tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13616788113112625642024-03-21T08:02:34.765-04:00Strong in Weakness, Glowin' in the DarkMy thoughts on cancer, life, and how God controls it all...Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-26580212759131048802020-04-11T10:17:00.000-04:002020-04-11T10:17:56.800-04:00No Man Is An IslandNo Man is an Island<br />
Considering these words of 17th century poet John Donne,they are just as relevant today as they were when he penned them so long ago. The entire world has been thrust into almost global quarantine in hopes of "flattening the curve" of this pandemic that has held sway over us for months. Those infected quarantine themselves in hopes of not infecting others. Those not infected quarantine themselves to help curb the spread, choosing not to be like the bee, that unknowingly spreads pollen from flower to flower.<br />
Now we have become our own private islands, separating from those we love, and those we don't love, in hopes that soon the virus will be quelled and the declaration of freedom rings once again. But we are not, <i>can not<b></b></i> be islands. Our humanity yearns for contact, affirmation, and encouragement from others. We need the expression of empathy, the bond of camaraderie. Though forced to become human islands, our souls remain connected. We share pain and triumph, worry and assurance.<br />
When this crisis is over, when we once again rejoin the continent of our existence, how we reached out as islands will strengthen the bonds we had before. In enduring alone, yet together, the continent will be forever changed, strengthened and beautified. <br />
<br />
<br />
No man is an island, <br />
entire of itself; <br />
every man is a piece of the continent, <br />
a part of the main. <br />
If a clod be washed away by the sea, <br />
Europe is the less, <br />
as well as if a promonotory were;<br />
as well as if a manor of thy friend's<br />
or thine own were. <br />
Any man's death diminishes me, <br />
because I am involved in mankind;<br />
and therefore never send to know <br />
for whom the bell tolls; <br />
it tolls for thee. <br />
John Donne, 1623Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-50100259161959637772018-07-01T00:03:00.000-04:002018-07-01T00:03:36.846-04:00What is Parental Love?What is parental love? <br />
When I first held my daughter in my arms, so tiny and helpless, the wave of love that swept over me was palpable. I knew at that moment, without the slightest doubt, that I would give my life for her. She hadn’t done anything to deserve my love - she was mine, and I was hers. Forever. <br />
<br />
As she grew, she became more and more herself. Her personality, her physical features and intellect were all developing; she was becoming, and is still becoming, just as, even at 53, I am still becoming. <br />
She was adorable, funny, and so very strong-willed. There were days that I didn’t appreciate her strong will for sure! But my love for her wasn’t based on her personality. I loved her because she was mine!<br />
Over the years from 8-18 there were lies, anger, blue hair, black nail polish, moodiness mixed into the laughter, butterfly kisses, endless singing, back rubs and hugs. All those things wrapped up together were part of Elizabeth, and she is mine. Thank God she is mine!<br />
<br />
Looking back, I know I did things that my parents disapproved of, things that they wouldn’t have chosen as part of my life. Makeup experimentation, the music I liked, the clothes I wore, the decisions I made - not everything was stellar. But I was their daughter and they loved me in spite of everything. What a wonderful way to grow up: knowing that my parents loved and accepted me, no matter what. <br />
<br />
When we’re lucky enough, blessed enough, to have a child, you hold an immeasurable gift with unknown possibilities. Who will that child become? <br />
We’re also given the chance to realize the amazing, unconditional love that God has for His children. “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:38-39). Oh how successful I would be as a parent if Elizabeth could say that she is sure that absolutely nothing could separate her from my love. That she was sure that neither clothing nor hair, nor attitude nor actions, nor anything under the sun...would cause me to think less of her, reject her, or make her feel unloved and unloveable. Because she is mine! Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-17037287639571169122016-01-01T00:09:00.001-05:002016-01-01T00:09:18.421-05:00Happy New Day!It's seven minutes to 2016 as I start to write this. Odds are, I'll start this post in one year and finish it in the next. I'm thinking about how much weight we give to the new year. We look at it as a clean slate, a fresh start full of promise. We approach it with new resolve and great expectations. <div>Looking back at 2015, it was a good year overall for me. There were good days, great days, and days I'd rather not remember. I know people who had it pretty rough this year. Loss of loved ones, cancer, marriages ending; sadness overshadow their memories of 2015. And I know others for whom 2015 was a "banner year", full of success and happiness at every turn. All in all, 2015 was 365 days of life. </div><div>I think, as December 31 melts into January 1, I want to start with a new perspective. Rather than fill my mind with hopes for the next 365 days, I'm going to look at each day as a fresh start. Twenty four hours of promise. A day full of opportunities to show kindness, love my people, reach for my goals. No one knows how many days we have. There will be people who won't make it home from their New Year celebrations tonight - the ultimate irony. So I say, "Happy New Day!" May we live each day that we have full of hope, and joy and love. </div>Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-12817918046074348212015-12-26T10:53:00.001-05:002015-12-26T10:56:57.673-05:00The Christmas Star<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb2qeOlitR0DQXU_gaEeh8SeemZje_StKENsQ1m2NL22Y_zY014rWIBzaVbZV7nYR4KI-Is7eqgmXFkZGbGR6NwJUXhtLqoTIR3Ctxs7YEIOacuqX5HYc8SGYcBHmCcZA-cVR_0i97Mo/s640/blogger-image--1301600317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb2qeOlitR0DQXU_gaEeh8SeemZje_StKENsQ1m2NL22Y_zY014rWIBzaVbZV7nYR4KI-Is7eqgmXFkZGbGR6NwJUXhtLqoTIR3Ctxs7YEIOacuqX5HYc8SGYcBHmCcZA-cVR_0i97Mo/s640/blogger-image--1301600317.jpg"></a></div>This month, Jeff and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. The day Lizzie and I put up our Christmas tree, I thought about longevity as she placed the star on top of the tree. Jeff and I bought that star in New York City the year we got married 30 years ago. That first year, our tree was not much bigger than the star. The star towered above it, threatening to topple it over from its weight. <div><br><div>As the years went by, our trees got bigger, and our star topped each tree every Christmas. After a while, it lost it's specialness. It was always there, a lot like our marriage...commonplace and easily taken for granted. </div><div><br></div><div>One year, we plugged the star in, and nothing happened. No lights. I don't remember what else was going on that year, but we put the star aside and replaced it with another tree-topper. We didn't throw it away, but it wasn't important enough to work at fixing. Christmas came and went that year, and the star spent the holiday in its box. </div><div>The next season came, and I expressed my sadness over the star. I didn't want some other topper, I wanted our star. Jeff saw how much it meant to me, and he fixed it. He had to somehow attach it to a short string of lights that plugged in to the tree's light system. I don't know exactly what he did, but by the time Lizzie and I had the rest of the tree trimmed, he came in with our star and plugged it in. All the extra lights made it shine even more brightly than ever!</div><div><br></div><div>Our marriage is very similar to our star. It's been there, constant, for 30 years. There have been a few seasons that we've ignored it, taken it for granted, <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">left it in the box. There was a time we almost threw the box in the trash. But when we realize how much we mean to each other and are willing to do the work, it shines more brightly than ever before. </span></div></div></div>Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-77413566047756162532015-12-24T14:49:00.000-05:002015-12-24T14:49:02.530-05:00The Night that Christmas Became Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3N_rAsvRMuTVB6Vpk0vWPrWnGWMcbIPeiZT2WZkMUVzkC_VdaoqREsZ-O7SRCl11rcd6ZVanjJ8ix25Y0fOn27eLqQ6XgwK4BZrxYyTWlwwjA5LOJVyj6iQUyJLPH9-RBo7zvG_YeIEM/s1600/bethlehem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3N_rAsvRMuTVB6Vpk0vWPrWnGWMcbIPeiZT2WZkMUVzkC_VdaoqREsZ-O7SRCl11rcd6ZVanjJ8ix25Y0fOn27eLqQ6XgwK4BZrxYyTWlwwjA5LOJVyj6iQUyJLPH9-RBo7zvG_YeIEM/s400/bethlehem.jpg" /></a></div><i>The Night That Christmas Became Christmas<br />
