Companies that donate to Planned Parenthood!

Planned Parenthood is one of the largest abortion clinics around. It is not only supported by our own government by over 50% ... but also by large business industries and companies, which make up another 25% of their funding. Not only are these companies not against the murder of innocent life, but they willingly and gladly give their money that babies might be slaughtered. This is something worth considering.

Starbucks donates to Planned Parenthood!

Recently, someone told me that Starbucks donates to Planned Parenthood. I wasn't surprised... but I did my homework first to find out that it really is true. They do. Which means, every time you purchase your favorite coffee drink...you are also helping fund one of the largest abortion clinics around. For those of us who love Starbucks coffee...this is rather depressing and maybe even somewhat controversial. Yes, it would seem that evil is around us no matter where or what we choose to do. And I understand the argument. But, at the same time, please consider this. How much is a cup of coffee worth to you? How much of your everyday convenience and time are you willing to give up for the murder of innocent life?


Some things are worth giving up and sacrificing a little bit of our own convenience or comfort or time for. I believe this is certainly one of them. And for anyone who may be interested to know, I've compiled a short list below of the top 38 companies that donate to Planned Parenthood also. Starbucks isn't the only culprit and the list may surprise you.

1. Adobe
2. American Cancer Society
3. American Express
4. AT&T
5. Avon
6. Bank of America
7. Bath & Body Works
8. Ben & Jerry’s
9. Clorox
10. Converse
11. Deutsche Bank
12. Dockers
13. Energizer
14. Expedia
15. ExxonMobil
16. Fannie Mae
17. Groupon
18. Intuit
19. Johnson & Johnson
20. La Senza
21. Levi Strauss
22. Liberty Mutual
23. Macy’s
24. March of Dimes
25. Microsoft
26. Morgan Stanley
27. Nike
28. Oracle
29. PepsiCo
30. Pfizer
31. Progressive
32. Starbucks
33. Susan G. Komen
34. Tostitos
35. Unilever
36. United Way
37. Verizon
38. Wells Fargo

So how do these companies donate anyways? Most of them, through what is called "Employee match contribution". Basically, if an employee chooses to donate to any organization (in this case, Planned Parenthood) the company will equally match the donation. It is technically through indirect donations. That being said, here is a helpful article I read on the matter: http://dailysignal.com/.../we-asked-companies-about.../ When these companies were each confronted on their donation program to Planned Parenthood after the recent news scandal of how Planned Parenthood was selling fetus parts, only SOME of them commented with defense, saying how they do not directly donate but use the "employee match contribution program". And while you cannot prove or disprove that the companies which chose to ignore the question and remain silent do DIRECTLY donate... one has to wonder why they chose not to answer and be silent about it at all. 

Spokespersons for Adobe, Bank of America, Bath & Body Works, Ben & Jerry’s, Converse, Deutsche Bank, Dockers, Energizer, Expedia, Groupon, Intuit, Johnson & Johnson, La Senza, Liberty Mutual, Microsoft, Nike, Oracle, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Starbucks, Susan G. Komen, Wells Fargo, Tostitos and Unilever did not return The Daily Signal’s request for comment.

http://dailysignal.com/2015/07/21/meet-the-41-companies-that-donate-directly-to-planned-parenthood/

I Love Him....I Love Him Not

Spiritual Lessons

I Love Him....I Love Him Not

It's happened to all of us.  At least once.  By the time we are young women, we've all had it happen:  He stands out in a crowd.  You enjoy almost everything about him.  His sudden presence gives you butterflies.  You desire to know his preferences, his dislikes, his opinion.  You didn't plan it, but every time he's there, you find yourself talking to him or being near him, and when that wasn't an option, you were talking about him. 

As Christians with high moral standards, it's easy to wonder at ourselves after experiencing these feelings.  Where in the world did our common sense go?  Don't we know better than this?  And we end up apologizing to God, making commitments or resolutions, reprimanding our lustful flesh, and failing the very next time we come in contact with the guy.  And so begins the bang-your-head-against-the-wall-routine.

