Autumn Task

Autumn Task
by Darla Kinion
September 30, 2012

The Autumn Task
of picking fallen leaves
of golden hues from burgundy trees
That pile so high
playing in the wind
Dancing, if you will,
they cannot stand still
With swirls and twirls
of laughter and delight
making their flight
to the turning ground
To be swept in heaps,
piled high the leaves
of golden hues from burgundy trees
Oh my, how grand,
this autumn task at hand.

                                                                                                     Picture by:  Rici Zaremba
                                                                                                       

Wake Up Call!!!!

Christians of America, Jewish Americans, and any one else who says they love this country, I beg of you, I implore of you, VOTE!!!
Vote this man, this imposter of a president, out of office.  Vote this man who would convince many that he should be the one that represents us.  He does not represent America, at least not the America that I know.  Not the America that is born on the shoulders of men that fought for freedoms.  Freedoms that he would gladly take away in a heartbeat.  And like the Pied Piper many are following him.  Listening to his foolish talk.  Listening to him as he apologizes for America.  I do not need an apology.
We are a great nation.  A proud nation.  We need to stand up and be strong once again.  We need to stand and be counted.  Counted worthy of our heritage. 
We need to stand true to the ally that we have in Israel.  Our only true ally in the middle east.
We should never count the loss of our people, human beings, that are murdered and martyred in the name of islam as "bumps in the road."  Are we fools that we think that a film would turn a country on it's heels like that?  It was not a film, it was a deep hatred for America and Americans.
What is the matter with him?  You would wonder why a man would look at these slain men, these men that were standing for you and me, and consider them as "bumps in the road."  But then you look at his policies and realize as a supporter of abortion he has no respect for life at all. 
You look at a man who is as transparent as mud and wonder why instead of vetting people into office he appoints them as Czars, making them even more powerful over Congress.  Why, if he doesn't like the law or if he does not think that it is going his way he just makes it a mandate and no one gets a voice?
Christian, Jew, and anyone else that falls under the catagory of one who loves this country and wants to see it strong again, VOTE!!!!  It is not anyone elses responsibility.  It is yours.
Little by little this man is taking away your freedoms, he is tearing America down, one statute, one apology, at a time.  If re-elected he will destroy this America as we know it.
There are those of you who do not believe me.  Those of you who do not think the changes he is trying to maneuver will affect you, you have another thing coming, that is unless you like being a muslim and their way of life or if you like sharia law. 
Women, if you value your freedoms, then you had better take a good hard look at this wolf in sheeps clothing.  For surely he has no respect for our country nor for the people for whom he serves, and that especially includes you.  I pity his wife and daughters for they will not be exempt from his sharia way of life.  I think he even has himself fooled into thinking that they will be.  But he is only a fool who fools himself.
I think he believes that he can control other countries by apologizing for America and making us cowtow and bow down to these other countries who so strongly hate us.  I guess he was too busy doing the Letterman show to see the news of Our Flag and his face being burned and stepped all over.  I believe they were shouting "Death to Obama and Death to America."  No exclusion there.
I cannot tell you who will be voted into office.  If God deems that Oblama be re-elected then that is what will happen, but I do know that as Christians we are to do everything that we can to keep that from happening.  By praying, by voting, by lifting our voices and speaking out against the atrocities that have been unleashed on us.  Just like in Sodom and Gomorrah, can we not find enough Godly men and women that will stand and do the right thing to keep the hounds of hell at bay?
God has a plan.  I don't know what it is.  I only know that I am not going to vote for Oblama.  If God sees fit to keep him in office I know I will have done my part.  After that I pray that God will give me strength and wisdom and courage to go through whatever hell will be unleashed.
I am sure the Children of Israel were not happy with the leadership of Pharoah while they were in Israel, but our God brought them through.  I am sure that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo were not happy with the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar they were thrown into, but God brought them through the flames.  I am sure that Peter and especially James and the early church were not happy with the leadership of Harod Agrippa and others that were put in charge over them, but the church survived and thrived.   I don't know what it is going to take to make America wake up and realize that we, as well as everyone around the world, are in need of a savior.  But I do know that I serve a BIG God and that He is faithful and just and He will keep His hand on His people.
But like I said, if God sees fit to allow this thing to come to pass then so be it.  My only hope and prayer is to be read up and prayed up so that I can stand and fight the good fight.  Maybe, like Esther, we are here for such a time as this.  To pray and be a covering over America and Israel.  But just so you know, I will not go down without a fight.  I will not be lazy and let someone else do what I should be doing.  I WILL VOTE!!!

Darlins' Daze: An Attitude of Gratitude

Darlins' Daze: An Attitude of Gratitude: There is an old hymn that says, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings see what God has done, Count your blessing...

