A Father Gives Good Gifts

For my quiet time, I am going through The One Year Book of Hope by Nancy Guthrie.

This was a devotional I really wanted to go through as I work to move past the heartbreaks in my life.

I have spent years begging and pleading to God about my kids. I have cried out to him to bring Luke back to me. I have yelled at God for Luke not being with me instead of Jon, as I am obviously the better parent. I have cursed God for his unwillingness to answer my prayers. I have prayed, and prayed and prayed. Relentlessly!!!

Today in my quiet time I read this:

"I recognize that as much as I might want God to give me what I ask for, I trust that my heavenly Father know what is best. Sometimes his "good gifts" don't appear that way to my limited perspective. He gives me broccoli when I want ice cream. Sometimes he uses frustrating circumstances, unwarranted criticism, or disappointing delays to develop in me the good gifts of patience and humility. He calls me to trust him, to know that he is my wise and loving Father, and my ultimate good is his heart's greatest desire.

Would you be willing to stop pounding on heaven's door, to stop begging for God to give you what you believe is best,and to open your hands to receive the good gifts your heavenly Father wants to give to you?"

WHOA!!

Am I willing to STOP POUNDING, TO STOP BEGGING FOR GOD TO GIVE ME WHAT I WANT??? Is he giving me broccoli when I am asking for ice cream?

Yes!

Yes Lord. I will stop begging. I will stop pounding...and rest on the promises that YOU HAVE GOOD GIFTS to give to me. I am ready to receive them!

SBC

Throwing their heads back; mouths open
Trying to catch a breath
Common experiences
Uncommon backgrounds
Centered around a book
Which may or may not have been read
Tears shared openly
Sisterhood across the ages
Limitless friendships
Tied together forever
SBC

The Beauty of Facebook

Those who know me well, know how much I LOVE the internet, and technology!
Through the beauty of Facebook, I have been able to connect with people that I would NEVER otherwise have contact with. Jodi Picoult and Chevy Stevens are two people in that category.
Tonight I spent several hours working on writing.
At one point, while I was off task, I sent Chevy an email asking for advice. Within a VERY short amount of time, I had a reply:


Kari Henderson Simonson

Hey Chevy...I'm currently working on my first writing project, a memoir. Every time I get on the computer to write....I write a few paragraphs, and then check faceback, email, etc. What do YOU do to stay focused? I need advice!

• • 

    Chevy Stevens Hi Kari. I set myself little goals, like I am allowed to check at a certain time, or after I finish so many pages or words. I try to get most of my emailing and blog/Facebook stuff done when I'm having my first cup of tea in the morning. Then I have a five page a day rule. I try really hard--unless it's an important email--to stay of the Internet until I've finished my pages. Then after that I can still work, editing or marketing, while allowing myself little breaks to play on Facebook etc. Good luck!
  
  
• I feel quite blessed to have so much access to people, whose opinions I truly respect. For those of you who DON'T KNOW Chevy Stevens...check out her book Still Missing!
  
  

The Downfall of a Star

Video streaming by Ustream

WINNING!!!

Charlie Sheen is all over the place. His downfall is the topic of conversation for so many peoples. The man is literally imploding upon himself. I feel afraid for Charlie Sheen. I feel terrible for his children. I wonder what the "Goddesses" are thinking through this whole thing?
I pray that Charlie can survive this! I pray that he can come out the other side with more clarity and deeper understanding about who he is!

Linda Holmes on Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen on 20/20

Charlie Sheen Quotes

Charlie Sheen on Twitter

Charlie Sheen in Major League

Faith Healers

I was watching Our America with Lisa Ling on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). The subject of the episode was on Faith Healers. It centered around the MorningStar Revivals in Ft. Mill S.Carolina with Todd Bentley. Todd Bentley says he is a normal guy who believes in the power of the Holy Spirit who was given the gift of healing. Some say Todd Bentley is a false prophet. It's up to us, the viewer, to determine what WE think.

Lisa Ling tells that she grew up with religion. She mentions that she grew up going to church and bible camp when she was a young girl. She does a pretty good job of keeping any bias out of what she is reporting. This may be why I like Lisa Ling.

The episode follows a few specific people. A man named Steve, who has suffered a severe brain injury. Steve was in a car crash at 18 and left with a brain injury and a speech impediment. Then in 1995, he fell off a roof and was paralyzed in his lower body. His legs are both paralyzed, and he has come to the MorningStar Revivals Conference to be healed by God through Todd Bentley. He is 100% convinced that he will be healed.

Another story about a mother and daughter. The daughter, Debbie, has brought her mother to be healed of terminal cancer. Her mother could no longer afford the treatments that were above and beyond what her Medicare paid for. She sees God as her only source at this point.

I watched the hour long story waiting, wondering how this story would end up. Would these people be healed? Would the average person watching this show be turned off to the power of God? The REAL truth behind the fact that PRAYER DOES WORK? The fact that FAITH can move mountains? God does heal....he does heal through others.....I believe it 100%! I also believe that God doesn't always heal. How can a man promise miracles?

When Steve gets up to Todd Bentley, after three days of waiting, I sense how much Steve's faith could heal him. Unfortunately, he is NOT healed. He has not given up his faith. He is still waiting on God. Waiting for his time.

What about Carol, the mother with terminal cancer, will she be healed? I am so expectant I want her to be healed. At the end we find out that Carol's cancer had steadily been getting worse.

Lisa could have taken the road of: these people are quacks, but she didn't. She said she learned something there. She learned that lives could be genuinely changed. That hope could transform, and that faith could empower!

What is YOUR take on faith healers? If you have seen Our America, what do you think of Lisa Ling?