It's really hard to believe that October is almost over. I love fall; the changing leaves, the chill in the air, sweaters, boots, chicken and dumplings, pumpkin muffins, Thanksgiving, and family. While October is an awesome month, November is a really special month as well.
Aside from July, November is "birthday" month in the Hogsed and Broadwater families. Lets see... there's my mom, my mother-in-law, a few cousins, my nephew Bryson; and Grandma Ruby and Uncle Chuck. They celebrate their birthdays with their Heavenly Father now.
A lot has happened in our families over the last few months and it makes me realize how blessed I am to have such a unique support system. Coincidentally (or possibly not so coincidentally) I've been hearing more and more about multiple sclerosis (MS) lately. MS is a condition that's extremely near and dear to my heart. My Uncle Chuck was diagnosed with this disease in his early twenties. Aside from not actually suffering from MS myself, I learned first-hand all of the hardships and obstacles that are birthed from this condition. It's such a unique disease because it affects no two people alike. Currently, there is still no cure.
I came across a poem that my uncle wrote at least 20 years ago, and I thought I'd share it with you. He was so positive and had such amazing strength. I tend to think that I got a lot of my creativity from him. He loved to dance, paint, read, he taught me calligraphy, and he loved to write poetry. He had a crazy sense of humor, too. Sound familiar???
Why?
by: Charles Martin
Am I so different,
Because I can't walk?
I can laugh, show compassion.
When lonely we can talk.
I must not get too close, they say.
A discreet distance is a must.
He can't do things that we do
I feel it's only just.
My strength within beyond compare
Surviving the loneliness
And all the stares.
It's made me stronger
Through victory and defeat.
Helped me to endure
Through false friendship and deceit.
I'll walk again someday,
Whether it be near or far.
My last resort
I wish, I wish upon a star.
I call upon my God today
To bring me back to health to stay.
In case you're interested in finding out more about MS:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx
~ Heather
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Hook, Line, and Sinker
"If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed." ~ Adolf Hitler
It's probably kind of a turn-off to begin your very first post on your new blog with a quote by Hitler. I mean, the guy probably wasn't voted "Prom King" or "Best Smile" for his senior class. But, the honest reality is that this is a really, really harsh truth. Clearly, Hitler was an absolute master of lies. How else could one man convince millions and millions of people that it was necessary to eradicate an ENTIRE people group, using the most horrific means possible to "get the job done?" That's all I'm going to say on that front. A quick note about me - I'm a history nerd. It's true. It's what I paid roughly $80,000 to study at a fine institute of higher learning... all to end up with an 8" x 11" piece of paper that hangs in my office at work; it subtly tells the world, "Way to go, dummy. You just spent a crap load of money. We own you for the next umpteen years until you've paid us back."
You may or may not know me, may or may not have read my previous blog(s) before. This is a new venture. I'm turning over a new leaf. I have a new focus and passion. I'm stepping out of my comfort zone. Kind of like when I purchased my first pair of skinny jeans. Kind of like when I'm going to now admit to you that I'm a young adult fiction/movie/TV junkie. I'm perpetually 15 years old in my mind. Yeah, kind of like that.
There are few things in life that I'm certain of. I'm certain of God's love for me and that my salvation is forever. I'm certain that when I eat at Five Guys I'll be regretting the decision for an entire twenty-four hours after the "meal." I'm certain that when my husband "lovingly" teases the daylights out of me, he's in a really good mood - that's his "love language." I'm certain that when "Dumb and Dumber" comes on TV, no matter how many times I've watched it, I will stop whatever it is I'm doing, sit down, and quote each and every line along with Harry and Lloyd. I'm certain that I will always remember every lyric to every Backstreet Boys song.
Most recently, though, I'm certain - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that God has placed a calling and passion in my heart to share with and minister to young ladies, teenagers, women - if you're female, you're my target. You've been warned. In no way, shape, or form, have I been through or experienced much of what so many of you already have in whatever stage of life you might be in. But, I've been through my fair share and I know that God has allowed me to go through these storms so that I can use my experiences and responses to those experiences (not all of them good) to be an encouragement to others.
