tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79392805028079060002024-02-18T22:43:47.548-05:00Faith NotesSharing thoughts on faith, family, life, marriage, reading and writingDottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.comBlogger527125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-78891466199663030102019-04-29T11:52:00.000-04:002019-04-29T11:52:36.648-04:00CHANGE<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Change</b> is always with us. I began this blog nine years ago on April 6th and wrote then about <b>Change</b>. Today I’m making another <b>Change</b>.
I’m taking a long vacation from my blog - probably a permanent vacation. I need
to simplify my life and this step will help. It’s a hard decision as I have
enjoyed writing my blog and knowing that a few people at least were gaining
ideas or even help from the information I shared. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Nine years is a long time. My life on earth is probably
going to end before April </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">6</span><sup style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> of 2030. I’m looking forward to
winding up my days here in meaningful ways and I’m looking forward to eternity
in heaven! It will be amazing to spend eternity in the presence of almighty
God. If you don’t believe so see my book reviews on books about heaven! (Click
on the word <b><u>heaven</u></b> in <b>LABELS</b> to the right of this.) Also you can pick any
topic any time to read more. The blog will stay on line for another decade I
would think!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope that my blogs have been true to the heart and mind
of God in Christ Jesus. I pray that all who have read my blog will continue to
seek God, deepen their faith in Christ and follow his guidance. Don’t miss the
blessings of knowing and loving Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“This same God who takes care of me will supply all your
needs from his glorious riches which have been given to us by Christ Jesus.” Phillippians
4:19<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessings, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-53445450931216340762019-04-20T20:18:00.000-04:002019-04-20T20:18:02.123-04:00Resurrection Doubt? No, He's Alive!<br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Christ the Lord has risen!
He's alive!</span></strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Do we believe this? The disciples spent three years with Jesus,
living and learning from Him. They saw the healings and miracles and knew He
was the Messiah. But they didn't expect Him to die. They witnessed His arrest,
trial, and crucifixion, though some ran away and hid. Some helped bury Him.
Then they hid together and grieved.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Three days later they saw
Him!</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Can you grasp the surprise, amazement, and yet belief in their
voices? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Mary said,<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> </span></strong></span><em><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">"I
have seen the Lord! </span></b></em><em><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">(John 20:18)</span></em><strong><i><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></strong><strong><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">She knew
it was Him!</span></i></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The two men on the road to
Emmaus</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> did not recognize Him until He broke the bread and revealed
Himself to them. They said, </span><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">"</span></strong><em><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Were not
our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the
Scriptures to us?</span></b></em><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">"</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> (Luke
24:32) Their hearts burned within them even before they recognized Him. <strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Does your heart burn within you in His
presence?</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thomas</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> wouldn't
believe the reports of the other disciples until he saw Jesus a week later.
Then he said, </span><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">"</span></strong><em><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My Lord and my God</span></b></em><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">!"</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> (John
20:28) I imagine he said this with a hushed and humble voice. He may have even
bowed before him.<strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">
Wouldn't you? Do you now?</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The resurrection of Jesus Christ
is the most essential doctrine of the church. Any who don't believe this truth
are denying Jesus, Christianity and Scripture. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">He said He was the Son of God.
(Luke 22:70) He said He would rise from the dead. (Luke 18:33) And He did. He
said He would return and He will. (Matthew 24:30) </span><strong style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">What a marvelous faith we have.</span></strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Blessings, </span><strong><span style="color: #0067ce; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Dottie</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-49336432968644357412019-04-15T15:47:00.000-04:002019-04-15T15:47:02.348-04:00The Events of Holy Week<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">We will be blessed if we read, study, meditate and pray about the events of this Holy Week as
recorded in Scripture. I’m listing the events of Sunday through Friday. Meditate
on His life as you read through these events.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus “Triumphal Entry” into
Jerusalem occurred on Sunday with Jesus riding on a donkey fulfilling Zechariah
9:9’s prophesy. “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>! See your king
comes to you, righteous and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a
donkey.” See Matt 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-44, John 12:12-19.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On Monday<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>Jesus is anointed (for burial) at
Bethany (John 12:1-9) and he clears the temple of the money changers. (Matthew
21:12-13, Mark <st1:time hour="11" minute="15" w:st="on">11:15</st1:time>-18,
Luke 19:45-48)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On Tuesday His authority is
questioned. Matt. 21:23-27, Mark <st1:time hour="11" minute="27" w:st="on">11:27</st1:time>-33,
Luke 20:1-8. And Jesus teaches in the temple. Matt. <st1:time hour="21" minute="28" w:st="on">21:28-23:39</st1:time>, Mark 12:1-44, Luke 20:9-21:4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On Wednesday Judas plots
against Jesus. Matt. 26:14-16, Mark <st1:time hour="14" minute="10" w:st="on">14:10</st1:time>-11,
Luke 22:3-6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On Thursday Jesus and His
disciples eat the Passover meal, the Last Supper, the first Communion. Matt.
26:17-29, Mark <st1:time hour="14" minute="12" w:st="on">14:12</st1:time>-25,
Luke 22:7-38, John 13:1-38. Jesus says to his disciples “This is my body,
broken for you, do this in remembrance of me.” In John 14:1-16:33, He comforts
the disciples, and in John 17:1-26 He gives His high priestly prayer, praying
for them and for us – for our unity in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus sweat blood
and tears. Matt. 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:40-46 He prayed “Let this cup
pass from me, nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Then he’s arrested<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>and tried<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>– Matthew 26:47-27:26, Mark 14:43-15:15, Luke 22:47-23:25, John
18:2-19:16. Pilate said, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” Luke
23:4 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On Friday he’s crucified –
Matt. 27:27-56, Mark 15:16-41, Luke 23:26-49, John 19:17-37. Jesus prayed,
“Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And He’s buried – Matt. 27:57-66, Mark 15:42-47,
Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42 Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked for
Jesus body. “Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a
tomb cut in the rock.” Luke 23:53<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This is a holy week with
much to ponder about Jesus, our Lord and Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Blessings in Christ, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-64198342693550602922019-04-06T09:29:00.000-04:002019-04-06T09:29:43.919-04:00Life After Death: The Evidence<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">This book seems fitting for all of us to read during this lenten season</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Life
After Death: The Evidence </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">by Dinesh D’Souza<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is an amazing book. Dinesh D’Souza explores in
detail near death experiences, modern physics, biology/evolution, neuroscience,
philosophy, morality, and practical reason to show that death is not the end of
life. The chapter on neuroscience interested me especially. It showed that “the
realm of subjective experience lies outside its domain and outside the domain
of objective science altogether. Two features of the mind – consciousness and
free will – define the human soul. These features seem to operate outside the
laws of nature and therefore are not subject to the laws governing the
mortality of the body. The body dies but the soul lives on.” </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pg.270</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Each
chapter is fascinating and detailed. The final chapters of the book present clear
reasons to show that the resurrection of Jesus was real and true and changed
history in its tracks. D’Souza also explains the choice between hell and heaven
which we all must make. Read this book and learn there is life after death! And seek him if you do not know him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and eveyone who lives and believes in me will never die." John 11:25-26</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Blessings, Dottie</span></div>
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Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-29418836245812237442019-03-25T09:15:00.000-04:002019-03-25T09:15:54.680-04:00SEEKING THE PRESENCE OF GOD<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Seeking the Presence of God<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Do we sense the presence
of God as we journey through this Lenten season? Do we seek his presence more? Does
the Presence of God dwell in your church? Do you sense His Presence during
times of corporate prayer? The Presence is most likely to show up when we pray
together. When, we, the church body unite in prayer and worship, praising him,
humbling ourselves before him - His Presence comes. <strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> </span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Terry Teykl</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">, pastor and author of <em><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The Presence Based Church</span></em>
says: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">"As the body of Christ, we desperately need the Presence of
God. We are nothing without it. His Presence, unrivaled in any aspect of
beauty, power, fame or majesty, is our provision and glory. It should be the
thing that holds us up and sets us apart. One moment in the Presence can do
more than a lifetime of church services without it." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Do we believe this?</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> Do we then, seek His
face? Is worship a top priority? We won't sense His presence if our hearts are
closed to Him or if we're holding a grudge against someone. We must prepare for
worship, let go of unforgiveness, repent of our own sin or wrong doing - then
we will be open to His Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Scriptures on the Presence
of God say:</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">"One thing I have
asked of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the
Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire
in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">"In thy presence
there is fullness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures forever more. (Psalm
16:11)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">In my book, <em><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Changing Churches</span></b></em><strong><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">,</span></strong> I write: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">"Worship connects us with the Presence of God. True worship,
opening our hearts to God and praising Him, is fearful and astonishing. It
changes us. Worship is as vital to our faith as breathing is to our bodies. We
bow in adoration, devotion, respect, and awe. God is holy and eternal. We are
finite. We humble ourselves in this holy encounter. We meet God weekly in
corporate worship, as a church body. The fragrant aroma of His Presence in us
and in the church increases in proportion to our prayer and worship."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Time in His Presence
changes us</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">. Perhaps this is why we don't seek Him. He changes us when we
