Philippians 4:11-12 for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (12) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

My mother-in-law, Dorothy, was born in the early part of the 1900’s and lived through many challenges.  She lived in the same home in Vicksburg, MS from the time she was preschool until her death at age 89.  Whatever peculiarities she may have had one thing you could say was that she loved her Episcopal Church(not sure she would feel the same today with all their compromises) and she loved her family.  The characteristic that I have admired was that she was always content with what she had and she did not waste anything.

Mom lived through the war and depression and she learned from that.  I remember that whenever she went to make a cake, which she could do very well, she would scrape every morsel of the butter off the paper before she would throw the paper away.  She would deny herself things if she thought they were over priced and yet would be very generous if she found her family was wanting or needing something.  Toward the end this frugalness got to be out of proportion and we would have to hide from her the cost of her grocery list. But when it was more balanced it was an attribute that I have sought to obtain.

The word says a good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children.  Leaving a financial inheritance has not happened on my side of the family yet.  On Chuck’s side of the family the financial inheritance came through Ms Dorothy.  Out of the small amount of money she was left she helped with all of her grandchildrens college education and spent very little of the rest because she wanted to leave it to her family.  According to the word she was a good women.

We are entering into a time that we are all going to have to make some adjustments economically.  We are going to have to evaluate what is important and what is not.  The joy or satisfaction from buying things is only temporary so we will have to find a more eternal joy.  Lately as I have gone to the grocery store I have watched the shoppers over 70 years of age.  They stand and ponder over what to pick off the shelves and how much it will add to the total items they have in the basket.  They know they have limited funds and they make their decision based on that amount.  Most all the financial crutches that they had when they were younger have been removed and they have to live within their means.  Some have to decide between food or medication which should not be so.

Somehow we have got to learn to be content and be wise with our money. I understand that we can go way out there being like the man with one talent and bury it out of fear and that too is very bad.  I think contentment and generosity is the clue. We all have our weaknesses in this area.  Mine is being content with our small townhouse after coming from someones nice spacious home.  And now after becoming a semi-geek it is wanting the latest tech toy.  But would it not be better to be content and be able to generously give to those who are in need. That does not mean we will never have bigger or better, but through contentment our priorities come into order.

Contentment is being thankful for what I have and knowing that no matter what state I am in God is with me and is going to work all things for my good.  Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Today Katie, our second granddaughter, is 9 years old.  She was born one year before we left Mississippi.  However, the Lord let me know she was coming before she was even conceived.  Kaitlyn is an Irish name and she certainly has the Irish characteristics down to the pale complexion and reddish hair.  She has a beautiful smile and a great laugh but it is hard for us to capture that smile on film.

I think Katie is destined to be a teacher and a leader.  When her brother would get upset about something she could quietly explain things to him and he would begin to come into peace.  She often practices her teaching skills on Andrew and he has learned well.  She is very intelligent and loves helping her teachers.

Katie also could be a fashion designer.  She, like her mom and dad, has artistic talents and loves to dress up.  Oh, I forgot about being a Veterinarian.  She loves animals and is now collecting all kinds of toy pets. Whatever she decides to do in life, I am sure she will be a huge success.

Katie had her birthday party starting Friday night with some girl friends sleeping over.  Then after a breakfast of monkey bread and eggs they all went skating yesterday.  They skated until they dropped and reported that they had a ball.  Andrew also learned to skate and loved it.

Katie is our Irish Princess who has been chosen by God to do great things.  PawPaw and Nana love you Katie and wish you a Happy Birthday.

This article is authored by Michael Shadow, a friend of my oldest son, on his blog called Christian Politico.  I thought it was well worth sharing.

Now that Senator Obama is President-Elect Obama, what changes can we expect. Not many at least as far as his cabinet goes. Senator Joe Biden is Vice President-elect; former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta is co-chair of the Obama transition team; Tom Daschle will reportedly be nominated Secretary of Health and Human Services; Hillary Clinton is being considered for Secretary of State; and now it seems that an alliance is being formed with John McCain.

So what is this “change we need”? It’s not in Washington.

Occasionally I repeat myself. I do that first because of new readers and second because it is sometimes worth repeating over and over. The second is what applies here.