An Attitude of Gratitude

There is an old hymn that says, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings see what God has done, Count your blessings name them one by one, Count your many blessings see what God has done." 
Have you taken time today and counted your blessings today?  Have you stopped and griped and complained today? 
Nowhere in the word of God does it say for us to grumble and complain about what is going on in our lives but rather to give thanks with a grateful heart.  Oh that we could start counting our blessings and name them one by one. 
I am grateful for the blessing of family, for my awesome children, and my most spectacular grandchildren.  I am so grateful that God blessed me with a husband who loves me and cares for me.  I am so grateful that he has a job and our needs are being met.  I am so grateful for running water, for indoor plumbing, for my cell phone, for this computer.  I am so blessed to have such awesome friends.  Lord thank you for the blessing of sugar so that we can make candy corn and chocolate and all the good wonderful things like that.  Thank you for the song in my heart, for the smile on my face.  Thank you for the shoes and clothes that you have provided me with.  Thank you that I have a car and even though it might not be much, thank you for the gas in it.  I thank you for toothpaste and toothbrushes. 
I know if you are reading this you are probably thinking those are some awfully silly things to be grateful for.  Really?  What about the orphan who doesn't have a family?  What about the childless woman who longs for a child to hold?  What about the lonely women out there who either don't have a husband and are searching in all the wrong places or they have one but he hasn't shown love to her in ages?  What about the diabetic who can't have so many sweets any more?  What about the depressed person who no longer smiles or has that song of victory in their heart?  What about the poor who have no shoes, no clothes, or the one who has no feet?  What about the person who has to take the bus everywhere or just walk?  What about the toothless man who lost all of his teeth and can't afford dentures?  Do you think this would be a silly list for any of them?
So really?  Is there anything too big or too small that we can't be gratefull for?
I dare you to get a piece of paper and on one side list all the things that you think are unfair in your life.  Ungrateful children, loveless marriage, bills...etc.  Then on the other side of the page list all the things that God has blessed you with.
If you are a Christian at the top of your list should be the gift of salvation.  How about peace?  Got some joy unspeakable?  How about His love that is richer and deeper than anything that you could have ever hoped for?  How about freedom?  How about knowing that He cares more for you than He does the flowers of the field?  How about being grateful that He knows how many hairs are on your head?  How about some gratitude for the fact that He sees every tear that falls, that He knows your heartache?  How about being grateful for the fact that He knows your every need before you ask?  How about some gratefulness for the hope of seeing Him face to face?
I know that I am so thankful and grateful for these things and so much more. 
Start your own list.  You have plenty to be grateful for.
If you want to get an idea of how unhappy it makes the Lord when we grumble and complain instead of being grateful, go back and look at the children of Israel.  He had delivered them out of bondage, out of slavery, out of Egypt.  Not only that but He had destroyed those that would have taken them back into captivity.  He fed them every morning.  He caused their clothes to not wear out.  I mean, wow, a pair of shoes that never wore out after 40 years.  Yet they grumbled and complained every step of the way.  Those were some of my most tiring days when my children whined all day or grumbled about everything or complained just because they could.  It drives you to the point of insanity.
Can you imagine how the Father felt when He heard all the complaining.  I think He is probably the one who coined the phrase, "Oy vey!!  Enough all ready."  He'd had enough of their mumbling and grumbling and doubts.  Those who had grumbled so loudly did not get to see the promised land.  Read Numbers 14. 
Joshua and Caleb had come back with a good report but there were other men that came back with a negative report.  The people chose to believe them instead of Joshua and Caleb.
Do a word search on your own and see what the Word of God teaches about grumbling and complaining.  But then do a word search and see what He says about being grateful, thankful.  Read Psalm 103 and 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Give thanks with a grateful heart.  I am sure you can find something to be thankful for.  Shoot, you might even need two sheets of paper.

Time to fire the mechanic

A woman took her car into the shop to have it repaired.  It was making a bit of a clinking sound and she wanted to have it taken care of.
She could have gotten a new car but she'd had this car for a very long time and even though it was old and having a few problems she was very fond of it and did not want to part with it.
Every four years or so it seemed to have a little something else going on so she would take it to the mechanic and try and have it fixed. 
Sometimes the mechanic could fix it.  Sometimes he would adjust things around the problem, it would generally fix that problem but eventually another one would pop up due to the fix.
She'd worked long and hard to afford this car and she wanted to keep it forever. 
Everyone that saw her car was green with envy.  You see it was one of a kind.  There really wasn't another like it.  There were some that were similar but none exactly like it.
The manufacturer had made this one especially and exactly the way she had specified and she loved it dearly.
Well, like I said, she took it to the mechanic because it was giving her a bit of a problem and she wanted it to be repaired.
The mechanic she took it too was fairly new at his job but he promised her that all her hopes for her car would be exceeded and that the change in it's behavior would leave her extatic. 
Oh how she hoped he could change her car and make it back to the way it was.  Maybe not back to its original self but at least close.
And besides, he was the only mechanic around, she didn't have much of a choice.
After about 3 days she called to check on her car.
"Well," the mechanic told her, "it's like this.  You see, when I got in there I realized I wasn't really familiar with your make of car.  The machanic that worked on it 4 years ago really messed it up and now you want me to fix it.  You know he is the one that really messed this car up for you.  And besides that, it is a prototype that I had only heard of.  I never really liked that prototype so I started taking it apart.  I have it all apart right now and I still haven't found what was making the noise.  But, you give me a few more days and I will get parts that I like and I will rebuild your car to my specifications.  It will not be the same car you drove in with but that really shouldn't matter to you as you didn't build it yourself anyways now did ya?  Oh yeah, and I forgot to tell you.  I am going to donate the parts off of your car to other people for their cars because, well, you won't need them and it wouldn't be fair for them not to have them when they could use them.  Oh and one more thing, since they are specially made parts I am going to have to charge you for putting them in their cars.  Oh yes, and I forgot to tell you that I am also going to have to charge you double what I thought it was going to cost to fix your car originally because, well I can since there is really no one else that can fix it."
The woman was aghast.  How could this be happening?  He had promised her it would be good as new.  He had not said that he didn't know what he was doing when he started.  That is why the town chose him over the objections of many to be the town mechanic. 
"No thank you," she told him.  "Please put it back together just the way it was.  The town is deciding on a new mechanic next week and I will let him fix my car."
The mechanic was not happy about this.  He had already promised these expensive one of a kind parts to many people.  He started telling the people that this woman did not want to share her car parts with them.  That she was selfish.  It did not matter that she had worked hard all her life to afford these things.  It did not matter that she had always been available to lend them a hand when they needed.  No.  This mechanic started telling them that she didn't like them and that she didn't like him and that she was trying to get another mechanic in that would not give them the parts off of her car that she clearly did not need.
The people, whose cars were in need of repairs, but they had no money to take care of them, rose in one voice, "Stingy!"  That is what they started saying about her and anyone else that thought she was right for not wanting her beautiful car destroyed by this inept mechanic.
"Stingy," they cried.
The other mechanic, the one who had went to school to learn how to take care of such matters,and had a reputation for doing so, spoke with a loud voice.  "I can make her car back to the way it was.  It may not be perfect but it will be really good and running great the way it should."  The people demanded to know if they would be geting the spare parts from her car from him and if she would be paying for it?"
"Why should she pay to have your cars repaired," the new mechanic wanted to know?
"So that it would be fair.  We know she worked hard and paid for the car all by herself but she should have to share her good fortune with all of us."
Well, that did not make any sense to the woman so she fired her mechanic and hired the new guy.
November 6th is coming.  Dont' you think it is time to fire the mechanic???

