I just don't understand!

I've received a lot of e-mails and phone calls lately where friends and family are concerned about our country and our spiritual and personal lives.  The most prominent phrase is....."but, I just don't understand."

I'm probably more like my sons in that "I want to understand"....but my mother has written a song that is biblically correct.  She wrote it almost 50 years ago when it seemed we could understand a little more...but it is especially relevant today.

The song is titled "I don't Need To Understand".  I hope you will go to my parents website Christian Ministries and click on the music tab so you can listen to this song.  I don't need to Understand 

If you like the song you can purchase it by going to www.debbiejansen.com and click on my store.  Or use this direct link  https://debbiejansen.square.site

Here are the comforting words to the song.

I don't Need to Understand by Maggie Crocker

Sunshine comes and Sunshine goes,

then shadows linger.
Darkness fills the night with mystery and care
but within my heart a gentle voice reminds me
Fear no evil Jesus said, for I'll be there.

Chorus
I don't need to understand,
I just need to hold his hand
And I don't need to ever ask the reason why.
For I know he'll make a way
Through the night and through the day.
I don't need to understand,
I just need to hold his hand.


Life is like a mighty sea
So tossed and driven
Billows rise within the heart of every man
Storms so many times they leave the heart with questions
That you don't need to understand,
You just need to hold his hand.


When my life down here is through
and Jesus calls me
To my home up there upon the golden shore
I'll look back and I'll review the past that lay before me
But I won't care to understand, anymore.

 
Thanks, Mom.
 
God loves you,
 
Debbie

Healthcare - Buyer beware

Since I've been recuperating, I haven't written about the current political fiasco.  I had planned to do a lot of writing today but then didn't feel good.  I took my pain medicine and settled back to watch a little TV.  Obama was on Fox doing his thing - once again another speech. 

Most of the time it's hard for me to stomach his long winded deceptions, but given the importance of this week-end I decided to listen a little longer.  I was reminded of a situation I was in several years ago.  A company approached me about doing a consolidation loan.  I met with the agent and listened to him talk for over 30 minutes.  Finally, I asked for the paper work.  Unfortunately for the agent I had worked over 5 years for an attorney.  I can recognize legal jargon and usually can decipher it's meaning. 

The agent was uncomfortable when I asked for the paper work.  He tried to tell me it couldn't be printed until we plugged in my name and particulars.  He told me everything would change once my numbers were in.  I continued to insist that I wasn't concerned about the numbers but only the rhetoric in the contract.  After a lot of discussion and my decision to gather my things and prepare to leave, he finally decided to show me the contract.

That's when the lies really began.  When I pointed out a section that stated special fees and the ability to raise the interest rate...his response was, "Oh don't worry about that.  That section won't apply to you."

When I pointed out the section that said they had the ability to sell my financial information to any company they deemed proper.....his response was, "I'll talk to the manager after you sign and we'll take that out."

When I pointed out the section that said if I missed one payment by just two weeks they could file to take my home....his response was, "That's only for others with a lower credit rating, that would not happen in your case."

Do you blame me for asking where his mask was?  After all, if he was going to rob me - he should wear a mask.  I gathered my things and walked out.

Just three months ago I was considering purchasing the "Magic Jack" to save money on our phone bills.  But....when I read the contract I found out that they would be allowed to connect my computer to any sales call they wanted and there was nothing I could do about it.  My phone could ring off the hook with sales calls from absolutely every company in the country and I wouldn't be able to stop it.  My financial information would be in their hands, they would have my social security information and they would bill my credit card with no way for me to dispute overages or extra charges.

Who in their right mind would sign on for that.....Millions have signed on and lived to regret it. 

That my friend is what Mr. Obama is trying to sell you. That is why Nancy Pelosi said "Just pass the bill and then we will all find out what's in it."  Like a greasy shoddy salesman they are trying to get you to trust them... rather than to investigate the merits of the bill. 

I am against this bill.  I don't believe the arguments for it.  They just don't ring true.  I know there will be consequences that we will regret.  I am positive it will destroy our economy.

How can I be so sure?  I've read some of the bills along the way and that's what these people do.  They hide their real intent in legal jargon and half truths.  It's who they are.  It's how they work.  And...the biggest factor is that once this is done, the proponents of this bill will be long gone.  When it's in full force, they will have moved on and we will be the ones dealing with the effects. 

