tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47036680468111569042024-03-17T23:02:53.775-04:00Words from DUGA bit of faith, a bit of inspiration, a bit of humor, a bit of the every day...Words from DUG. (Comments are super!)Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-8981654385792867062013-06-10T09:59:00.001-04:002013-06-10T09:59:24.304-04:00Happy Monday!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a quick note to let you all know that I am back, and this blog is going to get rolling again. Hopefully you are still with me, and I will be looking forward to your thoughts and comments on what I share. Make it a great week!</span></div>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-28137043014267369012012-11-05T16:48:00.001-05:002012-11-05T18:01:16.795-05:00Q = I do not have a Q word!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So many people have been so supportive of us as we have worked to raise money to bring M*rkuss back here this winter, yet there are so many other families on the same quest. While we still have several hundred dollars to go, I want to take this time to share with you some other families and some ways that you can support them this season. Whether you want to use this as an opportunity to pick up a Christmas gift, or whether you want to make a tax deductible donation, there are many families who would be grateful for your support!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fkd18yjanxY/UJhEdhhtm2I/AAAAAAAAAmU/0whBMgXG5M4/s1600/lrthree.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fkd18yjanxY/UJhEdhhtm2I/AAAAAAAAAmU/0whBMgXG5M4/s200/lrthree.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Dawson Family </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This family is working to raise money to host THREE children this winter, and that is triple the task! Donations of any size are appreciated <a href="https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/8MM42" target="_blank">at this pag</a>e.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4u_GwyE-Zug/UJgf1qTTG9I/AAAAAAAAAlk/zE1RcIWNrKI/s1600/L101b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4u_GwyE-Zug/UJgf1qTTG9I/AAAAAAAAAlk/zE1RcIWNrKI/s1600/L101b.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4u_GwyE-Zug/UJgf1qTTG9I/AAAAAAAAAlk/zE1RcIWNrKI/s1600/L101b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Brandt Family</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 13.600000381469727px; text-align: left;">A friend of the Brandts has set up an etsy shop where you can design your own personalized products and help them raise their remaining hosting fees and possible adoption fees. You can design your own water bottles, pillows, blankets, lunch boxes, clipboards, and more! </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AThreeStudio?section_id=12123229" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please take a look</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px; text-align: left;"> and consider placing an order!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px; text-align: left;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px; text-align: left;"><b>Amount of connector flight still needed for hosting.</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_6DVOmTkik/UJgdvfb8qVI/AAAAAAAAAlU/SJE7OpOZnG8/s1600/artjoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_6DVOmTkik/UJgdvfb8qVI/AAAAAAAAAlU/SJE7OpOZnG8/s200/artjoms.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Coxwell Family</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The family hosting this boy would be very grateful for your tax deductible donation to help hem make a difference in his life this winter. You can read more and <a href="http://www.active.com/donate/winter2012/loveforartoyms" target="_blank">make donations here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>$775 still needed.</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GBcNeSZAeAs/UJghBjRPGqI/AAAAAAAAAls/wkRyEq3lzF0/s1600/oksana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GBcNeSZAeAs/UJghBjRPGqI/AAAAAAAAAls/wkRyEq3lzF0/s1600/oksana.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Rohrer Family</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px; text-align: left;">100% of all sales at </span><a href="http://www.mommaroar.etsy.com/" target="_blank">www.mommaroar.etsy.com</a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px; text-align: left;">are going towards hosting and adoption expenses. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 13.600000381469727px;">Items are all custom orders, so please place your orders very soon, or Christmas </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 13.600000381469727px;">delivery</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 13.600000381469727px;"> may not be guaranteed.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 13.600000381469727px;"><b>$450 still needed for hosting.</b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BXUstx8wKNU/UJgh3IkXn1I/AAAAAAAAAl0/EWElHbovMP8/s1600/marion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BXUstx8wKNU/UJgh3IkXn1I/AAAAAAAAAl0/EWElHbovMP8/s1600/marion.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 13.600000381469727px;"><b>The Bennion Family</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 13.600000381469727px;">They have two fund raisers going right now to raise money to bring this boy to visit this winter. The family hand made Christmas ornaments, and they are selling t-shirts. You can find out more information <a href="http://forloveoforphans.blogspot.com/p/fundraisers.html" target="_blank">at their blog</a>.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 13.600000381469727px;"><b>$1,400 still needed for hosting fees.</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J6a5dMeGix0/UJgtCmZSkFI/AAAAAAAAAmE/azgTMVVvsBk/s1600/nhfc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J6a5dMeGix0/UJgtCmZSkFI/AAAAAAAAAmE/azgTMVVvsBk/s200/nhfc.jpg" width="169" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Additionally, you can make a donation of any amount directly to New Horizons for Children, and it will be tax deductible. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.newhorizonsforchildren.org/">www.NewHorizonsforChildren.org</a> is a Christian, international hosting program reaching out to the orphans of Eastern Europe. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for your support for all of the people taking this journey to love these children! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Corbel, Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: start;">Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Psalm 65:5</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>LASTLY, </b>So many other families need to raise money, and we want to help! Sooo...I have set up a link at my business page, and I will donate part of all purchases made through this link to New Horizons for Children, and NHFC can determine where they feel the money would be best allocated.<b> https://www.lillarose.biz/parties/1140 </b> Please shop now, and please share!</span></div>