99.99%

Well, now that I have your attention, I hope I can keep it. 
I am really not one on statistics or numbers, they usually give me a headache, but this one is significant.
I have been listening to some teachings lately by John Bevere.  Tonight it struck me that this is a lesson that I really need to pass on.
Missing the mark or 99.99%.
Saul was a mighty king.  God had anointed him and appointed him to be the leader over all of Israel.  It is said that he stood head and shoulders above the people.  He was a big man. 
Samuel loved God and was His messenger.  God told Samuel to tell Saul to do something.  It was a big something.  He told Saul to destroy Amalek (1 Samuel 15).  He did not tell him to beat them up.  To take any spoils.  To keep any remainder nor a reminder.  He told Saul to destroy all of Amalek.  All the children, women, men and all the animals because of what they had done to Israel.
Saul didn't hesitate.  He gathered an army beyond measure and went and destroyed Amalek.  He destroyed them utterly.  Excepting for King Agag and the best of the sheep, the fatlings, the lambs and all that was good.  But everything else they destroyed but good.
Saul was so proud of himself.  He had done what Samuel had said God wanted him to do.
Now Samuel was in his prayer closet when the word of the Lord came to him.  He was not pleased with what Saul had done and He told Samuel that He regretted ever making Saul king.  He accused Saul of turning his back on God.  On being rebellious.
Now Samuel cried out to the Lord all night it says and early the next morning he went to confront Saul with these accusations.
Saul was so pleased with himself.  He met Samuel with, "Blessed are you of the Lord.  I have performed the commandment of the Lord,"
Now one of them was wrong.  God or Saul.  God had told Samuel that Saul had not obeyed and Saul is telling Samuel that he had obeyed.
Samuel said to Saul, "Well if that is true then why do I hear cattle?"
You gotta love a leader that will throw his people under the bus.  Saul said, "The people wanted me to spare them so that they could sacrifice them to the Lord."  It makes me think of Adam, "That woman you gave me."  Everyone else's fault but their own.
Samuel was livid and he told Saul that God regretted making him king and that the kingdom would be taken from him.  Again Saul argued with Samuel trying to convince him that he had done what God had wanted him to do.  And if you look at what all Saul had done you might think to your self, he did do what God told him to do, just not all of it.  He did 99.99% of it. 
Oh isn't that just like us.  So many times we are like Saul.  We think that because we are following some of the things that God has set forth for us to do that He should not be concerned with the things that we are not doing.  We are doing what it talks about in Proverbs.  We are doing what is right in our own eyes.  But the end of that is death and destruction.  That is what happened to Saul.
I am sure that is how Saul felt.  "I did everything but these two little things.  I killed all the people but one, and I destroyed all the animals except the best and I was going to use them as a sacrifice."
His disobedience cost him everything that day.  His kingdom, his son, his peace of mind but mostly his covering.  He was no longer under the covering of the almighty God.  And really it wasn't even his disobedience that cost him everything it was his rebellion against the rebuke of the Lord through Samuel.  When he tried to justify his disobedience.  If he had just confessed when he was confronted about his sin but he rebelled against the reprimand and that is when the Lord took away His covering from over him.
Samuel told Saul that day a lesson that we should all learn and heed.  Obedience is better than sacrifice.  God would rather have us obedient than to make sacrifices to him.
Our disobedience is rebellion against God.  We think, "Well God may have said this but I am sure He didn't mean all of what He said.  So I will do the part I like and the rest I will just leave alone."  Doing what is right in our own eyes.  The Holy Spirit convicts us of the sin but we continue to try and justify it.  Having a hardened heart.  A rebellious heart. 
Or we sit in church and sing and worship God.  We are like the James 1 man.  We listen to the Word of God, we are hearers of the Word.  But when we get up and leave the Word does not come alive in us.  We are not doers of the Word.  We turn a deaf ear to what He calls us to do.  We will sacrifice our time and money but we will not lay down our lives and walk the walk that He calls us to.  We deceive ourselves.  We rebel against God.  And as Samuel told Saul, rebellion is witchcraft. 
Our disobedience that leads to rebellion to the Lord is a door that gives legal access to demonic oppression and depression. 
We live in a world of choices.  It was Joshua who said, "Choose you this day whom you will serve.  As for me and my house we will serve the Lord."
It is the same with us.  We are no longer under the law but under grace.  But that does not mean that we can say we are Christians but then not live it out.
Romans 6 talks about just that thing.  We will either be a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness.  It can't be both at the same time.  In Revelations God said that he would that we be either hot or cold but not lukewarm as He would vomit us out of His mouth.  We try to be lukewarm Christians.  Straddling the fence.  99.99%'ers. 
But it is either all or nothing.  Not 99.99%.
If you are wondering how do I know if I am a 100%'er or a 99.99%'er and what do I need to do to get to that 100% mark?
READ THE WORD!!!!!  AND DO THE WORD!!!
Start in Galatians.  Paul is talking to the church in Galatia, not the sinners, not the ones who had never been told, not the ones who had never asked Jesus into their hearts, but to the church. 
In Galatians 5:16, "I say then, (you 99.99%'ers): Walk (be doers of the Word) in the Spirit (you know the Holy Spirit, your helper that has come), and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (you won't have a rebellious heart any more, full of disobedience, you will be counted at 100%)."