draw near to Him. Our flesh resists change. Change is scary. But it is worth
it. Knowing Him personally is worth everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Terkyl </span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">says: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">"I love the local church. It is God's hope for transformation
of lives, the expression of His glory in the earth, and His chosen bride for
the Son. If someone today wants to sense and experience the real and manifested
Presence of God, he shouldn't have to go any further than the local
church...." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Is your church seeking God's Presence? Are you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Blessings,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><strong><span style="color: #0067ce; font-family: "french script mt"; font-size: 22.0pt;">Dottie</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-21614753544513162052019-03-18T10:58:00.000-04:002019-03-18T10:58:12.343-04:00FAITH HEALS <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Q. I believe people of faith are healthier and live longer than those
who don’t believe in God. I also think prayer heals. A few people in my church
were healed when it seemed there was no hope for them. My husband says these
ideas are nonsense. He said if I could prove that church attendance, prayer or
faith could heal a person or make anyone live longer he would start going to
church with me. Is there any scientific proof that faith heals?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A. There is scientific evidence that faith heals. Hundreds of
studies have demonstrated the healing power of prayer. In a 1995 issue of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Mind/Body Medicine Newsletter</i> a feature
article cited a study by Thomas Oxman of Dartmouth Medical School, New
Hampshire. He investigated the role religion plays in the health of elderly
people. Oxman’s study involved 232 patients who had open heart surgery. He
found that the patients who gained strength and comfort from their religious
beliefs were three times more likely to survive than those who had no comfort
from religious faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In addition, those who participated in social and community groups
had three times the survival rate of those who didn’t take part in any
organized activity. Those who had both protective factors - religious and
social support - had a ten fold increase in survival.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The researchers don’t understand why or how religious feeling can
extend life. They speculate that having faith is physiologically calming and
thus prevents problems during recovery. In other words, it boosts our immune
system.They also suggest that having faith gives meaning to life which is
medically helpful. In contrast, the person without faith leads a more stressful
life due to the lack of purpose he attributes to life. These researchers
believe that the social and religious factors in heart disease survival may be
as significant as well known risks such as smoking or high blood pressure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In addition to the above study, Larry Dossey, M.D., in his book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Healing Words </i>cites impressive scientific
evidence that prayer heals. He says that studies have shown that prayer
positively affected high blood pressure, wounds, heart attacks, headaches and
anxiety. Dossey cites a double-blind controlled study conducted by cardiologist
Randolph Byrd, formerly a professor at the University of California. In this
study 393 patients were assigned to two groups. 192 patients were prayed for
and 201 patients were not prayed for. The results were dramatic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The group that was prayed for were five times less likely to
require antibiotics and three times less likely to develop pulmonary edema. He
says “It is simply a fact that patients sometimes improve dramatically
following prayer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A Columbia University study reported in the New York Times
Magazine, December 9, 2001, had startling findings about prayer. The study
found that women in a fertility clinic were almost twice as likely to get pregnant
when, without their knowledge, strangers were praying for them to conceive. Women
in the prayed for group had a pregnancy rate of 50 percent versus 26 percent
for women in the control group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many studies show that social ties are good for our health and
isolation shortens our life. Since our social support systems often decline as
we age, involvement in a church can meet the social as well as the faith needs
especially of senior citizens and can help all of us live healthier, happier
and longer lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hopefully your husband will accept this evidence and give faith
and church a chance. Those of us who have experienced the healing power of
prayer are not surprised by these findings. We know that faith, hope and love
are healing! We know that Jesus Christ is Lord of all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He
rescues them from their troubles. Psalm 34:17 NLT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessings, Dottie</span></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-83394519726159343392019-03-11T10:37:00.000-04:002019-03-11T10:37:42.890-04:00BOOKS TO READ DURING LENT<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Killing
Jesus: A History</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Bill O’Reilly <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">O’Reilly writes a gripping and detailed historical
account of the trials, scourging and crucifixion of Jesus. The book is well
researched and gives valuable information about Caesar Augustus, Herod the
Great, and Pontius Pilate. It also explains the concerns of the Roman officials
and the Jewish religious authorities in power at that time. Jesus ministry is
touched on briefly and only to explain the outraged response of the religious
authorities. The book describes the last week of Jesus’ life in depth, giving
vivid and brutal details about his treatment from the time of his arrest to the
crucifixion, burial and empty tomb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The author leaves out much. The birth of Jesus in a
manger is omitted but the book tells of Herod having all babies killed due to
the report that a prophesied king had been born in Bethlehem. He also leaves
out the voice of God <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“This is my son in
whom I am well pleased”,</i> but not the dove at Jesus Baptism. There is scant
mention of his miracles, his teaching and his resurrection. He notes that women
were treated very well by Jesus and his disciples – something not common at
that time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Though O’Reilly writes this as a secular history it is a
worthwhile book for Christians to read. In addition it may well give pause to
nonbelievers who want to learn more about Jesus. O’Reilly clearly states the
worldwide impact of Jesus which continues to this day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God’s
Grace from Ground Zero</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Seeking God’s Heart for the Future of
Our World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Jim Cymbala<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God’s
Grace</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">at Ground Zero</i>
is a powerful book about the impact of the 911 disaster on New York in
particular and on the United States as well. The Brooklyn Tabernacle opened their
church doors to minister to those who walked by covered with soot and in shock.
As time passed four members of the congregation were still missing. This is a
gripping account of two who died and one who lived and how “God longs for us to
place our faith in him, to trust him, no matter what happens.” Cymbala also
says that many people who doubted God’s existence before 911 now are seeking
him. This is a powerful book that can help us make sense of the tragedies and
difficulties in life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Edge
of Eternity</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">by Randy Alcorn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Edge
of Eternity</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> is an amazing novel written by Randy Alcorn
in 1998. The story is about a business man, Nick Seagate, whose life is a
wreck. Suddenly he finds himself in another world in which he faces many
torments and trials but also meets and makes friends with fellow travelers as
they attempt to reach the city of Light. There are many twists and turns to the
plot. The writing is full of beautiful and profound words. Early in the book
Nick walks with the Woodsman who tells him about a King. He tells Nick: The
King is the fountain of life…The King is a rose full of beauty but also
thorns…The King is the true vine, the tree of life, the giver of grain…The King
is light…The King is a singer and a song and more. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pg 43</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This
is a very special book full of wisdom with word pictures of our journey in life
with the God of the universe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I
am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even
after dying.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> John 11:25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessings, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-46069326860876745682019-03-07T10:41:00.000-05:002019-03-07T10:41:07.698-05:00VALUING ASH WEDNESDAY<br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Yesterday - March 6th - was Ash Wednesday</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">, a special day celebrated in many Christian churches. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the beginning
of the 40 weekdays before Easter. Lent is observed in many Christian churches
as a period of prayer, fasting, confession, repentance, and self-denial. It
echoes the 40 days in the wilderness Jesus spent fasting and overcoming
temptation. It also assists Christians in focusing on Jesus resolute journey
leading to his crucifixion and resurrection. We learn to identify with his
unwavering obedience. We recognize the price he paid for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Our faith journey, described in <em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Changing Churches</span></em>, began in a <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">United Methodist Church</span></strong> - a church that observes <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ash Wednesday</span></strong>. Throughout our years there, Ash Wednesday
marked the beginning of a solemn and holy time of reflection. While searching
for a church in 2008 we attended an Ash Wednesday service at another Methodist
Church. I noted in my journal: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We sang six
verses of "Just as I Am" and "There is a Fountain Filled
with Blood." The hymns, responsive readings, confession, and
pastor's message, touched and filled us. We received ashes in the shape of
the cross on our foreheads and took Communion - opening and recommitting ourselves
to Him. What a sacred event!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Prayer Journaling</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">In 2004 the teacher of my ladies Bible class mentioned journaling <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Psalm 51</span></strong> (about
David's sin), one phrase at a time, for the forty days of Lent. This proved to
be a sobering but valuable exercise. In order to build up the church,
Christians must change and grow. We must face our own sin and repent. The next
forty days are a good time to focus on this in prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Understanding the Church Calendar</span></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">For those not in a liturgical church, <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mark Galli's</span></strong> explanation from his book <strong><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Beyond Smells and Bells</span></i></strong>,
may help you appreciate the emphasis on the church calendar. He writes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The church
calendar aims at nothing less than to change the way we experience time
and perceive reality. . . . Advent signals the new year. For the church,
the annual rhythm is not winter, spring, summer and fall, but Advent,
Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. . . . The church calendar
is not about the cycle of life - school or sports or harvest time - but about
the movement of history toward a glorious goal. We celebrate the past events of
history not merely to remember them, but note how they infuse the present
with meaning and power, and point us to our future hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Let this be a Holy season for all Christians to ponder and pray
and deepen our faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Blessings,</span> <strong><span style="color: #005ac1; font-family: "French Script MT"; font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Dottie</span></strong></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-25200235840976010212019-02-25T09:32:00.000-05:002019-02-25T09:32:43.270-05:00Psych Info: IT’S NOT MY FAULT!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Q. I’m always being blamed and criticized. My childhood was
difficult, we were poor, and I was abused. I’ve tried to overcome all this and
live a good life but I don’t get any help from my family, friends or employer.
