Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Home Invasion
Today our home fell victim to a home invasion. While my husband was in bed getting prepared to work his night shift, three men entered our home. He heard the dogs barking and the rummaging around but because it was 12:30 in the afternoon, he thought our daughter perhaps was home from school for lunch and brought her noisy teenage friends. Then when his door opened up and a man walked in the bedroom, he realized that this was not a good situation. The man was also startled and ran up the stairs. Three men who had been rummaging in our home ran out the door and down the street. Of course the police were called and the whole process is in place but my husband was pretty shaken up. I was too when I came home from work and heard the whole story. Nothing was taken and my husband wasn't hurt. I am thankful for that. My children weren't home. They were safe at school. My pets were shaken up but pretty much unharmed. When I started to play out the scenerios in my mind of the things that "could have" happened I praise God that He preserved my husband keeping him safe from harm. The peace that I have right now can't be described. I don't like the idea that someone was through our home but I know God is sovereign and will work all of this into something that will glorify His name.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Judge not lest you be judged
My heart was so burdened today for the lost. The casual attitude that is so common today regarding sex, drugs and alcohol. Sex is not much more than a bodily function. Alcohol and drug consumption provide the medium required to reduce inhibitions towards sex. Much of our culture and generation has fallen victim to the consequences of casual sex. Divorce, single parent homes, kids living on the street, addictions and numerous types of depression to name a few.
During my time of burden this morning, the Lord spoke to my heart through a Christian radio program. I need to be careful not to judge too harshly against those who follow the accepted ways of the world. I need to check my own heart. These casual attitudes are birthed out of sin. The sin of instant gratification or the sin of putting "self" before all othersw. Have I ever acted selfishly? Have I demanded my own way? I know I have. That is not the way of Christ. That means I have to work on my own attitude in order to reflect His image. Does that mean I then can judge the lost? No. But I know the Lord has a call for me in this burden somewhere. Perhaps it is to pray for the lost more, or work in some other proactive way. Whatever He has for me to do I know He will give me the ways and means to carry out His will
During my time of burden this morning, the Lord spoke to my heart through a Christian radio program. I need to be careful not to judge too harshly against those who follow the accepted ways of the world. I need to check my own heart. These casual attitudes are birthed out of sin. The sin of instant gratification or the sin of putting "self" before all othersw. Have I ever acted selfishly? Have I demanded my own way? I know I have. That is not the way of Christ. That means I have to work on my own attitude in order to reflect His image. Does that mean I then can judge the lost? No. But I know the Lord has a call for me in this burden somewhere. Perhaps it is to pray for the lost more, or work in some other proactive way. Whatever He has for me to do I know He will give me the ways and means to carry out His will
Our Kids are Dying Out There
This isn't anything we haven't already heard before but lately I have had such a burden for our youth and the challenges that they face. Thirty years ago when I was a teenager, things were not a whole lot different but my eyes see the pain that these kind of relationships have caused my generation.
Sex Under the Influence of Alcohol and Other Drugs
From Denise Witmer,Your Guide to Parenting of Adolescents.
Alcohol and other drug use is linked to risky sexual behavior and poses significant threats to the health of adolescents. Substance abuse may impair adolescents' ability to make judgments about sex and contraception, placing them at increased risk for unplanned pregnancy, sexual assault, or becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD), including HIV/AIDS.
We know the AIDS virus can be transmitted through sharing hypodermic needles. Less is known about the dangerous role of alcohol and other drugs in sexual behavior that may lead to STDs and HIV/AIDS. To compound matters, there is also considerable evidence that alcohol and other drugs weaken the immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to infection and disease.
Consider the following statistics:
The use of alcohol and other drugs can affect judgment and lead to taking serious sexual risks. There were 18,540 cases of AIDS among 13- to 24-year-olds reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by the end of 1994.
About 75 percent of high school seniors have had sexual intercourse at least once in their lives; about 20 percent have had more than four sexual partners by their senior year.
Studies show that adolescents are less likely to use condoms when having sex after drinking alcohol than when sober. This places them at even higher risk for HIV infection, STDs, and unwanted pregnancy.
A survey of high school students found that 18 percent of females and 39 percent of males say it is acceptable for a boy to force sex if the girl is stoned or drunk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS has been the sixth leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year-olds in the United States for over three years. One in five of the new AIDS cases diagnosed is in the 20 to 29 year age group, meaning that HIV transmission occurred during the teen years. Additionally, more than half of new cases of HIV infection in 1994 were related to drug use.
