The kids and I were reading 2 Corinthians 3 this morning. It was so wonderful. For some reason, just thinking about God’s love made the sunshine seem brighter, the skies bluer, and the day more beautiful. I was trying to explain to the kids about “where the Spirit is Lord, there is liberty,” and one thing I thought of is that lovely song Sarah McLachlin sings in Toy Story 2. I know it seems like a strange analogy, but part of the song goes:

When somebody loved me
Everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together
Lives within my heart

Here’s a video I found of the song. It’s just so lovely.

The great thing is that God’s love is forever, not temporal, like the love of so many people.

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:32-39

People complain that because God “allows” suffering in the world, then He is an ogre, or that this is somehow proof that there is no God. (Yet if God got rid of free will and decided to control people like puppets, these same people would complain that because God was such a control freak, this proved He was an ogre or didn’t exist). But I think that because there IS love in the world, this proves there is a God and that He is real. Sufferings are done by the hand of people, and honestly, is to be expected. The amazing thing to me is that love exists among us yet. I’m not speaking from a charmed life, either. I’ve been through a lot, so I know what suffering is. Corrie ten Boom once said (she was quoting her sister who died in a Nazi concentration camp): No pit is so deep that God is not deeper still.

The very fact that love exists is proof that God exists. But of course, there is much more proof than that besides.

And when I remember that He loves me– even me– everything is beautiful.

… with God. Have you ever heard that? That’s a verse from the Bible. The angel said it to the shepherds, when the angels were announcing the birth of the Messiah to them. Literally in the Greek, it means “For no word of God is without power.” That’s absolutely amazing to me.

I’ve come across some really neat blog posts while dropping Entrecards lately. People have been blogging about the great things God has been doing. The stories are thrilling! When I am low, I really need a little boost like that. Well, I need a little boost like that ALL the time, lol, but especially when I am low.

Here’s a new book I have recently read about: Ozell Adkins Life Inspirations. It’s a book of inspirational poetry, to remind us that nothing is impossible with God. Everyone goes through bad times– everyone– but God is with us through them all. Sometimes things don’t always work out as we want, but I do believe that God works all things out together for good.

Have you heard of the book? I’m not “into” poetry anymore (I was as a kid, but kind of lost interest), but this looks like something beautiful. I wonder if this book is like the psalms– where they are basically prose of thanksgiving and prayer to God? If you have read the book, let me know what you thought. It’s not in my local library yet, but it is listed at Amazon. If you like inspirational poetry, check it out!

Update– at Amazon you can use their “search inside” feature, and I was able to read an excerpt of some of the poems. WOW!!! This is a terrific book! It’s a great one as a gift, too. I think I’m going to get it.

I believe in “experimental” medicine. I do, I do. Of course, I believe in all-natural medicine. I was a guinea pig for US obstetrics when I was pregnant for my child. My pregnancies always run very late (3 to 4 weeks late– imagine that!) and my babies are HUGE. So my doctor, a Canadian, asked me if I wanted to try a new procedure to induce labor. It had been very effective in Canada, where the medical industry is more liberal about such things. And I was as fat as a cow and feeling very ill. So I signed the paperwork and was injected with prostaglandin gel (prostaglandin is a naturally-produced hormone that stimulates uterine activity). In two hours, labor started! I was able to have a natural childbirth and I felt GREAT! Unfortunately, the prostaglandin technique did not work for my later inductions– I had to have the Pitocin IV drip, and that was miserable.

Anyway, I am very much in favor of more natural medicine. It is with some interest that I am reading a Resveratrol forum. Resveratrol is a natural chemical produced by some plants (Japanese knotweed and red grapes), and can be synthesized, too. It’s been used to lengthen the lifespans of some animals, and is currently being experimented with as a cancer-treating drug. No one really knows if it will work, but there are some brave people willing to try it.

I think our medical industry has, in many ways, failed us. When we are sick or suffering, what is handed to us? Another drug or devastating treatment (like chemotheraphy). My young niece suffered from leukemia, and OH what those nasty treatments did to her poor little body. :( All that money for all those decades going to the American Cancer Society and all we have to show for it is chemo??

I believe in healing. I believe that God heals people. That’s the best way. I don’t know why some people are healed and some are seemingly not… but I believe it is possible and I have seen it happen with my own eyes. But God is merciful, too– He has provided us with a world full of provision for our health and happiness. That’s why I am in favor of natural methods for relief and cures.

I have a back injury that sometimes gives me great pain. But besides that, I am as healthy as a horse, and still stronger and more fit than even my own kids! The back injury came from abusing my own body, by making it work much more than it should have. So sometimes I re-strain it and I have pain. But I am trying to get away from pain-relieving drugs and really trying to trust God. And I am trying to take care of my body, to know my limits. For me, that is the hardest thing of all, knowing my limits, because I want to do everything, ya know?

What do you think? Do you hate all the drugs and advertisements for drugs? Do you think God has provided us with natural things– like plants and the chemicals in our own bodies– to heal us?

I heard this skit on the radio years ago. Something made me remember it recently.

(sound of a busy street and a door opening and closing)

Bob: Hello! Are you here looking for a new religion?

Jay: Yeah. I’m looking for something that covers the “spiritual side” of me.

Bob: I see. Let me look and see what I have here. Hmm. Oh, do you want this?

Jay: Um, no, that is not what I am looking for. Too restrictive.

Bob: All right. How about this? This looks very nice on you!

Jay: I don’t quite like it; it feels a little… uncomfortable.

Bob: OK, well, I am sure we have something here that will fit. How about this one? Or how about this? Oo, THIS is popular in the movies these days! How about this?

Jay: Nah… nahh.. nah…

Bob: Oh, wait! I know just the thing that you’re looking for! (holds something up)

Jay: AH! This is PERFECT!

Bob: (claps hand) I knew it!

Jay: I feel comfortable worshipping THIS god! Wow!

Bob: Wonderful!

Jay: This is a god I can trust! What style! I’ll take it!

Bob: All right! (sound of cash register) Glad to help! That will be $30 for the frame and $10 for the mirror.

Haha! Isn’t that so true! The tendency for us humans is to find a “god” that feels good to us, but how rare it is that people throw away their discomfort or rev up their curiosity to seek the honest truth, even as uncomfortable as that may be. I’ve been reading Josh McDowell’s “The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict.” It’s a huge book, but it’s very readable, and very challenging! I’ve been studying stuff like this for a long time, and like Alexander Hamilton, I can say that “I have examined carefully the evidence of the Christian religion; and, if I was sitting as juror upon its authenticity, I should unhesitatingly give my verdict in its favor. I have studied it, and I can prove its truth as clearly as any proposition ever submitted to the mind of man.” I think that’s a pretty bold statement. :D

I think this skit is taken (or loosely derived) from one at LifeLine Productions. The kids and I used to hear their skits all the time on the radio– LOL!