****Back in September, my friend Dalia asked me to write out her story as a warning to everyone. I did and she was able to remedy the situation once she saw it in print. Now, I''m re posting it because she is in need of a reminder and I thought it might be a good reminder for us all. ****
Dalia! So before you get all over me for spreading my friends business all over the entire www, she asked me to tell her story. Let this serve as a warning for all of you parents, soon to be parents, and grandparents. If you have babies or toddlers, I know they are cute now, but start setting those boundaries today. This could be you in a few years. Our Bible passage of the day comes from Genesis 2: 24. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."(NIV) In the King James it says, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." In other words, LEAVE AND CLEAVE! You can't learn to cleave if you won't leave. Why would you ever need to learn to weather the storms of life together if there are never any storms?
As you know, I can be just a teeny bit bossy. If I know that you are breaking the law, I will turn you in. Then I will visit you in jail...maybe. As a rule, I don't put up with nonsense, except for my own...even if I am the Queen of Nonsense. People generally don't call me if they are doing something foolish and ask me what I think, because if you ask me...I will tell you. My friend Dalia can't seem to learn this, so occasionally she calls me in the middle of her foolishness. Now you need to understand that God only made a few hearts like Dalia's. She is one of the sweetest, most beautiful people I have ever met. She reminds me a lot of my Mom. She is a loyal friend and I believe she loves Jesus with all her heart. She is also a doormat. A beautiful doormat, but a doormat nonetheless.
Dalia is the Mommy to 3 grown sons. I use the word "Mommy," because she still babies them all. I have seen her leave an adult party to drive home and cook them a meal from scratch because they called and told her to. THEY WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND ALL HAD DRIVER'S LICENSES, JOBS AND CARS! They are now all adults. The youngest two still live at home, but one goes to college and they both have jobs.
The oldest one recently married and inherited an instant family. He lived at home until he got married. He has his own home now, but apparently, even so, they keep temporarily moving into Dalia's house without asking. She would rather be liked than happy, so she is letting them just live in her house. She is cooking for them, watching their kids and not asking one thing in return. She hasn't asked them why they are there because she doesn't want her son mad at her. She also won't tell them to leave. AAAGGGHHHH!!!I remember telling my Daddy I was mad at him one time. He was unconcerned with whether I was angry or not. He didn't stop to worry that I might not like him. He told me that I could "get glad in the same pants I got mad in." That is country speak for, "Watch your mouth. I don't care if you are mad. Get over it."
When Ashley was a baby I developed my parenting "mission statement." I didn't call it that, but I have quoted it enough over the years that both kids know it by heart. Mr. Perfect and I have set this standard, and I think it has worked. It goes like this: "It is not my job to be your friend. It is my God-given job and responsibility to be your parent. You will grow up to be a God-fearing, law-abiding, tax paying citizen of Earth. You may choose only whether you do it the easy way or the hard way. Either way, I'll go with you. I'm up to it. I love you!"
One of the things I first loved about Mr.Perfect is that he treated his mother like a queen. I wanted to be a queen, and I knew that he knew how to treat a woman because I witnessed it in them. They both think the other is perfect. She loves to spoil him and do special nice things for him. He loves to do nice things for her. It makes them both all happy inside. However, it is a treat and not an every day occurrence. He would never, ever take advantage of his mother. To him, she is a gift from God and should be revered as such. He would put her on the throne and meet her every need before she thinks of it, if he had the means. She would do the same for him, but she knows solving all his problems would keep him from being independent. I love their relationship. She is available for him any time he needs her, but she never meddles or butts in. They are an example I think everyone should follow.
Here is the Rant of the Day: It is not loving or kind to your children to set no boundaries and to let them just run all over you. It is not loving to never cut the cord when they are adults. It is not loving to allow adult children to take advantage of your kindness. It is not loving to allow your son to teach your grand babies to run all over you. It is not kind to allow your Grandsons to grow up thinking women are nothing more than their servants. It is not loving to "baby" your adult children and meet their every need before they have a chance to be independent and work things out on their own. It is not loving to let your adult offspring be children! It is abusive and a strong godly woman will not allow herself to be treated in such a manner by anyone, much less her son. She is setting an example and she will not want her daughter in law to be treated this way. Your adult children cannot learn how to have a successful marriage if they have a "mommy" in the middle.
