The Great Reset

“You’ll own nothing, and you’ll be happy.” The World Economic Forum

Hmmm 🤔

Interesting you never hear or see anything about the World Economic Forum in the mainstream news. Long story short, in the last quarter of 2020 I came to the conclusion that the mainstream news media can no longer be trusted. In my opinion, the average network news program toggles between the truth, half truths, and propaganda, with the token “heart warming” story at the end of the program. Nowadays I try to get my news and information from a variety of sources, including podcasts, Twitter, Rumble, American Family Radio Network, Newsmax, Redacted, YouTube, etc.

So in 2020 I started looking into The Great Reset after seeing some random posts about it on social media. I found several people speaking up about The Great Reset here and there, but I wanted to find out exactly what it was and specifically, and I wanted to learn about it from a Christian perspective. So I started listening to the first of four YouTube videos by Keith Malcomson, a pastor from Ireland. Initially I wasn’t sure about him, so I checked out his church (Limerick City Church) and their mission statement, what they believe, etc. I found his church to be of sound doctrine concerning the essentials of faith, and proceeded to listen to his first, then second, then third video.

I was convicted to go back and listen to the first three videos all over again when he came out with the fourth video in late December. The first three videos were made in October and November.

1. Part 1, published 10/16/20, THE GREAT RESET, The Coming Economic Crisis.

2. Part 2, published 10/30/20, THE GREAT RESET, The Coming Economic Crisis.

3. Part 3, published 11/24/20, THE GREAT RESET, The Coming Economic Crisis and The Rise of a World Socialist State.

4. Part 4, published 12/21/20, THE GREAT RESET, The Coming Economic Crisis and The Fourth Industrial Revolution.

First, a quick review about the first three Industrial Revolutions, which I’m sure we were taught in high school but most of us have long forgot. As a side note, I do remember thinking back then, “Do we really need to learn about this kind of stuff?!” And now, all these years later I wish I would have taken the time to actually learn about this sort of thing back then.

Actually I wish I would have done a lot of things differently back then and taken a lot of things more seriously.

Ah, hindsight.

But thanks to an quick internet search, here’s a simple outline of the first three Industrial Revolutions:

1. The First Industrial Revolution: “The first wave of the Industrial Revolution lasted from the late 1700’s to the mid-1800’s. It industrialized the manufacture of textiles and began the move of production from homes to factories. Steam power and the cotton gin played an important role in this period.”

2. The Second Industrial Revolution: “Historians have labeled the years from 1870-1914 as the period of the Second Industrial Revolution. While the First Industrial Revolution caused the growth of industries, such as coal, iron, railroads and textiles, the Second Industrial Revolution witnessed the expansion of electricity, petroleum and steel.”

3. The Third Industrial Revolution: “The third revolution began in the late 1900’s and brought forth the rise of electronics, telecommunications and of course, computers. Through the new technologies, the third industrial revolution oped the doors to space expeditions, research, nuclear energy, and biotechnology.”

The coming Fourth Industrial Revolution, as envisioned by the World Economic Forum (WEF), is problematic:

The Great Reset is about a global socialist elite power network (The World Economic Forum) that seeks to control us economically, politically, biologically, physically, and spiritually. They are anti-salvific at its core. They will not stop with technology being around us; they want to make it a part of us. They want technology to envelop us and be embedded in us. The WEF is the driving force behind The Great Reset. The WEF wants to change our way of living from capitalism to socialism, control everything we do, and usher us into their version of Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Here’s a quote from a 2016 article titled, “The Fourth Industrial Revolution, What it Means and How to Respond.” by Klaus Schwab, the leader of The WEF: “Now a Fourth Industrial Revolution is building on the Third, the digital revolution that has been occurring since the middle of the last century. It is characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres.”

Hmm… Interesting choice of words.

In June of 2020 Klaus Schwab spoke at a summit meeting outlining The Great Reset master plan and of the advantages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting attendees included powerful and wealthy world leaders, including members of the IMF (International Monetary Fund), The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations. Klaus Schwab stated that Covid-19 was a catalyst in advancing The Great Reset agenda and that, “COVID-19 has accelerated our transition into the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We have to make sure that the new technologies in the digital, biological and physical world remain human-centred and serve society as a whole, providing everyone with fair access.”