They gripe and complain about things I do or don’t do. I’m sick of it. What can
I do to get love and approval from others?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A. In order to get love and
approval from others you must honestly face your faults. Most of us deny we
have anything to do with the negative experiences we have in life. We yearn for
others to change and act kindly toward us. We react with defensiveness to
criticism or fault finding. This is typical of mankind. In the Bible, Adam and
Eve blamed each other, God and the devil! They evaded all responsibility for
their actions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our culture encourages us to
excuse ourselves and blame others. Our culture supports us in our self-focus.
We say for example, “If I hadn’t been abused as a child I wouldn’t get angry so
easily.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If my husband helped me more I
wouldn’t be so tired and irritable.” “If my boss was nicer, I wouldn’t make
mistakes and I’d get more done.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If my
children would listen to me I wouldn’t yell at them so much.” We’re full of
“ifs” which we use to blame or excuse our negative behavior on the basis of
what others do to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The childhood reasons you give
for your behavior may have been the original causes for your anger, frustration
and unhappiness. You did have a hard life as a child. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when you use this as an excuse for your
behavior today you remain stuck. What kind of a person do you want to be
now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you want to be a mother who
yells, a wife who is irritable or an inept employee?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t change the past but you can change
your attitudes and behavior now and in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you want to get love and
acceptance from others you first need to work on changing yourself. Changing
yourself is not an easy task but since it’s impossible to change anyone but
yourself it must be your focus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Begin by facing yourself
honestly. Don’t defend yourself when you’re criticized or blamed by someone
else. Instead, stop and consider whether there is any truth to the criticism.
If there is, acknowledge this at least to yourself and start making changes in
yourself. If there’s no truth to the criticism you can just forget it without
defending yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Admit to yourself your angry and
hurt feelings toward those who mistreated you as a child or as an adult. Feelings
are OK. It’s what we do with them that can hurt us and others. Write your
feelings in a journal or pour them out to God in prayer. This will help you let
go of resentment and anger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The most difficult step is to
admit the many ways in which you have wronged or hurt others. Make of list of
your faults and then confess these to God, to a pastor or a counselor, or even
to the person you wronged. Facing the truth about ourselves is painful and
difficult. We don’t want to admit our own flaws or faults. We don’t want to
take responsibility for our own behavior and attitudes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Be patient with yourself in
taking these steps. Being totally honest with yourself and others will free
you. You will then be able to forgive yourself and love and accept yourself.
When you have reached this point your inner acceptance and God’s acceptance
will be all that matters. The change in you will draw the love and acceptance
of others. You will enjoy this but will no longer need it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Those who look to him for help
will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” Psalm
34:5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessings, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-63877086871955767712019-02-18T09:38:00.000-05:002019-02-18T09:38:32.639-05:00HOW TO KEEP OUR BRAINS SHARP <br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Q.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I’m in my seventies and I’m healthy and active but sometimes forgetful.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Many of my friends say they are also unable to remember things as well as they could in the past.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">What can we do to exercise our brains so we can remain mentally sharp as we grow older?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many things we
can do to exercise our brains and keep them sharp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will help to understand a little about how
the brain works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The left side of the
brain controls logical thinking and the right side involves creative and intuitive
thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two sides of the brain
think in totally different ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
left brain thinks in words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The right
brain thinks in pictures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We develop the various functions of our brains when we use
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, we develop our right brain
when we paint a picture, listen to music, play a musical instrument or
sing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We develop our left brain when we
read, write, study or discuss something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To keep our brains sharp we need to use our brains in new and
creative ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to stretch our
brains just as we need to stretch our bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People who are artistic or musical will have well developed right
brains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, most of us have focused
our education on the left brain activities of reading, writing and arithmetic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We can develop the more neglected side of our brains by being
aware of the images in our minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have visual images in our minds more often then most of us realize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can use this imaging ability consciously
to help us in many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, to
remember Angela Green’s name you might picture a green angel when you first
hear her name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will help you recall
it later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Athletes visualize perfect athletic performances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These images enable them to improve their own
performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even our bodily functions
are affected by visual images.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
possible for some people to raise the temperature of their hands just by
visualizing touching a hot stove.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Similarly, an image of running to catch a train can produce an increased
pulse rate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The images in the right brain affect how we function in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often negative emotions result from negative
images in our minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can use mental
images to overcome negative emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Begin to notice the images that accompany your thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will take practice and awareness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Replace each negative thought with a positive
image of a peaceful scene or a positive picture of yourself and your
situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To keep your brain sharp and make it sharper do some of the
following: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a class that
requires some study on your part and some opportunity to express and discuss
ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learning a foreign language
increases the capacity of the language centers of the brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more we use our brains, the more we
stretch them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. Picture in your mind
doing a task before you do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will
exercise your right brain’s visualizing ability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Change your
routines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, take a different
route to the shopping center or to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our brains get lazy unless we challenge them to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Work crossword puzzles
or other games that make your brain work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many people enjoy these puzzles without realizing they are beneficial.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen to music, take up
a musical instrument, join a choir, or take a painting class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s never too late to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meditate and pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This calms our bodies and our brains,
reducing stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also exercises and
develops a serene center of the mind and connects us with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, <u>MIND</u>, and strength." Mark 12:30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessings, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-69424507556324502082019-02-11T09:50:00.001-05:002019-02-11T09:53:54.780-05:00STYLES OF LOVING <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Q. </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">My husband and I have been
married for twenty years. We get along well with each other most of the time. However, I often am disappointed in my
husband’s lack of affection. He doesn’t like to say “I love you.” He also
“forgets” to buy me a valentine or to remember my birthday. He says he shows me
love by earning a living. I know I can’t change him but I’m hungry for more
words of love from him. What do you
suggest?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>A</b>. All of us need to
both give and receive love. Some of us deny this need by acting self-sufficient,
distant or aloof. But the need is there. There are a number of styles of loving
which we use without thought; ways in which we express love to our husband or
wife. We learn some of these styles of loving in childhood. They are the ways
we have been shown love. We may also long for some expression of love that we
never received as a child. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In marriage there are
often misunderstandings about our styles of loving. We grow up in different
families and learn different ways to show love. Most of us have one or two love
languages that we prefer. The trick is to learn what our partner’s styles of
loving are and then meet his or her needs by giving in these ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here are some of the
love languages we use:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Affirming words. When
we speak kind words to our mate we’re showing love. Notice moods or concerns
and comment with empathy about whatever your partner is going through. Affirming
words also include giving compliments, expressing our appreciation and praising
the person for what truly pleases us about them. Be specific and positive when
giving affirmations and don’t tack on anything negative or the affirmation will
be lost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. Spending time
together. How often do we give our partner our undivided attention? This is
difficult in today’s fast paced world but it is essential in order to really
connect and show love. Turning off the TV for fifteen minutes each evening, can
make a difference. Talk about you inner hopes, dreams and fears. Sharing from
the heart connects us. We also feel loved when we are involved in an activity
together and when we go out on a “date” or get away overnight together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3. Giving and
receiving gifts. Love is also expressed by giving gifts. Special dates which
are remembered with a gift can touch us deeply. Spontaneous small gifts for no
reason also are meaningful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4. Serving each
other. When we volunteer to help our partner with a difficult project or a
needed errand, we’re showing our love. Helping with routine chores also says
love. Flexibility in this is helpful. For example, we can occasionally do a
chore our partner usually does as a surprise or because we know they’re
unusually busy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5. Affectionate
touch. Physical expressions of love including holding hands, hugging, kissing,
pats on the back, cuddling and sex are essential to our health and well being
and they mean love. Take time to touch every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Most of us have one
or two styles of loving that we prefer. Show your husband this blog post and
ask him which are his favorite ways to be shown love. Then tell him what your
favorites are. Most of us show love to our partner in the ways we need to be
shown love. Broaden your styles of showing him love and he may do the same. Women
often have to lead the way in teaching men about close relationships. The
happiest marriages include all five styles of loving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Let
love and faithfulness never leave you.” Proverbs 3:3a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessings,
Dottie <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-49001278407207626052019-02-04T16:47:00.000-05:002019-02-04T16:47:18.676-05:00FASCINATING BOOKS ABOUT PEOPLE & EVENTS IN HISTORY<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Here are book reviews of four good books. Enjoy! </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Sons
and Soldiers</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">:
The Untold Story of the Jews who escaped the Nazis and Returned with the U. S.