So, obviously I had to put Dalia ON NOTICE! She is a fearfully and wonderfully made woman of God who needs to grow a backbone. She wants you all to comment and give her some ideas as to how to get her son and his family out of the house. (OK, she thought you would all tell her how sorry you felt for her, but I told her this audience would probably not come to the pity party.)
Here is my suggestion: On a large fluorescent pink poster board, write the following in large letters and attach it to your front door. Then there can be no confusion.
HOUSE RULES FOR ADULT CHILD WITH HIS OWN APARTMENT:
1) Love you. Mean it!
2) GO HOME NOW.
3) Call next time before you VISIT.
4) GO Home NOW! You should have left before you got to this line. Now GO!!!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Dear President Obama,
Dear President Obama,
You are forcing me to spend time considering civil disobedience. I love America, Mr. President, and I love that we have freedom of EVERYTHING! The fact that I can sit down and write this is just one freedom I'm grateful for. I didn't vote for you, Mr. President. I don't expect you to be my biggest fan. However, as a God-fearing, law-abiding, tax-paying, rule-following citizen, I must take you to task. There are MANY places where I have issue with your political decisions, but today I am going to focus on the sanctity of life.
I knew you were the most radically liberal, pro-death candidate that we have ever seen. I tried to warn my friends, Mr. President, but some of them told me I was wrong. I, myself am as radically pro-life as you are pro-death. I believe life begins at conception in EVERY case. I believe we should protect every life. Old life, deformed life, unwanted life and inconvenient life. Every life is precious to the One who created it and He alone has the power over it. I am even pro life in my belief that supporting capital punishment is supporting life. You, Mr. President, know the reasons and I don't need to explain them.
I have refused to be a member of a Baptist General Convention of Texas church because their abortion stance was that they believed abortion is wrong except in cases where there is rape, incest or where the health of the mother is a consideration. In those cases they believe that abortion may be the lesser of two evils. (I guess that would make the baby the other evil .) They have recently gotten bolder in their pro-abortion statements and are getting pretty radical themselves. (They've been "ON NOTICE" for the last 9 years with me.) I know that those are babies!
Now you have made two executive orders that are causing my tax dollars to not only end life in OTHER countries, but to create life with the PURPOSE of ending it. Did you consider the lives of those babies while you were signing those orders? Did you feel their heartbeats with every stroke of your presidential pen? Did you even study the science on adult, placental and cord stem cells? You have turned my country into a country that now values death! Shame on you, Mr. President.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/International/story?id=6716958&page=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/us/politics/10stem.html
So, I would like to respectfully request (demand!) that since our taxes for last year are already paid, that you not spend ONE PENNY of my money either creating a baby to be killed or killing babies. We are in a financial "situation" here in this country, in case you haven't heard, Mr. President. Why are we spending money overseas to kill babies? Foolishness. Foolishness.
Unfortunately, I can't ask you to check in at "False Teachers Anonymous," Mr. President, because you are proving to be exactly what you advertised yourself to be. Oh, and yes, this letter is much less "strongly worded" than I really wanted to make it. Mr. Perfect will be cranky if he has to pay to feed and house the Secret Serice Agents that would be moving in if I wrote it in the tone I really feel.
Sincerely,
Donna Lawson,
God-fearing, law-abiding, tax-paying, rule-following citizen
PS. You, President Barak Obama are ON NOTICE!
You are forcing me to spend time considering civil disobedience. I love America, Mr. President, and I love that we have freedom of EVERYTHING! The fact that I can sit down and write this is just one freedom I'm grateful for. I didn't vote for you, Mr. President. I don't expect you to be my biggest fan. However, as a God-fearing, law-abiding, tax-paying, rule-following citizen, I must take you to task. There are MANY places where I have issue with your political decisions, but today I am going to focus on the sanctity of life.
I knew you were the most radically liberal, pro-death candidate that we have ever seen. I tried to warn my friends, Mr. President, but some of them told me I was wrong. I, myself am as radically pro-life as you are pro-death. I believe life begins at conception in EVERY case. I believe we should protect every life. Old life, deformed life, unwanted life and inconvenient life. Every life is precious to the One who created it and He alone has the power over it. I am even pro life in my belief that supporting capital punishment is supporting life. You, Mr. President, know the reasons and I don't need to explain them.
