babies in dumpsters

The other day I witnessed the most horrifying picture. I was scrolling through facebook, and I found my gaze fixed on something. At first, I couldn't quite make out exactly what it was..
the image looked foreign..something I had never seen before..
as I focused my eyes, I saw a photograph of a tiny baby in a dumpster.
I was horrified.  My heart sank into my stomach and, at first, I haughtily wondered, "why on earth anyone would post this?" It is hurtful to the eyes and, even more so, to the heart.

I couldn't get the image out of my head for the entire day. I was at work and my mind would revert back to the image of the baby in the dumpster. 

I began to realize why the picture was sprawled out like a disease ..before our very eyes..
because babies in dumpsters are a reality.
It's not a reality that we care to acknowledge,,but it is there..lurking and hiding... threating our eyes and our hearts on average,  run of the mill,  tuesdays.
babies in dumpsters are the dark corridor that no one wants to travel..or talk about...or see..
kind of like war..where babies die everyday...in some bitter and unjust way..

I cry when I think about babies in dumpsters. I cry that a mother could toss aside a human life, a tiny life, like trash...

I began thinking of things I could do..ways I could combat babies in dumpsters. I thought of action things.. I thought of rallying people together and holding signs and gathering and praying around dumpsters.

Jesus showed me so many things that day..so many things about babies in dumpsters.
He showed me that He hears my prayers and, from now on, every time I pass a dumpster, I  pray that my heart is quickened to pray..pray for lost and hurting women..pray that disposing of her baby never enters her mind..pray that, as she looks at that dumpster, something stirs within her..something called love and hope.
So, I have taken to praying for mothers that want to kill thier own..

On the day I saw the baby in the dumpster, Jesus said something else.. "keep spreading your light."
Keep spreading it.. no matter how dismal and dark the world may appear..there is still that light..and it may reach further than you know..

I began to wonder how many of us..in our darkness..in all our dark ways and deeds, contribute to the disease of society. The world can be a sick and twisted place. One need to look no further than facebook on a Tuesday afternoon to know...one need look no further than a picture of a baby in a dumpster.. to know that the world is sick.

Sin kills. I can't paint it any clearer than that.
I can't sugarcoat it. There is no sugarcoating in a world where mothers and fathers throw newborn babes into piling heaps of trash.
There is no sugarcoating here. There is no glazing it over... I have always heard the phrase..If you aren't a part of the solution, then you are a part of the problem.

Christ is the Truth. He is the solution. He is love, and to walk in His ways is to walk in meekness, kindness, patience, long suffering, gentleness and love...He is hope and goodness..healing and restoration....  and anything else..is a part of the problem..

Our lies..our road rage, our impatience..our gossip..our bullying, mean, undiscipled children..
our cursing..our crushing unforgiving spirits,
our lust, our adultery, our impure motives and deeds,
our  greed,
our desire to please self at the cost and risk of damaging another human soul..
a soul  that probably happens to be a mother...
that probably just needs a helping hand...
but instead finds a world of sin and muted light.. ..a woman that travels solemnly towards piles of debris and refuse with a whimpering and crying babe clutching at her chest..

We think it ok to lie..or steal..failing to see that we are part of the disease..failing to see how we feed the darkness..how we are sucked into the lie.... failing to see that the great consuming disease of our society is called sin....because recognizing it and calling it what it really is..would mean that we would have to take accountability for our lives and actions...and it may mean, heaven forbid,
that we would have to change some things about ourselves... It would mean that we would have to spread our light..and offer people hope and maybe, even, heaven forbid, live out the beliefs we claim to have..

we fail to see how the darkness grows..and if we aren't a part of the solution, then we are a part of the problem.. we are caught up in the machine....
Our sin..our dark deeds...make for a world of babies in dumpsters.
Keep shining your light.
You never know how far reaching it can be..

perhaps it can find it's way.. through the cracks and corridors.. to the woman silently walking..head bowed low..towards that heaping pile of trash.

pray for them..
pray.
Now is the time to pray.
I cannot handle and do not want to live in a world of babies in dumpsters.

Mommy, I'm a robot

Bear eating a blackberry. he thinks they are gross! I think this was his first taste

Bear holding his mickey...

a boy and his stuffed mickey doll..sigh..my heart is melting..

everyday I fall more and more in love with my boys. I didn't think it was possible, but I find that, as more love is given..the heart swells open even more..creating more room to give and receive love.

As mothers, we often search for meaning and purpose. One day I was pushing my little "bear" in a stroller and God whispered something to me.. This is what I was made for..love..to love and nurture this beautiful and wonderful child. To spend time with him. To build him..to encourage him in the most gentle and loving of ways.. to teach him and show him the very ways of God  through my example and actions.