“True love doesn't have to be void of these emotions...”     

It's inevitable to have these “moments” come up sometimes.  You look up and he's smiling at you.  He walks into the room and you get butterflies.  You notice when he compliments you.  You like him and it's just a plain fact.  Nothing in the world could change it.  

 Love doesn't deny the existence of these real feelings.  True love doesn't have to be void of these emotions before it can be true love.  But we have to realize that emotions and feelings in-and-of -themselves are NOT love. They are feelings, and emotions. (Profound, I know!). And if we accept them as such and continue on in our life we can rest assured -- we haven't sinned and haven't done anyone a disservice. 

 If we take that emotion and dwell on it and invest ourselves into it, and allow it to dictate us, then we are obsessing in an emotion and allowing it to ferment into infatuation and that certainly is, in the very least, a disservice to ourselves. It's also taking advantage of someone at the expense of our fleshly satisfaction. Doesn't really sound like love. It can't be. It's the opposite of love, because love seeks not her own. Enjoying someone purely for our fulfillment is selfishness. Which is a sin. 

Conclusion: If we like someone and have these feelings, it is not a sin.  

What we do with these feelings is imperative.  
If we truly love this man we will be so concerned for his best, his purity, and God's will for him, it will trump our emotions.  
If we "love him not", we will unregrettably choose to revel in these emotions and satisfy our lusts at his expense.  
The question of whether these emotions are okay or not really shouldn't haunt us.  We should be more concerned of whether we "love him, or love him not".

 "So, God, here I am. Here's my heart. Here's the emotions and feelings. Here's my love. So baby and immature. Temptation shows me who I am. And I'm a selfish human being. But you in your love will not allow it to exceed your strength in me. I am open to the ministry of Jesus. Here I am, open and bare. Be my Love, be my all. You over anyone else. I'm renouncing me and my self, and my infatuation...even when it's just a tiny root and bud. No, I won't accept it. It's wrong. But I am not condemned in the fact when I notice. I'm not even afraid to smile at the fact. But there I stop. I give it to you. I refuse to pamper the thrill it gives me. I lay it down to rest. You do what you will."

Related Post:



Purity Without Guilt  (by Toni H.)



Complete and Content  (by Jonah K.)


The Heart of the Matter (by Lynea B.)

Quote of the Day

"If God requires anything of us, we have no right to draw back under the pretext that we are liable to commit some fault in obeying. It is better to obey imperfectly than not at all. Perhaps you ought to rebuke some one dependent on you, but you are silent for fear of giving way to vehemence; -or you avoid the society of certain persons, because they make you cross and impatient. How are you to attain self-control, if you shun all occasions of practicing it? Is not such self-choosing a great fault than those into which you fear to fall? Aim at a steady mind to do right, go wherever duty calls you, and believe firmly that God will forgive the faults that take our weakness by surprise in spite of our sincere desire to please Him."

Jean Nicolas Grou, Daily Strength for Daily Needs p. 256

Resting in His Time

Spiritual Lessons

"Resting in His Time"

I stepped into her new little home. It was small, but cozy. There were old family pictures on the wall and blankets folded up in a chest. She pointed out what once used to be her grandmother's and that was now passed down for her own household. It was sweet. Here she was, newly married, pregnant, and getting ready to set out on an adventure of a lifetime. And in a small way, I envied her. I've always dreamed of doing some of those same things. Getting married, setting up your own little 'home', having babies, and starting off on the adventures of life along side your best friend. It was almost a melancholy feeling, even though I was really happy for my friend.