Hmm…. Interesting choice of words once again.

It’s about “Build Back Better,” Joe Biden’s catch-phrase, that he coincidentally borrowed from the World Economic Forum, and the Trojan horse of the merging of capitalism with socialism under the guise of Steak Holder Capitalism. It’ll still be socialism.

It’s about a Wealth Redistribution Plan that touts a digitalization of our entire economy, a cashless society, (CBDC’s) Central Bank Digital Currency, and a standard income based upon socialist idealism and control.

It’s about a revamping of our entire educational system into a Global Digitalized Education System where teachers no longer teach but are mere facilitators of the woke philosophies of the WEF.

It’s about the Green Agenda and Climate Change, Trojan Horses of the population control agenda.

It’s about the World Health Organization (WHO) controlling people worldwide by the use of vaccine passports; a QR coded digital permission system that will allow or restrict people to travel. Obey their rules = freedom to travel. Disobey their rules = no travel allowed. i.e. quarantines, lockdowns, etc.

It’s about Event 201, Agenda 2021, Agenda 2030, and Globalization 4.0 involving the digitalization of everything with the goal of merging of the physical, the digital, the technological and the biological; a trans-humanism society of designer evolution.

It’s about evil forces who’re attempting to destroy God’s creation and plans, and attempting to replacing it with man’s creation and plans. Worshiping the creation rather than the Creator.

“For they exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature ratherthan the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 1:25

Folks, we are nearing the Last Days.

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:42-44

To be clear, I believe The rapture is imminent; no other biblical prophecy needs to be fulfilled before the rapture happens. The good news for born-again believers is that we’ll be taken up to heaven at this point. The bad news for everyone else is that they’ll be left behind at this point.

After the rapture, a satanically empowered man will gain worldwide control with promises of peace. This man is the Antichrist. He will be aided by another man, called the false prophet, who will head up a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist. The seven year tribulation will follow. During the tribulation, there will be terrible wars, famines, plagues, and natural disasters. God will be pouring out His wrath against sin, evil, and wickedness. The seven year tribulation will be the darkest moment the world will have ever seen.

Today is the day of salvation: “Today, if only you would hear his voice, Do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7–8).

“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

To learn more of The Great Reset, here are the links to the videos that I referenced above. Pastor Malcomson goes into great detail explaining The Great Reset, from a Christian perspective

Merry Christmas 2020

We celebrated our 2020 family Christmas 🎄 a couple of weeks early this year as we had out of town business plans in late December. We decided it would be fine as all three of our daughters are married with children and this would give them a little extra freedom this year to celebrate Christmas at their own home, visit in-laws, travel, etc.

So on December 13, we started off with a BIG country breakfast. Then we played a couple of games, caught some kisses under the mistletoe, had a gift-exchange between the grandkids, and a timed white elephant gift exchange for the adults.

We also sang “The Twelve Days of Christmas” with singing 🎶 parts for each of us. It was fun!

We also talked about the folklore of the hidden meaning of the lyrics to The Twelve Days of Christmas. While some may dispute the origin and intent of the song lyrics, the popular folklore is that it’s a song of Christian instruction with hidden references to Christ and the Christian faith. Dating as far back to the 16th century, a time during the religious wars in England, the folklore is that the song was actually a device to secretly teach the basic principles of Christianity to children.

Thus,

1 The partridge in the pear tree represents Jesus Christ.

2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments.

3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity.

4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels.

5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch,” which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.

6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation.

7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes.

9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit.

10 Lords A-leaping = the Ten Commandments.

11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles.

12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed.

It’s my hope that each of our children and grandchildren will never forget the true meaning of Christmas:

It’s not about Santa.

It’s not about traditions.

It’s not about food and it’s not about gifts.

All these things are all fine to enjoy but,

Christmas is about Jesus. Jesus is the reason for the season.

