The Volcano Blew!

Well ... I knew this day was coming.  The day the volcano blew!  (Explained in more detail in this post.)  And so I think I'll be taking some time off from writing, maybe just adding a few small posts here and there.  I'm not sure when I'll get back to writing, but I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.  Take care and God bless!


[Thank you to Tim from Trader Joe's, for holding me while I sobbed uncontrollably in the check-out line, pouring my pain out to you.  And for praying for me in the parking lot.  Your kindness and emotional support during my breakdown probably saved me from another panic attack.  Thank you!  (I really hope I didn't end up on YouTube somewhere, recorded on someone's phone, balling my eyes out in the store.)]

Several great sermons from Tony Evans, just because I need them:

What to do when life gets hard

Trusting The God You Believe In

Trusting God In A Storm

Trusting God In The Darkness

God Knows What He Is Doing

Divine Coincidences 
(for more sermons from him, click here) 

A few songs that help keep my faith up:

I AM by Crowder  (One of my favorite scenes in this song is at the 2:34 minute mark, when one of the disciples is laying on the floor crying, reaching out to a battered Jesus who's lying near him.  Oh, how I've felt that way so many times these past years, especially now.  Life has repeatedly beaten me down, and I'm laying on the floor crying, doing the only thing I can do - reaching out for the Lord who is nearby - even if it doesn't feel like it - during the painful trials, just hoping and praying to be able to touch Him with the tip of my finger to feel His presence and know that He is there.  Reaching out for the Lord while you're in pain - sometimes that's all you can do.  (And praising Him, of course.)  And sometimes that has to be enough.)

Oh, What Love by City Harmonic  (One of my all-time favorite songs.  Always makes me cry.)     

We Believe by Newsboys  (Such great truths that need to be remembered, especially in the hard times.  It's critical to remember that the Bible's truths trump our feelings and fears.  That the Bible's truths will outlast our feelings and fears.  Someday He's coming back again, and He will right all wrongs, make all bad things beautiful, and heal all hurts.  And that's a truth I cling to.)

Hallelujah Christmas by Cloverton  (A wonderful, encouraging song any time of year!)

Burn the Ships by For King and Country  (There will come a day when it's time to stop crying, to pick yourself up off the floor, dust yourself off, put the past behind you, and move forward.  Someday, for whatever trials we're in, there will come a day to "burn the ships."  For the backstory to this song, click here.)

In The Sky by Bob Carlisle, Russ Lee, and Ashley Cleveland  (I am so longing for this day!  Waiting for the Lord's return.  It's what helps keep me going.)

Praise the Lord by City Harmonic  (No matter what you're going through - good or the bad - this is critical to maintaining your faith, to staying near to the Lord, and to keeping evil away as much as possible.  Praise the Lord.  No matter what.  You might not be able to fix the problems that are coming your way, but you can turn the problems into "sacred ground," into a springboard for praise.  You can't choose the hand you're dealt, but you can choose how to play your cards!)

(You can find more great songs in this post: My "When Anxiety Strikes" Playlist) 

If someone protests the police ...

Regarding this up-and-coming generation's fascination with protesting the police, my suggesting is ...

If someone is going to protest the police, then they should NOT be allowed to call on the police for help if ever they find themselves the victim of a crime!

If you protest the police and then someone breaks into your home, don't call the cops for help.  If someone mugs you in an alley, deal with it yourself.  If someone crashes into your car while you're driving, you're on your own.

If you are going to trash those who are trying to help us, then you shouldn't be allowed to call on them for help.  


You know what really gets me?

Do people not realize that the more they protest the police and lash out against the police and vilify the police, the less people there are who will want to become police?  And the less police there are, the more criminal activity there will be.  Because there will be less police to fight it and because these protesters are stirring up major disrespect for authority and for laws.

And so who should we blame when crime is running rampant but there's no one to fight it?

That's right ... these protestors.

I'm not saying that all cops are good cops or that cops are perfect.  And I'm not saying we shouldn't protest police actions that are truly wrong.  But I am saying that we need to stand up against this generalized attitude of lawlessness and rebellion and disrespect being spread by people like those protesting police just for the sake of protesting.  We need to fight for the respect of police, for our men and women in uniform.  Before we find ourselves in a country where the protestors have become the dangerous ones and where crime is growing but there's no one to call on for help.

Would You Allow A Grown Man's Naked Crotch In Your Child's Face?

Photo shows Drag Queen Story Hour performer in miniskirt exposing crotch as children sit close by

If this doesn't wake people up to what's wrong in our society today, what's it gonna take!?!  How far does it have to go before people wake up: an underwear-less Drag Queen grabbing a child's hand and running it up his skirt, or a half-naked Drag Queen "accidentally" touching children in inappropriate ways?  How far is too far?  