Add to that the horrible problems with the government controlling school loans.  Our children and grandchildren will be told which schools they can attend.  Schools won't be allowed to teach certain subjects or promote certain beliefs.  That control will come in the form of determining which funds or which students will receive loans.  If your child can't get a loan for a private college - he will be forced to attend one that the government deems "proper".    AND...you the private citizen won't be able to donate your money to schools that break the rules.  Talk about taking away our rights as Christians to promote Christian schools and Universities. 

The legal term "Buyer Beware" applies heavily to this bill.  If we don't work as hard as we can to stop it we deserve the pain that follows.  And if it passes, if we don't work just as hard to remove it - we deserve the pain that follows. 

It's time to pray and it's time to get busy.  I have been praying all day that God would forgive this country for its neglect and to give us a second chance to bring America back to God.  I hope you will join me in that prayer.

God loves you,

Debbie

Scared out of your mind????

What are you facing today?  Are you afraid of anything in your life?  If you are....you're normal.  Don't let pious Christians make you think that "good" Christians aren't afraid.  Anyone - Christian or not - will be afraid of the unknown.  Some people choose not to share their fear.  Some people think that if you ignore it and don't talk about it that somehow that summons up the power of God and takes care of the problem.  Some people shake with fear on the inside while putting on a smiley face mask for the outside.

With Ron losing his job and me going through reconstructive foot surgery, I know how fear feels.  Today I had a meltdown.  There has just been too much coming too fast.  I sat with my foot up in the air, crying from the pain and wondering what the future holds.

Several years ago I had the great privilege to listen to Dr. Dick Foth at a writer's conference.  I purchased CD's of the 5 services he did.  I've listened to those services many times and today I felt led to listen to session #3.  God is truly wonderful when he whispers instructions in your ears.  With tears flowing down my cheeks Dr. Foth told about the fear he experienced when he was told he had cancer.  The nurse called him when he was out of town and told him what he had (cancer) but not how bad or what the procedure would be.  "For four days I was gripped by fear.  The fear of the unknown was so disconcerting that it almost paralyzed me for four days."  He is now without cancer but for those four days he was filled with fear.

Dr. Foth continued..."I was surprised by it because I'm not genuinely a fearful person, but fear showed up.  It's not supposed to.  I've got like college degrees and I've studied and spent a lot of money for it.  One should be free from fear when you've studied and paid a lot of money for it.  Clearly that wasn't working.  And then of course I had been following Jesus for like 50 years so that should take care of it right there.  But for some reason it wasn't taking care of it for those four days so then guilt - its ugly twin showed up.  Now I was being tag teamed by guilt and fear.  Have any of you been there?  Do you know how that feels?"

Thank God for this message.  I identified and for one hour Dr. Foth was able to touch the deepest part of my soul.  His humor and his compassion soothed me.  There were two beautiful sections that really helped.  I hope they will help you today.

He quoted Joshua 1:6 with the following:

"I wondered, what does God say?  Are there people in the Bible that loved God and were scared?  And I started looking and what do you know....If you have your Bible turn to Joshua 1:6 .....Joshua is the go to guy.  Moses has led them for all these years and Joshua is the person who is getting the hand off......He's the one who's not scared......In 1:6 listen how he talks to Joshua.  Be strong and courageous because you will inherit.....be strong....be courageous....then you will be prosperous....He just keeps saying be strong and courageous over and over.

In the middle of all the instructions to be strong talk, he says....DO not be terrified.  Do not be discouraged.  Now he's not just saying be ye not nervous, he's saying don't be scared out of your mind.  Why would he say that to Joshua unless there was the possibility that God's man could be scared out of his mind?

And then there's Elijah.  God's man who calls out the king.  He has a big day calling down rain from heaven.  But when Jezebel sends him a message that he is dead meat - he shakes with fear and runs for his life.  I love this story....After he ran away and the angels fed him, an angel woke him and said, Get up and eat for the journey is too much for you..... I love this story.  How can a guy go from being God's instrument - so engaged, so spirit filled and overflowing, so expressive of the character and thought and intent of God....How can he go from that and in a nano second run because he's afraid.  Battle fatigue.  It may be spiritual warfare, but it's still warfare.  You get tired and worn out and it makes you scared.  When you get scared, it is disorienting, it is disconnecting, it is disenchanting, it is disabling, it is diseasing, it is dysfunctional....it just disses you."