Army to Fight Hitler<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">By
Bruce Henderson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sons
and Soldiers</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> is a New York Times best seller for good
reason. It is a truly amazing history about World War II but with a twist – a
story never told before. Many German Jews sent their children to the United
States to save them from the Nazi’s slaughter. As adults many were drafted to
fight in the war – and they were eager to do so. After basic training the Army
selected new recruits proficient in German to join a special unit. They were
then trained to interrogate prisoners and were sent to the front lines to help
us win the war. The book is spell binding, describing in detail each
individual’s experiences in battle just behind the lines and in great danger.
Their methods of interrogation are also fascinating. The atrocities of the
Nazi’s are awful but we need to remember them.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Dreamers and
Deceivers</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">:
True Stories of the Heroes and Villains who made America<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">By
Glenn Beck<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dreamers
and Deceivers</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> is a fascinating book describing many
unknown tales behind a variety of famous or not so famous people in recent
history. There are ten chapters each offering a gripping account of ingenious
little known people and well known people– one who launched the radio and
another the tech age of computers. Two presidents are in the mix – Grover
Cleveland and his mysterious disappearance and Woodrow Wilson’s deception. In
addition we learn about Ponzi and his deceptive scheme and the genius and flaws
of Desi Arnez. This is a very interesting book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Strength in What
Remains</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">by
Tracy Kidder<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is an amazing though
disturbing book. It tells the true story of a medical student, Deo, who escaped
from the devastating civil war and genocide in Burundi and came to the United
States. The author details the traumas he encounters both in his home country
and as an immigrant who doesn’t speak English. The story is told with a number
of flashbacks and flash forwards which give almost agonizing detail about his
trials and his</span> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">pain through all this. Deo is amazingly
persistent and determined to complete his medical training and to help his
people heal. Deo should inspire all of us to overcome our troubles and pursue
difficult goals in life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">7 Women and the
Secret of Their Greatness<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">By
Eric Metaxas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The stories of seven amazing
women are featured in this best selling book. Each chapter describes a woman
who has changed the course of history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These women lived difficult lives yet boldly and courageously changed
the world. The women are Joan of Arc, Susanna Wesley, Hanna More, Saint Maria
of Paris, Corrie ten Boom, Rosa Parks, and Mother Teresa. Hanna More played a
role in the abolition of slavery in Great Britain; Saint Maria of Paris was a
hero of the Greek Orthodox Church. I knew nothing about these two before
reading this book. Each woman lived an amazing life of influence and integrity.
The chapter on Rosa Parks gave me more appreciation of her story. The chapter
on Mother Teresa inspired and challenged me. She lived a truly holy life
ministering to all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each chapter is well
researched and beautifully written with brilliant insight into these role
models of greatness. I highly recommend this book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessings, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-15487707420872610122019-01-28T09:08:00.000-05:002019-01-28T09:08:42.887-05:00STAYING YOUNG AT HEART<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Q.
My husband and I are both retired and starting to feel our age. Our eyesight
and hearing aren’t as good as they used to be and we tire more quickly. We have
aches and pains but so far our doctor has found nothing major wrong. Some times
we feel life is almost over. Some times we’re bored and lonely. We don’t want
to give up on life as we know this can affect us physically as well as
mentally. What can we do to stay young at heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">A.
Physical aging is inevitable for all of us but a positive attitude does slow
down this process and can make our aging years more enjoyable. In addition to
keeping our bodies healthy with proper diet, exercise and medical care, we need
to learn how to stay young at heart. Here are ten ideas that can help us stay young.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">1.
Don’t let your age get in the way of your activities. Life is for living. Do
the things you enjoy. We live in an age when even the physically handicapped
can stay involved in many activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">2.
Keep on learning. Our minds and hearts stay young when we’re actively engaged
in something of interest to us. Join an adult education class, an art class, an
interest group or a Bible class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">3.
Laugh and have fun. Look for humor in the daily events of life. Play games with
friends, children or grandchildren. Spend time with a four year old and laugh
every time they laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">4.
Volunteer to help someone in need. We all have something to contribute. We can
visit a shut in. We can help a single parent with repairs or errands or
baby-sitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can volunteer at a
hospital or a food pantry. When we contribute our time, our attention and our
abilities to others we help ourselves as well as our community. When we give of
ourselves we feel young at heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">5.
Make your relationships a high priority. Reach out to family members and stay
connected. Plan reunions with siblings, cousins, and other relatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>E-mail makes it possible to keep in touch
with family and friends across long distances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">6.
Take care of unfinished business. Let go of grudges or resentments. Forgive
those who have hurt you and ask those you have hurt to forgive you. Hanging
onto resentment hurts us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. If
you have trouble letting go of past hurts or traumas get help from a counselor
or pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">7.
Expect change and learn to accept it. The longer we live the more things will
change, especially in this day and age. Our tendency is to resist change even
when it’s a change for the better. Change stretches us and can keep us young if
we learn from it or view it positively.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">8.
Be open to making new friends. Join church groups or interest groups where this
can happen. As we grow older we will lose many friends as a result of moves or
death. Loneliness and isolation are primary causes of depression and illness
among the elderly. We need to stay connected with others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">9.
Learn to just be. Most of our life we’re busy doing. We think we’re only
valuable for what we do; for what we contribute. In our later years we have the
luxury of relaxing. It’s O.K. to just be. You are valuable as a person just for
who you are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">10.
Deepen your relationship with God. Faith is a miracle cure for many ills! You
now have time for prayer, Bible study and worship. God will comfort you in
times of despair and will bring joy to your heart as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Seek his will in all
you do and he will show you which path to take.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Proverbs 3:6 NLT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Blessings,
Dottie <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-85582026180462716372019-01-22T11:40:00.001-05:002019-01-22T11:40:23.179-05:00Psalm 119 Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God<span class="textps-119-1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
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<span class="textps-119-1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoG4vG1f_YBZYrfS8rk9EvZkrXnqlaBlfBAE34N-VWkF0sR3_hQFNhKkgAJswqTNTIdKRHoTRUDjQvLYqNUETfj-AK61m8X2p6NX8seZ2kbrJvTyzniKB9_4sJaM7fkOcteYRopzZHDyc/s1600/Bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="212" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoG4vG1f_YBZYrfS8rk9EvZkrXnqlaBlfBAE34N-VWkF0sR3_hQFNhKkgAJswqTNTIdKRHoTRUDjQvLYqNUETfj-AK61m8X2p6NX8seZ2kbrJvTyzniKB9_4sJaM7fkOcteYRopzZHDyc/s200/Bible.jpg" width="178" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Qoph </span></span><span class="textps-119-1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;">This is the
nineteenth section of Psalm 119 – the longest chapter and the longest Psalm in
the Bible.</span><span class="textps-119-1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"> There are
8 different terms referring to Scripture used through out. These are: law,
testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments, word and ordinances. I journal thorough each verse.</span></span></h4>
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<span class="textps-119-145"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Qoph. </span></span></h4>
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<span class="textps-119-145"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">145 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-119-145"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I cried</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="textps-119-145"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">with all my heart; answer me, O</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Lord</span></span><span class="textps-119-145"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">!</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<span class="textps-119-145">I will</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-145">observe Your statutes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-145"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Father, I cry
with all my heart; please answer me, Lord!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-145"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I’ll listen to
you and do whatever you say.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<span class="textps-119-146"><b><sup>146 </sup></b>I cried to You;</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-146">save me</span><br />
<span class="textps-119-146">And I shall keep Your testimonies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-146"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Save, me, Lord;
I cry to you,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-146"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Save me and I
will follow you all my days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-147"><b><sup>147 </sup></b>I</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-147">rise before
dawn and cry for help;</span><br />
<span class="textps-119-147">I</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-147">wait for Your words.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-147"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Early in the
morning I cry to you for help;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-147"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I wait for your
loving words.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<span class="textps-119-148"><b><sup>148 </sup></b>My eyes anticipate the</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-148">night
watches,</span><br />
<span class="textps-119-148">That I may</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-148">meditate on Your</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-148">word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-148"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I lie awake at
night praying to you,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-148"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">And meditating
on your word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-149"><b><sup>149 </sup></b>Hear my voice</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-149">according
to Your lovingkindness;</span><br />
<span class="textps-119-149">Revive me, O</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span><span class="textps-119-149">,
according to Your ordinances.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-149"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Hear my cry, Lord, with your holy love and grace;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-149"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Revive and renew
me, Lord, with your holy word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<span class="textps-119-150"><b><sup>150 </sup></b>Those who follow after
wickedness draw near;</span><br />
<span class="textps-119-150">They are far from Your law.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-150"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Many who chase
after wickedness invade my world;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-150"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">They mock you
and your law.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<span class="textps-119-151"><b><sup>151 </sup></b>You are</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-151">near, O</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span><span class="textps-119-151">,</span><br />
<span class="textps-119-151">And all Your commandments are</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-151">truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-151"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Lord, I know you
are near,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-151"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">And I know you
and your words are the Truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<span class="textps-119-152"><b><sup>152 </sup></b>Of old I have</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-152">known from
Your testimonies</span><br />
<span class="textps-119-152">That You have founded them</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-152">forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-152"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I have known your