Timing is something I've been pondering lately. It seems like God rarely ever does things how we expect Him to, if ever. Even things we feel like He's told us about. His timing certainly isn't ours and when the Bible says "His ways are past finding out" (Romans 11), He really meant it. And honestly, that's probably a very good thing. God gives us grace for the 'here and now', and not our tomorrows. If you could peak ahead and glance at what your life would be like in 5 years...would you? I would be tempted to. I'm a naturally curious person. But I know that I'd regret it if I had. Here I would have seen some things, possibly even really hard things, and I would have forfeited my 5 years of His grace in preparing me for that future time. Now that might seem rather silly to some. Obviously, you CAN'T see into your future, whether you would choose to or not. But, I think some girls are in danger of doing this in their hearts and even their imaginations. They 'dream up' what their futures will be. They have expectations. And when these expectations aren't met, they fall into despair. Sometimes we even hold expectations as to timing. I wouldn't have thought I'd be almost 23 and still single. My mom was married rather young and so were some of my sisters. It was just kind of an 'expected'. But, here I am regardless. And I'm thankful. God hasn't failed me, because I'm still unmarried. And God would still not have failed me  even if I NEVER got married. Why? Because my life is to be "hid with Christ in God". I belong to Him. I was created for His purpose above any other. He has a reason for His timing, even though we can't see it for ourselves. And in a way, it really is thrilling. He has a beautiful purpose for my life...even right now at this moment... and it is a purpose for good. For His glory, for our sanctification, and for others' service. He obviously doesn't have a need for me to be married just yet, or else I would be, and that's okay. He knows exactly what He is doing and I can trust Him for it. He cares. I'm not forgotten in the shuffle. 

As a single young woman, sometimes there are the "ups and downs" of being single. At least, there is for me. As much as maybe we'd even like to suppress it, we can't deny that as a woman, we were created to compliment a man. There is no way around it. It is a natural God given desire and calling. We were created to nurture. Whether that be children, our husbands, our families, brothers and sisters, our communities, our pets, a garden, or even plants! It's there. And sometimes, in being single, it can be a frustrating desire to deal with. It would be easier just to "throw in the towel" so to speak and say "who needs men! I'm getting an apartment and a dog!" But true peace and real purpose for my life lies in surrender. Laying down all our desires, natural, God given, or otherwise, and placing ourselves in His will for His divine purpose. Just as I wouldn't seek marriage to complete or fulfill my life, I also wouldn't swing in the other direction and embrace singleness to prove my independence. Embracing or denying a desire doesn't make it go away. It must be given over to God. He can deal with it. He can give us the grace and strength to be content and courageous women for Him right where He's placed us.

If you are still single, you can count on it, there is a divine reason for it. I'd like to encourage you to stay faithful to Him. He's doing something special. He's preparing your heart. He's writing your story. Marriage is only a step in the journey. It isn't the journey itself. So even in the ups and downs of being single, the happy times, the hard times. The times when it feels so easy, when you feel content and ready to serve Him alone. When your heart is soaring. And then the times too, when hope feels lost and desire seems forgotten. When your heart feels the squeeze of a hope deferred. Can we still trust Him? Yes. Can we rest in His timing for us? Yes. Knowing that He works "all things together for good". (Romans 8) Knowing that "all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1)

Winning Hearts

Spiritual Lessons

Winning Hearts 

This is a message by an amazing, godly woman.  "Winning Hearts" moved me.  Mrs. Farley encouraged me that --

•  The Great commission did not exclude women.  
• That every woman (married or unmarried) has a sphere of influence. 
• Where women fulfill their mission, their nation will thrive.
• Raising kids does not replace seeking the lost.
• What am I  doing for the Kingdom of God?
• What's done for God at the end of the day is what matters
• Who is the youngest child in Hell?  Children need to be reached.
• Asking God:  What is it that You want me to do?

So here it is (approximatly 1 hour) message of "Winning Hearts".  

