Posted by: the warrioress | November 29, 2011

Those Who Look Will Find Me

17 I love those who love me, and those who look for me will find me. –Proverbs 8:17

This is a promise from God. He doesn’t make promises lightly. God keeps His promises. He promises this kind of thing again and again within the Holy Bible. There are several verses that tell us this is the case.

 

 

God assures us that those who look for God will find Him. This has been the case in my life and the lives of millions of others.

What could prevent us from finding God if we were diligently looking for Him and couldn’t find Him? The bible tells us that there are several things that could “hinder” our search for God.

Hindrances to seeking God:

Unrighteousness Hos 10:12-13 See also Isa 59:1-2

Pride Ps 10:4 See also 2Ch 26:16-18

Trusting in human resources Isa 31:1 See also 2Ch 16:12; Hos 5:13-15

Idolatry Zep 1:4-6 See also Ro 1:21-23

Superficial religion Am 5:5-6 See also Isa 58:1-9

Seeking God through occult practices is forbidden

1Ch 10:13-14 See also Lev 19:31; Lev 20:6; Dt 18:10-12; 1Sa 28:4-20; Ac 16:16-18

Have you been looking for God?

God isn’t hiding, nor is He some great mystery. He wants to be found by all who are sincerely seeking Him. You can actually know God.

 29But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. –Deuteronomy 4:29

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Posted in bible, Christianity, Faith, God, inspiration, life, Love, people, Prayer, relationships, religion | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: the warrioress | November 28, 2011

An Awesome God!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijAKh_C89UE&feature=related

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power and love
Our God is an awesome God
 

‘Cause our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power and love
Our God is an awesome God

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Posted by: the warrioress | November 27, 2011

Take the “Made in America” Challenge!

America

take the made in America challenge

While watching the world news tonight, I heard about the “Made in America” challenge.  This Christmas, we are being asked to buy at least one American gift when we go Christmas shopping in order to potentially create more jobs and support our country, America. This is such an easy thing to do and become involved in and it’s the least we, as Americans, can do to support our nation’s economy.

We’re all going to buy somebody something, so why not choose to specifically buy American? It’s patriotic and most importantly, it’s actually taking action and attempting to do something to make a difference in the economy. If we all took this action, we could really help the country.

Why on earth would Americans choose to buy products from other nations when it’s ours that so badly needs our support right now? This is a simple, fun thing to do, so think about it and this Christmas, buy American!

Personally, I have a Ford Explorer Sport Trac Pick Up that is American made, and am making the attempt to pay attention and buy American made products as much as possible.  We can do this and we should. I hope you’ll join me and try and take the Made in America challenge.

——————–

Walk into a big box retailer or a giant toy store chain and just about anything you can think of giving as a holiday gift will be made in China.

About the only exceptions are plants and food.

But if you want to break the cycle and give gifts made right here in the USA, there are ways of having an American-made Christmas or Hanukkah.

America

Home Grown Toys

Melinda Gardner owns a small toy store called “Ted’s Toys,” on Miami Avenue in Madeira, Ohio. Ted is her husband.

As an independent business, she is proud to feature a number of independent toy makers from around the US.

Her top pick: The Spooner Grass Surf Board. Chosen by several magazines as a top toy this year, it’s made in California.

made in china

Buy American! Help our economy.

Another?  Melinda says the ” Wall Coaster, which you set up on the wall.” Kids can make and re-make the coaster, which leaves no marks once removed from their bedroom wall.

From the walls to your stairs: the Slinky is a hit toy make right here in the United States.

From Vermont comes the wooden name trains, that spell out your kid’s name. Vermont also brings us the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, while Pennsylvania brings the Fun Slides Carpet Skates.

Melinda said “they are super slippery, made from the material used to move furniture.”

Toys for Adults

Graeter's

But what if your kid is now an adult?

You can go online to Cincy-2-You. com, to mail order Cincinnati-made products like Graeters Ice Cream, Larosas Pizza Sauce and Skyline Chili, among other items.  They pack it in dry ice and ship anywhere.

Craft fairs are also a great place to find locally-made jewelry and knickknacks.

Local Hardware Stores

Local hardware stores, like the Ace Hardware in

Ace Hardware logo

Cincinnati’s Hyde Park Plaza, sell products that come from the US.

Manager Jon Doucleff says there’s nothing more American than Craftsman tools. 

“The Craftsman hand tools, forged steel hand tools, are all made in the US,” he said.

Other red white and blue products include Maglight flashlights, Igloo coolers and Weber grills, though they contain some imported parts.

Check Labels

One caution: Jon says most power tools, including Craftsman, are made in China, so it’s important to check labels.