I have refused to be a member of a Baptist General Convention of Texas church because their abortion stance was that they believed abortion is wrong except in cases where there is rape, incest or where the health of the mother is a consideration. In those cases they believe that abortion may be the lesser of two evils. (I guess that would make the baby the other evil .) They have recently gotten bolder in their pro-abortion statements and are getting pretty radical themselves. (They've been "ON NOTICE" for the last 9 years with me.) I know that those are babies!
Now you have made two executive orders that are causing my tax dollars to not only end life in OTHER countries, but to create life with the PURPOSE of ending it. Did you consider the lives of those babies while you were signing those orders? Did you feel their heartbeats with every stroke of your presidential pen? Did you even study the science on adult, placental and cord stem cells? You have turned my country into a country that now values death! Shame on you, Mr. President.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/International/story?id=6716958&page=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/us/politics/10stem.html
So, I would like to respectfully request (demand!) that since our taxes for last year are already paid, that you not spend ONE PENNY of my money either creating a baby to be killed or killing babies. We are in a financial "situation" here in this country, in case you haven't heard, Mr. President. Why are we spending money overseas to kill babies? Foolishness. Foolishness.
Unfortunately, I can't ask you to check in at "False Teachers Anonymous," Mr. President, because you are proving to be exactly what you advertised yourself to be. Oh, and yes, this letter is much less "strongly worded" than I really wanted to make it. Mr. Perfect will be cranky if he has to pay to feed and house the Secret Serice Agents that would be moving in if I wrote it in the tone I really feel.
Sincerely,
Donna Lawson,
God-fearing, law-abiding, tax-paying, rule-following citizen
PS. You, President Barak Obama are ON NOTICE!
Monday, March 9, 2009
If you miss the rant-y Donna, you'll love this!
I haven't had a "Rant of the Day" post in quite some time. I've been trying to be a kinder gentler Donna, but guess what? I hate kinder, gentler Donna. She's not really kinder...in her head, and nobody knows what to do with gentler Donna. So, she's out and rant-y Donna is back. I know a few of you have missed me.
Rant of the Day 1: http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/2009/03/urgent-message.html From David Wilkerson's post:
"AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US."
If you think that God has given you inside information on the end of the world, please smack yourself. If you have several times in the past made the same declaration and put a (wrong) date on it, please check in at "False Teachers Anonymous" and be happy we didn't stone you. If you don't have a basic understanding of scripture, please don't speak for God. Matthew 24: 36 says, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." And church, let's stop bowing down in front of every wacko who proclaims himself a modern day prophet. It makes us look like a bunch of ignorant, stupid people. Then we wonder why they don't want our Jesus. Seriously, we should all use some discernment. We live in a wonderful, blessed country. The poorest person in America is prosperous compared to most of the world. However, I wonder what Christians in China, N. Korea or other countries where the church is seriously persecuted think when we declare that if something bad happens in America, it's the end of the world. Come on. If you believe this, you need to go down the hall to "I'm an Ignorant, Stupid Sheep Anonymous."
Rant of the Day 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0CyolAOeWQ
Dr. Hagee speaks regarding his book and says his book, In Defense of Israel, will prove that "Jesus did not come to Earth to be the Messiah," (20 seconds in) and that "...since Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah how can the Jews be blamed for rejecting what was never offered?" (32 seconds in).
Edit: The above video was removed by Hagee so here it is again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m6pPnQjn7w&feature=related
This guy has been making me crazy for years. Mostly because while he is a Word/ Faith teacher and teaches a prosperity doctrine, you have to listen for a while to hear it. He's sneaky. His website seems to say that he holds to the "essentials"of the Christian faith, yet when my father was dying from cancer, someone gave him a tape where Hagee proclaimed that if you were sick it was because of your lack of faith or unrepentant sin. Period. THE ONLY REASON PEOPLE ARE EITHER ILL OR POOR. Now, he is coming out and saying that Jesus didn't come to be the Messiah, that he REFUSED to be Messiah and the Jews will be saved another way. John 14:6 says "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." No man means no man. Shame on you John Hagee. You go on and check in at "False Preachers Anonymous."
Rant of the Day 3: If your name is Benny Hinn, if you use the term "seed-faith offering" or if you offer to send either: a) salt pouch, b) anointed cloth, c) Jerusalem candlesticks, d)"I'm a fool who was parted from his money" toe ring (OK, I made that one up), etc. in exchange for my "partnership," please smack yourself. I've decided that "seed-faith" is a term used only by false teachers. You have a reservation at "False Teachers Anonymous." Check in ASAP.