There is still much to be learned about the relationship between alcohol and other drugs and sexual behavior. During the past decade, teens reported higher levels of sexual activity at earlier ages, experienced more unplanned pregnancies, and suffered higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases. To reduce the incidence of these problems in the future, prevention of alcohol and other drug abuse must be a top priority.
Sex Under the Influence of Alcohol and Other Drugs
From Denise Witmer,Your Guide to Parenting of Adolescents.
Alcohol and other drug use is linked to risky sexual behavior and poses significant threats to the health of adolescents. Substance abuse may impair adolescents' ability to make judgments about sex and contraception, placing them at increased risk for unplanned pregnancy, sexual assault, or becoming infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD), including HIV/AIDS.
We know the AIDS virus can be transmitted through sharing hypodermic needles. Less is known about the dangerous role of alcohol and other drugs in sexual behavior that may lead to STDs and HIV/AIDS. To compound matters, there is also considerable evidence that alcohol and other drugs weaken the immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to infection and disease.
Consider the following statistics:
The use of alcohol and other drugs can affect judgment and lead to taking serious sexual risks. There were 18,540 cases of AIDS among 13- to 24-year-olds reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by the end of 1994.
About 75 percent of high school seniors have had sexual intercourse at least once in their lives; about 20 percent have had more than four sexual partners by their senior year.
Studies show that adolescents are less likely to use condoms when having sex after drinking alcohol than when sober. This places them at even higher risk for HIV infection, STDs, and unwanted pregnancy.
A survey of high school students found that 18 percent of females and 39 percent of males say it is acceptable for a boy to force sex if the girl is stoned or drunk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS has been the sixth leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year-olds in the United States for over three years. One in five of the new AIDS cases diagnosed is in the 20 to 29 year age group, meaning that HIV transmission occurred during the teen years. Additionally, more than half of new cases of HIV infection in 1994 were related to drug use.
There is still much to be learned about the relationship between alcohol and other drugs and sexual behavior. During the past decade, teens reported higher levels of sexual activity at earlier ages, experienced more unplanned pregnancies, and suffered higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases. To reduce the incidence of these problems in the future, prevention of alcohol and other drug abuse must be a top priority.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
In the world but not of the world
It's painful to be different. Tonight I spent some time with my co-workers for dinner. I was glad to be included but I found it so painfully uncomfortable. Their lives are so different from mine. They are great people but are so lost spiritually. In the eyes of the world they are "normal". I am the weird one. I know where they are because that's where I used to be. It seems like a lifetime ago but it was just ten years that I realized there was more to life than what the world called fun and acceptable. To now see people with the eyes of eternity is so hard when you see others so far from the Lord. The concentration on the here and now is the priority of the world.
I pray that God can use me in my workplace but tonight makes it seem so far fetched. I know the Lord can change anyone's heart. He can take a heart of stone and turn it to a heart of flesh. I pray that these ladies will long for that new heart of flesh.
I pray that God can use me in my workplace but tonight makes it seem so far fetched. I know the Lord can change anyone's heart. He can take a heart of stone and turn it to a heart of flesh. I pray that these ladies will long for that new heart of flesh.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Recovery
I am a divorce survivor of over 15 years. In addition to that I am also an abuse survivor. Both events are not something that I ever want to repeat in my life but I would not want to take away the growth that occurred because of those storms. Because of the pain from that time in my life, I sought the Lord. I didn't know that was who I was seeking, but the road led me to Him.
I was thinking about this tonight because our Care Group from church met and in that group are some people that are in various stages of separation/divorce recovery. At 43 years of age, I am the veteran survivor in the group. It seems like a strange irony in some ways, but I remember the pain that these men and women are going through right now. The tears that they cry are so fresh in my memory. I thank the Lord that He brought me through the last 15 plus years. I thank Him how He used that heartbreak to draw me to His presence. To make me realize eventually that the emptiness I was feeling was only going to be filled by Him.
I thank Him that not only did I receive His grace and forgiveness, but that I was also able to extend that forgiveness (after a few years I might add) to my first husband. Only then was I able to experience true freedom.
I was thinking about this tonight because our Care Group from church met and in that group are some people that are in various stages of separation/divorce recovery. At 43 years of age, I am the veteran survivor in the group. It seems like a strange irony in some ways, but I remember the pain that these men and women are going through right now. The tears that they cry are so fresh in my memory. I thank the Lord that He brought me through the last 15 plus years. I thank Him how He used that heartbreak to draw me to His presence. To make me realize eventually that the emptiness I was feeling was only going to be filled by Him.
I thank Him that not only did I receive His grace and forgiveness, but that I was also able to extend that forgiveness (after a few years I might add) to my first husband. Only then was I able to experience true freedom.
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