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Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-8852046471924155712012-10-01T14:52:00.000-04:002012-10-01T14:52:45.290-04:00P = Precious Lives<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, my little blog has been neglected as of late. If you follow it, though, you know that I tend to go through phases. These past few months we have been super busy with our family mission, which, right now, is to love and advocate for orphans.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xt5xdCf-1Tc/UGnEem7L92I/AAAAAAAAAjk/mlGH1bfBo6E/s1600/hmbedtimehugs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xt5xdCf-1Tc/UGnEem7L92I/AAAAAAAAAjk/mlGH1bfBo6E/s200/hmbedtimehugs.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may know that we hosted a boy name M*rkus this summer. He and our son bonded right away. They were like two peas in a pod, great buddies...brothers. Hubby, Boy and I had many fun and joyous experiences with M*rkus, and we are blessed to be able to host him in our home again this winter. God is good that way, eh?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would your family like to work on a mission trip together? If so, then you can all participate in this hosting ministry without even leaving your home town! To learn more about what it means to host an orphan and to see all of the many children available is easy. Simply visit <a href="http://www.newhorizonsforchildren.org/">www.NewHorizonsforChildren.org</a> to view the photo gallery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile...here are a few of the precious children who might make a great addition to your family this winter season. Yes, you can make a difference in their lives, but did you know that they can also make a difference in yours? </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WArX45K6lN4/UGnGf1apCtI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Xe2o0fPvBuY/s1600/nhnatvit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WArX45K6lN4/UGnGf1apCtI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Xe2o0fPvBuY/s200/nhnatvit.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><b>N</b> likes knitting, crocheting and sewing as well as beading with embroidery and making bracelets. She would like to go on a ship someday. Both want to see the ocean if possible. <b>V</b> likes soccer and ping pong and has</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"> received soccer awards. He would like to fly on a real airplane. If a choice was available, they would like to be the oldest children in a family and do well with younger children.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">$200 Scholarship -- N and V are Host Only</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyos4RhaV3g/UGnfXegXziI/AAAAAAAAAkE/nECcae47MN0/s1600/nhmart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyos4RhaV3g/UGnfXegXziI/AAAAAAAAAkE/nECcae47MN0/s200/nhmart.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><b>M</b> is called "a good boy" by his foster mom and "a little stinker" by his teacher. He is a serious little guy, yet had us laughing at some of his antics. He lives on a VERY rural farm, and helps with chores, including bringing the cows in at night. He loves horses, and wishes that he knew how to ride. He also likes winter sports: sledding, skiing, ice skating, ice hockey is his favorite sport.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bP3w9t_D1RU/UGndoOMez4I/AAAAAAAAAj8/r0Bj7n_J_aA/s1600/nhdia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bP3w9t_D1RU/UGndoOMez4I/AAAAAAAAAj8/r0Bj7n_J_aA/s200/nhdia.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><b>D</b> came 2 years ago and wants to return. Age 12, talkative, friendly girl with a rare bone disease that keeps her from walking. Favorite foods are chips, candy, and ice cream. Enjoys paper crafts, drawing, and wheelchair basketball. For being in a wheelchair, she is still very active.and can take care of all her personal needs (she does not need to wear diapers).</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7IuFMvj3SGc/UGniTt8MTnI/AAAAAAAAAkU/G_iTBGL3eDs/s1600/nhrit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7IuFMvj3SGc/UGniTt8MTnI/AAAAAAAAAkU/G_iTBGL3eDs/s200/nhrit.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"><b>R</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">wishes to learn how to ride a bicycle and enjoys playing with Legos, toy cars, snowball fights and sledding.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"> The Social Worker said he has very good behavior. He likes cats and dogs, and his favorite animals are the big cats: lions! He is smaller for his age and says his favorite colors are black, blue and orange and likes ice cream but definitely NOT liver.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To learn more about these children and many others available for hosting, visit <a href="http://www.newhorizonsforchildren.org/">www.NewHorizonsforChildren.org</a> to view the photo gallery. Find the child or sibling set who can add some more joy to your Holiday season as you and your family serve God who tells us in Matthew 18:5 that <i>"...whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." </i></span></div>
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Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-65803113736642712332012-08-09T17:17:00.000-04:002012-08-23T09:17:40.943-04:00O = Orphans<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xheadRvQ1cI/UCQgORf60oI/AAAAAAAAAi4/XzsNHSqYipc/s1600/IMG_3275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xheadRvQ1cI/UCQgORf60oI/AAAAAAAAAi4/XzsNHSqYipc/s200/IMG_3275.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I am aware that I have not posted in two months. We have been a bit busy. Have you heard of New Horizons for Children? It is through this organization that we have met the newest boy in our life: M*rkus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">M*rkus is the orphan boy from Latvia that we hosted this summer. He and Boy took to each other as well as any two little boys could. They hit it off from day one. Language was no barrier! They laughed together, played together, learned together, and grew to love each other over the five short weeks that M*rkus was here.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nfQlt28plN0/UCQhGpz_TEI/AAAAAAAAAjA/_u3L3q15MPo/s1600/HandMhugairport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nfQlt28plN0/UCQhGpz_TEI/AAAAAAAAAjA/_u3L3q15MPo/s200/HandMhugairport.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then the hosting period ended, and it was time for M*rkus to return to Latvia. We brought M*rkus to the airport, checked his bag, got him on the line to go through security, and then waved good-bye and he disappeared to the terminal. We turned around to walk away, and I could see Boy's face. It got tense. The sides of his mouth started to fall. His lips parted. His eyes squinched. He lost it. He was crying...sobbing over the loss of his new, Latvian brother. Richard and I felt helpless as we tried to console our sweet Boy. It was heartbreaking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was last Thursday. On Friday we found out that, by the grace of God, we can host M*rkus again this December. Merry Christmas!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This detail has made the transition a little easier for Boy because now he knows that he will see M*rkus again. Boy has told us that it is okay with him if M*rkus comes to stay with us, and he will share all of his toys. Oh, how I love the heart and mind of a small child.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, as the proverbial dust is settling from our whirlwind summer, and we are getting back to a normal (?) routine, I want to take a few minutes to tell you about how YOU can be so blessed during the next hosting season: Open your heart and home to an orphan child or children from Eastern Europe through New Horizons for Children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would you like to know more? There are two ways that you can do this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Visit <a href="http://www.newhorizonsforchildren.com/">www.newhorizonsforchildren.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Ask us!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_we8ngPd8us/UCQh4fCBWNI/AAAAAAAAAjI/iBo6rNwZAuk/s1600/IMG_4523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_we8ngPd8us/UCQh4fCBWNI/AAAAAAAAAjI/iBo6rNwZAuk/s200/IMG_4523.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_we8ngPd8us/UCQh4fCBWNI/AAAAAAAAAjI/iBo6rNwZAuk/s1600/IMG_4523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_we8ngPd8us/UCQh4fCBWNI/AAAAAAAAAjI/iBo6rNwZAuk/s1600/IMG_4523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When these children come to the United States of America to be hosted, they are shown what life is like living in a loving, functioning, Christian household. They get to be part of a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">real family. They are given HOPE. Additionally, these children learn life skills that can help them in their future. They learn self-confidence. They learn English, which is a second language common to many Eastern European countries that could seriously help them with their futures. They learn about the love of Christ, and the fact that they DO have a father who loves them no matter where they are in life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Additionally, while the program through New Horizons for Children IS for hosting, in the end, many of these children find forever homes. Back home they have between a 0 and 1% chance of ever being adopted. Here, about 65% of them wind up finding a family that wants to loves them for good. It is not always the family that hosted them, but it seems to be that for many of them, it is someone. THAT in itself is a gift that is truly a blessing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you have any questions about New Horizons for Children? Do you have any questions about our experience? Do you want to host a child or sibling set yourself? Do you want to help us raise the money to bring M*rkus back to America for Christmas? </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please tell us what we can do to help you do any of these things.</i></div>
Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-46926931167637777532012-06-08T12:37:00.000-04:002012-08-23T09:15:31.148-04:00N = Needs<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the fundraising went very well for the past month, there were also people who asked what <i>things</i> we would need for M*rkus. We still have about $500 to go with the fundraising, but we want to take this time to let you know about some other needs and desires that you might be able to fill for M*rkus' visit in a few weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Items Needed:</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hpEGwUm_1Cw/T9Ee1ge4xnI/AAAAAAAAAiU/DBUIUDutcJw/s1600/flashlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hpEGwUm_1Cw/T9Ee1ge4xnI/AAAAAAAAAiU/DBUIUDutcJw/s1600/flashlight.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Socks Underwear -- Okay, this may be more of a gift certificate to WalMart/Target kind of an item.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Night Lights -- Because of experiences, many of these children are afraid of the dark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MP3 Player that charges by USB -- cheap, cannot be name brand</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christian Music for MP3 Player -- age attractive beat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shoes -- Again, this may be a gift certificate thing. WalMart?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bicycle -- even if we can borrow one to be returned when he leaves</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bicycle Helmet -- not sure of size</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">28" suitcase on wheels that can be a carry-on bag</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strike>Batteries -- pack of AA and pack of AAA (These are like gold!)</strike></span><br />
<strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Playing Cards and/or </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Uno</span></strike><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><strike>Good and Evil Book</strike></i> -- <a href="http://nogreaterjoy.org/shop/good-and-evil-color-book/">http://nogreaterjoy.org/shop/good-and-evil-color-book/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strike>Alarm Clock</strike></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strike>Flashlight -- To take to bed.</strike></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strike>Velcro Wallet</strike></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strike>Cheap Watch -- no brand names</strike></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strike><i>Wildlife Story Teller</i> (Latvian)</strike> -- </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://wildlifestorytellers.com/">http://wildlifestorytellers.com/</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please post a comment or contact us directly if you choose to provide any of these things so that we might avoid doubles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Fundraising Opportunities:</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vzLrvLiB1c0/T9Eh-q6PH2I/AAAAAAAAAig/vcwpjP3Rq2Y/s1600/pancakessausage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vzLrvLiB1c0/T9Eh-q6PH2I/AAAAAAAAAig/vcwpjP3Rq2Y/s1600/pancakessausage.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><i>Pancake Breakfast at Applebee's Mooresville</i></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">July 7th from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tickets can be purchased in advance for $7 each.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comment here or contact one of us directly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please <strike>invite</strike> drag your friends!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><i>500 Game</i></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For less than $5, you can help support the cause! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please <a href="http://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&&note_id=10150778404982476">visit this page</a> on Facebook to see how.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Activities:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will also be looking to share fun activities with M*rkus on a budget. Do you have access to free passes or reeeeallly good discounts to family friendly places like zoos, movies, amusement parks, anything? Hey, it does not hurt to ask, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for taking the time to read this. We appreciate any help any way that it can be given, and please share on Facebook, Tweet, post on your blog, tell your friends, whatever you can do to help. We appreciate you!</span></div>
Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-78304414606646894832012-06-06T11:52:00.003-04:002012-08-23T09:14:30.986-04:00M = M*rkus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qtSgCKA0D3E/T89tYfYMmjI/AAAAAAAAAh8/GeWozONcbNQ/s1600/markus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How funny is it that I struggled for so long over what topic to choose for the letter M, and now here is M*rkus with so many people asking questions. Here I can answer some questions and maybe fill you in on a few things.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qtSgCKA0D3E/T89tYfYMmjI/AAAAAAAAAh8/GeWozONcbNQ/s1600/markus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qtSgCKA0D3E/T89tYfYMmjI/AAAAAAAAAh8/GeWozONcbNQ/s200/markus.jpg" width="138" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For anybody who is not in the loop, my guys and I will be hosting a boy from Latvia this summer. His name is M*rkus, and he is eleven years old. M*rkus, like many of the hundreds or thousands of children in Eastern Europe, is an orphan. For these children, that is a negative stigma. People look at orphans as criminals, and their hope for their futures is slim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These orphan children are aged out of the system at age sixteen and are turned out onto the street, after which over 80% of them will fall prey to homelessness, drugs, prostitution, lives of crime, and suicide. Many of them feel left out, unworthy, left behind.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. -Matthew 18:5</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With <a href="http://www.newhorizonsforchildren.org/">New Horizons for Children</a>, many of these children are given <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>HOPE</b></span>. Through NHFC, families, like ours, host children from Latvia and Ukraine for about five weeks at a time twice a year when the orphanages close. Yes, the orphanages close. That confounds me, but that is another story.