gone next week?! How am I going to make it?!"

I have been going on like this since school started. And then I was super convicted about my attitude. The reality is, my life could be way worse: I could be not only going to school full time, but having to work more than one job. I could also be going from school to work, or vice versa, rather than never working the same day I have class. I could be having to take out massive loans just to survive, or worse, not able to go to school at all, which would mean no graduating this semester. The list goes on and on.

So, I should be looking at it like this: I have a job. It is more than enough to pay the bills. (Yeah, I had to use my savings to pay for half of school, but I will be able to build that up again.) I was also able to get all the classes that I need in order to graduate this term - that has never happened. It is only for a few months. As for a lot of people being gone next week, I've worked harder shifts at other jobs (i.e. at Disney). I will be crazy tired, but I will survive. I will be crazy tired all semester, but it will come to an end, and I will be able to move on with my life.

I just need to "count my blessings" and stop whining.

I LIKE MORNINGS. WAIT, DID I JUST SAY THAT? THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT!

It happens to the best of us. We start out life hating mornings, disliking greatly the fact that there are days when we have to get out of bed before noon. That there are days when we must, in fact be out of the house -gasp- early, sometimes even before the sun is up. Eventually, we learn to do it without complaining- outwardly. We just go along with the flow, do what we have to do to keep the peace. We might even learn to (somewhat) tolerate all the "good mornings" said in bright, perky voices by smiling faces as we pick up our morning coffee (the only reason we tolerate them). But we still don't like it. In fact, we just plain hate the whole thing.

And then it happens:

You wake out of restful sleep, wide-awake, happy, and ready to conquer the world. Then you look at the clock- and start to cry. It's only 6 o'clock in the morning! What's happening! This is not supposed to happen! EVER! You tightly close your eyes, praying that you will go back to sleep. You don't have to be up until 7! Surely you can go back to sleep! But, no. The alarm clock rings- and you're still wide awake. Now grumpy, you get up, get your coffee, and stomp off to the bathroom to get ready. Tomorrow will be different.

This pattern continues for awhile. Each day is easier than the one before. Eventually, you start noticing more and more things, like the way the birds sing, all the colors in the sky as the sun rises, and the fact that it's great to have your coffee outside on summer mornings. And then one day, you realize, Yes, you do like mornings.

BUT I LIKE BEING IN CONTROL!!!

Have you ever noticed that one thing no human being likes to do is to wait- for anything? We get impatient, and then strike out on our own to accomplish whatever it is we "can't" wait for. And then... we find out that perhaps it would have been better for us to wait in the first place.

God does want us to wait in life. He wants us to develope a deeper trust and reliance on Him. We must wait on His timing, for His timing is perfect. He knows whether on not something is good for us, and when the right time for us to have it is. This goes for anything in life: a job, money, a car, a house, a boyfriend/girlfriend, a husband/wife, etc. Those things are not neccessarily bad, they just might not be good for us- maybe now, maybe ever.

I frequently try to take over the situation, and you know what I found out? Every time I do, I end up making a mess of it- and then become depressed and miserable. Every time. You'd think I'd learn. But I'm like a child- I want my way, and my way alone. I have this strange idea that I know what's best for me. I forget that the only one who really knows what's best for me is my heavenly Father.

I was recently doing it again, trying to control everything. And I was confronted. And convicted. And had to spend some serious time with God. And He showed me this passage;

"O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.

I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely."

-Psalm 63:1-8 (NLT)

I had let everything else take over, become more important than Him. All He was asking was for me to turn over the reigns, to let Him handle it all, to lean on Him, trusting Him to do His will. He desire to do His will, which is perfect. I just simply have to let go.

It all comes down to this: who/what is my greatest desire? Whom/what do I thirst for? Who/what holds me? On whom/what do I depend on? Is it God? Or is it a person/thing?

Ask God to show you who's in control of your life. If it's not Him, surrender it all to Him. Trust me, it's not worth the pain and agony of trying to control it on your own.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." -Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

THAT'S NOT THE WAY I ROLL- BUT I GUESS I NEED TO LEARN TO

I realized today just how impatient I tend to be with other people and situations that arise in life.