Tomorrow

"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." (James 4:13-15)

The truth is...you aren't guaranteed tomorrow. Time is either a merciful friend or a deadly enemy. As Christians, we are really good at making "plans". I'll do this or that tomorrow. Procrastination can sometimes just be another fancy word for disobedience. We have such "good intentions" sometimes...but sadly, they never get much farther than that...an intention...and not an active reality in our lives. We say....'I'll give of myself tomorrow. I'll serve the Lord tomorrow. I'll read my Bible tomorrow morning. I'll love my neighbor tomorrow. I'll give food to the homeless or give him a place to stay next time it's convenient. I'll visit the nursing home next week. I'll help the preborn scheduled for abortion later. I'll give a tract to that familiar grocer next time I see him. "I'm sure they'll be another time when someone isn't in line behind me." Or maybe that man sitting beside me on the bus. "I'll catch him later." "I'm in too much of a hurry today to stop and talk to that lonely man sitting on that park bench." I'll stop and make time for others tomorrow. I'll rid my heart of secret sin next altar call at church. I'll let go of bitterness in my life later. I'll forgive that person before he dies. I'll spend time with my family tomorrow night. Or that friend that needs encouragement. I'll open my home to hospitality next meal. Tomorrow...tomorrow...tomorrow. I'll do it all tomorrow.'

I'm only 22 years old...and I've already realized how short my life actually is. Days...months... even years seem to pass by so quickly. It's sobering. I honestly think it is a subtle tool of satan to keep Christians distracted with the things of this world...and to forget the real value of time. To forget that it is precious...as it is short. To forget that tomorrow doesn't belong to us yet. To forget who it really does belongs to. Christ! And that we are His servants...here to do His will. Not our own.

I've decided to start making time for what is most important in my life. I've realized that unless you purposefully choose to take the time...it won't just fall into your lap. Life is short. Tomorrow is unknown. Hell is real. People are dying. Babies are being murdered. People are starving for truth. For love. And there's a heaven with eternal consequences and value.

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Romans 13:11-12)

Let's wake up! Let's honestly evaluate our lives! Let's seek the Lord while He may be found! Let's be about our Father's business! Let's understand His will and do it! Whose with me?

A Witness

Spiritual Lessons

A Witness

I swiveled in my chair to watch as she stepped out the door and confidently walked down the brick steps. I watched her leave the office and my heart grieved for her lost soul and it yearned for her salvation.  I almost cried right there in the office it was so strong.  God is reaching out to her through me and it hurts.  And He isn't reaching through me because I'm this special, usable tool, but because He lives in me and yearns for her soul, and when He is presented before her, He reaches out.  I simply am the container of the Love.  Love reaches out in pure, deliberate desire and concern and care.  It's not me, or my love.  It's Love Himself.  I'm the hands, the mouthpiece, the vessel.  Why does He choose to use weak fallible vessels?  I'm just the little box He resides in.  
It's almost overwhelming when He over-powers my pitiful emotions and intellect and stretches out and grasps for someone I wouldn't ordinarily try to reach.  There's such a difference between me wanting to bring someone to Christ, and when God Himself is grasping.  
His is more passionate, an urgent plea.  He hurts to have her.  He is moved by her state.  It's not a mission or a challenge, it's a cry, a calling out, an intense yearning.  He has invested everything -- it means so much to Him.  It's not a duty, but the very dearest desire of His heart.  He rents my heart in order to stretch out His hand towards her.  And I am awed by His love.  Nothing selfish.  What does He gain but the soul of a finite being?  And yet He pines for her.  Every chance He knocks, woos, cries out, because He cares.  And He plants me in her path and uses incapable, awkward, mistake-prone me.  He must really enjoy extending lovingkindness through incapable, unthinkable, silly people.  

***

I have realized that God sees each lost person with inconceivable love and compassion. He longs for their soul. His hand is constantly extended to the wicked. Not just the drug addict, the prostitute, the stereotype that comes to mind, but the people we know – the neighbor we detest, the mean check-out lady at the grocery store, the heartless man who slandered our name. He cries out for them also.

Practically speaking, how does God “reach out” to these people He longs for? Us! God chooses to use His children as His arms and hands to reach the lost. It is my opinion that if we could see humanity through Jesus' eyes for a moment, we would have a different heart when it comes to souls.

