Ramblings of a Christian Wife

The Christmas count down has officially begun and with only 20 days left until the "big day" people's minds are focused on filling Christmas wish lists and purchasing supplies for holiday baking, the big Christmas feast and even New Years celebrations.  This is also the time of year when many people donate to charities and just like stores depend on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to get out of the red, many charity organizations depend on Christmas time to fill their budget for the entire year.  Bell ringers can be found outside many stores, charities such as Angel Tree ministries, and local food banks are sending out fliers requesting financial donations or gifts for young children.  And many of these organizations know they will struggle greatly throughout the upcoming year if they don't receive enough Christmas donations.  And though I don't oppose Christmas giving, I often wonder why so many people only think to give at this time of year. Even many Christia...

I have never written about September 11, 2001 in my blog for many reasons. It is difficult to find words that could come close to conveying the horror, sorrow, shock, and fear that spread across America as first one plane, then another, crashed into the towers of the World Trade Center, followed by a plane that hit the Pentagon and another one that crashed in Pennsylvania.  It is also difficult for me to express how I feel without being hateful.  Though many people, Christians included, seem to think in this case it is okay to be hateful, that is simply not God's way. And I will be the first one to admit I struggle with this especially when thinking about an enemy who is so full of hate for us.  Even thirteen years later, I find a certain amount of anger boiling up inside me and my throat tightens with sorrow. Though 13 years may not seem a long time for those of us who were adults on that horrible day, to our not-yet-born or extremely young children, it is a time ...

Deuteronomy 31: 6b "For the Lord God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Since the death of Robin Williams last week many people have taken an interest in understanding the mind of persons with depression.  Though I am glad that the tragic death of Mr. Williams has increased awareness of this horrible disorder, I think it is sad that it takes the death of a celebrity to awaken the minds of everyday people.  Depression is by no means a new illness.  It has been around since man committed the first sin and will remain with us until kingdom come.  It is a disorder that does not respect persons, anyone can fall prey to it and without any warning.  At this time it is not clearly understood why people develop depression though the medical field has certain theories, and there is no cure for the disorder.  What I can tell you about depression is that it is not about being weak or strong, having faith or not, being wealthy, or poor. ...

I must warn you, if you are reading this, prepare for a rant because that is exactly what I am about to do and I think there may  be many people who will agree and probably several that won't.  Let me get straight to the point of what is bothering me: Parents who refuse to parent their children!  I was raised in an environment where it was "My house, my rules. You live in my house, you obey my rules!"  My mother never tried to be my friend, though she did make time for things like shopping with us girls, fishing, and just talking, there was never any doubt who the authority in our house was.  Yes, as kids my sister, brother, and I pushed our boundaries, just like every kid does but at the end of the day, Mom was in charge.  In my home now with three boys, one of whom is a teenager, my husband and I are in charge.  We give privileges and we take them away if necessary, we know our children's passwords for all social media they belong to, their emails, a...

I often grit my teeth when I hear parents, grandparents, teachers, or other adults say "kids these days are so......" (insert appropriate complaint here).  This reaction comes from two issues; it sounds very much like something an old person would say and the complaints are an attempt to deflect blame for children's behaviors onto the kids themselves without the adults taking responsibility for their part in it.  It also makes today's adults sound as if they were above the behaviors when they were children.  However; many of the parents I hear or see (in the case of social media) make these comments are people I knew when they were younger and I am well aware of their behavior problems just as I am of my own. Many of us whether we like to admit it or not, talked back to our parents, sneaked out of the house, viciously fought with or siblings, and demonstrated many other undesirable behaviors.  Why? Because it is the nature of the beast.  It is part of their sin ...

Today I as my children and I were driving home from a visit to their Grandmother's, my oldest son and I got on the subject of what he calls "the snobby kids" at school and their take on what is normal.  He told me that he has been asked by his peers why he can't just be normal.  So I had to ask what 8th grade kids think is normal (yes, I will admit, I am as out of touch as my Mom was when I was 13).  He began to list off things that the kids consider normal, like having IPhones, wearing $60 pairs of shoes, hanging out at the mall, etc. He said the kids tell him that playing Pokemon and his 3DS is for little kids and question him as to why he doesn't have a smart phone.  At the mention of the smart phone I sort of cringed as cellphones have been a topic of much debate in our home but I was very surprised at his response.  He informed the kids who questioned him that spending $200 or more on a cellphone was just plane wasteful and he didn't need a $60 pair of sh...

Proverbs 15:1-2 A soft answer turneth away wrath but grievous words stir up anger.  The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.   Yesterday I failed God, just as I have done so many times in the past.  I looked on others with contempt and I spoke unkindly.  I was so much like the fool spoken of in Proverbs 15:2b "But the mouth of the fools poureth out foolishness."  If you are my friend on Facebook and are reading this, you are familiar with some of the harsh words I spoke yesterday in anger, an anger that is not really mine to have and is displeasing to God.  If you don't know me, let me explain. It's NOT My job!  Many people are up in arms about Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty being "indefinitely suspended" for comments made about homosexuality.  I would be one of those people because the Bible condemns homosexuality just as it condemns any sinner, myself included.  I believe t...