And,

The most important thing we will ever do is pass our faith on to our loved ones. I pray for each one of our family members to come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, in God’s perfect timing.

The truth is,

Jesus did not come into the world to do good works or just to leave an example for us to follow.

“…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners… 1 Timothy 1:15

My Creed is Jesus Christ

The first church I became a member of was Southport Methodist Church.

Here’s a picture of me and my 5th grade Sunday School class sometime around 1964 or 1965. I’m on the second row, second from the left. This was the church our family attended while I was growing up in Indianapolis. I have some very fond memories from when I attended this church, especially when I was young. It was here that I first trusted in Christ around the age of 12, although I don’t believe it was a saving faith.

Around 3 years after this picture was taken, the church changed their name to include “United.” I continued my membership there into my young adult years, with increasing periods of inactivity on and off during my late teens and early 20’s, and then a resurgence in my mid-twenties. God got my attention one night after listening to Billy Graham speak on TV a few nights before. I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about all the sin in my life, and I cried out to Him in repentance and faith. I believe it was at this time that I was born again, as it was from this point forward that my life began to change. I began reading my Bible and started going back to my old church. However, after a while a couple of things started bothering me. My Sunday School class studied books that seemed more philosophical than biblical, and many of the pastor’s sermons were light on Bible verses and heavy on modern day stories.

Around this same time, I was listening regularly to Charles Stanley from First Baptist Atlanta, on the radio. His sermons were jam packed with Bible verses and Bible stories. This style of preaching was new to me and I found myself very drawn to it. While I enjoyed my old church, God had different plans for me.

In 1988 I was convicted to be baptized by full water immersion at age 33. I became a member of Providence Baptist Church in Riverview, Florida. It was a series of events that lead up to both my change in church membership and in my relationship with God. I wrote about this experience in a previous chapter titled, Another Gospel. In short, God was calling me to draw closer in my relationship with Him.

Nowadays I do lean more toward Reformed (Calvinism) Theology, which makes me more of a Reformed Baptist I suppose. I respect the hero’s of the Reformation such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Jonathan Edwards. I like John Bunyan, a Puritan who famously wrote Pilgrim’s Progress. I also like Charles Spurgeon; I agree and appreciate his clear position on water baptism, aka believer’s baptism/credobaptism.

Spurgeon wrote, “Conscience has convinced me that it is a duty to be buried with Christ in baptism, although I am sure it constitutes no part of salvation.” In his testimony, he says, “I had no superstitious idea that baptism would save me, for I was saved” even prior to being baptized. Thus, baptism was an act of obedience for Spurgeon. He answers his own question, “Why was I thus baptized?” by saying, “because I believed it to be an ordinance of Christ, very specially joined by Him with faith in His name.” So, even though he did not believe baptism as essential for salvation, he would reject the notion that baptism is non-essential.

Though baptism did not save, it symbolized or was emblematic of salvation. Spurgeon says, “I regarded baptism as the token to the believer of cleansing, the emblem of his burial with his Lord, and the outward avowal of his new birth.” That word avowal conveys the idea of baptism as a public profession or declaration to the world that a person belongs to Christ.

Clearly, the Bible contains many verses about baptism, some of which may seem to infer that baptism is required, however based on the whole of the gospel, I too, do not believe that baptism is required in order to be saved.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

In my own personal experience for example, I was a 33 year old adult when I was convicted that I needed to be baptized by full water immersion. I understood that baptism is a step of obedience, and an outward sign of an inward change. At age 12 I had been “sprinkled” at my old Methodist church where I first trusted Christ, however was later convicted that neither the sprinkling or my salvation at age 12 was valid. Comparing my voluntary and obedient baptism as an adult, to people who get baptized because they’re told they “have to be baptized in order to be saved,” reinforces my belief that baptism is not required for salvation.

I also agree with Charles Spurgeon’s viewpoint on baptismal regeneration, the unbiblical practice of baptizing unbelievers and infants. Charles Spurgeon emphatically stated that, “We will confront this dogma with the assertion that BAPTISM WITHOUT FAITH SAVES NO ONE.”