The love of God is supposed to be shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. (Romans 5:5). Not only is the Holy Spirit our comforter, He also is the power that throbs inside us to save the damned.

I think our purpose on earth is multifaceted, but certainly it cannot be argued that at least a sliver of that purpose is to reach the dying. Recently I have been convicted of how imperative it is that I personally fulfill His will in this commandment. The “Great Commission” did not exclude women.

Outside of my church and my family, what am I personally doing to reach the lost? Certainly, if it is God's desire that we share Jesus with unbelievers, He must have a plan on how I am to do this. Have I ever thought to ask Him?

Jesus says to go out. He says the fields are white with harvest. He says He desires to be proved, to show Himself strong. He says to sow in the morning and in the evening, not to withhold our hand since we have no idea when that seed will prosper. (Ecc. 11:6). He asks that we stop looking at people but through them.

He would be glad to delay the death of the wicked if we would just ask. Christ dared to ask for the wicked – will we?

“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalm 2:8

Related Posts:

To Be His Witness (By Toni H.)

Being a Jeremiah in a Jerusalem World (By Melissa B.)

Worn Out Love (By Chris H.)

Quote of the Day

"It is a fatal mistake to suppose that we cannot be holy except on the condition of a situation and circumstances in life such as shall suit ourselves. It is one of the first principles of holiness to leave our times and our places, our going out and our coming in, our wasted and our goodly heritage entirely with the Lord. Here, O Lord, hast Thou places us, and we will glorify Thee here!"

(T. C. Upham, Daily Strength for Daily Needs p. 248)

A Letter from a Daughter's Heart

A Letter from a Daughter's Heart

This is a letter that was written from our previous posts, Garden Principles. I found it very encouraging and just honest. I hope it is a blessing to you all.

Garden Principles Part 1

Garden Principles Part 2

Garden Principles Part 3

Dear Parent,

We have just learned about submission to authority this ‘tea time talk’. My heart is to share with you the difficulties that can arise in submitting to an authority that feels like they are just that…. only an authority. Our lives are very busy and it can often feel hard to get time for our relationships. I wanted to attempt to share with you how YOU have the power to help your daughter/s gladly submit to you. I want to define TRUST for you as from a daughter’s eyes.. Daughters are all alike in some ways and have very similar struggles. It is very, very hard to OBEY (especially happily) an authority that has not earned our trust.  Trust is spelled this way to your daughter….

T-ime

R-espect

U-nderstanding

S-ensitivity

T-ransparency

Time

As women we are commanded to be in subjection and to obey those that have the rule over us, father and mother as well as ultimately the Lord. Women are commanded to obey their own husbands. We HAVE to… but wouldn’t you rather that we WANTED to? The difference can lie in this one word… time. How much harder is it for you, Mom, to obey your husband and show your daughters a right and godly example of submission, whenever you are lacking in having quality-time with you spouse? Adults seem to assume that children do not need as much time as their spouse. Your daughter/s knows your spousal relationship is paramount and if you both aren’t happy together our homes fall apart…. But, we also crave and need time with our parents. I am 26 years old and have not ‘out-grown’ the need of a relationship with my parents. Daughter’s spell this relationship TIME.

 I want to encourage you (fathers especially!) to take your daughter out on a “date” with you. It doesn’t have to be expensive or even extremely lengthy. The fact that you would take time for her will mean more than WHAT you do. Ice cream isn’t that expensive. A walk together is free. Time is free and it’s the most valuable thing you could give her.

     It is hard to obey someone you don’t trust. When you ask them to submit to something you know is right for them, but is hard to accept, please ask yourself: “How much reason have I given her to trust me? Have I ‘invested’ into her life enough to prove that I can be trusted with these hard decisions? When was the last time I showed my daughter that she is important to me?”

