Moloch

I have been studying about the Amorite God known as "The god of unnatural cruelty" People were reported to have sacrificed their infants in fire to him and committed the older ones to his service by making them pass through the fire. Wow, how unfelling those parents had to be...or at leaste deluded. Are we so different? I see many kids who seemed to have been sacrificed to the god of Hedonism, selfishness and self gratification. A father who leaves his wife and 2 boys for a young "entertainer". Children kicked out of the house so they wont mess up the decorations. Parents who wont take their kids to church unless they ask, and not even then.


Moloch in medieval texts. Like some other gods and demons found in the Bible, Moloch appears as part of medieval demonology, as a Prince of Hell. This Moloch finds particular pleasure in making mothers weep; for he specialises in stealing their children. According to some 16th century demonologists Moloch's power is stronger in December.It is likely that motif of stealing children was inspired by the traditional understanding that babies were sacrificed to Moloch.

In modern Hebrew language the expression sacrifice something/someone to the Molech means to give up something valuable or harm someone for an utterly worthless cause.

Sounds a bit like the Forest of Forgotten to me (from The Gown)

Do you have a Vision for God's plan for the ones you Love?

Proverbs 29:18
"Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (King James)

"Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law."
Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)
no vision--instruction in God's truth, which was by prophets, through visions, as in 1 Samuel 3:1). People perish--(Compare Margin), are deprived of moral restraints. keepeth the law--has, and observes, instruction (Proverbs 14:11,34, Psalms 19:11).
By Jamieson, Fausset, Brown commentary

I am praying for the vision and the ability to help cast a vision for a generation of moms who seemed to have given up on their responsibility to raise passionate, prepared and purposeful children. Join me in my prayers. deb

My little missionary

I knew my Maddy had the heart of a missionary at a very young age.
Soon after she asked Jesus into her heart, she turned her concerns to her younger brother.
Nathan could not have been more than 2 when Maddy prayed earnestly "Dear Heavenly Father, Come into Nathan's Heart"
I patiently attempted to explain to her that it had to be at Nathan's request.
Jesus would make his home inside a person's heart only when he is asked by that person.
This did not daunt her in her quest to save her brother's young soul from the flames of eternal hell.
She turned purposefully to her brother and commanded "NATHAN, say 'Jesus, come into my heart!'"
Nathan, involved in some intense play, just ignored her...

Secrets Revealed

I believe that what happened with Ted Haggard, all the "predators" caught on TV and My Space and every other "Secret" sin will be revealed as early as by the end of the year. As a watchman on the wall I am obligated to warn, every secret place, hidden sin, stolen item, deceptive action or hypocritical comment is a seed sown and the season harvest is coming soon. "God will not be mocked" You will reap what you have sowed! The seeds are almost full grown now and the reaping will be with weeping. Many kingdoms will fall, many households devastated, fortunes lost... But there is still time. If your come clean now, you can remove the power of the secret. It will still be a bad thing, but it will not have the punch and power to ruin your life that it will if you wait till someone else reveals it. Walk back into the daylight, it may be bright and sting your eyes for a while, but it is also warm and happy and free.

Good Gifts

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in Heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" Mat. 7:11

Do I know how to give good gifts to my children? Is it as easy as not giving them a snake if they ask for a fish, or not giving them a stone if they ask for bread? What if they ask for the snake, or something else more malicious and dangerous like A... Gun, or a violent video game or a TV with cable in their room? Is giving "good" gifts just giving them what they want? Or is it only giving them good things if they ask for them? What if they don't ask for good things?....

Just a few things to ponder as we head into the "Gift Giving Season".
I have always relished getting everyone the "perfect" gift, one they love even if they would have never thought of it themselves. I never cared much about what they asked for from Santa. I felt the real trick is to get them to ask for what I was planning on buying them. I have been seriously reconsidering my gift giving lately, not only in the light of our "Too much Stuff" but because of the opening of The Gathering Place" I am investigating an idea I call Destiny Blessings. It is about the spiritual and emotional meaning behind what we give, not just the "hot item" on everyone's list. A Destiny Blessing is exquisitely- personal and full of deep thought-out meaning, for the hopes, dreams and prayers we have for our loved ones. How can all that be included in a simple gift? How can I help people find a way to give those kinds of gifts to the ones they love? Do people want that? I guess I'll just have to try and see. Come to our open house on Nov 18th in the Courtyard Mall(next to KK's Craft Mall) and see. We are now open Tue-Sat. 10-6. Drop by any time to see what great things God has brought me to share "Destiny Blessings" You might even find something that will bless you too.

Hedonism or Altruism

I have been praying lately about why so many people never seem to make it to a higher level of existence. You know the place outside of ourselves where altruism lives. Not a Zen state of being where we meditate all day and try not to offend anyone, but the place where saints in the form of everyday people see that "It is not about me". In a college class we read a book about stages of faith, it moved me and got me thinking about people I knew, the faith of my family and where I wanted to go in my own. We learned that as in physical development there is a natural progression starting at birth and moving up to adulthood. The difference is that many people never make it to the final stage. The potential to continue to growing is present til death. Where or why are some arrested while others life Mother Teressa, Bonhoffer, Martin Luther continue beyond themselves? Is it an accident of circumstances out of ones control or is it a conscious choice? If you know me, you know I believe most of life is a choice.
Hedonism-
1. Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses.
2. Philosophy The ethical doctrine holding that only what is pleasant or has pleasant consequences is intrinsically good.
3. Psychology The doctrine holding that behavior is motivated by the desire for pleasure and the avoidance of pain.
Altruism

1 : unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others
2 : behavior by an animal that is not beneficial to or may be harmful to itself but that benefits others of its species
I truly desire that I continue out beyond myself or even my family and passionately pursue unselfish love. ">Link

Modern Samaritan?

My middle son, Nathan, entertained us at supper last night by sharing a Good Samaritan story with a modern day twist.
He felt like he was the traveler, emotionally beat and, left by the side of the road, when his sister and brother enjoyed games with the next door neighbors while he felt left out. He, being emotionally sensitive, went to a corner to hide his tears. Some moments later the girls noticed that his eyes and nose were red and commented "Nathan, you don't look good. You should go inside." (Thinking he may be coming down sick, I'm sure)
As he continued to share the story at the table his eyes welled again as he declared, "They were like the Pharisees, passing me by."
Sister looked confused as she tried to remember the events.
"Then my brother ignored me and he was like the Levite. So, I wanted to be by myself, and I went to the back yard. There I found someone who was will to take the time to bandage my wounds and take care of me..."
We waited with baited breath to see who our son's mysterious rescuer was. "It was Princess!!" He declared with a glowing smile.
Our hyper-active Jack Russell Terrier?
Wow, what a biblical (if not melodramatic) imagination.
We may have a future Billy Graham on our hands.
Here's hoping that you always have someone who is willing to Lick your wounds....blessings,deb