But if we can't trust adults to realize that the stuff that's already going on is totally inappropriate, if we can't trust them to stand up against it for the sake of the children, then WHY would we expect them to protect children from "inappropriate" touches?  Especially when the government is supporting and protecting this inappropriate stuff!  

Apparently so-called "intelligent" adults have lost their brains and morals so badly that they can't even identify "inappropriate" anymore, even when its naked crotch stares them in the face during a children's Library Story Hour!

God help the children!  Because the adults apparently won't!

(Click here for more stories like this, to see just a little bit about how bad it's getting!)

Pray for Tony Evans' Wife

Please say a prayer for Tony Evans' wife, who is battling cancer.  This is my favorite preacher, and it makes me sad to know they're going through this.

"Please Pray": Tony Evans Shares Wife Lois Needs A Miracle In Her Cancer Battle

How Much Power Do Witches Have? (repost)

There have been articles coming out recently about a rise in witchcraft in America.  One article says that witchcraft is growing astronomically and that witches now outnumber Presbyterians in the United States.  And another article (along with this one) says that witches gathered the other day to hex Brett Kavanaugh, to take back the country, and to support abortion rights.  And they've been trying to hex President Trump, too, according to other articles.  And recently, Salem unveiled the largest Ouija Board ever, in the hopes of attracting the largest ghost ever.  (I wouldn't be surprised if they get the results they want.  Only it won't be "ghosts.")

This makes me wonder ... How much power do witches really have?

Pray for Kanye and Kim

First off, let me say that I have never been a fan of the Kardashians or of Kanye.  I have never watched an episode of the Kardashians, nor could I identify even one Kanye song.  So this isn’t coming from a super-fan of either of these people.  This is coming from the heart of a Christian who knows how strong the spiritual battle is and how much we need prayer.

I am asking other Christians out there to pray for Kanye and Kim.

I know that there are a lot of Christians who mock Kanye’s conversion.  But I don’t.  I would NEVER mock another person whose brokenness led them to Christ.  That has got to be one of the quickest ways to discourage a new Christian, someone who needs the support of other Christians to help them grow in faith and wisdom.  And yet, here are fellow “Christians” ripping apart a new believer instead of coming alongside him and encouraging him.  Shame on them!

Should Christians Watch Horror Movies? (repost)

I visited a Christian blog recently where the author shared a list of her favorite scary movies to watch on Halloween.  And they were some of the worst of the worst.  Violent, demonic, evil.  And she said that she's happy her kids are old enough to watch them now so that they can watch the movies together.  (I'm not sure how old her kids are, but she is not an old, grandma-aged mom.)

I was horrified.  And I told her in the comment section that I was shocked that a Christian website would encourage those kinds of movies.  I told her that I didn't think it's right to encourage things that are clearly contrary to God.  (For the record, I used to love scary movies ... until I found myself home alone, remembering the terrifying images of these movies.)  

Pray for Meghan and Harry

I am.  

This interview with Meghan (at least the tiny segment I saw in this clip) absolutely broke my heart.  

You can tell that the little bit of emotion she revealed is only a tiny speck of what she's really feeling inside.  And when you've been in that kind of pain before, you can't help but be heartbroken when you see others who are hurting that badly too.  And so I am praying for them.  Please pray for them too.  

God can reach into places that no one else can and heal the pain that no one else sees.

(And I give her enormous credit for being honest and vulnerable.  Takes a strong person to do that!)


(For others who are hurting, click here for some ideas that might help.)

Orwell's 1984 and America

The difference between conservatives and liberals:

Orwell's 1984 and America 

Some Carman Songs For Halloween

Yes, these are older songs and a bit campy, but they are fun and full of truth.  And they're blasts from the past for me, taking me back to my youth!  (I didn't mean to make it rhyme.)  

A Witch's Invitation - Love this one!


No Monsters - See, Carman knows the power of Jesus's name!

Satan, Bite The Dust - I wouldn't go around challenging Satan, but Carman's making a good, important point here about the power of God compared to the power of the devil.

God's Got An Army - with a little Narnia thrown in

Revival in the land  - Are you on your knees in prayer for our country? 

The Courtroom - I just watched this one for the first time.  Interesting.

The Champion - this will always be one of his best!

Radically Saved (Live) - the whole hour-plus show.  This is one of the first albums I got of his.  And it's still one of my favorites.

Radically Saved - just the song

This Blood is for You - A powerful song