word from my youth,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textps-119-152"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Your word is
eternal and forever.</span></span></h2>
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<span class="textps-119-104"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Blessings,
Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-29588006702600742782019-01-14T10:13:00.000-05:002019-01-14T10:13:22.076-05:00PSYCH INFO: RECOVERY FROM GRIEF<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-right: .25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Q. The
sudden death of a friend of mine has devastated me and many others. I go from
anger, to depression to feeling numb. I can’t eat or sleep and I keep thinking
about the violence done to her. I’m confused as to why this happened. The world
no longer seems rational or safe. What can I do to get back to normal?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">A. The death of a loved one is
more difficult to accept when it happens to someone in the prime of life and
when it is due to a violent act on the part of another person. There was no
illness, no time to prepare for the loss of your friend and it is difficult to
understand how anyone could or would deliberately kill her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Your anger, shock and grief are
normal reactions to this loss. A range of emotions and reactions accompany loss
- anger, guilt, sadness, fear, as wells as difficulty eating, sleeping and
concentrating. Confusion about the meaning of life also is common. We wonder,
why would God allow this? The reality of death and our own vulnerability is
something we can no longer deny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Grieving is a process and it
takes time. You will have days in which sadness and tears overwhelm you. You
will have days in which you push back your feelings about it and feel numb. The
numb periods are necessary in order to continue to function, do your job, take
care of family needs and get some relief from the inner pain. It is essential
though that you allow yourself to grieve. Choose times when you can let your
feelings out. Talk over your feelings with a friend and cry on their shoulder. No
one should grieve alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">You may experience regrets and
guilt feelings about your friendship - wishing you had been more helpful or
supportive. These are normal reactions to grief. Talk or write out these
feelings of grief. Focus on happy memories also, not just on your regrets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">You may replay in your mind the
events surrounding her death or have nightmares about this. Your heart and soul
are trying to face the reality of what has happened. Talk and write about your
most fearful thoughts. During the day time when you need to work, use thought
stopping to turn off the fearful thoughts or images. Thought stopping involves
talking back to the thoughts with a comforting thought (such as “God is my
refuge and strength”) or replacing a negative image with a positive one. There
are a number of other things you can do:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">If you are unable to eat or
sleep, are depressed and unable to work, medication and counseling can help you
function. Counseling is essential if extreme symptoms continue very long. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Attend a grief support group. Grief
Share, an excellent group, is available at many churches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-indent: -24px;">Read books on grief. A few if these are: </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Where Is God When It Hurts?</i><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
by Philip Yancey, </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Recovering from the
Losses of Life</i><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> by H. Norman Wright, </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">When
Life Changed Forever</i><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> by Rick Taylor</span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">,
Roses in December</i><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> by Marilyn Heavilin, </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Confessions
of a Grieving Christian</i><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> by Zig Ziglar, </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Splashes
of Joy in the Cesspools of Life</i><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> by Barbara Johnson and </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">Dawn of Hope</i><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> by Eldyn Simons.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6667px; text-indent: -24px;">Hang onto your faith. Turn to God through prayer, scripture and your church for help and support. Faith gives us hope and comfort in difficult times. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">“You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You
shall surround me with songs of deliverance.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Psalm
32:7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessings, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-15315114950837643712019-01-07T14:10:00.000-05:002019-01-07T14:10:14.223-05:00Overcoming the Winter Doldrums<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.9pt; margin-left: 22.95pt; text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Q. I
dread winter. I hate driving to work in the dark and driving home in the dark.
I hate being cooped up inside most evenings and weekends because it’s too cold
or snowy or icy to go out. I become bored and depressed every year around the
first of January.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My
husband and children don’t seem to mind being cooped up. They stretch out in
front of the TV for entire weekends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
can’t move to a warmer climate because our jobs and families are here. What can
I do to make the winter bearable for me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">A. For most of us there is a post-holiday let down that often
coincides with very wintry weather. The cold, dark days of winter are difficult
for most of us. There are a number of things you can do that will help you find
some enjoyment in the winter months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">1. Spend a week thinking about what you do like or enjoy about
winter. Make a list and add to it as you think of things. For instance, my list
would include taking brisk walks, time to relax and do nothing, the warmth of a
fire in the fireplace, and the beauty of new fallen snow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">2. Once you have made your list keep it where you will see it
often and focus your mind on these things whenever a negative thought about the
winter creeps in and begins to depress you. Some of your depression regarding
winter is due to your negative thinking about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">3. What are your goals in life? What is your purpose? If you know
the answers to these questions you can find things to do to move you toward
your goals - even in the winter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">4. Use the winter months to accomplish some of the things you
usually put off doing. Clean closets, put pictures in photo albums, write
letters, cook special meals, play with your children letting them suggest the
game or activity, invite friends over for soup and sandwiches. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">5. Think of fun things you can do at home with your husband or
family. Rent a funny movie, play board games or card games, make taffy or
fudge, cuddle with your husband while he watches football. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">6. Don’t be stuck in the house every evening and all weekend even
if your husband and family like it that way. Find places to go. There are
inexpensive or free activities many places. You can take a class that interests
you. You can visit a museum. You can volunteer to help someone in need. You can
be active in a church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">7. Find some alone activities that you enjoy and do them when the
rest of the family is lounging by the TV. You can knit, crochet or work on crafts.
You can read a good book. You can exercise indoors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">8. Learn to enjoy winter sports. Ice skating, sledding and skiing
are available during some of our winters. When it snows, get out and build a
snowman in your yard!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">9. Do something different. This is one of the best ways to overcome
boredom and depression. It sounds too simple to be true but it works. We tend
to be stuck in routines of behavior that are repetitious and not spontaneous. When
we do something different we step out of our rut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I hope these ideas will help you enjoy your winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Consider it all joy,
when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces
endurance.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">
James 1:2-3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Blessings,
Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-70131251952372962692018-12-31T09:38:00.000-05:002018-12-31T09:38:39.921-05:00Sabbath Rest: Take Time to Slow Down and Rest<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Q. Life is too busy. We are
constantly under time pressure to get chores done, go some where, and do
something.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I yearn for time alone, time
to unwind and time to enjoy my family. We seem to only achieve rest and relief
while on vacation. How can we lessen our busyness and stress? Can New Year
Resolutions help along this line?</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A. “I’m too busy” seems to be a
universal refrain in today’s world. We’re so overwhelmed by the demands and
activities of each day that life doesn’t feel easy, pleasant or peaceful. We
long to be calm and serene like Mary but we’re more like busy Martha. Some
people even take pride in busyness, perhaps feeling important because of it. Our
society pushes and pressures us in this direction and has convinced us that
“down time” is wasted. But is it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If we are spending our days in
frantic effort with no time for rest, joy, serenity, or even fun - what are our
priorities?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have we lost sight of what
we want in life? Have we lost sight of what God wants for us in life, as well? New Year Resolutions or plans along this line are in order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Wayne Muller, in his book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sabbath: Remembering the Sacred Rhythm of
Rest and Delight</i>, suggests we have forgotten the Sabbath. The Hebrew word
for Sabbath is “Shabbat” and means to stop, to rest. Most faiths prescribe some
period of time each week dedicated to worship, singing, giving thanks, sharing
meals and resting. It’s a time for being nurtured and renewed. It’s a time to
let go of work and responsibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Mueller suggests that “rest is
not just a psychological convenience; it is a spiritual and biological
necessity.” If we’re sleep deprived and exhausted we’re not effective in any area
of our life. Rest enables us to meet the demands of life with joy and ease and
this improves our effectiveness in our work as well as in our relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We don’t want to return to the
legalistic or routine keeping of the Sabbath as our parents or grandparents
observed it, but we can make the decision to find time for rest. Our Sabbath
rest can be an hour, an afternoon or a Holy day. Many other activities will
tempt you from your plan. Modern life seduces us away from Sabbath rest if we
let it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Here are some ways to create
Sabbath rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">1. Reevaluate your values and
goals. Talk over with your family how you will make time for Sabbath rest. List
the values you follow and the ones you would like to follow. Share these with
your family. Change your activity schedule based on these values.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">2. Give thanks before meals. This
can be a meaningful time of connection for the whole family. You can also give
thanks when you first wake up in the morning before you even get out of bed and
at night before you fall asleep. Prayer and thanksgiving are restful activities
that remind us of our blessings and of a power greater than us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">3. Pause during the day, take
three deep breaths and pray or meditate. Tie this to some regular activity such
as every time you stand up or sit down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">4. Pamper yourself. Take a nap or
a leisurely bath. Both are good for your health. You don’t have to feel guilty
about relaxing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">5. Turn off the TV and the
telephone during dinner. Create a regular period of uninterrupted time with
your family and with yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">6. Take time for worship on a regular basis. It
will restore your soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One of my favorite hymns says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There is a place of quiet rest, near to the
heart of God, a place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God</i>.“
When we draw near to God he draws near to us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Come to me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I
will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am
humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.”</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Matthew 11:28-29 NLT<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Blessings, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-85827005711593726502018-12-26T10:02:00.000-05:002018-12-26T10:02:05.118-05:00BEST BOOKS READ IN 2018<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Just
Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Bryan Stevenson<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51aQsBnSjuL._AC_US327_FMwebp_QL65_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51aQsBnSjuL._AC_US327_FMwebp_QL65_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Just
Mercy</b></span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> is a sobering account of a multitude of injustices done
against many blacks and poor people by the criminal justice system in the
United States. Caution: This book will make you cry and will make you very sad.