I've always been irritated easily- not a very godly trait. But it seems like there is always something that annoys me. Whether it's the annoying customer that just babels or the one that takes forever to make up their mind and then asks stupid questions, or the drivers that stops just in time to not cross at the red light- and does so in the pedestrian lane so that I have to wait for another light to cross, there's always something or someone irritating.

I woke up late this morning, only to find out that the complex had shut the water off. This meant no shower, no coffee (I had to reheat some and use what little bottled water I had for the rest), and no cooking (I had cereal). I was frustrated and immediately went to the office to find out what was going on. The managers said to give it until 11 am, and it should be on again. I did. By 12:15, it was still not on. So, I went to the office again, and was told that they didn't know when it was going to be on again, there was an emergency that required turning the water off, and that it would be on as soon as possible. I was upset, but was nice- outwardly. When I got back to my apartment, I realized something- the managers were in no way at fault. It was the responsibility of the people fixing the problem to have the water back on as soon as possible. And when I left the office, I saw the stick that they use to turn the water off and on in the hole- and no one was around working on it. I became upset once more.

And then I knew that I was wasting my time and energy on something that, in the long run, really didn't matter. Yeah, it was annoying to not be able to shower, or cook food, but at least I had food, and a way to sponge off. There are so many people that would be grateful for just that. I had a nice, warm shower yesterday, have cereal and bread in the fridge, and a warm bed to sleep in, with a roof over my head. Another important revelation: people in general are impatient. This is why they stop in the pedestrian lane (they think they can make it across, then realize that they can't), cut people off, or almost run me over. They are impatient and rude because it is all about them and their needs. They are self-centered, self-focused, selfish. What a sad way to live!

It's like God was saying, "Do you really want to be like them? For that is not what I desire from you. You are to be different, set apart from this world for me. You are to be an example of the way that things are supposed to be, not the way things are."

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." - Romans 12:2 (NLT) (emphasis added)

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." -Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)

So, the next time you or I become impatient or upset, remember that God has set us apart for His work, and He desires us to be like Him.

Well, If That Really Makes You Feel Better...

Have you ever noticed how hard some people are to get along with? They seem to always be upset, grumpy, or just plain angry about something all the time. And then there are the ones who are always complaining about something. You know, the ones who are never happy, no matter what they get, and who make you want to pull out your hair? Then there are the ones who watch you over your shoulder to make sure you are doing things the right way.

Being in customer service, I have had to deal with these people more than once. (Frankly, more than I sometimes consider fair.) And honestly, more than once I have expressed my great relief that they are gone- both to myself, and out-loud. And then I may poke fun at them, or gripe about them, sometimes for hours. Which is a natural human reaction.

But then I realized something; is that they way Jesus would act? Would He be impatient with them (even if it was inward, not outward)? Would He gripe and complain about them? Would He make fun of them? The answer: N-O!! Instead, He would love them, and reach out to them. (A novel idea, indeed.)

I was really convicted and prayed about my attitude, asking Him to change me.

There was one customer who had especially been giving me problems. He comes every day, and orders the same thing. And he was never happy about it- it was never right. It got to the point where I would shake when I was serving him. I prayed about this specific situation and asked God to help me show this impossible man His love.

The next day, he came in, and I was nervous as usual. I prayed for God's strength. He came to the register, and instead of shaking, I SMILED at him, being very pleasant. Then I did something I had not yet done- I got his name. Which made him smile. And then as I was serving him, I explained the whole process as I went along, explaining why I did certain things. I finally gave him his order, and he tried it- and got a BIG smile on his face. He said that it was wonderful, the best he had had yet!

As it turns out, he was just lonely. He's an elderly gentleman, who is no longer married, and just needs someone to talk to him, and take an interest in him, even if it's just for a few minutes. I don't know if I'll ever be able to share the Gospel with him, but I have a new friend. It amazing what happens when you do what God commands and just love people!

One of These Days I'll Remember I Have This Thing...


Or maybe not. But I'll sure try! (Besides, it sounds really good.)

Anyway, obviously it's been a while (say three months at least), and I really am going to try to keep it updated.

Ha!