The Great Garment Exchange

Today I heard a story of a Princess.  She was not always a Princess and had not always done Princessy things.  (Not sure if that is a word but go with me folks)
A very handsome Prince had fallen in love with her and brought her to his kingdom and he loved her very much.  The people of the kingdom loved her and approved of her greatly and so they married.
The people of the kingdom and all the kingdoms around loved the new Princess.  She was beautiful and graceful and altogether lovely.
But some in the kingdom and neighboring kingdoms were not so happy with the new Princess.  It wasn't the Princess so much that they weren't happy with so much as it was the Prince and his kingdom.  They were jealous of the Prince and his kingdom and would do anything that would cause it disgrace.
Like I said, the Princess had not always been a Princess and had not always done things that were beautiful, graceful and altogether lovely.  As a matter of fact, at least one time in her life she had done something so shocking, that if the Queen had found out before the royal wedding, she would surely have called off the wedding and halted it from ever happening.  No matter how much the Prince had loved her he would not have been able to bring her into his kingdom if this atrocity had been made known.
But today, after the wedding, after the people of the kingdom and neighboring kingdoms had all had a chance to fall in love with her, even the Queen herself loved the new Princess, the evil people that wanted nothing more than to humiliate the Queen and her family, decided to let it be known what the Princess had done before she became the Princess.
For some reason, known only to the Princess, in her younger days, she had decided to take her clothes off and her bosoms were made known to the public.  Quickly, someone who knew the young woman, took many a picture.  It was scandelous.  And now it was being made known. 
Not only to the Queens family, but to the kingdom and to the neighboring kingdoms. 
The Queen was very sad.  The Prince was very sad.  The Princess was very sad.  The kingdom and surrounding kingdoms that loved her were sad. 
But many looked at her and said, "That was not a very Princessy thing to do!"
The Princess was being judged on something that happened before she became royalty.
Wow!  How much like that story can we relate to our own lives?
Those of us who call ourselves Christians at some point in our lives did things I am sure that were not very Christ like. 
We were covered in sin.  Clothed in filth.  And Jesus in His ultimate mercy and grace covered us in His blood.  Washing us white as snow. 
We were now clothed in His righteousness.  We have been adopted into the family of God.  We are joint heirs with Jesus.  We have been given fine linen to clothe ourselves in preparation of the supper of the Lamb.
So many times though people that knew us, or the devil, likes to throw in our face the times that we were still clothed in rags of filth.
They will let it be known to anyone and everyone all that we have done before.  But because of our Royal Priesthood that we have been adopted into, the King of Kings will not even listen to the distortions, the accusations.
We now have liberty to stand and lift up holy hands, clean hands, and worship the one who has covered us in His righteousness.
No longer are we wearing our sad rags of sin and dispair, we have had a great garment exchange with the Lord and are now clothed in His righteousness.  He paid the price for our new garments and has taken on our rags of sin and dispair.  He turned our sad rags into glad rags.
Oh, but how sad it is for those who come to the Lord and put on the garments of righteousness without giving up their garments of sin.
They think that because they come to church and sing and pray and do all good deeds in front of the world that no one knows that they are still wearing their old garments underneath.  The bad thing is, most times we don't.   
But the word of God tells us that it when we choose to do that, clothe ourselves in righteousness or at least the appearance of righteousness, it is as filthy rags.  It is like taking a bath and puting your dirty clothes back on and then putting clean clothes on over that.  It doesn't matter how clean the clothes are, after a while the dirty clothes start making the clean clothes smell. 
In 1st Samuel 16, although the passage does not address this point exactly, it does drive the point home.  Man looks on the outward appearance.  We can be fooled by what you put forth.  On paper you can look like the best christian that ever walked the face of the earth.  But really there is only one piece of paper that you better be concerned about, that is the Lambs book of life.  Because although man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart.  All through His word He tells us "Nothing is hidden. Nothing is secret."
In Galatians 6 we are reminded that God will not be mocked.
I hope that the Queen in this story is as foriving as the God that I serve is.
I pray that she put the royal robe on her and says, "All is forgiven.  That was before you were royalty.  Though your atrocities be as scarlet they are washed white as snow."  One can hope.
I know when the Bridegroom comes and I stand before the throne of God I do not want to be dressed in my rags, nor I do not want to be dressed in a form of righteousness over my filthy rags as in the story in Mathew.  I want to be properly attired.  I want to be dressed in fine linens.  Arrayed in His splendor. 
I want Him to look at me and say, "Enter in My good and faithful servant, for your name is written in the Lambs book of Life.  Though your sins were scarlet they were washed white as snow."
1st John 3:1-10

A Rose by any other name

The power of words.  I don't think that we stop and think sometimes what words can do.  What images they conjure up.  How they can tell a story.  How they can mean one thing to one person and something totally different to someone else.
For instance.  I want you to close your eyes and just softly say to yourself the word "flower." 
Did you do it?  What image came to mind?  A bouquet?  A daisy?  A lily?
Now, I want you to close your eyes again and this time focus and softly say the word "rose". 
What image came to mind that time?
They are the same but different.  Both words mean flower, but one of them is more distinct.  It doesn't even matter what color it is in your minds eye.  It was there.  Your preference as to the color.  But you still knew what the rose looked like.  You could practically smell it.
If I had said honeysuckle that would have been the image that came to mind. 
If a rose was not called a rose but had been named bush or tree or apple or even cockroach or whatever, it would be known as that name.  It would still be beautiful and fragrant and the same as it always has been from the moment God caused it to grow in the garden. 
Adam did a good job!
But what about other words.
We say house and we say home. They are the same but different.  A house is a dwelling.  A home is where your heart longs to be at the end of the day, a haven.  You buy a house and turn it into a home.  Remember at the end of the day as children and you would be playing down the street and the street lights would start to come on and you knew you had better get going.  You never said to your friends, "Bye, I gotta go to my house."  No, you always said, "I gotta go home."  House is where you lived, home is where you loved.
What about children?  We say child, children or son or daughter, (sometimes even brat).  They all say the same thing.  We differentiate by how we describe them.  Isn't it funny but even in that venacular it is said, "I raised my kids."  But then we also say, "I trained my children."  Says the same thing but it denotes something different.
Words.  We use them everyday to tell our stories.  To teach.  To heal.  To hurt.  To mend or tear apart.  There are so many words in the human language we could never know them all.  I don't think our brains could scarce take them all in.  But yet, so many times we use them so flippantly not knowing or sometimes caring the weight that they have behind them.
The Word of God talks about taming our tongue in James 3:1-12.  In a nutshell it tells us to "Watch our mouths".  It says that we set our course, our lives, by what we say.  We praise God and curse people with the same mouth.  It shouldn't be that way. 
When I was a little girl we learned a song in Childrens Church.  The one line said "Oh be careful little mouth what you say, Oh be careful little mouth what you say, There's a Father up above and He's looking down in love, Oh be careful little mouth what you say."
I have always told my children, "Measure your words carefully.  They come out of your mouth better than they fit back in."
We don't always think about what we say.  We just say what we want and let the chips fall where they may. 
We think if we hurt someone by what we are saying, intentional or not, "Well, I'll just say I am sorry."  And you can do that and you truly might mean it.  And most possibley that person will forgive you.  But forever and a day that thing that you said to them will reverberate in their mind.
I am getting to be an older woman now and not because I want to but because it has always been, I can still remember the hurtful things that have been said to me.  The things that pierced my heart through and through by people that loved me.  I have forgiven them, and hopefully they have forgiven me for the things that I said to them, but even after all these years those words still ring in my ears.  I only wish I could remember as well the encouraging words.  The ones that lifted me up.  But I can't.  I remember a few, but more so I remember the stinging words. 
Satan is like that you know.  He wants us to dwell on the things that hurt us.  The things that killed our spirit.  The very things that gave us a self image that was not God like at all.
You see we were created in His image.  But we have allowed someones words to dictate who we are and what we have become.  We are no longer that image of the beautiful Rose of Sharon we have become a horrible little stink bug because we listened to the words of someone else instead of our Maker.
So yes, a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.  But I don't want to be any other name than Child of God.  Created in His image. 
I am not going to listen to what the world has to say about me or how it even defines me.  And I am going to do my best to start seeing the image that God created every human being into and start using those words. 
I know that there will be times that I will fail.  But I am going to try.
Here are a few verses if you want to know what God says about our mouths, our words.  Oh be careful little mouths.
Genesis 11:6
Exodus 20:7, 20:16
Leviticus 5:4, 19:16-17
Psalm 19:14, 109:1-31, 119:89-93, 119:105
Proverbs 6:2, 10:19, 11:12, 12:18-19, 12:25. 13:3, 15:1-4, 15:23, 16:23-24, 17:9, 17:27-28, 18:8, 18:13, 18:20-21, 21:23, 25:11, 25:25, 27:2, 29:20
Ecclesiastes 7:20-22
Isaiah 54:17
Jeremiah 5:13
Mathew 7:12, 12:34-37, 15:18
Luke 6:45,
John 1:1, 3:34, 8:31-32,
Romans 4:17, 10:8, 10:17, 12:14
1 Corinthians 4:20
2 Corinthians 2:17, 4:2
Ephesians 4:29, 5:3-4, 6:17
Philippians 4:6-7
1 Thessalonians 2:13
Colossians 2:4-8, 3:8, 4:6
Hebrews 4:12
James 1:22-27, 3:1-12,
1 John 1:8