Also, don’t let the word American fool you:  American girl dolls are made in China.

Melinda and Jon say buying American usually means quality, plus support for American workers.

Jon said “Why not?  We all live and work here, why not keep your money as close to home as possible?

Where to Shop

Your best bet for finding American made products is to shop small, independent stores.

It will take more time, but in the end you may end up with creative locally-made gifts that will be appreciated.

And you don’t waste your money.


Read more: http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/money/consumer/dont_waste_your_money/have-a-made-in-america-christmas#ixzz1exG3WhTk 

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Posted in Current Events, family, fun, life, News, Patriotism, people, Politics | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: the warrioress | November 26, 2011

Soul & Spirit

I received a request to write about the soul and what happens to it when we die. The request inquires about our spirit, stating that the reader believes the spirit leaves our body at death, but what happens to the soul? I decided to contemplate on this in some detail and researched it a little bit, along with attempting to come to my own conclusions about the matter.

I should state that we’ll look at this matter within the context of the bible or within a purely Christian context, with a firm foundation based within Jesus Christ our Lord.

The foundation of Christ 1 Corinthians 3:11; p...

 

 

To begin this study, we should define the soul versus the spirit and we’ll do so through definitions shared with us at Dictionary.com.

 

 

The soul

noun

1.

the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.

2.

the spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come: arguing the immortality of the soul.

3.

the disembodied spirit of a deceased person: He feared the soul of the deceased would haunt him.

4.

the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.

5.

a human being; person.

 – versus – 

The spirit

   noun

1.

the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul.

2.

the incorporeal part of humans: present in spirit though absent in body.

3.

the soul regarded as separating from the body at death.

4.

conscious, incorporeal being, as opposed to matter: the world of spirit.

5.

a supernatural, incorporeal being, especially one inhabiting a place, object, etc., or having a particular character: evil spirits.

Now… 

Based upon my research and the reading I’ve looked over in regard to the soul versus the spirit and what each refers to, I can see why this could be confusing, as both are very similar to one another.

I think the best, most succinct way to put this would be to say that the soul is who we are  as individual people, while the spirit signifies something that connects us to God Himself, and is not of this human world.

Interestingly enough, the research & opinion I’ve looked at thus far commented that according to the bible, the spirit is not living within the unbeliever in Jesus Christ.  I found this to be surprising and it could be rather off-putting for those who do not have faith.

Obviously, this notion itself demands a lot more research and could branch out to innumerable blogs; thus we are barely touching the surface of this topic with this particular blog and there is much more study to be done and many directions we could turn. This demands a part two, a part three, and perhaps more, as well. This is a very intriguing aspect of the soul and spirit to study and I thank the curious mind of Hpy Lady for her request.  I hope this helps as an introduction to this very involved, complex topic:

Here is our first source, and the well-worded request that I received regarding it:

Could you sometime write about so that I can try and understand the “soul”  I understand the body and the spirit but I don’t understand the soul .. and what happens to it when we die .. I feel when we die our body decays but our spirit leaves our body at death .. what happens to our soul..

Question: “What is the difference between the soul and spirit of man?”

Answer: The soul and the spirit are the two primary immaterial aspects that Scripture ascribes to humanity. It can be confusing to attempt to discern the precise differences between the two. The word “spirit” refers only to the immaterial facet of humanity. Human beings have a spirit, but are we not spirits. However, in Scripture, only believers are said to be spiritually alive (1 Corinthians 2:11; Hebrews 4:12; James 2:26), while unbelievers are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13). In Paul’s writing, the spiritual was pivotal to the life of the believer (1 Corinthians 2:14; 3:1; Ephesians 1:3; 5:19; Colossians 1:9; 3:16). The spirit is the element in humanity which gives us the ability to have an intimate relationship with God. Whenever the word “spirit” is used, it refers to the immaterial part of humanity that “connects” with God, who Himself is spirit (John 4:24).

The word “soul” can refer to both the immaterial and material aspects of humanity. Unlike human beings having a spirit, human beings are souls. In its most basic sense, the word “soul” means “life.” However, beyond this essential meaning, the Bible speaks of the soul in many contexts. One of these is humanity’s eagerness to sin (Luke 12:26). Humanity is naturally evil, and our souls are tainted as a result. The life principle of the soul is removed at the time of physical death (Genesis 35:18; Jeremiah 15:2). The soul, as with the spirit, is the center of many spiritual and emotional experiences (Job 30:25; Psalm 43:5; Jeremiah 13:17). Whenever the word “soul” is used, it can refer to the whole person, whether alive or in the afterlife.

The soul and the spirit are connected, but separable (Hebrews 4:12). The soul is the essence of humanity’s being; it is who we are. The spirit is the aspect of humanity that connects with God.