Over the years, I’ve read many wonderful quotes and biblical teachings from Charles Spurgeon’s writings. In fact, I’ve been using The Spurgeon Study Bible since 2019 for my personal Bible study, and have grown in my faith by using it. He is one of my favorite Reformed preachers of old. John MacArthur, Voddie Bachman, Paul Washer, Sinclair Ferguson, and Alistair Begg top my list of favorite present day Reformed preachers.

At the same time, I also like Arminian preachers such as the late Charles Stanley from First Baptist Atlanta, Ray Comfort from Living Waters, Greg Laurie from A New Beginning, the late Adrian Rogers from Love Worth Finding, and of course, the late Billy Graham, who is probably the most well known evangelist of the 20th century.

I believe God uses both Arminians and Calvinists to preach the gospel message and to teach us about the Bible. I like this quote from Arminian pastor Leonard Ravenhill,

“Think like a Calvinist, live like an Arminian.”

“I am a Calvinist: I believe in election and predestination; but I would not dream of putting it under the heading of essential. I put it under the heading of non-essential…. You are not saved by your precise understanding of how this great salvation comes to you.” #MartynLloydJones

So, whether you lean toward Arminianism or Calvinism it is a non-essential issue.

Now, I do find debates between Arminianism and Calvinism interesting to a point, but it bothers me when soteriology becomes an argument between believers. Those who find themselves in frequent debates on this subject would make better use of their time by instead sharing the gospel with a lost and dying world. Our job is telling. God’s job is saving. I believe God saves, with or without our help, however what a blessing it is to be used by God to help spread the gospel.

I like the response that Charles Spurgeon once gave to someone who asked him about his theology. Though he preferred to think of himself as a “mere Christian” he also said “I am never ashamed to avow myself a Calvinist,” and “I do not hesitate to take the name of Baptist, but if I am asked what is my creed, I reply, ‘It is Jesus Christ.’”

Making Room

Sometimes God brings little surprises when we least expect it. In early 1996, Harold and I had assumed our family was complete, but God had other plans. After a visit to the doctor’s office the doctor said, (with a heavy foreign accent) “It not menopause, you pregnant.” Harold said, “What?!” 😂

A few months later:

December 23, 1996, Mackenzie Anne Crandell!

Time of birth: 5:14 p.m.

Weight: 8 lbs. 8 oz.

Length: 21.5 inches

Color of hair: brown

Place of birth: Lewisville, Texas

Age of parents: Mom 42, Dad 48

Harold and Mackenzie 👶🏻 on Christmas 🎄 Day 1996.

Our little “surprise” came home from the hospital at 2 days old.

With big sister, Michelle, age 15.

With big sister, Megan, age 11.

Mackenzie in her homemade wooden cradle one of our friends made for her.

Me and Mackenzie on New Year’s Eve. Her crib and clothes are in the background. We were in our bedroom (stall) 😂 and there wasn’t much room to walk around but we made it work.

Stall? Yes, I said stall.

So this was in our barn/cabin/home that we lived in temporarily for several months while we were having our house built in Krum, Texas. It was actually a drive-through barn with 12 horse stalls. We converted 4 of the the stalls into a living area: 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, and 1 bath/kitchen area. It was crowded, but we made it work.

The new house that we were building was only a 3 bedroom home, as we only needed 3 bedrooms, or at least so we thought at the time when we first started the home! 😂

So, we ended up converting the formal dining room into a nursery and it worked out fine! The wood on the double French doors matched the wood on her crib and I loved the way it turned out. Who really needs a formal dining room anyway?!

Seven years later Mackenzie finally got to move out of the dining room and get her own bedroom when we moved into a new home in Denton, Texas with 4 bedrooms. 🏡

The point I want to make is this; babies, surprises or not, are all gifts from God; and we’re to make “room” for them in our lives, no matter what the circumstances.