Debt Forgiveness Act

I saw a sign today on my way that really got me thinking.
It said "Debt Forgiveness Act is About to Expire".
I mean I knew what it meant, or kinda sorta did.  But then it hit me.  "Wow, that is just like the most ominous sign for a wake up call if I ever saw one.!"
I mean, people, really, WAKE UP!
I have heard all of my life that Jesus was going to be returning any day.  It could be today.  It could be while I am writing this blog.
I know most of you may not want to think about that or even hear about it, but I would be remiss in my christian duties not to tell you that have never heard or not to remind those of you that have.
Jesus Christ, the forgiver of ALL sins, died on the cross for you and me, He paid the greatest price, the supreme sacrifice, for our forgiveness.  It was the ultimate price of debt forgiveness.  He paid with His life.
No more do we have to wear the rags of sin and shame.  The ultimate debt of forgiveness has been paid.
On the cross of calvary.  He paid with His blood.  His forgiveness flowed that day.  It covers a multitued of sin.
But just like that sign.  There are people that are in debt.  They have walked in sin and have earned its wages.  But instead of having to pay for those sins a way has been made.  All you have to do is repent and ask God to forgive you of those sins.  But some of you won't.  You ignore the sign.  You ignore the call to freedom.  And you will not know what it is like to have that burden of sin lifted off of you. 
Just like the many that drive by that sign and maybe don't believe it to be true or think that you still have time to take care of it.  But one day there won't be one day.
Like I said, I have heard all of my life that Jesus was going to be returning for His bride, His blood bought church, His redeemed, His beloved.  I look around at the signs of the time.  I believe we are living in those last days.  I believe that time is running out. 
When Jesus returns for His children the Holy Spirit will not be here to woo you, to call you.  You will have to pay the price yourself. 
Some of you may think, "Well if I miss it then I will just do the right thing until the tribulation is over."  Really?  If you can't live for God while the Holy Spirit is on the face of the earth to help you and guide you and give you strength, what makes you think you will be able to stand when you don't have that help?
Now is the time for all of us to get our lives in order.  Get our lamps lit and keep them burning.  Get that Ultimate Debt of Forgiveness applied to our wages of sin.
Because when He returns, and He will, The Ultimate Debt of Forgiveness WILL Expire.

Missing the rain

It rained at my house tonight. 
That is not an unusual thing to be blogging about to be sure.  I mean we are in the middle of monsoon weather in Arizona so rain is to be expected. 
But, today was a beautiful day outside.  Sunny with a hint of spectacular attatched to it.  A gentle breeze was all that could have been said.  Sunny and breezy.  All in all a most fine day.  No rain was really expected, except for the fact that it is the season for the rains to come on unexpectedly.
Our church started a new study or program this afternoon to let those that wanted to know what their mission is and to get new people that are coming more acclimated to the church.  I knew Jimmy would not be able to go since he would have to be in bed before it was over.  It started at 3:00 and so of course I was a few minutes late.
The drive to church was nice.  Had the air running in the car.  The sun was beating down and shining bright as could be.  Not a raindrop to be expected.
At the end of the 2 hour meeting they offered a dinner for everyone that showed up.  Wanting to get to know the people that I had been sitting with a little bit I decided to stay.  As we went to get our food we stood in the lobby and watched the winds blowing.  The wind had been blowing gently earlier in the day but then the sun had been shining.  Now the winds were picking up and the skies were turning, not dark, but not quite so bright.  Someone said, "Looks like it might rain."
After I ate and visited for a while I left to go to my brothers church.  It is Sunday so I guess church is a good place to be. 
The skies were still a bit dark and the winds were still blowing, still, no rain.
Made it to church in time for some praise and worship and some John Bevere.  Bible study by DVD.  It has been really good so I was glad I hadn't missed this segment. 
I was sitting there when my phone vibrated showing I had a message on Facebook.  I looked down to see what was so important and saw that my daughter in law had posted that it was pouring rain.  Ok, well it had finally rained.
I didn't think any more about it until I left church and realized it had not rained at church.  The streets and sidewalks, cars and trucks were as dry as they had been when I got there.
I headed for home.  I turned into my neighborhood and saw the rain puddles and the evidence of water everywhere.
"Wow," I thought, a little sad, "I missed the rain."
Then it hit me. 
What would that feeling be like if I missed God?
So many applications. 
What if I miss Him when He calls me to do a work for Him?  How many times has He laid out a plan for my life and I have missed it?  What about when the Spirit is moving in church or somewhere and I am either someplace else physically or even mentally and I miss it?
But then I thought of something even worse.  What if it was the trumpet sound that I had missed?  That final call?
There are signs all around.  We know that we are living in the end times.  His return is imminent.  It could be any day. 
Just like the storm clouds that were blowing in today, the skies turning gray, there are signs.  It happens a lot in Arizona, but it doesn't always produce rain.  So we don't prepare for it. 
We are like the foolish virgins whose lamps were left to run dry.  They thought they had time to go and get more oil.  But they had been told to watch and be ready for their Bridegroom would be coming.  They knew it could happen at any moment, but they didn't stay ready.  They weren't prepared.  They missed it.
What are you doing to get ready, to stay ready?  Are you looking for the rain or have you decided it really isn't going to happen any time soon. 
You think you can go about your busy life and you won't miss it because just like every other day in monsoon weather in Arizona the skies are going to be dark for a while and the winds may blow but it doesn't rain.  "Those are just signs," you say to yourself.  And then...it does...it rains.  While you are off doing your own thing...not watching...not waiting...and you miss it.  You miss the rain.
What else are you about to miss?  Are you watching?  Are you waiting?  For behold the Bridegroom cometh.  Watch and be ye ready.  Prepare for rain.  Trust me you don't want to be missing the rain!