Rant of the Day 4: If you have a show on either TBN, CBN or almost any network that calls itself "Christian," please sit down and consider that you are a bit of the problem. Not too long ago, TBN and the like only showed "Name-it and Claim-it, Blab-it and Grab-it" preachers. Now, in an effort to give a little diversity, you can catch some old Billy Graham Crusades and some other mainstream teachers. I've even seen Beth Moore on the schedule. I wonder how many people tuned in to catch the (NOT WORD/FAITH PREACHER) Rev. Graham and stayed for all the false teachers to follow. Either way, I need the people behind those two networks (Paul & Jan Crouch and Pat Robertson) devoted to false doctrine masquerading as "evangelistic" doctrine, to both smack themselves and then...you guessed it...slide it on into "False Teachers Anonymous."
Now, on to other serious business. I regretfully have to put my right eyelid ON NOTICE! for aging faster and drooping farther than my better behaving left eyelid. This is beginning to give me the appearance of a stroke victim and is freaking out my mother who is sure I've had an "incident." I'm telling you, either snap back or I will, WILL introduce you to a lovely plastic surgeon who will handle that for the both of us. However, the cost will make Mr. Perfect's head blow off and then I will be lonely and have to get a job. If I have to get a job because my eyelid couldn't snap back into place I will be cranky. SO until I re-achieve symmetry in eyelid-dom, you, right-eyelid are ON NOTICE!
Rant of the Day 1: http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/2009/03/urgent-message.html From David Wilkerson's post:
"AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US."
If you think that God has given you inside information on the end of the world, please smack yourself. If you have several times in the past made the same declaration and put a (wrong) date on it, please check in at "False Teachers Anonymous" and be happy we didn't stone you. If you don't have a basic understanding of scripture, please don't speak for God. Matthew 24: 36 says, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." And church, let's stop bowing down in front of every wacko who proclaims himself a modern day prophet. It makes us look like a bunch of ignorant, stupid people. Then we wonder why they don't want our Jesus. Seriously, we should all use some discernment. We live in a wonderful, blessed country. The poorest person in America is prosperous compared to most of the world. However, I wonder what Christians in China, N. Korea or other countries where the church is seriously persecuted think when we declare that if something bad happens in America, it's the end of the world. Come on. If you believe this, you need to go down the hall to "I'm an Ignorant, Stupid Sheep Anonymous."
Rant of the Day 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0CyolAOeWQ
Dr. Hagee speaks regarding his book and says his book, In Defense of Israel, will prove that "Jesus did not come to Earth to be the Messiah," (20 seconds in) and that "...since Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah how can the Jews be blamed for rejecting what was never offered?" (32 seconds in).
Edit: The above video was removed by Hagee so here it is again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m6pPnQjn7w&feature=related
This guy has been making me crazy for years. Mostly because while he is a Word/ Faith teacher and teaches a prosperity doctrine, you have to listen for a while to hear it. He's sneaky. His website seems to say that he holds to the "essentials"of the Christian faith, yet when my father was dying from cancer, someone gave him a tape where Hagee proclaimed that if you were sick it was because of your lack of faith or unrepentant sin. Period. THE ONLY REASON PEOPLE ARE EITHER ILL OR POOR. Now, he is coming out and saying that Jesus didn't come to be the Messiah, that he REFUSED to be Messiah and the Jews will be saved another way. John 14:6 says "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." No man means no man. Shame on you John Hagee. You go on and check in at "False Preachers Anonymous."
Rant of the Day 3: If your name is Benny Hinn, if you use the term "seed-faith offering" or if you offer to send either: a) salt pouch, b) anointed cloth, c) Jerusalem candlesticks, d)"I'm a fool who was parted from his money" toe ring (OK, I made that one up), etc. in exchange for my "partnership," please smack yourself. I've decided that "seed-faith" is a term used only by false teachers. You have a reservation at "False Teachers Anonymous." Check in ASAP.
Rant of the Day 4: If you have a show on either TBN, CBN or almost any network that calls itself "Christian," please sit down and consider that you are a bit of the problem. Not too long ago, TBN and the like only showed "Name-it and Claim-it, Blab-it and Grab-it" preachers. Now, in an effort to give a little diversity, you can catch some old Billy Graham Crusades and some other mainstream teachers. I've even seen Beth Moore on the schedule. I wonder how many people tuned in to catch the (NOT WORD/FAITH PREACHER) Rev. Graham and stayed for all the false teachers to follow. Either way, I need the people behind those two networks (Paul & Jan Crouch and Pat Robertson) devoted to false doctrine masquerading as "evangelistic" doctrine, to both smack themselves and then...you guessed it...slide it on into "False Teachers Anonymous."