by Ann Dunlap<br />
<br />
The music and the madness<br />
And the merriment of Christmas<br />
Is so different than the dawning<br />
Of Christmas long ago.<br />
There was silence, there was stillness, <br />
As the Savior came upon us<br />
The night that Christmas became Christmas long ago.<br />
The presents and the purchases<br />
And the pageantry of Christmas <br />
Leave an emptiness, <br />
A longing in my soul.<br />
For the wonder and the worship<br />
And the winsomeness of Christmas, <br />
Like there was the night that Christmas <br />
Became Christmas long ago.<br />
Oh be still, my soul, and listen<br />
As the Heavens tell the story, <br />
And creation shows <br />
For all the world to know!<br />
Hallelujah! Hail! Hosannah!<br />
For Immanuel drew nigh, <br />
The night that Christmas became <br />
Christmas long ago.<br />
</i>Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-32981102080820156772015-03-09T21:11:00.002-04:002015-03-09T21:13:14.733-04:00A new hurdle...Last week I had a routine mammogram. I wonder how many stories start out with those very same words? Anyway, I had actually forgotten about the mammogram until I received a call from their office today while I was at work. It seems that something "showed up" in my left breast. Some irregular, focal, dense, yada yada and some other words...the scheduler lost me after "something showed up". So I have "additional tests" scheduled for next week, and I am absolutely not supposed to worry about this at all. Obviously the scheduler doesn't know me. As much as I would prefer not to worry, it is physically impossible. I was born to a worrier. It's in my DNA. My track record stinks for health issues. I've already had thyroid cancer, and they say that women who have had thyroid cancer are much more likely to develop a second type of cancer within ten years. <br />
<br />
Of course it doesn't help that this is coming at a time spiritual disconnect and relational turmoil with those with whom we were in fellowship. I want to trust God. I've had big talk over how easy it was to trust God in the past with all the other stuff. Maybe once I know for sure what's going on, the trust will happen. That saying from a dear old saint in CA rings true - "you don't need the ticket till it's time to get on the train." <br />
<br />
I've been following the story of Kara Tippetts, author of The Hardest Peace, fairly closely. I want to have her courage and faith. I want to be around for a long time, especially in Lizzie's life. She needs me, and I love that. I want to meet that need well into her adulthood. And anyway, I could be hit by a bus tomorrow and never have to face the "additional tests" anyway...Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-87512538460719080412014-06-03T15:21:00.000-04:002014-06-03T15:27:24.500-04:00Beauty - Much Deeper than SkinI recently finished reading a book called Glorious Opposite by Veronica Edmond. She contacted me while she was in the process of writing it, because of a blog post of mine that she read. The post was about scars, and how they can be ugly, but also can be a "sacred call to always remember" what God has brought you through. Veronica's book is all about her experience with breast cancer. The cancer and subsequent disfigurement were very difficult for her and her husband to face, and apparently my blog post encouraged her to see her scars differently.<br />
<br />
I received an email from Veronica, and it included a devotional reading entitled You Are My True Beauty. It was very uplifting, and it prompted me to hit the Word to see what God says about true beauty. We're inundated with the world's ideas about beauty - women who are thin and voluptuous, dressed fashionably and bejeweled and bedazzled are all around us in magazines, on billboards, and some of them are even walking among us! Most Christian women would say that those women achieve a beauty that is only "skin deep". In 1 Peter chapter 3, I found that there is a beauty that goes much deeper than skin - it goes heart deep. "Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, <i>which in God's sight is very precious</i>." Oh I just love it when the Bible gives us a clear definition of something! We see a contrast here between what people think is beautiful and what God thinks is beautiful. <br />
<br />
We've all seen the contrast: a beautiful woman, impeccably dressed and made up, shoes and handbag matching, earrings and bracelets all coordinating, scented expensively and not a strand of hair misplaced. I remember secretly envying a woman just like that. I was on the bus to school. She stepped on and captivated my attention, even at 8AM! In just a split second, I knew I wanted to trade lives with her. And then it happened - she opened her mouth, and the image of beauty quickly flitted away, replaced with harshness and anger focused at the poor bus driver. There had been an accident, so he was ten minutes late arriving at her bus stop. She couldn't find her bus pass, so she was digging in her Coach purse for exact change, while the driver patiently waited. She fumed when she realized the bus was full and she would have to stand. "No one gives their seat up for a lady anymore," she huffed out. I wanted to retort, "maybe if they saw one, they would!" but I held my tongue. In that brief time, my beauty idol systematically erased all traces of her "skin deep" beauty and her true self was exposed. It was a self that was completely "me" centered. <br />
<br />
Fortunately I've had the privilege of experiencing the opposite in the contrast. A woman, older, bald from chemo, dry skin covered with sores; barely was she able to lift her head, let alone consider makeup and clothing. Yet her quiet confidence in Christ shone brightly in her eyes, through her words. In her worst time, she was a fragrance of the knowledge of Christ to everyone who saw her. (2 Cor 2:14) This is my beauty idol! This is the makeover that I want! <br />
<br />
We women all strive to be beautiful. We want those around us to think that we've got it all together and it looks good. We worry about what our friends, spouses and co-workers all think of us, when we really should be concerned with how God thinks of us. And He's provided us with His beauty tips! You won't find them in Glamour or Cosmo, though. You gotta hit the Word! Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-34577640628739527822014-04-27T08:50:00.002-04:002014-04-27T08:50:38.413-04:00You can keep your amazing grace if this is all it is!Amazing grace, get off my back, <br />
I can’t be good enough!<br />
You’ve chosen me to be your child, <br />
But man, this life is tough!<br />
<br />
I used to be a lousy wretch, <br />
With not a care of sin;<br />
But since you’ve come to ransom me,<br />
Oh how can I begin?<br />
<br />
Church tells me how to live my life,<br />
And how I can look good.<br />
I must do things to measure up<br />
To love you like I should. <br />
<br />
I bring my tithes and go to church, <br />
I never cut my hair;<br />
I wear a dress, and drink no wine, <br />
And try to never swear.<br />
<br />
And then it happens, something gives ~<br />
The congregations stares!<br />
I’ve crossed the line unpardonable<br />
I’ve let them see my cares.<br />
<br />
They question my salvation now, <br />
I must not be redeemed.<br />
For I’m not living life just so, <br />
I’m not all that I seemed.<br />
<br />
If this is grace, I can’t hold up<br />
Beneath this heavy weight!<br />
I give it back, it can’t be mine – <br />
My sin is far too great. <br />
<br />
And now I’m lost more than before<br />
I’ve nowhere left to turn<br />
What’s great about this grace of yours<br />
That’s free, and then you earn?<br />
<br />
It’s no surprise – the world is watching Christians. We hear it all the time. Our lives our on display, and so we must portray the life of our Savior, Jesus. That’s become the goal of the institutional church in America. For years as a young Christian, I went to conferences, heard sermons and read books on how to be salt in a world bound for hell. I would “recommit” my life over and over. This time I’ll get it right – I’ll have a quiet time every morning, even though I’ve never been a morning person; I’ll tithe no matter what the checkbook says, so that I can see God’s amazing math; I’ll never decline an opportunity to serve the Lord – when the phone rings, I’ve got the word ‘Yes!’ ready on my lips. I will do all these things for two most important reasons. One, so that the world will see Jesus in me, and two, that I will live a life that pleases the Lord and shows Him gratitude for all He’s done for me. <br />
<br />