Childred are a gift from the Lord. They are a reward from Him. Psalm 127:3

Even more so, the Baby, whose birth we celebrate on December 25. Be sure to make “room” for Him 🙌🏻 in your heart; be it Christmas time or anytime.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Thankful, My Michelle

I think it’s human nature to take things for granted; especially when we’re young. For me, my earliest recollection of being truly thankful was on Thanksgiving Day in 1981. I was 26 years old and at St Francis Hospital in Beech Grove, Indiana, two days after the birth of our first daughter, Michelle. One of the attendants rolled in a large multi-tiered meal cart and handed me my Thanksgiving dinner: turkey, dressing, and all. Michelle, just two days old, lay asleep in the bassinet next to my bed.

It was just the two of us there in that little hospital room. Harold was at mom’s having thanksgiving dinner with my family. Tears started welling up in my eyes. Not because I felt alone, actually I felt wonderful! Not because of hormones, well, maybe a little. But, because I was so happy and overwhelmed with thankfulness. I was amazed that God had entrusting me to be a mom. I was in love with my Michelle and knew that she was a precious gift on loan from God.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

I prayed, with tears in my eyes, thanking God with every tear.

Later, I wanted to sing something to her and the oh so spiritual (not 😂) lyrics to “ Michelle” by The Beatles came to mind. To me, it was the perfect song about how I felt about “my Michelle” so that’s what I sang:

Michelle, ma belle

These are words

that go together well

My Michelle

Michelle, ma belle

Sont les mots qui vont

Tres bien ensemble

Tres bien ensemble.

I love you, I love you, I love you

That’s all I want to say

Until I find a way

I will say the only words

I know that you’ll understand,

My Michelle.

This was my first Thanksgiving spent away from home and my first Thanksgiving in a hospital, but to me it was really special. It was just me and my Michelle, and it was the first Thanksgiving that I recall where I was so thankful.

Since that day, God blessed us with two more daughters, and many other blessings over the years. But as I’ve grown in my relationship with Christ, I also learned a simple truth: God, regardless of what gifts He gives or does not give, is good, no matter what. I’m thankful for His goodness. I’m thankful for His sovereignty. I’m thankful for His providence. I’m thankful for His protection. The list is endless, but most of all I’m thankful for my salvation through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. He took my place and paid the price for my sins.

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

It was many years ago when I was in my mid-twenties that Billy Graham was on TV one night. I remember walking around the living room cleaning and only occasionally looking over toward the TV but nonetheless hearing every word he said. A few nights later I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about all the sin in my life. I asked for His forgiveness, started reading my bible again and going back to church. I had first come to faith in Christ when I was 12 but had drifted away during my teens and early 20’s. Interestingly enough, I don’t recall ever being thankful during those years. I may have been, but I just don’t recall it.

I think it’s easy to take things for granted when we’re young, but it’s really not just about being young. I know for me, it was only after I repented of my sin and got into a right relationship with God that changed the way I see almost everything, including being Thankful! 🙌🏻

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 107:1

My Weight Loss Journey

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Weight gain and loss is such a personal issue; many people struggle with loosing weight; many of us give up. It takes determination, the right foods, portion control, exercise, and a practical plan that you can stick with.

Here I am in 2013 holding our youngest grandson at the time, Hudson, who I love dearly. I have no idea how much I weighed then; I didn’t dare step on the scale nor would I normally post a photo like this! It was taken during a fairly stressful time in my life. Not that this was the only stressful period in my life, as anyone with grown children can attest, but it was definitely one of them. A few months months earlier, his mother (our youngest daughter Mackenzie) became pregnant at age 15 and gave birth out-of-wedlock at age 16. Like a lot of people, I tend to overeat during stressful times, In fact, I can look back at other times in my life that I also gained weight due to specific stressful periods in my life. Even though I’m a Christian and know that God is in control, I’m still human.

I also tend to keep to myself, especially when it comes to personal issues. It took me a long time before I could even talk about our daughters pregnancy, let alone stop crying about it. I was so upset but just as I’ve discovered with so many of life’s trials, when I’ve looked to God for help, He taken some of the most stressful moments in my life and turned them into some of the most beautiful things in my life.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Roman’s 8:28

Now I can’t even imagine life without our Hudson! He, along with our other grandchildren are the icing on the cake of life! I know that no human being is ever conceived outside God’s will or ever conceived apart from His image. Unplanned pregnancies may surprise us, but God is never surprised.