A God Song

A couple of weeks ago I was waiting in the car with Jackson and Cooper, two of my precocious grandchildren.  We were waiting for their mother to run in and get some things so I was entertaining them as we waited.
I got a text or a phone call, I can't remember which now, from my son letting me know that his wife had went to the doctor with his oldest son.   He had missed school that day and had been running a pretty high fever. 
I told my two grandsons that I was with about it and asked them if they wanted to send Micah, the one that was at the doctor, a message on my phone to tell him to get better.  Jackson, without missing a beat, said "Don't we have a God song that we could sing for him?  You know the one you always sing to us when we're sick?"
So with that we sang "the God song" and recorded it and promptly sent it to Micah along with get well wishes.  And we prayed for him.
God song.
That term has had me thinking ever since then.
How many times in our lives are we going through something and we are at a loss but a God song is birthed in our hearts.  We don't understand why this song is going on in our head and in our hearts.  If flows off of our lips.  Whether it is a praise song, a worship song.  A song of prayer, of longing.
Somewhere down deep in our soul, where the emptiness, the doubt, the sorrow, the pain, the anxiety, the sickness, the depression or whatever it is that you are going through, a song starts to take shape.  It starts to fill us. 
A God song.
Music is a gift from God so why wouldn't we call it a God song.
Sometimes when we feel we can't go on, that life has nothing more to offer and that maybe we have nothing left to offer this world, if we would just think of a God song, our God song, the one that ministers to you, the one that God had someone write just for you, just for that moment, and start to sing it, it will fill your soul and that purpose that God has for you will be reignited.
I think of Saul when I think of a God song.  He was troubled, more than we could possibly know.  The only relief he got was when David would come and play the harp for him.  A God song.
Paul and Silas, in the middle of a dark cold jail.  Chained up in a rat infested, feces and urine covered cell.  If ever two people should have reason to feel neglected, rejected and forgotten, I would imagine it was these two men.  But you don't find them wallering in their self pity.  No!  A God song. 
Not only was the God song ministering to them, if you read in Acts 16, it ministered to ALL of the prisoners. 
Their God song set them free.  Mens lives were changed.
When you have a God song, a melody that fills you, on key or off key, quietly sung or at the tops of your lungs, if you sing it as unto the Lord, this God song, your God song, will have power to break the chains that bind you.
Oh that I would that you all had a God song in time of trouble.  That you knew the joy of singing His praises. 
You may think that you don't have a God song but I am here to tell you that you do.
If you can't think of one start with "Jesus loves me this I know."  It is a reminder and a promise.  If that is the only song you can think of, the only one you can remember the words to, then sing it as if it were written just for you.  And thank Him for the fact that He loves you.  Thank Him for the fact that His word is true.  That as much as He is concerned about the little ones, that you too are His little one, and that because of His grace and mercy YOU belong to HIM!!!
It can be your God song.
Let the song of praise rise up in you.  Let the meditation of the Lord be upon your heart.  Sing a a love song to Him.  Declare your love for Him. 
"Oh how how I love Jesus.  Becaue He first loved me."
In this day that we are living in I pray for each and everyone of you to find your God song and that it minister to you and break the chains and set you free from all the things that would hold you captive.

I pray that you would be set free and be healed in Jesus name!

Falsetto

Clinton...Twister of truths...Teller of lies. 
There has never been a time that I believed this man.  He has a way of speaking out of both sides of his mouth to the effect that he is actually speaking out his ...  
I don't think that a man that would screw his WIFE over while he was in the white house and then lie her and to the whole country about it is really a man that I would want touting another mans attributes.  I have always believed that a man that had no respect for his wife had no respect for his country.
That same crooked finger that he shook at the cameras while he was in office claiming he had never had "relations" with that woman stood in front of those same minions and spoke as if he were telling the truth again.
A man without valour or scruples, such as Clinton, surely cannot be the one that you would want leading the Obama brigade.  Well unless it is someone who can twist the truth and tell lies to the point people are all a frenzy over him. 
But then again anyone as narcistic as Obama is would put anyone out there that he thought would sing his praises.  Only problem is Clinton sings in falsetto and a way bit off key for my liking. 
But then again, some people are tone deaf.
There are people who tell half truths, mix it with lies and spin it and spit it out as if it is gospel and call it the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God...it is still a lie.  (Should I put that part about God in there or leave it out for the Democrats to vote on...it will only take 2/3's of a vote)
There are some people that do not recognize that. 
I have known a few liars in my day.  They are believable while you are listening to them.  You go away thinking "I didn't know that."  Then you FACT CHECK and realize the reason you didn't know that is because it wasn't TRUE.
You have to decide what the truth is and who is telling it.  Don't take anything that you hear or read at face value.  You may have to do some homework.  Some fact checking yourself and then decide.
You can take what I am saying about Clinton or not.  Problem is there is not enough room on the pedestal for Clinton and Obama. 
I say knock 'em both off and call them out for the liars and narcistic fools that they both are and put them into the hall of shame where they belong.
Just my opinion.

Revelation of a President

I don't know how many of you watched Michelle Obama's speech tonight. I did.  For a while I thought she was giving a speech for the Republican party.  I thought she was using talking points to tell us why not to vote for her husband.
Then she got to one line.

"Well, today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are-- it reveals who you are."
 
Honestly I don't know if she was bragging or sad about that.  I know what I would be.Four years ago he stood in front of millions of people and touted hope and change. That he would be transparent. I really don't think I have heard any one reveal more about her husband than Ms Obama did tonight.
Tell me if you agree.
Do these people not see that we are all looking at him? Watching him? He sets himself upon a pedestal and says "You poor, poor Americans.  You have no idea what you need to be doing with your lives, your money, your children.  So as President, I have to make these hard decisions for you.  Remember, you didn't build that.  So vote for me.  Blindly follow you little mice.  The Pied Piper knows what is best for you.  Now little lambs this way to the slaughter house where we will strip you of your dignity and throw your ideas and ideals forward off of the cliff.  We will enslave you to big government because you apparently can not think for yourselves.'
Did he not read the "WE THE PEOPLE" part of the constitution. 
I don't read it to say "WE THE GOVERNMENT"!!!
We have seen the "real" president. He tries to hide it like the Wizard of Oz, hiding behind the curtain of big government and idealistic people who think he did build that.  But the curtains have been rolled back. He has been revealed.
I encourage you to go and read the whole speech.
I can not believe that they think that America is great because of the GOVERNMENT and not the other way around.
What fools we would be to follow such folly. 
I am an American.  And I am proud to be one. 
Let's fire this BOZO!!!  He works for us, not the other way around!!!