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="text Ps-68-5" id="en-NIV-14906" style="background-color: white; position: relative; text-align: -webkit-auto;">A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,</span><span class="text Ps-68-5" style="background-color: white; line-height: 0px; position: relative; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="text Ps-68-5" style="position: relative;">is God in his holy dwelling. -Psalm 68:5</span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through NHFC, children are brought to the United States of America where they will live as a part of a functioning, Christian <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>FAMILY</b></span>. They will experience <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">LOVE</span></b>, enjoy fun and <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>LAUGHTER</b></span>, go to church, do the things that the families do. All the while, these children will be learning English. This is a skill that can help them with <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>A FUTURE</b></span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is said that during the five weeks that they are here, the children will learn as much English as they would learn in four or five years at school back home. In Eastern Europe, many of the countries speak English as a second language, not Latvian or Ukrainian. Thus, by learning English and strengthening their skills in that language, these children are able to broaden their future possibilities.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Jesus said, </span><span class="woj" style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. -Matthew 19:14</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDYonoSdmos/T89wH18F4iI/AAAAAAAAAiI/LDKZp9br5K4/s1600/orphans147M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zDYonoSdmos/T89wH18F4iI/AAAAAAAAAiI/LDKZp9br5K4/s200/orphans147M.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Additionally, these children will learn more about the love of God, they will learn that they are <i>not</i> alone, they will learn self-esteem, and so many more positive things that they may be missing living at orphanages and foster homes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have any questions about M*rkus, about NHFC, or about this program, please feel free to ask. We will do our best to answer. Meanwhile, please be praying for all of the children, and the host families, and the program and everyone involved in making this opportunity a reality for the over 180 children coming to America in a few weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You are invited to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/260802340685255/">join this group</a> on Facebook to follow our journey with M*rkus.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> orphans and widows</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. -James 1:27</span></i></span></div>
Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-80592259165340722082012-04-28T12:21:00.000-04:002012-04-28T12:22:38.411-04:00Surrender to God<i style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">"Dear Lord, I'm on my knees again. I come to You because You understand. I've tried so hard, but I just can't change myself. That's why I know I need your hand. So here I am, this is my plea. My only hope is Your love for me. I'm reaching out so desperately. Take my hand, take all of me...."</i>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vsVvkrSkI18" width="560"></iframe></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">How can a person not be moved by that song?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Can you surrender to God?</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">It is so difficult to truly surrender to God. We humans find it difficult to give up control of the remote. How can we be expected to give up control of our entire lives?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><br />James 4:8 tells us to "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." The first step in surrender to God is being close to God. It takes trust to surrender, and it takes a relationship to build trust. How close are you to God?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Psalm 143:10 says, "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Teach me to do your will,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">for you are my God." </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Part of building a relationship with God is to learn His Word...and then follow it. "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22 reminds us of that.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Humble Yourself</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">hum·ble </span><span style="text-align: left;"></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #0055bb; cursor: pointer; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; position: static; text-align: left;">verb</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; position: static; text-align: left;">(used</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; position: static; text-align: left;">with</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; position: static; text-align: left;">object)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">
<span name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; position: static; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;">to</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;">lower</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;">in</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;">condition,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;">importance,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;">or</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;">dignity;</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;">abase.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">
<span name="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span id="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default; position: static;">destroy</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default; position: static;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default; position: static;">independence,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default; position: static;">power,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default; position: static;">or</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/will" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; text-align: left;">will</a><span id="hotword" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">of.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;"><span name="hotword" style="position: static;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span><span id="hotword" style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small; position: static; text-align: left;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">to</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; position: static;">make</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"> </span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; position: static;">meek:</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"> </span></span><span class="ital-inline" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span id="hotword" style="position: static;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="position: static;">humble</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default; position: static;">one's</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="cursor: default; position: static;">heart.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">James 4:10 is simply saying that when we stop trying so hard to be in control and allow God to be the head of our lives, then He will take care of us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><a href="http://fb.com/wordsfromdug" style="font-weight: bold;">Like Words from DUG on Facebook</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Part of surrender to God is also resisting evil. Resist what is wrong. Sometimes what is right is not what is easy, and we can fall into the trap of doing what is wrong for convenience. James 4:7 tells us to "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."