Actually our Mackenzie was our surprise baby; she was born when I was 42! I believe with all my heart and told her that, “The God who allowed you to be born when I was 42, is the same God who’s allowed you to give birth at age 16.” He is the author of life.

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,

Psalm 139:13-16

Here I am in 2013 with our oldest daughter Michelle,on my 59th birthday. I did my best to hide my weight behind that present. For the most part, I deleted a lot of photos during this time. I didn’t like being overweight.

So in February 2016, at age 61, I got the courage up to get back on the scales. I weighed 173 pounds! I was taking high blood pressure medicine and an acid reflux medicine daily. I knew I had to do something to change my weight and to improve my health. This is me on February 21, 2016, the day I started Nutrisystem.

I was tired of deleting photos and tired of being overweight. Up until that time I’d been telling myself that I looked OK for my age, and that gaining weight and taking medicine was all part of getting older. But I decided that I didn’t want to just look “OK for my age.” I decided I wanted to be the best I can be, both inside and out. So, in addition to my new diet I started drinking water instead of soda, walking 2 or 3 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes each time and listening to my favorite bible teachers on my EarPods: Alistair Begg, Steve Lawson, and John MacArthur, etc. I loved getting fresh air, walking, and listening to biblical messages all at the same time; multi-tasking at its best! It became my favorite time of the day.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

By end of the first week I’d lost 7 pounds and just 2 months later in April I’d lost 21 lbs. I entered Nutrisystem’s Success Story contest for a chance to win $10K and a chance to be in one of their commercials. In August 2016 I was asked to be a call-in guest for two QVC/Nutrisystem TV shows that month and to come to Tampa, FL the following month for a photo shoot.

By September of 2016 I turned 62 and had lost 40 lbs! I celebrated my birthday with my family and a Nutrisystem Carrot Cake.

A few days after my birthday I flew to Tampa for a 5-day photo shoot for Nutrisystem along with 14 others who had also lost weight. My daughter Michelle took off work and came down the next day to keep me company. I loved being a part of something so fun and interesting.

It reminded me of when I was young, I wanted to be a model, and although I did do some modeling in my teens and twenties, I wasn’t tall enough to be a model so modeling really wasn’t a viable option for me. But in Tampa, I was pampered and treated just like a real model, with wardrobe, make-up and hair stylists. I was photographed against a white screen and did some short promotional video monologues on a green screen. I didn’t win the contest nor did they use me in any of their commercials but it was still a great experience.

Me and my Michelle in Tampa after the photo shoot:

After I returned home from the photo shoot, I found the same dress that wardrobe had picked out for me to wear, except in a smaller size. The dress that I wore in their photo shoot was a little big on me and had to be pinned in the back, but this one fit perfect:

Since losing 40 pounds my doctor gave me the OK to stop taking both my blood pressure medicine and acid reflux medicine. My blood pressure has continued to be normal ever since. I’m thankful for my good health and don’t take it for granted. I maintain my weight by drinking lots of water, eating healthy, and am still walking and listening to my favorite bible teachers.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Don’t shine so others can see you. Shine so that that through you, others can see Him.” C.S. Lewis

Stress and problems are facts of life, but with God, nothing is impossible. I believe God has a plan and a purpose for everything that happens in life; be it our plans or our surprises, or our successes or our failures. We are to keep your focus on Him through it all.

Pretty is as Pretty Does

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It’s hard to write about my mom. I feel like words can’t even begin to describe how much of a good mother she was or how much I loved her!

But here I’ll try.

I remember my mom used to always say, “Pretty is as pretty does.” I was so young when she used to say this to me, I didn’t really understand what it meant.

My mom was born in Illinois in 1921 and was given the name of “Sarah Katherine” but at some point she changed the spelling to “Sara Kathryn.” Back then it was common to be born at home and so my grandmother gave birth to all four of her children at home. My mother, her second child, along with her sister and two brothers, grew up during the depression. She told me that they were so poor that for Christmas all they would get would be an orange and maybe a homemade toy or doll.