At this point, I’m sure most of us have heard the verse, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Not just anyone can pray that prayer and expect an answer. That is where we find ourselves today. I believe we are a nation calling out to a God that we don’t know because we have dressed Him in an image that suits us. In the end our voices are crying out to an idol and screaming, “why aren’t you listening to me?”

The question is by what authority can I pray that prayer. The individual we need to focus on before we can focus on our country is ourselves. That verse says, “if my people”. That means we have to belong to Him. You can only do that by letting God be the God of your life without your input as to where He will fit in. We do not change God. He changes us. That is the change this country needs.

To say simply “I believe in God” or “All I know is that God loves me” is irrelevant. While they may be true, they aren’t evidence that you belong to Him. If you want to know Him and belong to Him, you must surrender your will to His. My pastor says that whenever he wants to go out drinking and carousing, he does. It’s just that he never wants to. God changed him. You cannot say you are His unless He has changed you.

In the context of the presidential election, you cannot become president and do nothing. People expect you to exercise the powers of that office for the benefit of the country. The same is true when you become a Christian. You cannot live the way you lived before. You must exercise the authority given to you in Christ for the benefit of His kingdom. You must tell others about Him, you must not compromise ideals, and you must pray.

How can you become His? Humble yourself, pray and seek His face, repent and turn from your wicked ways. It’s that simple and only then will you have the authority to pray that same prayer for our country.

That is the the “change we need”.

Beloved, you have been aware of a great deal of shaking, but this shaking has been for the purpose of bringing every aspect of your life into order so that everything that hinders your spiritual vitality will be removed. You are once again in a season of sorting, sifting, and purging. Yield to this process, for it will most certainly bring change that will ultimately strengthen you, says the Lord. Do not be afraid.

Hebrews 12:25-29 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-Various, including Thomas Jefferson

Last year the summer of love journey ended in San Francisco and we spent many nights meeting at a Church that has been trying to push back darkness for a number of years.  The name of this church is called Promised Land.  The ministry called IHOP or International House Of Prayer is close by also and they are closely connected with this church.

Several of us cooked the one good meal a day that the group got while in SF where some of the team of IHOP called home. As you can see it is not the Hilton.  These young people come from all over the country and give a large portion of thier lives to pray day and night for the Kingdom of God to come to SF.

The one day that I got to go out with the team we were assigned streets to go to and worship the Lord.  Our assignment was the corner of 5th and Market. Very few people who passed by even took notice that day.

I said all this to give you an idea of what kind of young people that went down several nights ago to the streets of San Francisco and were viciously attacked by homosexuals in the area.  And they think we are guilty of hate crimes when we just speak our views.

When the people of CA made a stand for righteousness by voting that marriage was only between a man and woman it really stirred up the forces of darkness and hate and violence is showing it’s head.  Please pray for these young people and for Promised Land Fellowship.  Below is a video of a first hand account of what happened to a group a few nights ago on the streets of SF.

November 18, 1996 Brittany Michelle Williams (our own BMW) was born into our family.  She is our second grandchild and first granddaughter.  She was born with an inner strength and perseverance and sense of adventure and yet has a very compassionate heart.

It is really hard to believe that our Brittany is one year from being a teenager and all that season brings. This year has been a little rough for her, bringing circumstances that were designed by the enemy to tear her down, but the Lord she serves will use them to build character.

She celebrated her birthday early Friday night with six girl friends. They first went to Brittany’s favorite Italian restaurant, then a trip to Bath Junkie, then off to Starbucks and finished at the candy department at Fresh Market.  Sounds like she made it to the teenage scene a year early.

My friends think she looks like me, but truth is she is much prettier and is much more outgoing and athletic than I ever hoped to be.  She has accomplished soccer, cheerleading, running and now is on to basketball. I expect any day now they will call and say she has joined the football team…nah.

Happy Birthday Princess Brittany.  PawPaw and Nana are very proud of you and love you so much.  You are a gift of God to our family.

While America struggles with the sub-prime and credit market crisis, Shariah Islamic Finance, also known as Shariah-Compliant Finance, is quickly infiltrating our financial markets – and bringing Islamic shariah law with it.  As one leading Islamic authority on Shariah-Compliant Finance has stated, it is “jihad with money.” In a new ACT! for America video, Joy Brighton, ACT! for America’s financial expert on Shariah- Compliant Finance, warns America of this chilling threat.