Source

Upcoming posts on the Soul & Spirit:

Do animals have a soul & spirit?

Differences between soul and spirit

Do those without faith have a spirit?

What happens to the spirit after we die?

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Posted in atheist, Belief, bible, Christianity, God, Jesus, life, religion, soul | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: the warrioress | November 25, 2011

Walking Away

The holidays are for close family and friends. I’ve never really had a lot of either, in terms of what I would call intimate friends or family.

The kind of intimacy I’m talking about are people whom you can call and break down crying about whatever catastrophe you’ve managed to bring down upon yourself. These are the people who sincerely care and consistently want to be there in your life to help you through it.  In other words, they aren’t going to just offer some platitudes but are going to sincerely try to make a difference through some kind of demonstrated action — even if all that is, is an emotionally supportive telephone call or sincere shoulder to cry upon.

I’ve been privileged to have some extremely close friends through out my life that were more like real family than my own blood family; these kinds of people are inspirational and rare. Once you are lucky enough to know a few of these, you really discover the meaning of family and friendship and how valuable both are. It gives new meaning to the word “family,” but that’s not exactly what I wanted to write about this evening.

We can all have some “family drama,” I suppose, with these holidays occurring and my life is no exception. I decided to terminate a relationship with a relative of mine again; I say again because this isn’t the first time, but I sincerely think it’s going to be the last time.

walking away for good

I’m writing about this because I’m a little bit confused about what God or Jesus Christ might think about my decision and whether or not they would support it. Perhaps the better way to put this would be to admit that I’m withdrawing further attempts at communication indefinitely with this individual because the relationship is just too toxic and painful to continue; it’s quite honestly just no longer good for me or my child because of the impact past interactions have had upon me.

I feel some resentment about having to take this action because I feel that I’m forced into doing this again, but there is relief in my decision as well. As one grows older, one begins to realize that time is so very valuable and precious.  Spending precious time feeling angry, resentful, negative, or just out of sorts is an unfortunate way to live one’s life; I no longer want to live mine wasting time in this manner. I want to spend my days and evenings pursuing meaning and rewarding experiences that are good for me and for the others I share my life with.

This is a sad decision I’ve made though, and I didn’t make it easily. I’m an extremely loyal person with family and friends. When a relationship has become fairly pointless, though, and brings more pain than joy into my life, perhaps it’s best to detach with love and turn the individual over to God, since there’s little else I can do about the situation. This isn’t easy and it’s a less than satisfactory solution, but sometimes it’s the only course that makes sense.

I just don’t want to get into a forgiveness issue with God, where I’m holding a grudge against this person, and am angry with or feeling resentful towards him.

I still love my family member but I’m tired of enduring behaviors that I can just no longer accept or tolerate. There isn’t going to be any possibility of change occurring in the near future, I don’t believe, and I’ve prayed for this individual for enough long years to be pretty sure of this. Should change ever take place, I feel that this person can certainly reach out and let me know, if it mattered enough, but for my own peace of mind, I think I’m just done for now.

Thanksgiving was lovely despite this black spot marring the holiday atmosphere, in the back of my mind, but I also felt that it was time I actually take a stand and attempt to hold to it firmly into the future. I’m analyzing my own behavior by sharing it here in this blog and am hoping that it’s acceptable and that the Lord understands where I’m coming from. Well, I know He knows my feelings on this and certainly grasps the problems with this relationship, but I just don’t want to be out of God’s will through not following the bible in this and all of my ongoing relationships; so I’m kind of “thinking out loud” on this thing in hopes of emotional clarity.

Hope some of this made sense, but it may have been clear as mud. Whoops.  I’m sorry if that’s the case. I hope everyone’s Thanksgiving was delightful, warm, and peaceful, even if you spent the day on your lonesome.

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Posted by: the warrioress | November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving Day Grace

Truthfully, for me, there is only one thing on this earth to be thankful for, more than anything else, or anybody else.

Without the grace of God and the salvation of Jesus Christ, I probably wouldn’t even be alive to write this daily blog. I wouldn’t have a beautiful twelve year old daughter who is the second greatest gift of my life that I’m thankful for, and I wouldn’t have a family of the most beautiful animal souls on this planet, whom God has graciously blessed me with.

I’m thankful every single day for the blessings God has given me and I become more and more aware of them with every passing moment. It’s quite clear to me what really counts in this life and I am so rich!

God has given me the gift of washing my sins away and attempting to create within me a new person most pleasing to Him. All I’ve ever really wanted in my life is to serve God to the best of my ability, and for Him to take me and make me able.  He is fulfilling His purpose within me and this is a great adventure.