That spoke to me.  It's not whether or not we are scared.  It's not about how we present ourselves to others.  The real test is what we do with our fear.

Are you about to face a giant?  Are you sitting in a heap of ashes scraping your boils with broken pottery?  Are you facing a problem that will not go down easy?  Are you scared out of your mind?

It's okay.  God understands.  I don't know where you are today but for some of us the journey is just too much for us.  We need the nutrition and power that comes from rest and from filling up with God's word and the fellowship of encouragers. 

Love overwhelms fear.  The love of our family, the love of our church family, the love and compassion of our encouragers.  And most importantly, the love of God.  I don't believe when we are in our lowest moments that he fusses at us. 

"And when the enemy of my soul comes to intimidate me and he says you're a loser, you'll never amount to anything, it's just all about you.  It's a pipe dream.  You've got enough problems.  You think you can help somebody else?...And Jesus who fights our battles steps between us and says.  Destroyer your native tongue is lying.  You go because this guy....this girl is mine, you have no place here.  And power chases away fear.  Fear is like fog that when the light of day and the warmth of the sun comes, it cannot stay.  The closing in feeling of fear has to go when HE shows up!"

Thank you Dr. Foth.

I believe that God looks at us with eyes of love that says, "Be still....its okay....you don't have to be anything in this moment except My Child.....Be still and know that I am your God.  I am your love, I am yours and you are mine."

Today I hope you will rest in the knowledge that no matter where you are....You are his child and he loves you!

YES!  God loves you,

Debbie

If you would like a copy of Dr. Foth's series, send me an e-mail and I'll tell you how to order one.

"Truth" won't stoop to name calling.

I am constantly amazed at the name calling on both sides of any issue.  I'm just as angry about what's happening in our country as the next person.  I'll even use some pretty harsh "but true" words to describe the incompetence and bullying that's going on right now.  But, the bottom line for me is "truth".

I subscribe to several on line news worthy e-zines.  One of them is GOPUSA.  Michele Malkin is one of my favorite writers and she often does an article for this e-zine.  Most of the time I agree with the writers and appreciate the articles, but today....Doug Patton stepped over the line.

I've heard people like Bill Maher accuse Christians of being "mentally ill" and it makes me angry.  So today when Dough Patton stated that he thought liberalism was a mental disorder, I was also angry.
Liberalism is a mental disorder

First of all, a psychological mental disorder "should" be defined as a deviation from normal behavior caused by a chemical or physical dysfunction.  In the last 30 years or so, psychologists have also added "stress" or "trauma" as a cause of mental disorders.

That doesn't work for me.  I believe that anyone can be trained to think differently - if they are willing to change.  And...I believe that a lot of misconceptions about mental illness comes from the fact that the observer just "doesn't know how to cause change properly". 

Liberalism begins with a lack of a strong family, spoiled children, half-truths, selfishness and a lack of values and a God centered home.  That's how it begins....but that beginning can be hidden as generation after generation tweaks and changes the forms of thought.  That's how you can end up with a family that does go to church but argues that abortion isn't all that bad or that socialism and Christianity can exist together. 

Liberalism is a cause that doesn't understand the value of the word "no".  They don't understand that if it's not good for me then it can't be good for you.  They don't get the fact that their freedom ends where mine begins.  For real compassion and understanding of "real" freedom - the word "no" must be forefront and the word "sacrifice" must be a calling.  Liberals just don't get that.  And they don't get it because they haven't been "trained" or they haven't seen true freedom modeled before them. 

That's why I believe liberals are created by their home life and their experiences.  Liberals are people who have been hurt and in a spoiled brat kind of way believe they know it all or have the right to have it all.  Liberals are created. 

If we are going to return this country to solid values and solid roots, we must understand how a liberal is made and how to stop making them!

God loves you,

Debbie

The Problem With Pain

I have not had a life totally void of pain. Ron and I have had our share of problems and pain. We cried buckets of tears because of our pain. The difference in our pain for the last 35 years and the pain we are experiencing now is time. We have always felt blessed because the pain we had to endure was what I like to call “microwave” pain. It was relatively short lived and we could see the end almost from the beginning.

The pain we are experiencing now is long range. We are praying and asking for God’s help without having the advantage of seeing the finish line. We are worried that our pain is mixed in with America’s pain and possibly global pain. We wonder if God is mounting his white horse for his triumphant return and if not….what will that mean for us?