I’ve done all those things. I’ve done them begrudgingly, despite myself, and not “with a happy heart”. And I’ve been discouraged, exhausted and overwhelmed. The world around me saw someone who was busy trying to be perfect. Yeah, I looked good on the outside, but inside I was a mess. This just didn’t feel like amazing grace! It felt like amazing work, amazing falsehood, but definitely not grace. Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, but the burden that the church puts on its people makes Jesus seem like a liar! Is that what we want the world around us to think? We sing about being set free by amazing grace, but we live like we’re enslaved to conformity and good works. <br />
<br />
Oh, but thankfully there is grace! There is abundant and free unmerited favor that flows from the cross of Calvary. It’s found all over the place in the Word of God. His yoke truly is easy, and His burden is light. The God of the Universe set the bar unattainably high. He purposed that no one but His Son could live His standard of perfection. And before the foundation of the world, He chose people to be His children – sinful, imperfect, wretched people whom He covered with the blood of Christ. Now there is nothing – NOTHING – that can ever change that! If I am a child of God, there is nothing I can ever do to make Him more pleased with me than He is already. He was pleased to choose me before He made the stars! <br />
<br />
Imagine this: Billy’s mom is a multi-million dollar florist. Her business is world-wide and deals with exotic plants and flowers from every corner of the globe. She’s got access to the most beautiful flowers in the most stunning colors, right at her fingertips. Her home is filled with fresh flowers every day, her walls are covered in paintings of flowers. She is a sought after advisor to the First Lady, the Queen of England; everyone who’s anyone knows that if you want flowers, she’s your gal. Billy wakes up on Mother’s Day, and realizes he didn’t get his mom a gift, and he left his Mother’s Day class project on his desk at school. Billy loves his mom, and he just can’t disappoint her on this special day. He goes out into the backyard, and comes running in a few minutes later. His knees are dirty, he smells like sweaty little boy, but his face is all smiles. He’s got a fist full of dandelions for his mom! She loves her son. And even though she is the Florist Extraordinaire, her son brought her dandelions. She kneels down, gently puts her nose to the weeds, and with tears in her eyes tells Billy how much she loves him. He’s given her the best gift she’s ever received. <br />
<br />
That’s God! What do we have to give Him that He hasn’t given us first? What do we have that He doesn’t already own? He certainly doesn’t need anything from us! But when we come to Him as children we touch His heart. When we treat Him as our beloved Abba, Daddy, we show Him that we understand grace. God doesn’t want our work. He wants our hearts. Anything that we could “do for God” is something God could certainly do for Himself. He doesn’t need our measly efforts to be good. He says that all our righteous acts are filthy rags! They’re dandelions in the beautiful garden of the Master Florist. Weeds that He has every right to pull up and burn! But instead He stoops down, takes our paltry expressions of love, and calls it sweet incense. It is only when we truly understand this amazing grace that a watching world will be drawn by curiosity to this Amazing God. <br />
<br />
Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-3669014620010758362014-03-29T10:50:00.000-04:002014-04-01T12:25:17.360-04:00Asbestos Awareness Week!I was recently made aware of this topic by a fellow cancer survivor and blogger. Asbestos is still a cancer-causing substance, and is still being used in places today. Asbestos Awareness Week is April 1-7 this year, so I'm posting this to help spread the word. For more information, you can visit this website:<br />
<br />
<a href=" http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/awareness/">http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/awareness/</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDox1WcbkVhkoRZsnz7Ow9aNxfUlckGw4aUrlEKzQ_dbGYKWVo_MjNcvnreSXsiaaJFwWviIfFM8-E2GaDHKqOfwzuWFYirgySG-FtawLnbuJWe-vU64ldduLVyMwA1hZ92h50JYeh_U/s1600/asbestos.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDox1WcbkVhkoRZsnz7Ow9aNxfUlckGw4aUrlEKzQ_dbGYKWVo_MjNcvnreSXsiaaJFwWviIfFM8-E2GaDHKqOfwzuWFYirgySG-FtawLnbuJWe-vU64ldduLVyMwA1hZ92h50JYeh_U/s320/asbestos.png" /></a></div><br />
Thanks for reading!<br />
AnnAnn Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-37367086896346491332014-01-27T12:33:00.000-05:002014-01-27T12:33:00.755-05:00The Winter School Song(to the tune of The Addam's Family Theme Song)<br />
<br />
It's windy and it's blowin'<br />
And soon it will be snowin'<br />
And so they aren't going<br />
To school again today!<br />
<br />
The kids are gettin' dumber,<br />
They'll be in school through summer,<br />
It really is a bummer!<br />
No school again today!<br />
<br />
The home school crowd is learnin',<br />
Their wheels are always turnin'<br />
We keep the fire burnin'<br />
So they've got school today!<br />
<br />
They'll finish up more quickly<br />
Unless they get too sickly<br />
We keep the schedule strick'ly<br />
So they've got school today!Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-63026577457984240132013-11-30T11:37:00.000-05:002013-11-30T11:37:00.521-05:00The True Meaning Of Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRx_PtRu4dOmzqqrtdLo9OlLop9cmcW73MSI98999tEI0M5DOsjYesUplq9AkEMkMvP91vKrWLLRebgTHfIj7l-uwb0J7FmvxAOeUDqAffnJEoF5eE1G7fflTOQ_Gq1e-GOusisuVmas/s1600/LinusvanPelt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRx_PtRu4dOmzqqrtdLo9OlLop9cmcW73MSI98999tEI0M5DOsjYesUplq9AkEMkMvP91vKrWLLRebgTHfIj7l-uwb0J7FmvxAOeUDqAffnJEoF5eE1G7fflTOQ_Gq1e-GOusisuVmas/s320/LinusvanPelt.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Christmastime is here. We’re inundated with sales for everything from appliances to Zhu Zhu pets. Between football and holiday specials, there’s not a moment of television air time that’s not taken up with some advertiser persuading you that their store is the place to spend your days and your money. <br />
<br />
I found my respite from the holiday materialism on the Hallmark channel. There I found miraculous happenings that center around Christmas. The Scrooge theme is ever-popular, showing up in all sorts of ways. From orphaned children finding homes, to the hardened widow who hasn’t celebrated Christmas since his wife was killed on Christmas Eve – there is no end to the heartwarming, poignant stories telling us about the “true meaning of Christmas.” <br />
<br />
It was during one of these warm, fuzzy movies that I started to consider that phrase, “the true meaning of Christmas.” These movies seem to say that the true meaning of Christmas is found in “miracles”: snow on December 25, finding that perfect Mr. Right, that first kiss at midnight under the mistletoe. But is that what Christmas is really all about? <br />
<br />
According to Mr. Webster, the definition of Christmas is “the annual commemoration by Christians of the birth of Jesus Christ on Dec 25.” If this is true, then we’re not really getting the truth in these movies. Now I’m as sentimental and weepy as the next person, especially around the holidays, and I enjoy almost every Hallmark Christmas movie. But I also value truth. And the truth is, the events of those movies happen all year round, totally apart from any Christmas “miracles”. Soldiers come home to their families, people fall in love, young women get heart transplants, and orphans are cared for the other eleven months of the year. Those events are no less “miraculous” in April than they are during Christmas week, and no less valuable to their recipients. So I echo Charlie Brown’s resounding question: “Isn’t there anyone who can tell me what Christmas is all about?”<br />
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I’ve always been thankful for Linus, Charlie Brown’s blanket-dragging, thumb-sucking but oh-so-wise friend. He beautifully answers Charlie’s question by quoting from the gospel of Luke. He replies, <br />
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And Lo! The angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not! For behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, ‘tis Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger.’ And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’ <br />
That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”<br />
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In his world of materialism and performance, seeking after the perfect tree and trying to put on a meaningful Christmas play, Charlie Brown needed his friend Linus to speak truth into his life. He needed to hear that no matter how poor your tree or sad your performance, no matter how many Christmas cards are in your mailbox or presents under your tree, the true meaning of Christmas will never be found in those things. The true meaning of Christmas is found in Emmanuel, God with us. <br />