I’m thankful for the peace within my spirit and the knowledge that no matter what, God is my Father, and I am His daughter, in whom He is well pleased.

I selected a beautiful video/song that I hope touches you as it has touched me, and included the words by which to bless you this Thanksgiving holiday. I hope you are feeling loved and enjoy the listen.

     -=-=-=-

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
And I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see so clearly

And Hallelujah, grace like rain
Falls down on me
And Hallelujah and all my stains
Are washed away, they’re washed away

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

And Hallelujah, grace like rain
Falls down on me
And Hallelujah and all my stains
Are washed away, they’re washed away

When we’ve been there, ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing Your praise
Than when we first begun

And Hallelujah, grace like rain
Falls down on me
And Hallelujah and all my stains
Are washed away

And Hallelujah, grace like rain
Falls down on me
And Hallelujah and all my stains
Are washed away, they’re washed away

And Hallelujah
And Hallelujah
And Hallelujah
And Hallelujah all my stains
Are washed away, they’re washed away  

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Posted by: the warrioress | November 23, 2011

Feels Like Home

– Listen to the music below and read the words and you’ll feel like home –

Something in your eyes
Makes me wanna lose myself
Makes me wanna lose myself
In your arms.

There’s something in your voice
Makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts
The rest of my life.

If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how low I’ve felt for so long.
If you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you’ve done.

Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I’m all the way back
Where I come from.
Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I’m all the way back
Where I belong.

A window breaks
Down a long dark street
And a siren wails in the night.
But I’m all right
‘Cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see
Through the dark there’s light.

If you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I’ve waited for your touch.
If you knew how happy you are making me.
Oh I never thought I’d love anyone so much.

Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I’m all the way back where I come from.

Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I’m all the way back where I belong.
Feels like I’m all the way back where I belong.

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Posted by: the warrioress | November 22, 2011

The Heart of a Warrioress

The Heart of a Warrioress
 
 
 
The heart of a warrioress
is tender yet strong
Her spirit is driven
her patience is long
 
Forever there is a fire
in her piercing eyes
she never surrenders
and utters no lies
 
The heart of a warrioress
protecting her own
is a tower of strength
and never alone
 
The heart shares in the time
of those who came before
it beats unabated
like the drumbeats of war
 
the plan of a warrioress
is to flee in the night
but never away
and never in fright
 
She runs towards the mountains
she holds her head high
with power and honor
she prays towards the sky
 
the cry of the warrioress
is haunting at best
the Great Spirit hears
but grants her no rest
 
until once again
she feels in tune with the earth
the heart of the warrioress
is destined from birth
 

This was written for me by a talented personal friend of mine who is obviously quite the poet, who I thank with all of my heart for being my friend, and for her thoughtfulness.

Thank you for thinking of me.

The Great Spirit

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Posted by: the warrioress | November 21, 2011

Lovely Owl

Lovely Owl

Owls have proven time and time again that they are adorable. We know that cats pretty much dominate the blogosphere in terms of cute videos, but we’ll take a d’aww filled owl video over another “kitten vs. blank” any day.

Take this lovely owl video, for instance. It’s not hard to see why it’s gotten almost a million views by now. The star of the show — a little one getting the head-rub of his (or her) life — is obviously the best part. But there’s also music, and the drama of a jealous owl nearby.

Cats just might have some competition in the viral video department (and let’s not forget about the otters).

Lovely Owl

 

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Posted by: the warrioress | November 20, 2011

Cursing Baby Doll Upsets Parents

A small (14cm) baby doll called Calineczka. To...

This isn’t really surprising these days, is it? 

Not only are our public school children being targeted by Hollywood and the music industry but now even our toddlers are being impacted and led by a morally bankrupt society that seems to be attempting to push the envelope as far as we’ll allow it.

When will America’s parents say “enough!”???

———

A talking baby doll available at Toys “R” Us is upsetting some parents, who claim it has a potty mouth.

Some customers are calling for the “You & Me Interactive Play & Giggle Triplet Dolls” to be pulled from shelves because they say one of the dolls can be heard uttering, “You crazy bitch.”

“I did hear that. I wouldn’t want that for my child. Definitely not,” Denise Altschule told FOX23 in Tulsa, Okla.

Another mother told WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., that she feared her son could pick up the curse word from the doll. “I don’t want him repeating what’s on there,” she said.

The dolls, which are intended for children 2 and up, are being sold exclusively at Toys “R” Us stores. A Toys “R” spokeswoman told FOX23 that the retail store has not received widespread complaints and said the offending phrase is just baby talk.

Watch the video and decide for yourself.

Cursing Baby Doll

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