Mom with her baby sister, Naomi, and older brother David:

Mom with her sister, Naomi, and younger brother, Ralph, and their billy goat:

They moved to Indiana sometime during her childhood and she graduated from high school in 1938.

It was there at Cloverdale High School that she met my dad. They fell in love and got married in 1941, three years after they graduated from high school.

They had six kids, of which I was the 5th!

Mom and me, Easter 1956 🙂

Growing up I remember she babysat a lot of kids; some for weeks at a time! People would come pick their kids up and not even pay her because they didn’t have enough money. I remember one summer she watched 3 or 4 kids from one family for the whole summer and when the dad came to pick them up he only gave her $20.

My mom would kneel at her bed at night to pray and get up early in the morning to read her bible. I remember when we lived on Hickory Lane in Indianapolis and she would sit alone reading her Bible in our tiny kitchen nook just off the kitchen. I remember her sitting there in that little nook, with the yellow ruffled curtains, and the smell of black coffee. If any of us kids would get up too early she would tell us to go back to bed! I remember one morning in particular I stood there watching her and wanting her attention so I said something mean to try to get it. It worked but not in the way I had wanted. It would be years later until I would understand why she needed that quiet time with the Lord.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30

My mom worked hard taking care of us and the all the kids she babysat. I remember piles of laundry in the basement and wondering how there could be so much of it! She’d be exhausted just from looking after all of us, let alone trying to keep the house clean and keeping up with the laundry. Once she sat down to watch TV or to rest she usually fell asleep from exhaustion. She used to say that her eyelids were attached to her knees so whenever she sat down her eyelids would close!

My mom took pride in making her dollar stretch. She’d buy a gallon of whole milk and then mix it with powdered milk to make two gallons. She’d also go to two or three different grocery stores each week just to get the best prices, using store coupons at each one.

She also was a great cook and could always find something in our pantry or in the freezer to put a meal together. My dad worked at White Castle as an office supervisor, and would bring home boxes of slightly outdated frozen White Castle hamburger patties. My mom would then make all sorts of different meals out of them; basically anything that called for ground beef. She could make something out of almost anything and it always tasted good! All except liver and onions! I’d skip that and settle for peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Actually one of my favorite snacks was one of my mom’s favorites, a banana with peanut butter.

My mom was a lot like her mom, my grandma. Some of my favorite memories were of us going to my grandma’s house to for family dinners. My grandma made the best rubarb pie in the world! My grandma used to tell me that she prayed for me, and I’m so thankful for her and her prayers. I loved her so much.

My mom had a natural love for her family but at the root of her love for us, was the love that she had for Jesus.

I wasn’t exactly the perfect child but she loved me unconditionally. There wasn’t anything I could do or say to make her not love me. She made a difference in my life and in the lives of many people she came in contact with.

She was always thinking of others first. She had compassion and love for hurting people, and for people in need. I remember her making sandwiches and handing them out to strangers in need. She treated them with love and respect. She had such a gentle, sweet and giving spirit. She had the love of Jesus in her heart and she made sure each one of us knew how much she loved us.

When we all grew up and had families of our own she made sure that each of her children and grandchildren knew how much she loved us. She was always looking forward to our next family get-together! She would do anything and everything she could for any one of us.

Mom in her basement on McFarland Rd with five of her grandkids Christmas 1986:

She lived the last 20 years of her life as a widow and spent most of the last 10 of those years suffering from the effects of early onset Alzheimer’s. She came to live with and near me for part of those latter years. Even though the disease affected her personality and her memory, just to just be near her and to spend time with her was special to me.

Here’s some pics from our last couple of family Christmas get-togethers:

Our last family get-together was in January of 1998 in Vincennes, Indiana. We took photos all together, one right after the next, in hopes of catching her old familiar smile. But the raveges of Alzheimer’s had taken it’s course and she could no longer smile; nor walk or talk. She was ready to go home. See passed from this life on earth to her heavenly home on September 15, 1998 at age 77. I was there, along with my sister and brother, and read some bible verses to her, prayed and held her hand as her soul passed to heaven to be with the Lord.