</span>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">"No temptation</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"> has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"> beyond what you can bear <i>(be capable of)</i>. But when you are tempted,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"> he will also provide a way out so that you can endure (<i>hold out against)</i> it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 encourages us that we will not face a temptation that we are not humanly able to resist. However, do not confuse that with the common saying that <a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/04/day-after.html">God will not give us more than we can handle</a> <i>(manage or deal with on your own)</i>. That is not part of surrender to God. That is us thinking that we do not need Him.</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">Surrender</span></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;">"My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways." Proverbs 23:26</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /><i>Give me your heart.</i> Really think about those words. Is this simple or difficult for you? Why?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><br /><i>Let your eyes observe my ways.</i>..and then be like that. The more that we observe His ways and be like Him, the easier that surrendering to Him will become.</span></div>
</div>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-26980146316473845832012-04-04T08:17:00.006-04:002012-04-04T09:01:36.394-04:00Stripper Pole at Church?<div style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">A friend of mine posted an article over at </span><a href="http://taberstruths.com/" style="font-size: 100%; ">Taber's Truths</a><span style="font-size: 100%; "> about a story that he had read at </span><a href="http://christianpost.com/" style="font-size: 100%; ">The Christian Post</a><span style="font-size: 100%; "> about a pastor who chose to use a stripper pole as a prop for his upcoming sermon series about intimacy in marriage. My friend got riled up about this, and it got me thinking. Do I agree with my friend that this was nothing more than a classless display by a preacher who is letting today's culture dictate how he runs his church? I am not sure.</span></span></div><div style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-size: 100%; "><h2>Ohio Pastor Puts Stripper Pole Next to Pulpit</h2><div><br /></div></span></span></div><div style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">With a bed and a stripper pole next to his pulpit, a pastor in Ohio is all set to begin a series of sermons on sex and relationships beginning Sunday.</span></div><div style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: justify; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: justify; "><span><span style="line-height: 1.6em; ">Ready to start a new sermon series called "Battle of the Sexes," Pastor Mike Scruggs at the Light of Word Ministries in White Oak, Ohio, has put a stripper pole, video games and </span><span style="line-height: 1.6em; ">sports</span><span style="line-height: 1.6em; "> equipment on one side of the pulpit, representing what men desire. On the other side, he has set up a bed with candies, teddy bears, roses and a bottle of wine to depict what women want.</span></span></div><div style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; text-align: justify; "><p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span>On all Sundays in April, Scruggs will share about best practices in bedroom, keeping intimacy alive and the need to build and maintain trust. "Right now we're having single people having too much sex and married people not having enough sex," he told Fox19.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span style="line-height: 22px; ">Scruggs admits some could get offended by his message. "We push the envelope, that's true," he said.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.6em; "><span style="line-height: 22px; ">source: </span><a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/ohio-pastor-puts-stripper-pole-next-to-pulpit-to-talk-sex-72432/" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.christianpost.com/news/ohio-pastor-puts-stripper-pole-next-to-pulpit-to-talk-sex-72432/</a></p></div><h3 style="font-weight: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span>Is This Wrong?</span></h3><div style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span>Some people might be thinking, "Gasp! A stripper pole in God's house?! That is horrifying!" Some people might be thinking, "It is probably not an <i>actual</i> stripper pole. It is simply a prop. I mean, it is not like the preacher is going to have dancers up there twirling at church." What do I think? I fall somewhere in the middle.</span></div><div style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span><a href="http://fb.com/wordsfromdug" style="text-align: left; "><b>Like Words from DUG on Facebook</b></a> </span></div><div style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span><span style="font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I want to think that the pastor has good intentions. Given that he is displaying "guy's guys stuff" on one side and "fluffy-girly-romance stuff" on the other side, it is clear to me that he is trying to make a point about how each gender desires for what they consider ideal situations or things, possibly rather than desiring for their spouse directly. Realistically, sexy and </span><span style="text-align: left; "><span>provocative are what many men desire. </span></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span>You may be thinking, "...but a stripper pole at church?!"</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2064:6&version=NLT">Isaiah 64:6</a></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span>You can say anything that you want about how sin, lust, adultery, etc., are wrong. However, they are all out there, and it is a part of life. Lust is a very successful sin, for that matter. Our own pastor said recently that he cannot even going to the mall for clothes with his small children without seeing "sex" everywhere trying to sell something to the public.</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span>Sexy is out in public because it works.</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span>Every human is a sinner by nature...and should it not be every Christian church's desire to reach those people (everyone) and encourage them to make better choices? In this case, I believe the choice is to love and desire your husband or wife and not to go looking for satisfaction in other places.</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left; "><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%203:23&version=NLT">Romans 3:23</a></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span>Yes, it may be that standing a pole at the front of the building is a bit extreme and could be for shock value. However, if the media attention caused by that shock value brings in one man, or one woman, or one couple, who may not have come otherwise, if they wind up hearing God's Word and having it speak to them, and if it does something positive for themselves or for their marriage, then was it worth it?</span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="text-align: left; "><span><br /></span></span></div><h3><span><b>What do you think?</b></span></h3>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-71189573493813064732012-03-31T16:37:00.000-04:002012-03-31T16:37:00.496-04:00Miss Me?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JgNFI3a8GvQ/T3dpT4I9j4I/AAAAAAAAAgY/m7RkiHPWce8/s1600/partyawkward.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; ">Apparently I go through stints of neglecting my sweet, little blog. Life is busy...hectic...full. Life is full, and sometimes something needs to be put aside so that I can focus on what is more important. However, as happens from time to time, I have felt a pull to return here again. Then, when someone asked me last Sunday why I stopped writing my blog, it stuck me that there are actually those of you out there who enjoy reading it. By neglecting my little blog, have I been neglecting YOU? Well, we certainly cannot have that, so here I am, back at the keyboard, ready to fill your computer screen with words that I hope will inspire you, touch you, entertain you, educate you, heal you, make you chuckle...or maybe simply annoy you. That last one is not my goal, but not everyone realizes that I am as fabulous as I am, so it is bound to happen.