The last year required us to face challenge after challenge. The last four months presented new challenges faster than we could catch our breath to respond. My parent’s health is failing and one parent is declining faster than I thought possible. Incoming finances were cut to an all time low. A trusted physician was not only cruel but unprofessional and caused several medical problems. I had to have massive reconstructive surgery on my foot and had several complications while in the hospital. Three days after I was home from the hospital, Ron lost his job and we are without insurance. I have dental issues and I will need another surgery in June.

My eyes overflow with tears as I struggle to catch my breath and decide what to do first. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever wondered if this would finally be the blow that took you down? Have you smiled and told others to “believe” for their miracle yet wondered if God loves you enough to send even a tiny miracle into your life?

I understand!

I have good news.

Jesus loves you and he does care.
How do I know that? Because I can feel his love for me. I can feel his eyes fixated on my problems. I can feel the intensity of the “spirit” and I know that no matter how this ends up….I will be cradled safely in his hand.

The answer to all the problems that pain uses to devastate our lives is…"I believe"
If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. –Mark 9:23

Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. –Mark 9:24

Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. –1 Cor. 2:5

If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed…nothing shall be impossible unto you. –Matt. 17:20


God Loves You,


Debbie

My son....

Maybe you are participating in Lent.  Maybe you are searching for God.  Maybe you are experiencing a desert and you just want more of God.  Whatever, you are going through - may I introduce my son, Ken Jansen.  He is the senior music pastor at Crossroads Community Church in Freeport, Illinois.  I hope his journey to a closer walk with Jesus will help you in your own walk.


Crossroads Stories from Crossroads Community Church on Vimeo.

The Reinvention of Ken Jansen
 
Thank you Ken.  I'm so proud of you.
 
 
God Loves you,
 
Debbie

Worry - the silent killer

Commercials about blood pressure fill the airways announcing "Hypertension is the silent killer".  You don't feel any different - yet your body is overtaxing it's limits.  That may be true....but I wonder if the cause of Hypertension and many other diseases isn't something sneakier and more deadly than high blood pressure.

I have quick verse on my computer and I love it.  It's a program that will look up any word in the Bible, tell you where it's found, how many times it's used in how many scriptures and take you right to those scriptures.

Did you know that the word Afraid is used 211 times in 206 scriptures.  Apparently there was a lot of fear in biblical times as well.  But....the wonderful fact about these verses and other verses I found on fear and worry - is that they are all followed by scriptures that tell the characters in the story - "DON'T be afraid!"  In fact, there are more verses that tell us NOT to be afraid than there are verses that illuminate our fears.  I love the passage in Luke 12:22-34 that not only tells us not to be afraid-  it also tells us "why" we shouldn't be afraid.  It speaks to our entire life not just moments in our lives.

Luke 12: 22-34

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.  Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?  "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.


If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!  And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.  But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.


"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.


Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.


The real truth is that if all of us would simply put these verses into practice in our own lives....we could illiminate most of our physical and mental problems. 

I deal with this issue myself.  I can get so involved in a situation that fear takes over.  I think it's because I'm old.  What? 

What I mean is that I've lost that reckless motion of my youth.  I've had enough bumps and hit enough pot holes in my life that I now understand that sometimes....sometimes we are required to go through problems.  Sometimes everything doesn't go as planned.  Sometimes we are asked to live through the uncomfortable consequences of our lives.  It's hard to be 100% trusting when you've been let down before.  It's hard to be 100% positive when you have lived through the consequences of failure. 

So...how can we make this verse true in our lives?  We have to change the focus.  Don't focus on getting everything you want.  Don't focus on having an easy victory or winning the prize or having an easy life.  Focus on things that are certain. 

Try to refocus this way....."Do not be afraid, little flock, for your father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."  It really doesn't matter what you have and don't have here....if you are a child of God you will have it all  - over there.  Eternity means that you get all the prizes, you wear the crown, tout the ribbons, obtain the respect and your wildest dreams will come true.  Right now you are paying for your trip over there.  Don't skimp.  Sign on for the upgrade to first class.

"For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also."  It doesn't matter what failures you face, if you love your God, your family, your talents - your treasures will be secure.  You will never lose if you concentrate not on circumstances but rather on relationships, love, talent, accomplishment, God's grace.

Whew!  I've got some work to do....how about you?

God loves you,

Debbie