Yet we need to know about this and do what we can to help correct the many
problems. Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer, has built a non-profit organization to
represent people wrongfully imprisoned. He has worked tirelessly for decades
and has managed to save hundreds from life in prison. The most unbelievable
injustice includes children as young as thirteen being put in solitary
confinement for life! Stevenson’s writes with warmth, kindness and intense
emotion. This is a powerful book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God
and the Transgender Debate: What Does the Bible Actually Say About Gender
Identity?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Andrew T. Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41U4s9JARAL._AC_US327_QL65_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41U4s9JARAL._AC_US327_QL65_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>God
and the Transgender Debate</b></span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> is a ground breaking book! Andrew
Walker lovingly and thoughtfully describes the issues, problems and caring
solutions for helping people struggling with gender identity. He spells out the
fact that we must love every person as Jesus did. We must listen to them to
understand their struggle. We must accept them and learn from them. We must
also help them understand that we are all sinners, we are all created in the
image of God, and we are all created as either male or female. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Should feelings about who I am trump what my body says
about who I am? Walker tells about a white man in his thirties who interviews
college students and asks them what they would say if he said he is woman? What
if he said he was Chinese? What if he said he was seven years old and wanted to
enroll in first grade? What would they say if he said he was 6 ft 5” tall? (10
inches taller than his actual height.) None of the students would say he was
wrong. They said it was OK for him to view himself as very tall, or Chinese, or
a woman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Walker gives a wealth of information. A chapter on how to
talk with children about this issue is excellent, loving and helpful. He also
has a chapter in which he answers questions and a chapter on how the church
must lovingly deal with this issue. I hope many will read this book and learn
from it. I hope parents with children facing this culture in their schools will
read this book. Walker offers valuable information and insights along with loving
kindness, grace and truth. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s the link for You Tube “College Kids Say the
Darndest Things.” </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4S0gHlKiho">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4S0gHlKiho</a></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Little
Soldiers: An American Boy, a Chinese School, and the Global Race to Achieve <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Lenora Chu<span style="mso-tab-count: 6;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><b>Little Soldiers</b></i> is an excellent, detailed book about the educational
system in China. Lenora Chu, an American journalist and her husband move to
Shanghai to live. Chu’s parents had emigrated from China and she was an
American citizen born and raised in Texas. Her husband was a blond American
with Norwegian roots. He worked in China with the Peace Corp for some years as
a young man and was eager to return there. They settled in Shanghai both with
jobs there. When their son, Rainey, was three they enrolled him in a Chinese
school. Rainey was a rambunctious toddler. The school was very authoritarian.
Toddlers were held captive in small chairs and punished or even banished if
they didn’t obey every order. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chu writes in depth about their experiences with Rainey
and how he adapted. Chu had many misgivings and uncertainties about continuing
Rainey in the system. Over a period of several years she details their journey
and she goes on a quest to understand the effects of a Chinese education on
children. She befriends Chinese students in their teens and in college who
share their ideas about education. She visits Chinese schools out in the
country where poverty and poor teaching prevail. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She describes the extreme pressure on the children and on
their parents regarding home work and testing. This becomes more extreme as
they approach the higher grades. She ultimately decides that the early years of
Chinese education with memorization, high expectations and very hard work
produces more intelligent children who then can reason effectively and still be
creative in what they do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is an excellent and thorough exploration of the
Chinese educational system. Parents, grandparents, educators and all who value
learning should read this and be informed. Hopefully the information here will
influence the American schools to expect more from young children.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Educated:
A Memoir<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By Tara Westover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Educated</b>
</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">is
an amazing memoir of the author’s life growing up with an abusive, disturbed,
fanatic father and a disturbed brother. She is the youngest of seven children,
five of them boys. She grew up in the mountains of Idaho and received no formal
schooling.The family avoided all medical treatment, using natural remedies
even for serious injuries. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The book is disturbing, going from one accident or injury
to another. The family dynamics are shocking and unbelievable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tara, tough and
strong, worked with the men and boys through her childhood as well as with her
mother concocting various health remedies or learning to be a midwife. When
seventeen she left the family against her father’s will and enrolled at Brigham
Young University. This transition was not easy. Nor was it easy for her to come
to terms with her past. She has a list of degrees including a PhD in history
from Cambridge. As an adult she struggled with how to stay connected to her
family without being sucked back into the morass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I couldn’t put this book down. I read it in two days. This
book is disturbing. It is also a New York Times best seller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessings, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-88473659120628351712018-12-17T21:39:00.000-05:002018-12-17T21:39:11.528-05:00The Miracle of Christmas!<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Christmas is a happy,
festive and joyful time. We celebrate Christmas with gifts, fancy meals, family
gatherings and we enjoy marvelous, joyful worship. But in the busyness of the
season do we miss the holy meaning of Christmas? Do we know what Christmas is
really about? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s about the greatest
miracle of all! The Incarnation of Jesus as a baby. Christ </span><span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">assumed human form in the person of Jesus and is completely
God and completely man. The Son of God existed before the world was
created. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. All things came into being through Him and apart from him nothing came
into being that has come into being.” (John 1:1-3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The divine Son of God existed with God and took
on his human body in the womb of Mary. He was not the son of Joseph. He was the
Son of God. Mary was a virgin and God impregnated her. Can you imagine this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a
son and will call him Emmanuel, which means, God with us.“ (Matthew 1:23) In
this scripture Matthew is quoting from Isaiah 7:14. Scholars for centuries
didn’t know this could be taken literally. They were expecting a
different kind of Messiah. This is a promise greater than anyone expected. Mary
is pregnant with the Son of God!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Angels run all through this holy story. The angel Gabriel
appeared to Mary and said: </span><span class="textluke-1-31"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“</span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-1-31"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him
Jesus.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span><span class="textluke-1-32"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-1-32"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">He will
be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will
give him the throne of his ancestor David.</span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i><span class="textluke-1-33"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></sup></i></b></span><span class="textluke-1-33"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And he will reign over <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> forever; his Kingdom will
never end!”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>(</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Luke
1:31-33)</span><span class="textluke-1-33"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="textluke-1-34"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Mary
asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span class="textluke-1-35">The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and
the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be
holy, and he will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:34-35) Have you ever seen
an angel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine this happening
to a teen-age girl? What an amazing revelation!</span><span class="textluke-1-38"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textluke-1-38"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When Joseph
learned Mary was pregnant he planned to quietly end their relationship. Then an
angel appeared to him in a dream and said: “Do not be afraid to go ahead with
your marriage to Mary. For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy
Spirit. And you will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will
save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21) And Joseph listened and
married Mary in spite of what the neighbors must have said.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Another angelic appearance came at the birth of
Jesus. An angel appeared to the shepherds and said, “I bring you good news of
great joy for everyone! The Savior – Yes, the Messiah, the Lord- has been born
tonight in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:place></st1:city>,
the city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">David</st1:place></st1:city>!