I don't have all the answers, but if you're breathing and female, you know that we all struggle with the same "basics:" insecurity, fear, anxiety, wants, desires, etc. I truly believe that the basis for most of these feelings ties back to one "thing" - the ultimate "father" of lies. From the very beginning, back to the Garden of Eden, he had us. He fed us lies, and we've continued to buy them for the last several thousand years. Hook, line, and sinker. God's Word gives clear evidence of this in 1 John 5: 19, "We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." (ESV)
I promise, these posts will become less and less depressing, but I feel that if we are going to get to the real root of why we struggle with the lies we're fed from every facet that comes into our lives day in and day out, we need to understand WHERE the lies are ultimately coming from. They're certainly not coming from God.
Let me leave you with a little bit of hope. Next time, I'll even through in some sort of embarrassing story... just to reel you in and bribe you into coming back. It's like promising a dog with a liver treat. I don't know if you're the dog or the liver treat... bad analogy. So, I guess I'd better live up to the expectations I'm building. Ok... so encouragement; because you need to be reminded every single day of your life that you ARE good enough. You're worth it.
Proverbs 3:15-18 (ESV):
"She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; whose who hold her fast are called blessed."
~ Heather
It's probably kind of a turn-off to begin your very first post on your new blog with a quote by Hitler. I mean, the guy probably wasn't voted "Prom King" or "Best Smile" for his senior class. But, the honest reality is that this is a really, really harsh truth. Clearly, Hitler was an absolute master of lies. How else could one man convince millions and millions of people that it was necessary to eradicate an ENTIRE people group, using the most horrific means possible to "get the job done?" That's all I'm going to say on that front. A quick note about me - I'm a history nerd. It's true. It's what I paid roughly $80,000 to study at a fine institute of higher learning... all to end up with an 8" x 11" piece of paper that hangs in my office at work; it subtly tells the world, "Way to go, dummy. You just spent a crap load of money. We own you for the next umpteen years until you've paid us back."
You may or may not know me, may or may not have read my previous blog(s) before. This is a new venture. I'm turning over a new leaf. I have a new focus and passion. I'm stepping out of my comfort zone. Kind of like when I purchased my first pair of skinny jeans. Kind of like when I'm going to now admit to you that I'm a young adult fiction/movie/TV junkie. I'm perpetually 15 years old in my mind. Yeah, kind of like that.
There are few things in life that I'm certain of. I'm certain of God's love for me and that my salvation is forever. I'm certain that when I eat at Five Guys I'll be regretting the decision for an entire twenty-four hours after the "meal." I'm certain that when my husband "lovingly" teases the daylights out of me, he's in a really good mood - that's his "love language." I'm certain that when "Dumb and Dumber" comes on TV, no matter how many times I've watched it, I will stop whatever it is I'm doing, sit down, and quote each and every line along with Harry and Lloyd. I'm certain that I will always remember every lyric to every Backstreet Boys song.
Most recently, though, I'm certain - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that God has placed a calling and passion in my heart to share with and minister to young ladies, teenagers, women - if you're female, you're my target. You've been warned. In no way, shape, or form, have I been through or experienced much of what so many of you already have in whatever stage of life you might be in. But, I've been through my fair share and I know that God has allowed me to go through these storms so that I can use my experiences and responses to those experiences (not all of them good) to be an encouragement to others.
I don't have all the answers, but if you're breathing and female, you know that we all struggle with the same "basics:" insecurity, fear, anxiety, wants, desires, etc. I truly believe that the basis for most of these feelings ties back to one "thing" - the ultimate "father" of lies. From the very beginning, back to the Garden of Eden, he had us. He fed us lies, and we've continued to buy them for the last several thousand years. Hook, line, and sinker. God's Word gives clear evidence of this in 1 John 5: 19, "We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." (ESV)
I promise, these posts will become less and less depressing, but I feel that if we are going to get to the real root of why we struggle with the lies we're fed from every facet that comes into our lives day in and day out, we need to understand WHERE the lies are ultimately coming from. They're certainly not coming from God.
Let me leave you with a little bit of hope. Next time, I'll even through in some sort of embarrassing story... just to reel you in and bribe you into coming back. It's like promising a dog with a liver treat. I don't know if you're the dog or the liver treat... bad analogy. So, I guess I'd better live up to the expectations I'm building. Ok... so encouragement; because you need to be reminded every single day of your life that you ARE good enough. You're worth it.
Proverbs 3:15-18 (ESV):
"She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; whose who hold her fast are called blessed."
~ Heather
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