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Perhaps there is a Charlie Brown in your life who needs you to be Linus. Linus was “prepared to give an answer” for Charlie’s question, and he did it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). Peter tells us that we all should be ready to give others the reason for the hope that we have inside of us. That hope we have is Jesus, Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). People need that hope every day of the year, not just at Christmastime. It’s his coming that we celebrate on December 25 each year. Because His lives in us, we celebrate Him the other 364 days of the year as well. <br />
Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-6907750354532438192013-11-24T15:46:00.000-05:002013-11-24T20:25:28.870-05:00The Advent of ChristmasThe advent of the Christmas season has begun. One would have to be a hermit to miss the signs; they’re everywhere. Soon we’ll see the plastic nativity scenes adorning lawns everywhere. Mary and Joseph and the Baby Jesus with halos around their heads will be on greeting cards in our mailboxes. All this causes a longing in my heart; a desire to know what that first Christmas was really like, and although we can’t know for certain, the Scriptures give us some clues. <br />
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The story starts out with the scandal of pregnancy in an unmarried, yet betrothed woman. According to the Law, Joseph had every right to turn her over to be stoned to death. Yet this Child she carried was under God’s sovereign watch; He spoke to Joseph and compelled Him to believe. The couple married and then left, perhaps quietly, for a journey to Bethlehem where a census was taking place. By this time in a pregnancy, most mothers-to-be are busy nesting, getting ready for the arrival of their new bundle of joy. Mary and Joseph, however, left their home to travel 80 miles on foot. When they reached their destination, they were exhausted, hungry, and Mary was in labor. Joseph, burdened with the desperation of their circumstance, pleaded for mercy as door after door was closed in his face. Finally in the crowds of people gathered to be counted, they found their birthing room – a barn full of straw. We assume there were cows and sheep there. The stories depict them gazing on in silent reverence, when most probably they were audibly protesting the intrusion of the woman and her labor cries. Then suddenly with one final groan, Jesus, the Light of the World, made His appearance in the flesh. The God of the Universe, who measures the heavens in His hand, was a tiny, naked baby boy, maybe eight pounds and seven ounces, perhaps twenty inches long. The Voice that once said, “Let there be light!” causing the empty void to give way forever now cried and fussed about leaving the warm darkness He’d known for the past nine months. Joseph carefully cleaned Him off and wrapped Him in some swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a feeding trough while His young mother recovered from the birth. There was no halo surrounding His head. He was not holding out His hands in blessing to the shepherds who came to see Him. He was a normal, human baby. <br />
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Normal, yes, but very extraordinary! This Jesus, who existed in the form of God, emptied Himself and took on flesh. Certainly this was not a difficult task for the Almighty – He created flesh, after all! But consider the Bible’s use of the term “flesh”. Paul says it best in Romans 8 verse 3. “…sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.” When the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, Jesus’ divine self became covered with sinful flesh. How should we think of this? Imagine the most incredibly beautiful young woman, virginal and innocent, eyes wide with wonder, hair and cheeks glowing with purity. Now imagine her stooping to pick up a rotting buffalo hide dripping with intestines and dung, and covering herself up with it from head to toe. You’d shout, “Don’t touch it! You’ll dirty yourself up completely!” This illustration pales in comparison to the incarnation of Christ. The perfection of God taking on sinful human flesh is something we can’t begin to comprehend. <br />
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In this sinful flesh, He lived a normal yet sinless life. He had growing pains, His voice changed in His teen years, He scraped His knees, banged His thumb with a hammer in His father’s carpentry shop, He felt hunger and thirst. He learned the Scriptures from the time He was a young boy, reciting them to His mother as she prepared the evening meal. He grew in wisdom and favor with God and man. The only thing He didn’t do was sin. The writer of Hebrews tells us in chapter 4, “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” He lived this perfect life in our place, and then on the cross He became sin (2 Cor 5:21). He fulfilled the law, paying its penalty, so that we could become the righteousness of God; a most inequitable transaction, but without it there would be no salvation. <br />
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The sweet pictures and clean images we have of Christmas do no justice to the true miracle of Christmas. Days full of shopping and wrapping, Santa and mistletoe can steal away the winsomeness and wonder of the real miracle of Christmas: Emmanuel, Jesus, God with us. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly this Christmas season. Let it fill your days with awe and thanksgiving as you celebrate the advent of the Messiah. <br />
Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-64282069342015594772013-09-08T13:42:00.000-04:002013-09-08T13:42:00.937-04:00Book Review: A Plain DisappearanceThe book A Plain Disappearance by Amanda Flower is the third in the series The Appleseed Creek Mysteries. This was my first exposure to the author and the series. Despite not being familiar with the characters and their histories, I was able to follow along and enjoy the mystery. <br />
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The story is about a young woman, Chloe Humphreys, who lives in an Amish community in Ohio, though she is not Amish. Her life is further entwined in the Amish culture because she is dating a young man who left the Amish faith prior to his baptism. This allows him to continue living and working in association with his family. <br />
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A young girl is murdered in this quiet community, and Chloe finds herself in the middle, assisting the police chief in solving it. Apparently she has come to the aid of the police in both of the previous books. The interplay between the characters seems to have developed over the course of the series, so as I read, I found myself wondering about what had happened in the previous books. This doesn't detract too much from the story, although I do think I would have enjoyed the story more had I read the first two books. <br />
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The crime is solved in the very last few pages, which feeds the reader's desire for a good whodunit intrigue. The characters are relatable, and the writer's style is enjoyable and makes the reading experience pleasant. I plan to pick up the first two novels in the series, and then look forward to what happens next in Appleseed Creek!<br />
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I received this book for the purpose of this review. I was not required to write a favorable review. Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-65160652621944120282013-09-01T14:42:00.002-04:002013-09-01T14:42:15.411-04:00Packing Light - a Book ReviewPacking Light, by Allison Vesterfelt<br />
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We all have baggage. Some baggage is heavier than others. But no matter what kind of life we've lived, when Christ makes us born again, He takes that baggage and replaces it with His own - His gospel. We're new creations. The old man has passed away, and all things are new.<br />
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So why is it then, that we keep trying to stuff more into our suitcase? We try to pick up some of the old stuff and cram it in, and we pick up all kinds of useless junk along that way that just has to be included on the journey. If we're really messed up, we keep our suitcase, and then buy a back pack, overnight bag, and footlocker just so we have more room for the stuff that we don't need! And then we're so concerned with carrying all that stuff, and shuffling it around, and trying to find the appropriate stuff to pull out for any situation, that we lose sight of ourselves! We become junk store merchants! This is not the life to which we're call in Christ. We're called to let go, follow Him and fully trust Him to meet every need.<br />