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; ">It would seem that Words from DUG will be two years old in two weeks. What better way is there to get this place rejuvenated than to plan a Blogoversary Party with fun, games, giveaways and more? I say that we do it!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JgNFI3a8GvQ/T3dpT4I9j4I/AAAAAAAAAgY/m7RkiHPWce8/s200/partyawkward.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726161241433280386" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 188px; height: 183px; " /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; ">As it turns out, that will also be around tax time, so a bit of cheery fun will probably be in order for some of us, anyway. Hehe. Sooo...invite your friends to follow Words from DUG via Google Friend Connect (over there on the right), via <a href="http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/words_from_dug">NetworkedBlogs</a>, via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/wordsfromdug">Facebook</a>. Tell them to keep reading and commenting, and when the exact date and time is set for the party, they can be among the first to know! Go on...invite them. It will not be one of those awkward parties. It will be fun! Do not make them be upset with you because you did not invite them. (Hmm...does that sound like it might be a message for something else?)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; ">Meanwhile, I plan to get back to the alphabet postings. I am pretty sure that we left off with M. There were a few suggestions posted previously. Someone suggested Marriage. Hmm...wouldn't that be a controversial place to jump back into things? Let me go see what were some other suggestions. Do you have any?</span></div>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-24381494971609333722012-02-05T12:30:00.000-05:002012-02-05T12:30:00.421-05:00Easter (EP)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">I really like this post and what people shared in the comments. Easter will be here again very soon. Do you know what that really means? </span><span style="font-family: arial; "><span style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2011/04/e-easter.html">Click here to read</a> today's encore post from April 15th, 2011.</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; "> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">giveaway</a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">!</span></div>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-61751832761295834072012-02-04T18:30:00.000-05:002012-02-04T18:30:00.959-05:00Are You Offended? (EP)<span style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial; ">Today's encore post was a guest post that I liked back on July 14th, 2010. </span><span ><span style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/07/are-you-offended.html">Click here to read it.</a></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial; "> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial; ">giveaway</a><span style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial; ">! </span>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-54463804523813149852012-02-03T09:30:00.000-05:002012-02-03T09:30:00.625-05:00Ichthus (EP)<span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">If you know what it is, then you know what you are about to read. If you do not, then maybe you will learn something interesting today. Today's encore post is from April 30th, 2011. </span><span style="font-family: arial; "><span style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-ichthus.html">Click here to read it.</a></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; "> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">giveaway</a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">!</span>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-42860549164988098992012-02-02T20:30:00.000-05:002012-02-02T20:30:01.175-05:00It Figures (EP)<span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">Why is it human nature to have a negative reaction? Today's encore post, from January 8th, 2011, touches a bit on that. </span><span style="font-family: arial; "><span style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/01/it-figures.html">Click here to read it.</a></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; "> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">giveaway</a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">!</span>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-19778542576949145982012-02-01T11:30:00.000-05:002012-02-01T11:30:00.288-05:00Why Regret? (EP)<span style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial; ">Do you have regrets? Why? Today's encore post is from May 24th, 2010. </span><span ><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/05/why-regret.html">Click here to read it.</a></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial; "> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial; ">giveaway</a><span style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial; ">! </span>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-30444400461913878302012-01-31T19:30:00.001-05:002012-01-31T19:30:02.327-05:00Gossip (EP)<span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; ">Gossip is great, right? It helps you learn so much about yourself that you did not know. Hehe. To take a serious look at gossip visit today's encore post from March 7th, 2011.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2011/03/gossip.html" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 153, 204); ">Click here to read it.</a></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; "> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(102, 153, 204); font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; ">giveaway</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: justify; ">!</span></span>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-86239761250162957072012-01-30T07:30:00.001-05:002012-01-30T07:30:01.931-05:00Be Kind to Jerks (EP)<span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">If we are not, then we only become like them. </span><span style="font-family: arial; "><span style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2011/01/be-kind-to-jerks.html">Click here to read</a></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; "> today's encore post from January 14th, 2011. I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">giveaway</a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">!</span>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-5616551557470720992012-01-29T13:30:00.000-05:002012-01-29T13:30:01.563-05:00Father's Love Letter (EP)<span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">It is so beautiful how the Bible works together with itself to give us such a message of how we are loved. See some scriptures telling a story in today's encore post from July 15th, 2010. </span><span style="font-family: arial; "><span style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/07/fathers-love-letter.html">Click here to read it.</a></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; "> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">giveaway</a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">!</span>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-84050516100362007422012-01-28T15:30:00.000-05:002012-01-28T15:30:00.565-05:00Church (EP)<span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">Are you a Christian who does not go to church? Does that ever leave you feeling lonely? Today's encore post from April 6th, 2011, takes a look at why it is healthy for your spirit to be a part of a church body. </span><span style="font-family: arial; "><span style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2011/04/c-church.html">Click here to read it.