So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

I’ll not post those photos from January of 1998. Instead I want to remember my mom the way she was for the greater part of her life here on earth. She was a pretty lady by any standards and even in today’s world where so much emphasis is put on outward appearance, but it was her beauty that radiated from within that will be her legacy. My mom lived her life, simply put, with love for God and her family. And while I didn’t understand it as a child, I eventually came to learn the meaning of “Pretty is as pretty does” because of my mom and the way she lived her life.

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People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7

The Land That I Will Show You

The Land that I will show you-2 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land that I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

As far back as I can remember, I was a headstrong and independent child. I wanted to do things my own way and make my own decisions. While some may consider these somewhat positive traits in an adult, they’re not so much in a child, nor are they positive traits in a Christian. Old habits die hard. But God, in His sovereign providence, uses both our positive and negative personality traits in His plan for our lives. He uses bits and pieces of our past, including and especially our problems, in our walk of faith toward Him and with Him. Here is one such time in my life:

In February of 1988, We were almost 8 years into our marriage, with 2 young children, living in my hometown, on the south side of Indianapolis. Life was far from perfect but it was pretty good; I was happy, enjoying living near family (my mom was only a couple of miles from me), I had a great job working for a small airline and I enjoyed attending my childhood church.

Then out of the blue, my husband decided we should move to Florida. His parents had moved there a few years before and we had enjoyed visiting there, but like the saying goes, “It’s a nice place to visit but I don’t want to live there.” I repeat, I didn’t want to live there! Indianapolis was my hometown and I didn’t want to move away. I didn’t want to leave my mom. I didn’t want to leave the life I had grown familiar with. I didn’t want to leave my church. But, long story short, he left the first week in February, 1988, without me and the kids. He moved in with his parents and found a new job right away. I wasn’t upset but I wasn’t too happy about it either. I basically was just hoping he’d change his mind and come back home soon.

Over next few months we both continued hold on to our individual opinions about where we should live. The thought of divorce crept in my mind but I still loved my husband and he still loved me. We were just having a disagreement on where we should live. I didn’t like him not agreeing with me and I wanted him to just come back home. We really were at an impasse.

So I got my bible and I searched for answers. I read in Malachi that God hates divorce. I read in Ephesians that wives should submit to their husbands as to the Lord. And I read in Genesis that God called Abraham, in an act of obedience, to leave his homeland and to move to an unknown and faraway land. Now I read these things but at the same time I was having a conflict with my old nature of being headstrong and independent. I considered life as a single mom, a life of independence, where I called all the shots, but then, I prayed earnestly for clear directions from God about what to do.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5

Then it finally became clear to me – my husband wasn’t asking me to jump off a cliff, or asking me to break a law, or asking me to do something against God, he was just asking me to move to Florida to be with him. God gave me a sense of peace about moving and I began to see the situation as an act of obedience towards both my husband and God. This was a big step for me because I think I’d been holding on to my independence ever since childhood, and even into my marriage. I believe God increased my faith right then and there as I realized I needed to be more obedient to Him and to my husband.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:21

Abraham had great faith in God and was obedient to Him. God told Abraham he was going on a journey that would require him to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household. Obedience meant he had to say goodbye to relationships and the things near and dear to him. Separation from the familiar played a part in his development of his strong faith in God. Sometimes God asks us to let go of something we hold dear before He let’s us take a hold of something new. It’s all a part of living by faith; trusting In Him even when we don’t see how all the pieces fit together, and believing that He’ll work everything out.

So with a leap of faith, a step of obedience, and a hopeful heart, I moved to Florida with our two young daughters the 1st day of June in 1988 to be with my husband. In the coming months God blessed me in ways I never imagined and my faith in Him grew in a most unexpected way – which I plan to be the subject of one of my future blogs.

Treasure In Jars of Clay

My life story and journey of faith.

Tag: #Faith