Respect

Men naturally understand this word so much more than women do. They rule their home and work relationships with it and manage this commodity remarkably well. Women struggle to understand what this is. We aren’t naturally respectful, we often do things, or say things to our father that are ‘obviously disrespectful’ in his eyes and we don’t have a clue that we have come across this way.      But, also there is the reverse. I know we’ve all seen adults completely humiliate their child -- like correcting them before an audience of visitors, (or even other siblings), or by talking down to them, forgetting them, not treating them with the same respect they’d give a stranger on the street. Please remember that your daughters are wonderfully made people. (Even at 6 our personality and personhood is very evident.) The next time you just expect your daughter to gladly obey you, please ask yourself, “Do I respect her as a person? Am I threatened by her having a different opinion from mine? Do I often assume she’s being disrespectful on purpose forgetting she may not truly understand this principle?”

Understanding

A little bit of understanding goes a long way. Webster defines this word as:“a mental grasp, the power of comprehending, friendly harmonious relationship, an agreement of opinion or feeling, sympathy.” 

Usually when your daughter shares something with you she has put herself out to be ‘critiqued, judged, reprimanded, or understood.’ She is truly hoping for the latter result. If she constantly meets with rebuke and reprimand when sharing something she is struggling with, eventually, she’ll become discouraged, believe you’ll never understand and STOP trying to communicate with you. You don’t have to agree to understand. Most of the time your daughter is actually (even unknowingly) looking for the last part of this definition: sympathy. She wants you to just say, “Oh, I’m sorry you had such a bad day at work.” without attempting to fix either HER or the issue or struggle being discussed. We love it when we feel heard.

Sensitivity

Most fathers aren’t naturally sensitive. It has not been designed into you as it has in a mother. However, if you will try to use even a little bit of it, you will quickly find that it is a powerful ingredient in helping produce or restore trust. It is difficult to obey someone you don’t respect, trust or you feel cares nothing about your feelings. We females are rather ‘fragile’ creatures. Those of us who seem like we can ‘take it’ on the outside normally can’t. We tend to try and HIDE how much that particular thing you did, or said, truly hurt us. We attempt to seem stronger than we are. Please remember to be kind. When we feel secure in our parental relationship and have enough attention we aren’t as likely to desire (as strongly) outside attention. (Or male attention.) In this area of crushes (at a younger age) and actually interests (at an older age) remember how vulnerable your daughters are to admiration. If any guy even seems interested in you, you may consider this ‘undesirable’ option just because you are getting attention. I truly believe that when a daughter has a solid relationship with her father and trusts him in smaller areas of life; it can carry them safely through these possible ship-wreck moments later on in the area of who she chooses to marry. If she feels she can’t trust you with small things, it will make this trust harder in such a large decision as who she will marry. You are responsible for her protection, but her decision is ultimately up to her. She NEEDS you desperately at this time in her life.

Transparency

This can be a difficult one. My father has often told me that he struggles admitting when he doesn’t have something figured out, or when he doesn’t truly know what to do, etc. It can be very hard for you, as her authority, to show this form of perceived ‘weakness’ and not truly have it all figured out. Let me encourage you….. she already knows! It meant the world to me when my dad would admit, “Honey, I don’t know.” Because I already knew that he didn’t. It meant so much that he’d be honest enough with me to just not have everything figured out. We’re actually, surprisingly, okay with that. What is hard is when you authority won’t tell you the real reason he is saying no. The simple answer of ‘no’ can become clouded by ‘good excuses’ or ‘reasons’ why it isn’t a good idea, and then when she works hard to remove these ‘obstacles’ (and she will) and you then say ‘no.’ it can feel frustrating. Trust her desire to obey you enough to just tell her the ‘No’ to begin with. I have often heard girl’s remark, “I wish he would just tell me no, instead of giving me all these other reasons that aren’t truly why.” I truly believe that honesty and transparency are very important in building trust.