</a></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; "> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">giveaway</a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">!</span>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-67130512390732570292012-01-27T05:30:00.001-05:002012-01-27T05:30:02.370-05:00Life as a Talk Show Guest (EP)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; ">Yes, you read that correctly. Sometimes it is funny to look back at life and wonder, "What was I thinking?" Whatever you do in life, though, remember to be yourself and be real. Today's encore post is from May 18th, 2010. </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/05/life-as-talk-show-guest.html" style="font-family: arial; ">Click here to read it.</a><span style="font-family: arial; "> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="font-family: arial; ">giveaway</a><span style="font-family: arial; ">! </span></div>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-91707391107549562822012-01-26T12:30:00.001-05:002012-01-26T12:30:02.634-05:00T.H.I.N.K. (EP)<span style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial; ">Since I have seen people posting something similar to this on Facebook this past week, I figured that I would share this post from June 9th, 2010. </span><span ><span style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/06/think.html">Click here to read it.</a></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial; "> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial; ">giveaway</a><span style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial; ">! </span>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-6619370806737642222012-01-25T17:30:00.001-05:002012-01-25T17:30:00.431-05:00Ice Cream Hangover (EP)<span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">How does someone who does not drink alcohol wound up sick from it? Today's encore post is from August 9th, 2010. </span><span style="font-family: arial; "><span style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/08/ice-cream-hangover.html">Click here to read it.</a></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; "> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">giveaway</a><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">!</span>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-18710226858601881702012-01-24T08:30:00.000-05:002012-01-24T08:30:00.580-05:00What Would You Say? (EP)<span ><span style="text-align: justify; ">Everyone needs compassion. Would you give it? Today's encore post is from June 7th, 2010. </span><span><span style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/06/what-would-you-say.html">Click here to read it.</a></span></span><span style="text-align: justify; "> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="text-align: justify; ">giveaway</a><span style="text-align: justify; ">! </span></span>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-45389510971821631402012-01-23T11:30:00.001-05:002012-01-23T14:55:28.714-05:00Like at First Sight (EP)<span style=" text-align: justify; font-family:arial;">Why do adults make it so difficult to accept one another while young children can make a new friend with just about anyone? Today's encore post is from August 6th, 2010. </span><span style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style="text-align: justify; "><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/08/like-at-first-sight.html">Click here to read it.</a></span></span><span style=" text-align: justify; font-family:arial;"> I look forward to your thoughts and comments, and remember to enter my </span><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; ">giveaway</a><span style=" text-align: justify; font-family:arial;">!</span>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-66384601602421670642012-01-22T16:44:00.001-05:002012-01-22T16:44:00.305-05:00Encore Presentations<div style="text-align: justify;"><span >Since I decided to get back to blogging, it seems that a few things in life have kept me too busy to actually focus long enough to write much. <b><i>However</i></b>, since people are reading again, I do not want to leave my little blog sitting quietly. Thus, I decided that for the next couple of weeks, while I am getting other things situated, <b><span >you</span></b> (whoever you are reading this right now) will have the opportunity to read some posts that I choose to make an encore appearance. Fun, right?! I hope that you find them interesting or encouraging. <i>Starting tomorrow, look for a different post each day. </i> Personally, I will be looking forward to your thoughts and comments, and, as always, please spread the word! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/wordsfromdug"><span >Like my blog on Fb at <span style="text-align: left;">http://www.facebook.com/wordsfromdug</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2012/01/giveawaya-detour-from-alphabet-posts.html"><span >Check out my current Giveaway here.</span></a></div>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703668046811156904.post-62538150937426048722012-01-13T17:17:00.001-05:002012-01-14T17:29:47.442-05:00Bible Verses for Women<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j3jjQ4U4XUM/TxGnW1Oxg6I/AAAAAAAAAd4/osmidkWV_yc/s1600/1john11.jpg"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-efSfCg1f8vM/TxGmn3KQobI/AAAAAAAAAds/UYGTePVKI9o/s1600/handbible.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 277px; height: 182px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-efSfCg1f8vM/TxGmn3KQobI/AAAAAAAAAds/UYGTePVKI9o/s320/handbible.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697518207352480178" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span><span>Are you a woman looking for some Bible verses for women that are relevant to you? There are so many women who do not realize how much of God's Word is actually intended for them. As a matter of fact, if we want to get right down to it, all of the Bible verses for women can be found between <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201:1&version=NIV">Genesis 1:1</a> where, <i>"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," </i>and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation%2022:21&version=NIV">Revelation 22:21</a> where, <i>"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen."</i></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "></span></p><h3> My List of Bible Verses for Women.</h3> <p></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "> <span><span>That is right, Ladies, it is all there for our learning, for our guidance, and for our benefit. All Bible verses are for women as well as for men and children. Together, let us look at some specific Bible verses and what they mean to you.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "></span></p><h4> Specific Bible verses for women.</h4> <p></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "> <span><span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%202&version=NIV">Genesis 2:18</a> tells us that <i>"</i><i><span style="background: #ffffff">The LORD God said, '</span></i><i><span style="background: #ffffff">It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'”</span></i><span style="background: #ffffff"> From almost the very beginning of scripture, the Bible tells us that woman was created for man. We were created to be man's helper, man's partner, man's companion. Man was not created to live alone, and woman was created for him. How special is it to know that women were created for such a grand purpose?</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span><span><span style="background: #ffffff">In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2032:8&version=NIV">Psalm 32:8</a> we are told that </span></span><span><i><span style="background: #ffffff">"</span></i></span><span><i><span style="background: #ffffff">I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;</span></i></span><i><span style="background: #ffffff"> </span></i><span><i><span style="background: #ffffff">I will counsel you with my eye upon you."