I love my Brendan "bear." Right now, a part of me simply just wants to talk about him..his little quirks. I like writing about the things I love..and there is nothing that I love more than God and my two boys.  Some days I don't want to write about lessons or stories or things that happen..some days I simply want to write about my children. Because one day, when they are grown..I know I can always come back to this corner of the web and remember. 

today, little bear grabbed his mickey doll and wanted to play outside. he carried it around with him everywhere he went. He saw the neighbors and walked over to say hello. he invited himself into thier home and offered to help pick leaves up out of thier yard. He is a natural born helper.
he is quick to offer his assistance anytime it is needed. He helps put away the dishes..he picks up his toys.
he spins around and around and says, "I'm a robot."

He never sits still and I love that about him. He is a worker. He is a lover of life..

I love how he cuddles up next to me and says, "hold me like a rabbit." and then says, "woof, woof" in the tiniest and sweetest voice.
I love how on some days his eyes look green and other days they are the color of mud.
I love how he wants to help me pick blackberries..
I love how he calls chocolate milk, "choc."
I love my baby bear...

 "Train up a child in the ways that he should go, and surely, he will not depart from it."

things you never knew about sunflowers..and 5 uses.

I love sunflowers...I love their mammoth size..they tower over the ground..beautiful, vibrant, and stately. Sunflowers, along with gardenia's are probably my favorite flower. Everytime I pass a sunflower patch..I find myself genly tapping on the brakes..peering for a closer look.. 

Sunflowers are called "heliotropes." helio is latin for "sun." When sunflowers are young, they actually turn their young heads toward the sun. The movements are slow, perhaps almost imperceptible..but the head of the sunflowers actually follows the movement of the sun from dawn til dusk. Mature sunflowers typically keep thier heads pointed east.

If there is one plant that "protects" humans, it is the sunflower.. It's roots are known for absorbing harmful  chemicals from the ground. The roots and stem of sunflowers soak up radiation, heavy metals, and other chemicals.

sunflowers are actually called a composite flower. Thier heads are composed of hundreds of tiny flowers or florets clustered in a beautfiul spiral pattern.

sunflowers are the symbol of the vegan society and the state flower of Kansas

Sunflowers were used the native Americans to make paints, dyes, and even medicines..

Sunflowers stems are used to make paper.

Sunflowers are complex and intricate flowers, but their beauty is simple. Tp me, they are a praying flower..I often notice their heads bowed low..heavy from ripe seeds.. They appear to be thanking God..perhaps for His Creation, perhaps for their own beauty and unique purpose.

I find it interesting that sunflowers follow the sun when they are young. But then, as they mature, their heads stubbornly stay pointed in one direction. When they are old and ripe thier heads hang low...

As children, aren't we like sunflowers..trusting, faithful, our heads and our hearts..following the Light.."the Son." But as, we grow older and become adults..we often stubbornly turn away from the Truth we recognized in our childhoods?  When we are older and mature..how often do we return to the Truth from which we had departed..and finally learn to give thanks with heads bowed low? Or does the sunflower hang it's head low because, like us, it had lost a child like faith, and spent years in stubborness?

Whatever the case, I love the parallels.. I love finding similarites between things..  I hope you don't mind my musings..

I researched five uses for sunflowers. I hope  you enjoy.

There is peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter and sunbutter. Here is a recipe to make your own sunbutter !
http://www.food.com/recipe/how-to-make-your-own-sunflower-seed-butter-422938

Natural oils are good for the skin. Are you interested in smooth skin? Here is a recipe for homemade facecream using the natural oil from sunflowers.
http://voices.yahoo.com/how-homemade-face-cream-3353872.html


Looking for a project to do with the family. Birds love sunflower seeds. Her is a link that shows how to make your own birdfeeder out of a sunflower head. http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/6715/kids-can-make-bird-feeders-out-of-sunflower-heads

Got a craving for sunflower seeds? Grow sunflowers and  roast your own.
http://www.food.com/recipe/roasted-salted-sunflower-seed-98828

I love natural perfumes. Here is how to make your very own homemade, unique floral scent...
http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_6882271_make-herbal-perfumes.html


Have fun!

after the storm, part 2

This will make you smile, I promise.  :) 

Life, The Musical




Spider Lilies?

I love musicals. I remember when I was about 18 years old.. I thought it was strange that people talked.. The world, it seemed, would be better lived, if everyone just sang.

Why not? I thought that happiness should spill over..first from the heart and then burst out....from the lips..
singing seemed more natural than simply speaking.


I worked at a restaurant and I used to try to engage everyone in song. I thought that life should be a dance number....Choreographed to fit any mood or situation.


everyone thought I must have been on some sort of drug..but, in truth, I was just happy.