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Allison Vesterfelt has written a thought-provoking memoir of her journey to this understanding. Stepping outside of her comfort zone, she embarks on a 50-state adventure with a friend. They must pack light, since they'll be on the road for 6 months, driving across the country and back. As they travel, they accumulate more stuff, they purge, they acquire. They are constantly re-evaluating what is necessary and what can be discarded. Allison comes to realize that in holding tightly to the unnecessary, she was letting go of the person God created her to become.<br />
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Packing Light is a great read - there's adventure, fun and loss. And intentionally or not, Packing Light is packed full of the good news. In talking about making decisions for her life, she writes, "Everything was going to be okay. I knew it. He (God) loved me, He loved me, He loved me. That was all that mattered." (p. 95) She talks about unrealized expectations in a way that reminded me of Jesus' twelve disciples - they were expecting a triumphant, conquering Messiah, but instead they had one who was killed on a cross. She writes about rules and how we think obeying the rules will keep us from disappointment and heartache, but they don't. Just like keeping the Law of Scripture, which cannot save us. We either neglect the rules and reap the consequences, or we become obsessed with them and shift our focus off the beauty and glory of God and shine the spotlight on ourselves and our efforts.<br />
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In my opinion, her most profound words appear on pages 130-131. I won't quote it entirely (you'll just have to read the book yourself!). But I will close with my favorite sentence: "When we become who God meant us to be all along, we leave a wake of His presence behind us." Isn't that what the Christian life is all about? We live our lives in such a way that the world might see Christ in us, the hope of glory. Buy the book, read it, and pass it on to someone else who needs to learn to fill their suitcase with the gospel, and let all the rest take care of itself.<br />
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I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review, although I was not required to write a favorable review. I just couldn't help it!<br />
Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-71090923410609573882013-03-30T15:47:00.004-04:002013-03-30T15:47:44.261-04:00I Am BarabbasContemplating the Good Friday story today. So many of the players depict me in part: Like Peter, I deny Christ in my words and deeds out of fear of what others will think. Like the Pharisees, I think I can be good enough to deserve God's love. But I realized today that the person in the story that most completely portrays me is Barabbas. Guilty, deserving death, but gets off Scott-free because Jesus took my place. I am Barabbas. He went free because sinful people fear grace much more than we fear sin. We think we are good enough to atone for our sin and make ourselves righteous. Grace tells us that we are beyond the hope of ever being good enough. Looking at grace forces us to see our total depravity. The Pharisees were trusting in their excellent work of law-keeping, which would require God to call them righteous. But righteousness comes to those who are unable to merit it, through the grace of God in Jesus Christ.In Christ, I am forgiven much. May my love for others show how much I love Christ.<br />
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Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-58468903123994037542012-10-05T07:57:00.000-04:002012-10-05T07:57:37.547-04:00More things to think aboutI started this blog two years ago, when I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. My sister thought it would be cathartic for me to express my thoughts as I walked through that period of my life. It certainly was fun, and a helpful outlet.<br />
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It seems that God has given me some new things to walk through with Him, and to think about how He is still in control no matter what comes into my life. I'm writing this from my hospital bed, where I have been for five days. After almost two months of dealing with uncontrollable asthma, my doctor admitted me on high dose steroids. The steroids caused my blood sugar to go into a tailspin, oftentimes not registering on the meter because of how high it was! I have not ever had blood sugar issues personally. My mom was diabetic, and I've been considered to probably have Metabolic Syndrome, which has included endometriosis and poly-cystic ovarian syndrome, as well as my thyroid issues. The doctor thinks that this current incident with the steroids has probably just pushed me over the line into diabetes. I will go home on insulin and oral medication, with the goals of weaning off all the meds as quickly as possible. My goal is to be a diet-controlled diabetic.<br />
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This goal makes me start thinking about God's sovereignty and my accountability. I'm not disciplined in my eating or exercise habits - never have been. I was a stick as a kid and ate whatever, whenever. But over the course of my life thus far, the different aspects of Metabolic syndrome, as well as my lack of discipline, have all caused me to be overweight, which is probably another factor in my current situation. So now I sit here playing "What If" with myself. what if I had been more disciplined and kept better care of myself? Would I be in this situation right now? If this was God's plan for my life at this point, would my good efforts have been able to thwart His plan? I hang onto Jeremiah 29:11 at this point, and hope that is where the answers to my what if's are found: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." God is not <i>planning</i> my life as it unfolds. He already has all the plans for my life, from beginning to end, and every moment in between. <br />
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It's so easy to see the good things as His plan - a wonderful husband, a beautiful daughter, wonderful friends, a home, a good job, etc. Those are all things that we desire. The "bad" things - cancer, diabetes, loss of loved ones, financial difficulties - those are the things we as believers pray against. But looking back, it has always been these "bad things" that drive me to the throne of grace much more often than the good things. And when I get to that throne, I find the only thing I need - God. <br />
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The book of Hebrews chapter 12 talks about how God disciplines His children. We think of discipline as punishment, and that is an incorrect understanding. Jesus lived with his disciples for three years. During that time, He was discipling them - disciplining them, teaching them to be like Him. Discipline is not something that can be done from a distance. It's an up close and personal thing. So in order for God to discipline His children, He brings them close. In a way, it's like he's holding my face tenderly in His hands saying, "Here is a trial. My plan is that through it, you will become more like Jesus. Stay close, come to my throne and sit at my feet so I can give you all the grace and mercy that you will need to patiently endure, and eventually be more than just a conqueror. Don't fixate on the circumstances - they will only cause discouragement, fear, doubt and pain. Fix your eyes on me instead, see Jesus in my face and become a mirror of His image. Let my joy be in you so that your joy is complete. I will give you all you need for godliness and perseverance. When this is through, you will look a little bit more like Christ, the author and perfecter of your faith. And don't forget my promise: I will <i>never</i> leave you or forsake you!"<br />
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Keep me at the foot of your throne, my Abba. I want to be like Jesus! After all, that is your ultimate plan for my life.Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-11123896062055509172012-09-27T09:42:00.000-04:002012-09-27T09:42:50.739-04:00The Miracle of MannaCenturies ago, God’s people the Israelites, spent over 400 years in Egypt. Joseph, an Israelite, had been sold into slavery by his brothers, landing him in Egypt. This was God’s provision, because through this event, He brought about relief from a seven year famine and not only stored up food sufficient for those in Egypt, but also for the surrounding nations. Egypt became quite wealthy by selling food from their storehouses. Joseph remained in Egypt, and many of the sons of Israel remained there with him. They prospered and became a large and strong group of people in Egypt. <br />