Now, on to other serious business. I regretfully have to put my right eyelid ON NOTICE! for aging faster and drooping farther than my better behaving left eyelid. This is beginning to give me the appearance of a stroke victim and is freaking out my mother who is sure I've had an "incident." I'm telling you, either snap back or I will, WILL introduce you to a lovely plastic surgeon who will handle that for the both of us. However, the cost will make Mr. Perfect's head blow off and then I will be lonely and have to get a job. If I have to get a job because my eyelid couldn't snap back into place I will be cranky. SO until I re-achieve symmetry in eyelid-dom, you, right-eyelid are ON NOTICE!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
To know and follow hard after you
This song has been on my mind this week. I've been singing it in my head constantly. This is where I'm currently residing.
Pure and Holy Passion
Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You
To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your disciple in your truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you, my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you
The part that I love is "to know and follow hard after you." I'm finding the older I get, the less I want to sign up for hard. Someone recently asked me if I was interested in going and ministering to "hard" women. I thought, "I have babies to raise, hard women don't like me, my rims might get stolen, I'm pretty sure I have a hair appointment on "hard women" day, I'm not called to work with those women, I might break a heel, I don't know if my pedi can stand up to this ministry..." You name it, I thought of it. I would never admit it, but sometimes I want to "be acquainted and take the easy way...around you." Do this preach to anyone? It sure preaches to me.
I have somewhere along the line gotten spiritually soft. I'm not sure how it happened. Did a lack of discipline grow out of discontent? Did I let myself get distracted by things that aren't eternal and then just use that as an excuse for spiritual laziness? I've been in a desert of sorts. God and I have had communication problems. Now, I've known and loved Him as long as I can remember. I know He hasn't moved. His promises haven't changed. His Word hasn't changed. He still loves me passionately. His requirements of me haven't changed. He wants me to know and follow HARD after Him.
This might require me to go to a place I'm not comfortable. This might require me to let my children follow hard after Him. This will definitely require me to find the spiritual fire of my youth. I used to be the first in line for hard. So, I thank you for your prayers. I really was in a tough spiritual place, but now I'm ready to run after Him.
***Disclaimer: Due to the "assets" God gave to me and the physical limitations I'm still dealing with from November's fall, I will not literally be marathon running after Him...probably. (What, stop laughing. He could make me run, but only HE.)***
Pure and Holy Passion
Give me one pure and holy passion
Give me one magnificent obsession
Give me one glorious ambition for my life
To know and follow hard after You
To know and follow hard after you
To grow as your disciple in your truth
This world is empty, pale, and poor
Compared to knowing you, my Lord
Lead me on and I will run after you
Lead me on and I will run after you
The part that I love is "to know and follow hard after you." I'm finding the older I get, the less I want to sign up for hard. Someone recently asked me if I was interested in going and ministering to "hard" women. I thought, "I have babies to raise, hard women don't like me, my rims might get stolen, I'm pretty sure I have a hair appointment on "hard women" day, I'm not called to work with those women, I might break a heel, I don't know if my pedi can stand up to this ministry..." You name it, I thought of it. I would never admit it, but sometimes I want to "be acquainted and take the easy way...around you." Do this preach to anyone? It sure preaches to me.
I have somewhere along the line gotten spiritually soft. I'm not sure how it happened. Did a lack of discipline grow out of discontent? Did I let myself get distracted by things that aren't eternal and then just use that as an excuse for spiritual laziness? I've been in a desert of sorts. God and I have had communication problems. Now, I've known and loved Him as long as I can remember. I know He hasn't moved. His promises haven't changed. His Word hasn't changed. He still loves me passionately. His requirements of me haven't changed. He wants me to know and follow HARD after Him.
This might require me to go to a place I'm not comfortable. This might require me to let my children follow hard after Him. This will definitely require me to find the spiritual fire of my youth. I used to be the first in line for hard. So, I thank you for your prayers. I really was in a tough spiritual place, but now I'm ready to run after Him.
***Disclaimer: Due to the "assets" God gave to me and the physical limitations I'm still dealing with from November's fall, I will not literally be marathon running after Him...probably. (What, stop laughing. He could make me run, but only HE.)***
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