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/04/transcript-michelle-obama-speech-at-dnc/#ixzz25YvXSpq9

I am NOT the twitter police!

Contrary to what some people might want to believe, I am NOT the twitter police!  But as some of you may know I do like to talk, a lot!  If I have information that you do not have I generally like to let you know.  Especially if it may be benificial to you.
There have been many a time that I was in Walmart and told someone "Walmart price matches.  That is on sale for $$$ at !!!"  They all seem to appreciate it.  Or if I am out and about and someone is about to purchase something I might tell them you can get that a lot cheaper at another store.  If I see some friends that I haven't seen in a while during our conversation I might inform them that someone we mutually know may have passed away.  It is called conversation.  I am letting you in on something that you may or may not have known.
I am NOT the twitter police!
Up until a few days ago I had no idea that Jason Biggs, or who he was really, was going to be a voice on Nickelodeon.  And to be perfectly honest I really would not have cared.  Reasonably thinking I probably would have heard about it for the first time when I saw my grandchildren and they either talked about it or watched it on television.  I probably would have watched it with them seeing as I knew who the Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles were because they had been such a big deal when my children were young.  But now that I have no children living in my house that is not usually a channel that I tune in on.  Only when my grandchildren are at my house or I am at theirs is it turned on.
But once I did hear and/or read about this man and what he had written on his twitter account I felt it was my duty to let people know.  Do I think he had the right to say what he said?  Absolutely!  But I don't want my grandchildren or any other child exposed to such filth. NO!!!
I have friends, relatives and just people in general that I am friends with on facebook that may have not had access to the information that I found and that is why I wrote what I did.  It was not to "police" this man, but to inform mothers and dad, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles and friends of what was going on.
Someone sent me a comment telling me that I should not be on his twitter page if I found it offensive and that I should not let my children or grandchildren on the computer to look his information up.  That I should better monitor my children.  Really??  That was too funny considering that we live in a technology driven world and that kids, whether we want them exposed to garbage or not, will be exposed to it.
I was also told that the advertisers that I sent letters to advertise on other channels as well, was I going to monitor all the other channels too and send letters to all of those companies?  Well, my answer is no.  Not unless that channel targets children and then allows someone to be on that channel that has no respect for women at all.
I did read his tweets.  And from what I understand the ones that were most offensive he has taken down.  But does that nagate my responsibility to let people know so that they can make an informed decision on whom they want their children exposed to?  I don't think so.
I know we are not living in a "Leave it to Beaver" world any more.  When issues were settled in 30 minutes of comedy.  And if there were bullying and lying or any other offense it was dealt with swiftly and justly.  The children were held accountable.  Now it seems as if it is propogated and that is what our children are being inundated with.  And then we send them to school where they act on what they saw.  And then they blame circumstance for their behavior.  I call it conditioning. 
Bullying, name calling, no respect for teachers, no respect for each other, no respect for their parents, no respect for themselves.
If you watch these shows, most of them do not have a parental figure in them that is worth much.  There is no leadership.  No guidance.  If there is a parent they are either on for a brief moment or are a joke, the same with teachers or anyone in authority.
So you tell me, when do we start monitoring ourselves?  I am as guilty as the next person.  TV=Babysitter.  We need to become our own twitter police and learn to use moments that we see on TV as teachable moments.  We need to let our children and our grandchildren, our nieces and nephews, know that this is not acceptable behavior.
So go and tweet something but keep it positive!

Send a simple letter

I told you I would be sending a letter to each of the companies that advertise on Nickelodeon.  It didn't take me long to do it.  Maybe a couple of hours.  I am waiting to hear their response.  In the meantime I encourage you to do the same.  For the sake of your kids and grandkids.
This is the letter that I sent.

I do not know whom to address this to so it is To Whom It May Concern. And I do hope it is a concern. I am sending you this to make you aware that as a family oriented company you are advertising on a channel, Nickelodeon.  They are supporting a person, Jason Biggs, who is in their employment.  Recently this man tweeted most vile and derogatory comments about women and is still being employed by Nickelodeon. The comments are too vile to repeat. Apparently they condone such behavior, which is very appalling seeing as they are catering to children.  I am just wondering if you condone such behavior too.  Please get back to me on this so that I can post your response on my blog. I am sure the parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles that I reach will pass your information along. Thank you for your quick response in this matter.

As soon as I hear back from any of them I will keep you posted.