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After several generations, the new Pharaoh became nervous because of the strength of the Israelites. He had not known Joseph and was not aware of how his nation prospered under Joseph’s care. He decided to enslave the Israelites, so that they would not overtake the Egyptians. The Israelites remained slaves in Egypt for many generations. <br />
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Finally God raised up a deliverer to lead His people out of Egypt. He sent Moses to Pharaoh multiple times with plagues and miraculous signs. When God caused the death of Pharaoh’s son, he finally relented and set the Israelites free. So the nation of Israel, en masse, left Egypt. They had witnessed miraculous plagues and signs from God; they saw God part the Red Sea so that they could escape Pharaoh’s army; they saw God lead them as a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. They had seen so many amazing things that their God did on their behalf. Yet soon after their release from slavery, they found themselves in the desert: the hot, dry, desolate wilderness. They were hungry. They longed for the food of Egypt. To them, it would have been better to die as slaves with full bellies than follow God hungry, to an unknown place.<br />
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I know that feeling. I think the old adage, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” describes it quite well. Sometimes we think that we’re better off sticking with what we know, even though it might come with bitter circumstances, than to follow God on an unknown path, into an uncertain future. We forget the things we’ve seen God do for us in the past. We lack the trust in His character that it takes to leave everything and follow wherever He leads. <br />
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Back to our wandering Israelites – God hears their grumblings for food, and He provides for their need. Every morning, He provided them with bread from Heaven. It just showed up all over the ground once the dew cleared. When the Israelites saw it, they asked each other, “What is it?” That’s where the name ‘manna’ came from – it means ‘what is it?’. God provided something supernatural, food that was other-worldly, something they had never seen before. When I consider the unfettered power and ability of God, I wonder why He didn’t just cause vegetables to cover the ground every morning, or types of other familiar vegetation. Surely in a desert wasteland this would have been equally miraculous! What was His purpose in providing food that begged the question, “What is this?”<br />
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I think about biting into a tomato – there are a hundred tiny little seeds inside. The same is true with a cucumber, peppers, green beans, squash, etc. Those seeds can be planted and can reproduce more vegetables. Maybe God wanted to be sure that the food He provided was food that could not be reproduced, except by Him. There’s no way to know for sure that this was God’s rationale. As I write, I can think of a few other possibilities for His purpose. But what I do see is the picture of grace we see in the manna:<br />
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Manna came completely from God. I don’t imagine it was hard work for the Creator of the Universe to send manna. He may have just simply said, “Let there be manna!” He was the sole source of manna – no one could study its properties and recreate it in a petri dish. There were no roadside manna stands along the way from Egypt to the Promised Land. It showed up daily, without fail. No one had to remind God to send it to them. <br />
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Manna was completely satisfying. The Israelites could gather up only what they needed for each day. They were instructed to gather two quarts of manna per person every morning, and that was sufficient for all their needs. (Which begs the image to consider – the nation of Israel was quite large! That’s a lot of manna!) If someone got greedy and gathered up more than they’d need for the day, by morning they found rotten, worm-infested manna in their Tupperware. But miraculously, the day before each Sabbath they could gather enough manna for two days, and there would be no spoiling. So every day, the necessary amount was readily available for all the needs of every person. No one went to bed hungry. <br />
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Manna was sweet. It made cakes that tasted like wafers and honey. It wasn’t salty or spicy. If it had been, the people would have thirsted for water, which wasn’t easy to come by in the desert wasteland. <br />
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The Scriptures are full of pictures. Manna is a clear picture of God’s grace. He sent manna to His people while they were complaining about the situation that He led them into, not while they were praising His goodness. While we were sinners, He lavished His grace upon His chosen people. Manna was the sustaining food that the Israelites could not provide for themselves, nor could they live without. Grace is the provision that saves us and then sustains us, conforming us to the image and likeness of His Son, Jesus. Without grace, we are hopeless sinners facing God’s eternal wrath. Manna was a sufficient meal that left every partaker fully satisfied. Grace is sufficient for every need we have: salvation first, and then like the waves of the sea, God bestows “grace upon grace” on us, enabling us to face every circumstance that comes into our lives. Manna was sweet and fragrant. By grace, Christ gave Himself up as a fragrant offering (Eph 5:2), and His Words are like honey to the lips of those who love it (Ps 119:103).<br />
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The God who led His people out of Egypt and fed them with manna from His hand is the same God who lavishes grace upon His chosen people today. “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!”<br />
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Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-40434845915035322952012-09-09T17:32:00.003-04:002012-09-09T18:34:56.712-04:00Adoption...had I but known...I wrote this in response to a blogger who asked the following:<br />
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I need your help. If you’re a parent by birth or by adoption or both, I need your help based on your experience. If you know someone who’s a parent by birth or adoption, I need your help based on your observations.<br />
What do you wish you’d known as you launched into parenting, whether by adoption or by birth?<br />
What have you learned or are you experiencing that’s very different than what you’d expected, whether happy or hard?<br />
What were you totally ignorant about at the beginning that you’re learning by experience?<br />
What unexpected things have blessed you?<br />
What unexpected things have blindsided you?<br />
This is my answer:<br />
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I am married almost 27 yrs, and my husband and I have an adopted daughter who is almost 14. Something that completely blindsided me was when my daughter asked me why her birth mom kept her first daughter, but didn’t keep her. The question came out of the blue to me (maybe I was just naive or clueless!) one day a few years ago. Lizzie’s birth mom sent us a photo of herself posing with her firstborn daughter. It had been tucked away for a while, and Lizzie came across it one day when she and I were searching for some lost thing. She looked at it for a few minutes, so I asked her if she’d like to frame it and keep it in her room. That’s when the question came.<br />
I always purposed that whenever Lizzie asked about her birth mom I would be sure not to take it personally, not to feel insecure, etc. I was blindsided by the ache in my heart that I felt for this child that I’ve loved since she was one day old. Mentally I understood that adopted children suffer the loss of identity, connection, etc. But until I heard her sweet voice ask that question, I didn’t realize the emotions that would overwhelm me. I thought that I might feel replaced if she wanted to keep a framed photo of her first mom in her room. How shallow!! I never expected the feelings of grief and sadness that I would feel when this child of my heart expressed her grief and loss.<br />
