Spiritual arteriosclerosis
What a description of my heart at times. I need to keep my heart soft and healthy. How do I do that? How do I keep my heart tender toward God?
That's a challenge for me and my life however long I have in this world. Father, forgive me for my hardness of heart, for my lack of love for you and for those around me. I pray I will be your servant loving and serving those around me.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Thursday, February 7, 2019
February 7, 2019
My first job after high school was working in a bakery. One of the women who was working there had just lost her husband of many years. I think her name was Jean. At the time I didn't realize the impact that had on her life. Father forgive my young unsympathetic heart.
Anyway, Jean told me that one should not discuss politics or religion. I wasn't very political at that time so that wasn't a problem but how does one not discuss your faith when it's your very essence?
I will always "discuss" my faith and hopefully my life backs up my words. Many years after being told by my workmate to be careful of what I say about those two things I do pay attention more to politics and have strong opinions. I have never supported abortion and never will. But I am thankful that we have a God who forgives and restores those who come to Him for forgiveness after abortion. I will not condemn one for their choice.
I do not understand the mentality of getting rid of an inconvenient life. My heart is broken over many things that are going on in the world and in our country and the latest allowing a child to die after birth is just insane. I haven't read the reasons behind this "celebrated" decision but I would imagine that maybe the reason is to not allow a baby who isn't perfect to live. These same people who support this are horrified about what happened in WWII. So many lives were destroyed during the Holocaust. There was and is so much blame for those who allowed this to happen. Hitler set out to get rid of those who in his mind were undesirable. Iceland is proud of the fact that there are no more Downs children born. I know some very special Down's people. They are beautiful and love their lives. Every single life is precious.
God forgive us all.
My first job after high school was working in a bakery. One of the women who was working there had just lost her husband of many years. I think her name was Jean. At the time I didn't realize the impact that had on her life. Father forgive my young unsympathetic heart.
Anyway, Jean told me that one should not discuss politics or religion. I wasn't very political at that time so that wasn't a problem but how does one not discuss your faith when it's your very essence?
I will always "discuss" my faith and hopefully my life backs up my words. Many years after being told by my workmate to be careful of what I say about those two things I do pay attention more to politics and have strong opinions. I have never supported abortion and never will. But I am thankful that we have a God who forgives and restores those who come to Him for forgiveness after abortion. I will not condemn one for their choice.
I do not understand the mentality of getting rid of an inconvenient life. My heart is broken over many things that are going on in the world and in our country and the latest allowing a child to die after birth is just insane. I haven't read the reasons behind this "celebrated" decision but I would imagine that maybe the reason is to not allow a baby who isn't perfect to live. These same people who support this are horrified about what happened in WWII. So many lives were destroyed during the Holocaust. There was and is so much blame for those who allowed this to happen. Hitler set out to get rid of those who in his mind were undesirable. Iceland is proud of the fact that there are no more Downs children born. I know some very special Down's people. They are beautiful and love their lives. Every single life is precious.
God forgive us all.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
February 5, 2019
Sometimes I think about the church in Los Angeles where my Great Grandparents, my grandparents, my mother, assorted aunts, uncles and cousins, and my family went. My Grandma and Grandpa Hosfeldt were the first couple to get married in that church in 1897 and celebrated their 50th anniversary there in 1947 a few months before Ii was born. Our family attended that church until I was about 12 or 13. We traveled from our home in West Covina to Los Angeles every Sunday and my parents decided that we should go to church near our home. I have seen current pictures of the church and have looked at their facebook page and have even had dreams about visiting the church and comparing the differences.
Recently I asked my siblings to share some memories from our church. I need to share my memories. Bible Brethren Church of Los Angeles was the beginning of my spiritual journey. I have a lot of memories of the physical building and the spiritual foundation of my life.
The white church on Hancock Street was just a few blocks from where my grandma Shultz and my mom grew up. My mother told me that she used to walk to church sometimes with her Grandpa Hosfeldt. So I can just imagine my grandma and mom growing up there. Some memories I have of the building itself are on the side there were pews with a staircase going upstairs. It was probably smaller than my memory. Upstairs there was a peephole looking out over the sanctuary. We loved being up there and looking out. Behind the church was the fellowship hall and there was a lowered place where you would go down to get to the bathrooms. In the back of the parking lot was another building where we would have Sunday School.
I remember a special speaker who came to our church when I was nine. I "went forward" at that time to accept the Lord. I don't think I entirely understood what I was doing but I knew that I was a Christian. I also was baptized a little after that and I was given a handmade prayer cap that was made out of net. I was given a Bible and still have that but don't have the prayer cap. All the older women in the church wore their prayer caps in church. Shortly after that I memorized I John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." I even bavely enough stood up in church one time and quoted it. Shy me! This passage meant a lot to me.
As I said that was the beginning of my walking with the Lord. I have many more memories there -- going to camp, experiencing communion, VBS, and I will always cherish that place. I would love to visit there and compare it with the people who are now worshiping in the church my great grandpa had a part in building. This church is now the First American Indian Church of Los Angeles.
Recently I asked my siblings to share some memories from our church. I need to share my memories. Bible Brethren Church of Los Angeles was the beginning of my spiritual journey. I have a lot of memories of the physical building and the spiritual foundation of my life.
The white church on Hancock Street was just a few blocks from where my grandma Shultz and my mom grew up. My mother told me that she used to walk to church sometimes with her Grandpa Hosfeldt. So I can just imagine my grandma and mom growing up there. Some memories I have of the building itself are on the side there were pews with a staircase going upstairs. It was probably smaller than my memory. Upstairs there was a peephole looking out over the sanctuary. We loved being up there and looking out. Behind the church was the fellowship hall and there was a lowered place where you would go down to get to the bathrooms. In the back of the parking lot was another building where we would have Sunday School.
I remember a special speaker who came to our church when I was nine. I "went forward" at that time to accept the Lord. I don't think I entirely understood what I was doing but I knew that I was a Christian. I also was baptized a little after that and I was given a handmade prayer cap that was made out of net. I was given a Bible and still have that but don't have the prayer cap. All the older women in the church wore their prayer caps in church. Shortly after that I memorized I John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." I even bavely enough stood up in church one time and quoted it. Shy me! This passage meant a lot to me.
As I said that was the beginning of my walking with the Lord. I have many more memories there -- going to camp, experiencing communion, VBS, and I will always cherish that place. I would love to visit there and compare it with the people who are now worshiping in the church my great grandpa had a part in building. This church is now the First American Indian Church of Los Angeles.
Monday, February 4, 2019
This is an attempt to express myself with the written word. Words are powerful and I often have a lot running around in my brain and sometimes have a hard time getting them out in words. I love God, family, friends and beauty. Lately I've thought about Dostoyevsky's quote "beauty will save the world." The other evening I was listening to The Piano Guys' music and it just makes me feel restored. Music, flowers, love, the crashing of the ocean waves, the view of our backyard as I sit on my couch just fill me up. God loves me and my prayer is that through beauty and my love those around me will know God's love. I ask for forgiveness when my actions and words do not reflect Him. Thank you Lord for the beauty of the earth.
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