And this is how you will recognize him. You will find a baby lying in a manger,
wrapped snuggly in strips of cloth!” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast
host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God: “Glory to God in the
highest heaven and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” (Luke 2:10-14)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">How amazing that must have been for these
shepherds to hear the angel’s message and then to see a vast number of angels
praising God and announcing the Good News. Can you imagine the awe and wonder
of this? </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Only Almighty God, the King of Kings, Our Holy God would do this.
Coming as a baby cost Jesus much. He gave up indescribable power and glory to
become one of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There were witnesses to all these events and they have been
studied and written about and pondered over for centuries. The star that guided
the wise men from the East also attests to the divine nature of Jesus. He was
both divine and human. He lived on earth, grew up and taught his disciples to
love God and follow Him. And he died to save us. </span><span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And he
rose again! The Christmas “story” is the most amazing true story told and it is
a <st1:stockticker w:st="on">TRUE</st1:stockticker> story. It is His Story.
Don’t miss this. Ask Jesus into your heart this Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”<b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Isaiah 9:6<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Blessings, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-30603577816364660702018-12-12T09:42:00.002-05:002018-12-12T09:42:48.717-05:00The Christmas Story for Families <b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Q.
</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Our
families will be with us on Christmas day including a number of children. My
wife and I want to recognize the birth of Christ in addition to our usual gift
exchange and feast. Any ideas about this?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>A.</b> The best idea I can think
of is to read the Christmas Scripture. We have done this with our family, including
the children in the reading. We assigned roles to a Narrator, Angels, the
Prophet, Shepherds, the Magi, Priests and Teachers and Herod. Children enjoy this;
learn from this and like being involved. Our NIV script is below. The Narrator reads the black print.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Birth of Christ as told in the Bible<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthew
1:18-24<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is how the birth of
Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph,
but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy
Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to
expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after
he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and
said, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>ANGEL</u>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Joseph son of
David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is
conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you
are to give him the name Jesus,<sup> </sup>because he will save his people from
their sins."</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> All this took place to fulfill what the
Lord had said through the prophet: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%;">
<span class="sup"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">PROPHET</span></u></b></span><span class="sup"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:</span></b></span><span class="sup"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us." <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of
the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union
with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke
2: 1-10<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In
those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the
entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius
was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So
Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem
the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went
there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was
expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be
born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and
placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And there were shepherds
living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An
angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ANGEL</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that
will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born
to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><u><span style="color: blue;">ANGELS</span></u><span style="color: blue;">: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to
men on whom his favor rests."</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When the angels had
left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: green; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SHEPHERDS</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has
happened, which the Lord has told us about."</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> So they hurried off
and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they
had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about
this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to
them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had
heard and seen which were just as they had been told.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Matthew
2:1-12 12<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the
time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<st1:stockticker w:st="on"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u>MAGI</u></span></b></st1:stockticker><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: "Where is the one
who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come
to worship him."<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When King Herod heard
this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together
all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the
Christ<sup> </sup>was to be born. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span class="sup2"><u><span style="color: #993366; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">PRIESTS & TEACHERS</span></u></span><span class="sup2"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: </span></span><span style="color: #993366; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"In Bethlehem in
Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among
the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd
of my people Israel.'”</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Then Herod called the
Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He
sent them to Bethlehem and said,</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #ff9900; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">HEROD</span></u></b><span style="color: #ff9900; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: "<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Go and make a careful search for the child.
As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship
him." <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #ff9900; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After they had heard the
king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead
of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the
star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his
mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their
treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And
having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their
country by another route.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Christmas Blessings,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: red;">Dottie</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h3>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-46481238057775577512018-12-04T21:32:00.001-05:002018-12-04T21:32:47.369-05:00CHRISTMAS AFTER DIVORCE<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-left: 22.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: .25in 22.0pt .75in 4.5in; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Q. I’m a single parent of two children. My husband asked for a
divorce last January; the divorce was final in June and he remarried in July.
I’m depressed about the breakup of my marriage and overwhelmed at the thought
of celebrating the Holidays. The children are still adjusting to the changes - we’re
now living in a small apartment and they see their Dad every other weekend. How
can I get through the Holidays? I want to give my children a happy Christmas in
spite of all the changes. What do you suggest?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A. The first Christmas after a loss or major change in a family is
difficult for all concerned. We go through a grieving process with any loss -
not just when someone dies. Christmas often intensifies feelings of depression
or loss because it is “supposed” to be a happy family time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s helpful that you’re living in a different place this year. One
reason grief intensifies at Christmas is due to memories from the past that include
the person we’ve lost. Being in a different location, without all the reminders
of the past will make it easier to not let memories intrude on current
enjoyment. You may want to change some of your usual Christmas routines for
this reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Recognize that this Christmas will be different than previous Christmases.
Talk this over with your parents or other relatives who will be involved in
celebrating with you. Relatives grieve when a divorce occurs in the family, so
they are dealing with sadness also. They may hesitate to talk about their own
grief unless you share yours. Sharing your feelings will help all of you
through the grieving process. Do this as you plan for Christmas so all will be
prepared for the ways in which this Christmas will be different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Talk with the children also about plans for this Christmas and
about the fact that it will be different without Daddy there. It’s OK for your
children to see some of your tears or sadness. It may even help them share
their pain. Explain to them that we all grieve when there is a loss. But also
reassure them that you will all be OK. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Give your children as much of your time and attention as you can. This
may seem impossible with all you have to do. Include them in the planning for
Christmas. Let them help with household chores as well as with shopping, gift
wrapping, and decorating. A few minutes listening to them and enjoying them at
bedtime can also make a big difference to a child. Give hugs, kisses and say “I
love you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You must also be very good to yourself during this difficult
period of time. Single parents carry a double load of responsibility anyway and
then to add to this the grieving process that follows divorce plus the extra
“work” of preparing for Christmas and the result can be overwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are many ways you can be good to yourself. Don’t expect
things to be perfect. Do only what is essential. Take time for yourself. Spend
time with friends who love you and who lift your spirits. Accept help from
others. Don’t hide your feelings, share them. See a counselor if you have no
one else you can talk openly with or if you are seriously depressed, anxious or
overwhelmed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Focus on the deep meaning of
Christmas. An Advent calendar and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas
readings each day can be enjoyed by all of you. Most churches have special
Christmas programs throughout the month. Take your children with you to these
and enjoy the music and the deep meaning of Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I hope these ideas will help you have as Merry a Christmas as
possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“For unto us a child is born…” Isaiah 9:6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessings, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-73501404655753856702018-11-28T14:59:00.000-05:002018-11-28T14:59:42.823-05:00FAMILY RECONCILIATION AT CHRISTMAS <span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -48px;"> Q. I'm 18 years old and a senior in high school. My older sister got married last summer. Dad refused to go to her wedding because he didn’t approve of her fiancé. My sister was very hurt by this and everyone was upset. My Dad and my sister still aren't talking. My sister doesn’t come over to the house any more so I never see her. When I call her to talk to her my Dad accuses me of siding with my sister. I’m sad and upset about this and wish my family wasn’t so divided. At Thanksgiving my sister went to her husband's family for dinner. I'm worried now about what will happen at Christmas. I'm not sure they will ever make up.</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -48px;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -48px;">My Dad's sister hasn't spoken to their Dad for about 20 years. ?</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -48px;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -48px;">What can I do to help?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -48px;"> A, Alienation between two members of a family creates heartbreak, tension and un happinessfor every one. </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-indent: -48px;">Often family alienation occurs around special occasions, especially around "rites of passage" such as weddings and funerals. These are emotion packed occasions. Alienation is a detouring of the emotions, almost like a short circuit. It protects the persons involved from overwhelming emotions just as a circuit breaker stops an overload of electricity from doing damage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">In your father's and sister's case, they probably both had overwhelming feelings about no longer being intimately involved as father and daughter. It’s interesting that there is long lasting alienation going on in your father's family. This type of “cut off” often runs in families. There may have been alienation in his family going back for many generations. The circumstances of the alienation in previous generations may even be similar as each generation learns from the previous one and tries to resolve the same emotional difficulties in familiar ways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Often family alienation can be resolved if one person will make the attempt to do so. The person reaching out may have to do so more than once, however, in order to break through the emotional barrier set up by months or years of hurt and angry silence. When a family estrangement has continued for a long period of time, counseling may be necessary in order to resolve it. The hard work of family therapy can stop the repetition of bitter divisions carried on from one generation to another.</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Here’s what you can do: Enlist the rest of the family to convince your Dad and your sister to make up. Perhaps the family member closest to each one can talk individually with each of them or you can hold a family meeting with each one. Give the two injured parties time to express their feelings. Listen without arguing. When they have finished, ask them to listen to you. Then tell them how you feel about the alienation, how it is affecting you. Use “I” statements rather than “You” statements (which sound blaming) – such as the one you used “I’m sad and upset and wish my family wasn’t divided.” </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Find out what they want from the other person in order to reconcile and then share</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> this to the other person. Let each one know of any softening on the part of the other. Remind them that Christmas is about love and therefore a great time to forgive. Tell them forgiveness does not mean the other person hasn’t hurt them. Forgiveness means letting go of my desire to hurt the other person for hurting me.</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Readers: Is there someone you need to forgive and reconcile with this Christmas?</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Don’t let pride or stubbornness keep you from forgiveness and love.</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“Be kind to each other. Tenderhearted forgiving one another, just as God through Christ Jesus has forgiven you.”</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ephesians 4:32 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Blessings, Dottie</span><br />
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Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-3327276083993044072018-11-25T21:25:00.002-05:002018-11-25T21:25:36.330-05:00How to Navigate My Blog<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">How to Navigate My Blog<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Currently my
subscribers are not receiving my blog posts. I’m hoping to have this fixed
soon. If anyone reading this knows how to fix it let me know! In the meanwhile
or even when you are receiving them you can go to my blog anytime to browse. That’s
right you can look at any of my writings from this week to last month to last
year to back in 2010! </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">First, click on
my blog address </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.faithnotes-dottie.blogspot.com/"><b>www.faithnotes-dottie.blogspot.com</b></a><span style="color: black;"><b> </b>or copy and paste it in goggle. It should pop up a page
called Faith Notes. I usually post something new weekly. The most recent post
will be shown first with previous ones available below. You can look at my blog
anytime you wish.</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What is
a blog?</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A blog is short for <st1:stockticker w:st="on">WEB</st1:stockticker> LOG. It’s an on line journal. A blog can be set
up in many ways. Many people post family pictures to share with other family
members. Many use a blog to keep relatives and friends informed when someone in
the family is going through a crisis. A happier reason to have one is to build
a following as a writer or as an artist or to help others with good information
about various subjects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Pick Any Subject. </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When you go to my
blog you can pick subjects of interest. To do this, look on the right side below
my Bio and Followers to LABELS. You can click on any label and it will show you
all the blogs on that subject - just scroll down through them. I just clicked
on Marriage and it shows all 50 or so that I've done. When you get to the end
click on OLDER POSTS and it will give you more or it will tell you that's all.