</span></i></span><span><span style="background: #ffffff"> The Bible make it so simple. No, it [life] is not always easy, but our guidebook is simple. The Lord God tells us exactly how we can live a life in a relationship with Him.</span></span><span><span style="background: #ffffff"> Do you live in a relationship with God? Do you want to?</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">“</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be <a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/08/ice-cream-hangover.html">self-controlled</a> and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” </i>If you are looking for Bible verses for women, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=titus%202&version=NIV">Titus 2:3-5</a> is about as direct as they come.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Many women either are or will be wives, and there are Bible verses that offer guidance for women in this area. In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%2012&version=NIV">Proverbs 12:4</a>, we are taught that, </span><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"A</i><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i> </i></span><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones." </i><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> If you are a wife, are you a wife with whom your husband</span></span> <span style="font-family: arial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; "> – </span> <span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">and the Lord</span></span> <span style="font-family: arial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; "> – </span> <span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">can be pleased?</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span><span><span style="background: #ffffff">“<i>In the same way,</i></span></span><span><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span></span><span><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">[all of] </span></span><span><i><span style="background: #ffffff">the women are to be worthy of respect, not <a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2011/03/gossip.html">malicious</a> talkers but temperate and <a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/05/trust.html">trustworthy</a> in everything."</span></i></span><span><span style="background: #ffffff"> Do you live your life the way that <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20timothy%203&version=NIV">1 Timothy 3:11</a> tells us? Take a good look at yourself. Are you a woman who is worthy of respect? If not, then how can you change your ways to become that woman?</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span><span><span style="background: #ffffff">You may be a woman who is struggling with something right now. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2041&version=NIV">Isaiah 41:10</a> reminds us to </span></span><span><i><span style="background: #ffffff">"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;</span></i></span><i><span style="background: #ffffff"> </span></i><span><i><span style="background: #ffffff">I will strengthen you, I will help you,</span></i></span><i><span style="background: #ffffff"> </span></i><span><i><span style="background: #ffffff">I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."</span></i></span><span><span style="background: #ffffff"> If we let it, that Bible verse can be quite encouraging! Do you know that God is willing to be right there with you in your times of need if you will invite Him to be? Of course, He wants to be with you in your times of joy, too!</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span><span><span style="background: #ffffff">If you are lonely, be encouraged that you are never alone when you are in Him. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+43&version=NIV">Isaiah 43:1b</a> encouraged, </span></span><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">“</span><span><i><span style="background: #ffffff">Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."</span></i></span><span><span style="background: #ffffff"> Wow. God knows YOU. He knew who you were going to be before you were born. He loves you. He wants you in His family.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%203&version=NIV">John 3:16-17</a> is a passage that you may already know. It tells us that </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. </i></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i>For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."</i></span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> Could you imagine the extent of that love? Could you ever love someone so much that you would let them torture and take away your own child for their benefit? Pause for a moment....</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Can you even comprehend how powerful that love is? Not likely. Yet God loves us so much that, as these Bible verses tell us, He made that sacrifice...yes, even for the women. Do you know </span><a href="http://www.taberstruths.com/meet-jesus" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Jesus</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">? Please tell me if you would like to. He definitely wants to know YOU.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j3jjQ4U4XUM/TxGnW1Oxg6I/AAAAAAAAAd4/osmidkWV_yc/s320/1john11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697519014288393122" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 194px; " /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span><span><span style="background: #ffffff">”<i>Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. </i></span></span><span><i>This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.</i></span><i> </i><span><i><span style="background: #ffffff">D</span></i></span><span><i><span style="background: #ffffff">ear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."</span></i></span><span><span style="background: #ffffff"> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20john%204&version=NIV">1 John 4:7-11</a> makes it clear that we are called to love one another. These are good Bible verses for women because for women, who by nature can be catty, this can be a challenge, and we need to be reminded. You may be thinking that you are a very caring and nurturing person, and you might be – to your family and friends – but do you also <a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2011/01/be-kind-to-jerks.html">love the people that you do not like</a>?</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Romans 15:7 adds that we are to</span><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial; font-size: medium; "> “</i><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: arial; font-size: medium; ">Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”</i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); "></span></p><h4> Please share this list of Bible verses for women!</h4><p></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span>While there are so many more Bible verses for women, this list includes some that I felt lead to share with you. Are you someone who was seeking Bible verses for women? Did you find something here that spoke to <a href="http://wordsfromdug.blogspot.com/2010/07/fathers-love-letter.html">you</a>? I do hope that you have been pleased with what you have read here and look forward to your comments. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I am here to share God's Word with you, and if I do not know an answer, I will do what I can to find out for you.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><span>P.S. Remain encouraged <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=phillipians%201:3-6&version=NIV">because</a> "H</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; "><span style="background: #ffffff">e who began<b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; "><span style="background: #ffffff">a good work in you </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; "><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">will bring it to completion."</span></span></p></div>Dawnmariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122009874006244579noreply@blogger.com6