I breathed a quick prayer for guidance and compassion. “She didn’t choose to give you up because of anything about you. She chose to sacrifice the joy and privilege of knowing you before she ever saw you, because she thought that would be what was best for you. She was young and single and overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising two beautiful girls on her own. We are so very grateful that she gave us such a treasure.” I showed her the pictures that were taken when we met Rose, her birth mom. That was also the day that she put Lizzie in our arms forever, just 24 hours after her birth. The pictures clearly showed our joy and her tears. Her sacrifice cost her dearly. She knew that she wasn’t choosing an easy path for herself, but a better life for her daughter.<br />
I’m sure that didn’t fix her grief. I pray that God’s grace will fill in the gaps that my insufficiency leaves. I pray she will find her self worth in Christ, and never doubt it because of being “given away”.<br />
Adoption is beautiful, but not without great cost. Look at what our adoption cost God.<br />
Ann<br />
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Sorry, but I had to add one more thing:<br />
My husband and I are both Caucasian, and Lizzie is African American and Mexican. Obviously, we don’t look alike! I didn’t realize what a wonderful blessing that would be. I have an easy way to make God look great! He did for me what He did for the barren woman in Psalm 113:9 “He gives the barren woman a home,<br />
making her the joyous mother of children.<br />
Praise the Lord!”<br />
When someone asks me about our family, I say that even though my husband and I were physically unable to have children, we are parents! God did what was impossible for us to do for ourselves! That can lead into so many other discussions of His greatness!Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-16306527340255104202012-08-04T13:04:00.003-04:002012-08-04T13:09:12.562-04:00Glory<b>Glory<i></i></b><br />
Ann Dunlap, Aug 3, 2012<br />
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The One in whom all glory dwelt, full of truth and grace;<br />
Enthroned on high was worshipped, as each seraph hid his face.<br />
‘Holy! Holy! Holy!’ was the song the angels sang;<br />
Echoed in creation, His eternal praises rang.<br />
But man remained opposed to His Lordship from on high.<br />
And so to make His name renown, He left His homey sky.<br />
Incarnate Lord in human flesh, His glory thickly veiled;<br />
Emmanuel on mortal soil, yet still in Heaven hailed.<br />
We beheld His holiness, full of truth divine;<br />
And still we did not know Him as branches know the vine.<br />
His healing hands reached out in love to give sight to the blind, <br />
To raise the dead, unstop the ear, the lame legs to unbind.<br />
Only man, asleep in pride’s firm grip, rejected Glory’s reach,<br />
While sin demanded payment of law’s disregarded breach.<br />
Again, Love’s healing hands reached out, this time so brutally nailed;<br />
Glory’s blood completely spilled, man’s pridefulness prevailed.<br />
Not thwarted though, the light of Hope, undimmed, shone brighter still;<br />
For sin was not victorious against His perfect will!<br />
In this act of Providence, the veil which hid His face, <br />
Was by Him torn asunder, revealing Love’s great grace.<br />
The Spirit poured out on elected Man to know His Lord,<br />
Bought pardon, sonship, holiness, only God could e’re afford.<br />
Now stand we righteous children, gathered ‘round His heavenly throne, <br />
Where all eternal glory is ascribed to Him alone.<br />Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-35720251461184530112012-07-29T17:06:00.002-04:002012-07-29T17:09:55.007-04:00Seek HimThis is a poem that I wrote based on the Scripture:<br />
<br />
<i>“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”<br />
Jeremiah 29:13</i><br />
<br />
Seek Him<br />
<br />
To seek You in the morning,<br />
<br />
When the world is bathed in light;<br />
<br />
To seek You in the evening,<br />
<br />
In the shadows of the night;<br />
<br />
To seek You in the stillness,<br />
<br />
In the quiet and the calm;<br />
<br />
To seek You in the trial,<br />
<br />
And find in You a balm.<br />
<br />
I seek You, for You sought me first,<br />
<br />
And lavished me with grace;<br />
<br />
And by Your grace I’ll seek You<br />
<br />
Till I behold Your face.Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-5468989269773612242012-06-23T11:14:00.002-04:002012-06-23T11:14:43.960-04:00Book Review: From the Library of C.S. LewisI love words, and using them to express the characteristics of God by using words to paint pictures. I enjoy the writings of C.S. Lewis, because he was a master word painter. Although I don't agree with all his theology, I have been deeply affected by some of his rich expressions of the attributes of God. I wanted to see what was behind a man who said things like, "A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him, than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell (*The Problem of Pain*);" and “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” (*The Weight of Glory*).
C.S. Lewis was a great writer because he was a great reader. Books in his library were authored by people like Augustine, William Wordsworth, John Donne, Martin Luther, Tolkien, Brother Lawrence, and John Calvin, to name a few. "*Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners*", Luther's "*Table Talk*", and the Confessions of Augustine gave Lewis a rich and deep knowledge of God's glory and grace. He read poetry, science fiction, and deep theological writings from the early church fathers and the Puritans. He was a very diverse and yet particular bibliophile.
When I received the book "*From the Library of C.S. Lewis*, I dove right in. Page after page full of excerpts from one profound thinker after another. It was overwhelming! So I have decided to use this tome as more of a devotional type book. The book is divided into eighteen sections, including "Follow After Agape", "Constant Dying", "The Eyes of Your Heart", and "Borne on the Gusts of Genius". Each section has a number of different selections from various authors, most one or two pages in length. I find these perfect for reading in the morning or at lunch, to give my mind something to chew on throughout each day.
Here are a few "choice morsels" I have feasted on recently:
"For He alone, the Lord of Hosts, does wonders; He preserves His sheep in the midst of wolves, and Himself so afflicts them, that we plainly see our faith consists not in the power of human wisdom, but in the power of God, for although Christ permit one of His sheep to be devoured, yet he sends ten or more others in his place." p. 32
"...even the enlightened person remains what he is, and is never more than his own limited ego before the One who dwells in him, whose form has no knowable boundaries, who encompasses him on all sides, fathomless as the abysms of the earth and as vast as the sky." p. 123
These are most excellent word pictures of God! We in this age of shallow thought and base pleasures would do well to come often to this book, to ponder the God we find there, and make Him the supreme treasure of our hearts. I appreciate James Stuart Bell's effort in bringing us the food of Lewis' thought life. It is most tasty and fulfilling.
I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for the purpose of this review. I was not required to give a favorable review.Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-28351008806982047332012-06-22T22:45:00.002-04:002012-06-27T16:20:02.834-04:00In Who's Image?In Who's Image?
"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.'" (Genesis 1:26) The infinite God of the Universe made humans in His image. This God merely spoke, and out of nothing came everything. He breathes out stars, He holds creation in His hand, and lives in His people at the same time. There is nothing He cannot do (Matthew 19:26); He knows all thoughts and words before they are thought or spoken (Psalm 139:4); He knows where everyone is at all times (Psalm 139:2-3). God’s attributes are amazing, and He made us in His image. But does that mean that God is like us?
Take a look in a mirror. What do you see? You see a reflection of your image. You aren't looking at your actual self. Your image does not smell like you; it’s not three dimensional; it doesn’t represent all of you, only the parts that are being reflected. It doesn’t represent your thoughts, ideas, emotions, character, or fears; it does not reflect your entire life; it represents nothing of your future. Your image is like you, but not completely you. Made in God’s image, we are like Him. God, however, is not like us. God's ways are not our ways, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…" (Is 55:8). God's mind is not like our minds. "No one knows the mind of God." (Rom 11:34). We are like dust (Ps 104:14), but God is a rock (Ps 18:2). He can do things that we could never do (Job 39-41).