On this subject I clicked Older Posts three or four times. So you can choose
what to read on any subject listed! Isn’t that cool? </span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Follow Me.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> To be a follower, click on
the area on the right side where it says Follow by Email. You can do this
publicly or privately. They will give directions for this after you click. It
should then send you a weekly email with my latest one. If you have a blog and
become a follower of mine our blogs will be linked.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That's about it. Thanks
for checking out my blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He who gets wisdom loves his own soul, he who cherishes
understanding prospers.</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Proverbs 19:8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blessings, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-17886204936001508202018-11-19T10:59:00.000-05:002018-11-19T10:59:06.548-05:00PRACTICE GRATITUDE <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Q. I know that thinking
positively is best for our health and well-being but I have a hard time doing
this. I start out in a positive frame of mind and then my kids start arguing,
my boss gets critical, the traffic is terrible and the cares of the day just
get to me. What’s the secret of learning to think positively? How can anyone who
is sick or faced with a tragedy think positively?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">A.<b> </b>Positive thinking is a health giving trait which we all
need to learn. Even though there have been books written on the subject, there
is a one word answer to how to become a positive thinking person. The word is
“Gratitude.” If you practice gratitude you will learn positive thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Hazen G. Werner in his book <i>Live
With Your Emotions</i>, tells of a woman who had run out of hope. She felt
trapped and despairing. One night in the midst of this she cried out “Thank
you, God, anyway.” For a moment she felt better. She began to thank God more
and her mood lightened. Soon she able to be grateful for several hours at a
time and her hope grew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">David, who wrote most of the Psalms in the Bible, gives us a model
of how to practice gratitude. In the midst of intense difficulties including
despairing inner struggles David bursts forth with gratitude for every
blessing. He is very human in his struggles with difficulties, even wondering
where God is at times yet he continues to practice gratitude. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">How can we be grateful in the midst of tragic circumstances? How
can we be grateful when we are sick and in pain or when we suffer major losses?
We will need to cry and grieve and be upset but we can also look for and count
our blessings in the midst of tragedy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thomas Edison, the genius inventor, lost his laboratory in a blazing
fire in December 1914. The next morning, as he walked in the smoldering rubble
he said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank
God, we can start anew.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">When things go well we take our blessings for granted. We even
take credit for much that has been given to us by God or with the help of
others. When tragedy strikes, big or small it forces us to recognize what’s
important in life; that we need God and that we need each other. The tragedy
thus becomes a blessing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">There is a legend about a day when the sun didn’t appear. It was
dark at eight AM, still dark at nine AM , ten AM, noon. By four PM people had
gone to their churches to pray for the sun to return. The next morning crowds
congregated outside to watch the eastern sky. When the first rays of sunlight
streaked the sky the people burst into cheers and applause. They felt so
grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Minor annoyances of daily life are often more difficult to look on
with gratitude than are major trials. We rise to meet a tough challenge yet let
petty annoyances drag us down. Gratitude is still the key. If we count our
blessings every day we will be better able to recognize the smallness of the
annoyances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Learning a grateful attitude takes practice. This Thanksgiving Day
let’s all practice gratitude and keep it up in the days and months ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">“Always be joyful. Pray
continually, and give thanks whatever happens.That is what God wants for you in
Christ Jesus.”</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> 1 Thessalonians 5:16 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Blessings, Dottie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7939280502807906000.post-41548481777563676312018-11-12T16:11:00.000-05:002018-11-12T16:11:37.245-05:00Psalm 119 Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the eighteenth section of Psalm 119 – the
longest chapter and the longest Psalm in the Bible</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span><span class="textps-119-1"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal;"> There are 8 different terms referring to Scripture used through out.
These are: law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments, word
and ordinances.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="textps-119-1"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span><span class="textps-119-137"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b>Tsadhe.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="textps-119-137"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><b><br /></b></span></span><span class="textps-119-137"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">137 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-119-137"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Righteous
are You, O</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="textps-119-137"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">, </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And upright are Your </span><u style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">judgments</u><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Father, You are right and true, my Lord,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-137">And Your ways are good and just</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-137"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-138"><b><sup>138 </sup></b>You have commanded Your
<u>testimonies</u> in</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-138">righteousness</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-138"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-138">And exceeding</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-138">faithfulness.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-138"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-138"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Your <u>commands</u> and your word are good and just, </span></span><span class="textps-119-138"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> And teach us to be faithful to you.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-139"><b><sup>139 </sup></b>My</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-139">zeal has</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-139">consumed
me,</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-139">Because my adversaries have forgotten Your <u>word</u>.</span></span><span class="textps-119-139"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-139"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My utter devotion to you consumes me,</span></span><span class="textps-119-139"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But skeptics have forgotten you and your words.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="textps-119-139"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-140"><b><sup>140 </sup></b>Your</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-140"><u>word</u> is
very</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-140">pure,</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-140">Therefore Your servant</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-140">loves it.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-140"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-140"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Your word is so very pure and true,</span></span><span class="textps-119-140"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So your child of faith loves it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="textps-119-140"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-141"><b><sup>141 </sup></b>I am small and</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-141">despised,</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-141"><i>Yet</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-141">I do not</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-141">forget Your <u>precepts</u>.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-141"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-141"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Even though my influence is small and even disliked,</span></span><span class="textps-119-141"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I will not forget your word or you.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="textps-119-141"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-142"><b><sup>142 </sup></b>Your righteousness is an
everlasting righteousness, </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-142">And</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-142">Your <u>law</u> is truth.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-142"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-142"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Father your goodness and mercy are eternally good and merciful, </span></span><span class="textps-119-142"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">and your law is truth.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="textps-119-142"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-143"><b><sup>143 </sup></b>Trouble and anguish have</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-143">come upon
me,</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-143"><i>Yet</i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-143">Your <u>commandments</u> are my</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-143">delight.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-143"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-143"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Trouble and difficulty visit me,</span></span><span class="textps-119-143"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Yet your word and laws are my joy.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="textps-119-143"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-144"><b><sup>144 </sup></b>Your</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="textps-119-144"><u>testimonies</u>
are righteous forever;</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-144">Give me understanding that I may live.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span class="textps-119-144"><br /></span></span><span class="textps-119-144"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-144"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Father, your words are eternally good and true</span></span><span class="textps-119-144"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Give me spiritual understanding that I may live in Christ.</span></span><span class="textps-119-104"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span class="textps-119-104"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Blessings, Dottie</span></span><span class="textps-119-104"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Dottie Parishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15323765426917492792noreply@blogger.com0