  We are commanded to obey, but it is never EASY to deny yourself for someone else. It becomes easier when you truly love, admire, respect and TRUST that person. To give your life over to someone else takes a lot of trust. You have the power to help her out a bit. We are to obey regardless… but it can be a lot easier at times of ‘closeness’ in the relationship than when you feel distant. I pray that this can somehow encourage you to invest in your daughters. Your daughter truly desires to spend time with you, have you interested in HER as a person and be able to trust you with her most valued of treasures… her heart. 

Sincerely with respect,

 A Daughter 

Musings

Spiritual Lessons

Musings

I took the time today to sit in the sunshine.  You know, I think every person should take at least 10 minutes of their day to be still in the sunshine.  It does miracles.  The cottonwood leaves have turned crisp and yellow and the breeze made them sing their brusque autumn melody.  So different than the whispers of a summer's wind through the trees.  As I sat there I realized how there are so many things to be done.  So many possibilities.

Lately, I have equated life as a painting. I used to be uncomfortable at the thought that I allow my emotions to spill out for the world to see.  But I have come to the conclusion that I am not a clown because my emotions are painted on the outside of my heart.  I will always be sensitive, and it's a gift, not a curse.  I've decided to explore it.  I want to see what 'painting' is like without guilt.  And it's been amazing.  I have been "me" and surprisingly enough, no one has cringed or sent me away!  I have allowed myself to be what others might interpret as "dramatic".  I haven't tried to constrain my interests, my passions, the way I relate to things.  I haven't tried to hide the "personal me" from anyone.  I used to think I was shallow and naive for opening my heart.  That I was 'less' than those who were quiet and had something deep inside them that needed sheltering.  I wasn't as complex because I revealed too much.  Many people reserve their "personal".  It's okay.  But I am a wellspring.  They draw quietly in intriguing abstract pen and ink, and I splash with untamed expression, using the entire color spectrum.

But with this passion of expression also comes the personality to conquer the world.  And today as I sat there in the sunshine I realized I've been dabbling in so many paints I've been left with a muddy mess.  I can't possibly give 100% to one hundred things...

How to pursue it all?  Sign Language, Natural health education, my own health, the lost, the elderly, the babies who are aborted, the needy in my church, my work at Aspen Wellspring, my Dad's business, my home life, my blog and books I'm writing/publishing, my relationships?  I'm not desperate but overwhelmed.  There are so many ways to serve Jesus.  So many doors of opportunity.  So many little notes of encouragement that could be written.  So many prayers that could be said.  So many people a tract could be given to.  Widows to be loved, elderly to be sung to, children to make memories with. Life is so short, and it only disappears faster, the older I become.

I stopped musing and patted Bonnie who came to lay next to me in the sunshine.  I decided.  I am obviously one little girl up against an entire world.  I can't do everything.  But here is what I know I will do:

 I am determined to be sensitive to God's leading.  When and how is up to Him.  I will not take on anything He does not require and I will do whatever He asks.  I will look for opportunities.  I will be willing to be spent for others.  Even if that "other" isn't the imagined lost person I dream of helping, but Dad who needs my help that day at work.  I will sacrifice.  Even if He doesn't ask me to go to Siberia, but if He asks that I give up watching a movie so I can spend that time for someone, or if it means not getting any computer time in so I can make dinner.

I am determined not to wait for others to lead me into service.  I don't need to wait for others to encourage me, to point out how I can join their ministry.  And I don't need to worry if anyone is following me into the battle.  I'll sound the cry if need be, but I'm going whether they follow or not.

I am determined to be faithful.  Even if my "opportunities" prove lonely or un-glamorous.  I might not even be front lines where I get "attacked" where others can applaud or sympathize with me.  I'm ready to commit His will and stick to it.

I am determined not to be afraid of letting Him be Himself in me.  He has given me a personality and I'm going to use it.  Watch out!  Personality is a gift!  He fashioned me this way!  Embracing Him in me is a wonderful, powerful security.  It's okay if I've got paint all over me.  I have the Master Artist.

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