God is sovereign in all things – that means that everything that happens is caused by God. Joseph knew that in Genesis. His brothers sold him into slavery, he was falsely accused and imprisoned for years. In the end, Joseph said that his brothers, “…meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Gen 50:20). He doesn’t say God “used” it for good, but that He “meant” it for good. In other words, God caused Joseph’s circumstances for His purpose. In our society, we would consider the things that happened to Joseph to be evil. It was unjust, tragic and malicious. If we did those things, we would be evil. So is God evil? Of course not! God is holy and perfect. We are not. He is not the “man upstairs”.
Our finite minds cannot comprehend God. We barely scratch the surface of the knowledge of God. But He is knowable! He wants us to know Him. In fact, Jesus said that eternal life is knowing God (John 17:3). That’s what the Bible is all about. It’s not a self-help book, giving us 12 steps to happiness, 7 steps to our best life, or the ABC’s of parenting. It’s God’s letter to us, telling us all that our minds can fathom about Him.
We will never be God. He is perfect, we are sinners. Carl Jung wrote, "...even the enlightened person remains what he is, and is never more than his own limited ego before the One who dwells in him, whose form has no knowable boundaries, who encompasses him on all sides, fathomless as the abysms of the earth and as vast as the sky." Because of this ego, this self-centeredness, God works out our sanctification as a process - He is conforming us into the image and likeness of His Son Jesus (Rom 8:29). He is changing us to look more and more like Him, to possess more of His nature and character. When that process is completed, we will be privileged to finally see God face to face and live, and spend eternity scratching the surface of the knowledge of God.Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-52406742506446785312012-06-18T18:08:00.000-04:002012-06-18T18:08:10.831-04:00Excellent excerpt from an excellent book. Wish more Christians would get this idea!
http://liberatenet.org/2012/06/discipleship-depends-on-god/Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-86859751629564277762012-06-10T19:52:00.000-04:002012-06-10T19:52:26.173-04:007 Random Things About MeMy friend Lauren has a blog, and she has awarded me with the Versatile Blogger Award. Quite an honor, to be sure! It is now my duty to post 7 random facts about myself on my blog, so here goes:
1. I have been to 33 of the 50 states
2. I have written 4 Christian fairy tales
3. I love classical music
4. I sang a solo part from Handel's Messiah in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City when I was in college
5. My favorite book in the Bible is Philippians
6. My favorite drink is water with an orange slice
7. I do not like beets
So there it is...7 randoms about me that I bet you never knew!Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1361678811311262564.post-91698027881735358612012-06-10T17:41:00.002-04:002012-07-13T14:24:29.134-04:00Book Review - To Heaven and BackAn Angel of Light
Book review of To Heaven and Back, by Mary Neal, MD
I remember several years ago when my family and I took a summer trip to the Grand Canyon. The mountains were the tallest I’d ever seen, and the remoteness of the area made us feel like pioneers blazing a trail where no one had ever gone before. And then there was the time we went to see Niagara Falls. There was an abundance of cactus covering the landscape, and the scorpions and coyotes were things to be feared.
How much more would I need to write before you, the reader, would question my experiences, and eventually discard what I’ve written as worthless? There are no mountains at the Grand Canyon, nor cacti, nor desert creatures that live near Niagara Falls. You would know that my narrative doesn’t match up with the reality of those places. You’ve probably seen pictures, read about, or possibly even seen them firsthand. My statements are easily disputable by anyone who knows the truth.
The same is true regarding Dr. Neal’s description of her death experience. We have Scripture to teach us about Heaven, including the eyewitness experience of John, who was given an extensive glimpse into Heaven and wrote about it in the book of the Revelation. The apostle Paul also wrote about his experience when he was “caught up to the third heaven” in 2 Corinthians chapter twelve. Interestingly, after Paul’s experience, he did not feel compelled to write a best seller, but rather realized that his experience could cause him to become boastful, so God gave him a thorn in his flesh to keep him humble.
In this day of religion and spirituality, there are many who claim to have had near death experiences. They describe seeing their loved ones, angels, gardens, etc. The thing I find to be most curious, is that the focus of those experiences is never on Jesus. Paul says that to be “absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord’. Based on his statements about Heaven, combined with the totality of Scripture, I believe that Heaven is Heaven because Jesus is there. We’ve become so focused on our “Mansion just over the hilltop” that we’ve lost the real treasure of Heaven – Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who left His throne in glory to take on the form of man, humble Himself in obedience to His Father and die on a cross to ransom His people from the certainty of spending eternity apart from God. These are the statements that are sorely lacking in a book about Heaven.
I have no doubt that Dr. Neal nearly lost her life during her kayaking trip in Chile. I have no doubt that it took a miracle for her to survive oxygen deprivation, shock and injury during the arduous trek back to civilization, and ultimately back to her home. Those circumstances were real, verifiable and overwhelming. My knowledge of Scripture, however, has taught me that our minds and our hearts are easily deceived. To quote the apostle Paul once again, “…even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Cor 11:14). Why would Satan give a woman an experience that she attributes to God and Heaven? Maybe you should chew on that question yourself for a bit!
Other statements made throughout the book made me question the “god” of Dr. Neal’s experience. For example:
“Thankfully, God is patient and God is faithful. He sits in the back seat just waiting for our invitation to move up to the front so that He can steer and press the pedals. If we give Him the car keys, He will take us on an unbelievable ride.” (p 25)
That is not the God of the Bible. The true God “changes times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; He reveals deep and hidden things;” (Dan 2:21). He “shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb…’ He “commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place…” (Job 38). He “knows when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar…Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me.” (Ps 139) Ours is not some wimpy God hoping that we’ll give Him the keys and let Him drive a while!
“’It was a good example of how easily things come together when one is moving in the direction of God’s will. It has taken many years to truly learn that when everything seems difficult and feels as though you are swimming upstream, it is usually because you are not following the direction of God’s will. When you are doing God’s will, everything seems to happen without much effort or many obstacles.” (p 12)
Perhaps you can think of a few Biblical folks who might disagree with that idea. A few that jump into my mind are Moses, Joseph, Paul, and Jesus. They were right smack in the middle of doing God’s will, and they were pursued by an army, sold into slavery and unjustly imprisoned, stoned and crucified respectively. It’s a good thing they didn’t use her qualifications for reassuring themselves that they were doing God’s will!
Speaking of her son, Dr. Neal wrote, “Given his very young age, I believe he still remembered God’s world, which seemed to give him an understanding of the spiritual aspect of my experience and what I was going through.” (p 114).
Dr. Neal mentions this idea a few other times in her book. In other words, all of us are eternal beings whose lives began in Heaven, until we were to be born as fleshly beings. This is an unbiblical teaching that is embraced by Mormons, and other cults.
My review of this book is lengthy. I could go on, but I am hopeful that what I have written will serve as a warning to those considering reading this book. I do not believe it has any basis in truth, apart from the description of her accident. Perhaps her visions were dreams, or notions sent to her from Satan to deceive the masses. I take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus “is able to keep you from stumbling…” (Jude 24). Don’t be deceived. If you want to know about Heaven, read about it in the Book written by the One who made the Heavens and the earth, because “Every word of God proves true.” (Proverbs 30:5)
I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for the purpose of this review. Obviously, I was not required to write a positive recommendation of this book.Ann Dunlaphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16140995068787011196noreply@blogger.com2