My family sings. My parents will belt out a tune while cooking dinner or doing housework.


For years, the enemy stole my song..
but Jesus gave it back.


and now, I am back to relishing in the "musical" of daily living.


I hum a tune and I recognize the sound..
Joy!

Don't let the enemy steal your song. You have your very own melody..you are a living song..music, winding along through life, changing the directions of rivers and streams..  You are the music!

Psalm 95:2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
 

Then you will recite to one another psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; you will sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts; Ephesians 5:19

Psalm 87:7 "Singers and dancers alike say, 'All my springs are in You.' "

Psalm 92:1 "It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of Your hands."

Im sorry Babe, but I will not cover for you

“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:26-28

Proverbs 10:9  The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
Ecclesiastes 12:14  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.


______________

I think about lies.

I have dealt with lies two times in the past two days.

I am going to tell a brief story about what happened.

Names and locations will not be used in order to protect "the innocent."

There will probably be a lot of cute little quotations..since I am being  "discreet."

The other day there was an "accident."  Someone I know was involved. Let's call him "X" for privacy purposes.

Nothing major..just a little mishap that could have been easily prevented. It could have turned ugly, but I had a feeling that it wouldn't...

Well, "X" made a little mistake..

"X" came up to me with a contrived, made up story about what "really happened."

"X" wanted me to "cover" for him... basically, "X" wanted me  to lie.

I like "X".. I like "X's" company.

I stood there, with my stomach rising up to my throat...

This is one of  those moments..where you know a lie is wrong..you know it..you can feel it in the gut..but you realize that if you tell "X" that you won't "cover for him" then , chances are, he is going to hate you.  And, as lover of people, that is  the last thing you want...people to hate you.

So, I stood there, as "X" rushed off to tell his lie. 

I hate lies.  When I first became a Christian, I knew that, one day, God was going to give me something important to say. So, I did the hard thing. I went to people that I had lied to..I told them the truth. I told them that God had completly changed my life and that I was sorry for my lie.
The  truth had set me free.

Fastforward to the not too distant past.... I stood there remembering the verses that say that liars will burn in a fiery lake..and that all things hidden will be revealed..and I knew that, no matter the consequence, no matter the ugly glares and the risk of being hated by a liked person..
I knew that I could not cover for "X"

I knew that lies, even when glazed over with even a few, minor falsities, are still lies.

Shortly thereafter, someone approached me about the "accident"
What happened?, they inquired..

My stomach clenched, I knew that I had to tell them...If I had lied, there would have been a whole downward spiral of one lie leading to another..
So, I revealed what really happened, but explained that I hope and pray that there are no consequences for "X"

Well, thankfully, the 'accident' turned out to be very minor..
but lies are not something that I consider something to sweep under the rug. They are spirtual death and I am amazed at the number of self proclaiming Christians that deem it "ok" to lie.  Perhaps, they don't believe they have anything important to say..so they make up stories..and perpetrate lies..

I have a message..
"X", I'm sorry babe, but  I will not cover for you. Love means telling the truth no matter how much you will be hated or scorned. 
"X" there is no need to lie. You would amazed at the amount of respect people will have for you if you simply told the  truth. There is integrity in telling the truth. Suck it up, tell the truth, and  be a man.
"X"  I love you and am praying for you because I believe in the soul and I fear the consequence of lies.  "X" I know you were trying to protect yourself..but I believe in the verse that says, "if you try to protect your life, you will surely lose it."  I don't want the protection that lies have to offer. I'll stick with promises of Jesus.. "X" I know I"m not perfect, but I am willing to admit my mistakes and suffer the consquences...

"X" you are my friend and the last thing a friend should do is lie for you. It's not going to happen on my watch.

XOXO,

Rachelle


I  wrote this poem...it speaks of the hidden dangers of Lies...how lies destroy!


Lies..
the subtle echo of darkness
cloaked, as a clown, with
a smile...

but the smile is deadly
it hides a true intent,
a heart of darkness
the smile of meniacal clowns..

behind the face of laughter
are eyes of fire....
an all consuming fire that seeks
to destroy

Trust...
the pact, our bond of words
without it,
our words mean nothing...
our words are air
empty, meaningless, air...

air that sits in chimneys
stale, coughing, choking in fumes
blowing out smoke
and dust
and death

Lies..
how innocent a string of words
that have no meaning...
how innocent...our white utterances..that
we cover our mouths to try to hide...

eat this fruit, nothing will happen,
chaos ensues
lies.

Lies..
the root of the darkness
grasps the tongue, and the devil bids us speak..
Lies.

Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies. Lies.

tongues of invisible weeds
syallables in sucession
twist and thwart
around the heart
and choke out Light
that helps us grow

Lies.

subtle as a cherry falling on the ground
a cherry
plump and savory
but the inside is bitter
the taste is rot

Lies.

Lies. lies. lies. lies. lies. lies. lies.

---

after the storm

And the same day, when the evening was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.  And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? Matthew 4:35-40

http://www.theberry.com/ (source)

http://www.moonburst23.deviantart.com/ (source)

Tonight, I lament. In this life, there are times when the thorns are all too evident. They hide behind the rose in mockery and lie in wait for blood.

My heart grieves for friends with brothers diagnosed with terminal cancer...
and I think about the thorns...

In the not too distant past, I went through my own storm. I hunkered down as the rains came falling..I trusted..I prayed..I waited for the rain to pass ..and it did.

Lately, I have been reeling in beauty, using the line and the net that God has given me, and pulling it in from the very ocean of Life..the water that flows from His very hand.

I once heard that one of the best times to fish is right after a storm.

I think of the disciples. They were a group of struggling fisherman..But Jesus stepped into thier boats and took control of thier oars..He led them into places that held an abundance of fish. Thier nets were so full that the boat could barely hold all of the fish.

Jesus knew where the fish were. If they hadn't trusted Him..they would probably still be hunkered down in thier boats..casting nets..that only came back empy. Thier bellies would rumble and their perplexed minds would wonder where on the good green earth all the fish are..

Ironically, I am allergic to fish..but as I learn to trust Jesus, I find that my boat is full of them. Fish of all shapes and sizes. Fish with rainbow scales. Glimmering fish.  Fish so numerous that they could feed five thousand.

If I hadn't faced the storm, could I have ever found the fish?

Why storms?

I don't think that God causes His children to suffer, but I know that He can still use it, in all of it's bloody madness, for His Glory.

The rose is no less because of it's thorns. It's beauty finds a way to prevail.  Beauty finds a way. Like the tree that pushes itself up through the crack in the sidewalk... spiritual beauty triumphs over  spiritual ugliness and Truth prevails over lies.

The other  day I began to read the book of Genesis. I am at a place where I have so much to learn. There are still unanswered questions..so many things yet to be discovered...but as I was reading I noticed something...and this may be little more than a musing , ...so bear with me..

I was reading about Creation. God created the heavens and the earth..I know that God is Light. Several verses say that God is Light..He is truth and "in Him, there is no darkness at all."
God is a living, breathing Light...

As I was reading about Creation, God separated the darkess from the light. I began to think..and this may sound stange..but if God is a Living, breathing, spirit of Light..(all this is biblical)..then what if the darkness is alive, as well. What if all of the demons and evil..sprang up from a darkness that was already here before the beginning of time..and God's entire plan was to save us from it... 
I know this musing may sound strange..But I don't think that God causes the storms..but He can use the winds to push into safer and more beautiful places..
where there are lots of fish..
and granted, I may be wrong. There is much that I don't know, and I'm not afraid to admit it..

Today, I simply want to give hope to those going through the storm.. the lighting rages..the winds are fierce..and you long for the eye..the peaceful calm...you long for the storm to pass....
But I am here to tell you  that the storm will pass..and when it does..if you let Him take a hold of your boat and guide the oars..
You will come to where the fish are...the fish that glimmer. I pray they are so abundant that you don't even need a net to pull them in..I pray they jump out at you and land next to where you are..

I want to tell you what awaits on the other side of the storm.......

After the storm.......

there is sweet, leftover scent of the rain...
the sunshine peeks through the clouds....and when the sun and the drizzle meet, there are rainbows...dazsling color that permeates the wind blown ground...casting color on the dead, broken branches.

after the storm,
the ground is fertile..the soil is wet, and what was planted..now has what it needs to grow.

the flowers bloom, the birds emerge to rebuild nests...

After the storm, is a time for rebuilding..

Want to hear an amusing story?  Our neighbor told me that after the Hurricane Rita, a parakeet landed on her brother in laws head..She went on to say that the bird must have escaped from it's cage..She now takes care of what was once a lost parakeet....

After the storm there is life, set free from it's cage....finding love in new places... after the storm, we sit on front porches..drinking teechino...amazed that the sound of laughter is somehow stronger in our ears..amazed at the sound of wings..

After the storm, there are wings..
I pray you find your rainbow at the end of the storm.....

Here are some lyrics from a song I wrote:

There are days when,
your hands are tied
when the knots pull
from the inside

and you think you have
no flag to raise
but you have two hands
made for praise..

Chorus

and I see a Man
on the horizon and
He's calling out to me..
He has in hand, a sort of
liferaft and..
he holds it out to me..


still working on it.. :)

From bluepueblo.tumblr.com (source)

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