Everything Changes

Everything changes.  We hear that all the time. 
The seasons are about to change. 
I am ready for a change. 
I gave you a dollar and all I got back was some change. 
Things are about to change around here.
Oh my how you've changed.
And then there's the lie.  "You haven't changed one bit."
Change, change, change, change, change.
I don't know about you but in general I don't like change.  I like things to stay the way they are, or at least I say I do. 
I don't like the fact that I am not the same size, the same energylevel, that I was 35 years ago.  But really, would I want to go back to being the same as I was at 17?  Oh Lord, no way!!!!
I was so young and naive.  Such a polyanistic point of view on life.  Not necessarily a bad thing but not necessarily a good thing either.  A wee bit ditzy.  I am so glad that somewhere along the line I grew up (and even out).  Change!
I don't like the fact that my babies grew up and out of my house.  I miss the laughter, the fights, the stories, the hugs, the tears.  I miss it all.  Every day.  But I am so glad that I raised three wonderful children or else I would not have ten of the most wonderful grandbabies in the world.  Change!
I miss getting up every day and going to a job where I was awesome!  (Hey, I am entitled to my own opinion)  Getting laid off in an economy where it has been over a year and I still have not found a job has not been a fun thing.  But I have been able to spend more time with my husband in the last year than I probably have in our whole marriage.  With raising kids and working such odd hours we never really had us time.  It has been nice for that.  But still...Change!
I look back on friends that I have had over the years.  Oh how we have grown.  Some friends/cousins that I have had over the years, some since birth, how we have made seperate lives over the years.  Not seeing each other for days, weeks, months and even years.  But when we do it is as if we never had been apart.  But coming together and catching up with each others lives only to seperate again, only then realizing, my how we have changed.  Maybe we don't see eye to eye on things like we did when we were younger but still we are there for each other.  Yet there was still that Change!
And brothers and sisters that I grew up with.  The siblings that I fought with and fought for.  I am so glad that we are not the same as we were when we were younger.  Oh Lord help our poor mother for all the grief that we must have put her through.  I am so glad that I could go to any one of them and know that they would have my back.  Would hold me up in prayer.  Would laugh and cry with me over any and everything.  I am so glad for that Change.
But honestly, to be truthful, I am happiest for the change that happened in my life when I made Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.  I can look back and remember the way that I was.  I remember the grip that sin had on my life.  I remember the freedom I felt, the peace, when I realized that I needed to change.  When the Holy Spirit wooed me and I surrendered all.  All the heartache, the fear, the anger, not having any direction in my life, all that was gone. 
Am I perfect?  Oh, good heavens no!  Do I mess up?  Oh good heavens, all the time! Do I have fear and heartache?  Yes, yes I do!  Do I always know which direction my life should take?  Nope, never on a given day!
But, am I still happy that I let Jesus Change me?  Every single day.  You see, I am a work in progress.  He is still working on me.  He isn't finished with me yet.  He said "I know the plans I have for you."  Sometimes I know exactly what they are, sometimes I don't. 
I do know that there are things He would have me be doing.  The main one is the commandment, "Be kind to one another and so fulfill the law of Christ."  I can do that. 
He said, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men."  I can do that. 
He said, "Study to show thyself aproved."  I can do that. 
There are a lot of little things I can be doing becuase His word said to do so. 
So I get up in the morning and I say "What would you have me do today Lord?"  Maybe not exactly like that, but I do ask Him what I should be doing.  I set out to do it.  You see, I stand on His word that says "The steps of a rightous man (woman) are ordered of God."  Do I always succeed, nope.  That is the human part of me that is still getting worked on, but I do try. I try to listen for His still small voice.  The voice that speaks to my heart.  The one that is deep inside my knower and I try to answer like Samuel "Speak Lord for thy servant heareth."
I am so glad that when you look at me you don't see who I used to be in all my filthy rags but who I am today, a born again, spirit filled, daughter of God. And still I am changing, becoming what He wants me to be. 
I am so thankful to calvary, to the cross.  I am so thankful that I yielded to Jesus and am forever being changed, transformed from glory to glory by the one who never changes.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18

Here ya go!!!

Moms and Dads, Grandmas and Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles, Friends and Loved ones, if you read my last post I told you what was going on with Nickelodeon and their support of Jason Biggs.  He is a vile person who will now, because Nickelodeon has skewed priorities apparently, be the voice of one of the characters on Teenage Mutant Teenage Turtles.  Maybe they got it right.  Maybe they are focusing more on the "mutant' part this time is why they are keeping him on their channel.  I don't know.  I can't speak for them.

But what I can speak to is myself.  I know that it is hard to "Just say no" to your children and especially to your grandchildren.  I do know that I will be encouraging my children and my friends children and my grandchildren at every chance I get to say no to this channel because of their obvious acceptance of this man and what he said.  Like I said, it is very vile.  I will not repeat it.  If you do not believe what I am saying about him I urge you to look it up yourselves.  All you have to do is google his name and it will bring up his  twitter account at some point on the page.

If you find this kind of behavior acceptable then this page you are reading is not for you.  But for mothers and fathers and any one else out there that sees it as apprehensible and want to teach their sons that it is NOT okay for men to talk about women this way, and to teach their daughters that it is NOT okay to be with a man that does, then I want to strongly encourage you to write a letter to Nickelodeon and/or their sponsors.

I know it is a long list, but I would bet my bottom dollar that you could easily go down the list, google each name, and leave them a message on their websites. 

This is Labor Day Weekend.  Make it a labor of love for your children and all things decent. 

I beg of you to pass this information along.  There was an old commercial.  You tell two friends, they'll tell two friends...and so on.  Let's reach the masses. 

So are ya ready???  Here ya go!!!

Nickelodeon advertisers:
General Mills
Mattel
...

Kelloggs
X Box (owned by Microsoft)
K-Mart
Toyota
Marriott
Cici's Pizza
Target
Bird's Eye (Pinnacle Foods)
Ubisoft
Sears
Hershey's
Luvs (Procter & Gamble)
Reebok
Old Navy
Capri Sun (Kraft Foods)
Big Lots
Volkswagen
Kimberly-Clark
Nintendo
Post Cereal
Toys R Us
Kleenex (Kimberly-Clark)
Lysol (Reckitt Benckiser)
Kodak
Lego
Wal-Mart
McDonald's
Del Monte
Got Milk?
Dell
Mucinex (Reckitt Benckiser)
Norwegian Cruise Line
Hasbro
Safe Kids
Honda
IHOP

When Does It Matter

When does it matter?  That is a good question.  I wonder if any of us can answer that truthfully.  When does it matter is a question that is only answerable by you.
When the kids are at home there is "No jumping on the bed."  It matters.  When they are at Grandmas she is jumping on it with them.  It doesn't matter.  But sometime there are things in life that need to matter to everybody.
Yesterday I wrote about an actor who by all accounts had tweeted derogetory things about women.
I can not tell you how fired up I am about this man getting to say these things and getting away with it with no one holding him accountable.
Nickelodeon is promoting this character as if it were perfectly normal and so acceptable for a man to talk about women the way he did.
When does it matter?
It matters to me now.
I know he will possibly say "I am sorry."  He has even taken some of the tweets down, not all of them.  And that is all good and fine.  But is that enough?
If it was your daughter getting the holy boogers beat out of her and her boyfriend or husband said, "I am sorry."  Would you encourage her to stay with him?  No?  Why not?  Because he has no respect for women.  If he hit her one time he will do it again.  It would matter. 
If Mr. Biggs had said these things about your wife, your sister, your mother or your friend then he turned around and said, "Sorry."  Would you be able to look your wife, your sister, your mother or your friend in the eye and say, "He says he's sorry so it's okay."  Would it matter then?
How are you going to explain to your children who will be watching this piece of trash when they say I want to go see this guy?  Are you going to let them?  We all know that these characters, the turtles, will become super heroes to most of our children.  Do you want your son emulating this man?  Do you want your daughters idolizing this man? 
If Nickelodeon won't listen, maybe their sponsors will.  Maybe it will matter to them. 
I don't know who all of their sponsors are but I do know that I will find out and will be shooting off a few letters to them. 
It has to matter to someone. 
Maybe they care more about our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews than Nickelodeon does.
Maybe it matters to them.
Does it matter to you?