Changed By Love

Changed By Love

Following the Lamb wherever he goes… Revelation 14:4

House Votes 240-185 to Remove Funding for Planned Parenthood

House Votes 240-185 to Remove Funding for Planned Parenthood
By Susan Tyrrell • February 18, 2011 03:23 PM

Even Democrats joined in the chorus today as the House overwhelmingly voted to defund Planned Parenthood. Voting 240-185, the House voted in support of Rep. Mike Pence’s (R-IN) amendment that would bar federal funding of the abortion provider.

This historic vote came in light of Live Action’s undercover videos exposing multiple Planned Parenthoods’ willingness to aid in sex trafficking and offer advice on covert abortions for underage girls. Meanwhile, the nation has been shocked by Dr. Kermit Gosnell’s house of horrors abortion clinic in Philadelphia. All of these events, no doubt, precipitated the decision in the House which will now go to the Senate floor.

While pro-life advocates shout for victory, Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards immediately fired off a letter.

Minutes ago, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to bar Planned Parenthood from all federal funding for any purpose whatsoever. That means no funding to Planned Parenthood health centers for birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, HIV testing, and other essential care.

Of course, Richards is once again crying wolf. As we have previously reported, Pence’s amendment doesn’t actually remove money that the government offers to health care providers, only those who kill babies as a result of having that money.

Planned Parenthood has crafted letters to the House and Senate. To the House they say:

How could you? How could you betray millions of women — and men, and teens — who rely on Planned Parenthood for basic health care? How could you condemn countless women in this country to undiagnosed cancer, unintended pregnancies, and untreated illnesses?… It was a vote against me.

What it was, actually, was a vote against the lying, deception, and death that takes place at the hand of all of our tax dollars. It was against deceit and against manipulation. And ultimately, it was against the very father of lies himself.

Make no mistake, this is a spiritual victory. As Richards herself wrote a few weeks ago, there’s been a “siege” against Planned Parenthood but the siege began a long time ago in the heavenly places by the faithful who pray. This victory was won in the heavenlies before it ever hit the House floor.

And we will continue. We will pray through the Senate vote; we will pray through the pro-abortion controversies; we will pray until every abortion clinic in America is a bad memory.

We stand against only one thing—the shedding of innocent blood. And that stand will not stop until the blood is no longer shed.

We praise God for this victory and we thank the United States House of Representatives that heard the voices of the voters they represent and stood for Life. That’s the kind of action for which God truly blesses a nation.

About the Author

Susan Tyrrell has her Ph.D. in educational psychology from Texas A&M University and teaches college to support her ballet habit.

http://bound4life.com/blog/2011/02/18/house-votes-240-185-to-remove-funding-for-planned-parenthood

This article was published in its entirety from bound4life.com.

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I’ve been letting my elected leaders know my opinion on this. I even urged Chris Matthews of CNN to watch the Live Action videos if he really wants to know all that Planned Parenthood is doing. He really put it to Marjorie Dannenfelser and tried to make her look like an idiot because she wouldn’t just answer his question about whether Planned Parenthood provides birth control and health services to women. She tried to explain that they were doing illegal, unethical, immoral things, too, but he wouldn’t listen to any of that. He was trying desperately to defend taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood and refused to hear anything to the contrary.

If they want to continue to offer services to women such as pap smears, treatment of diseases and birth control, they can stop doing abortions and cut their budget so that they can afford to do those things without federal funding. It’s not as if they have a right to federal funding!

They can’t be trusted with our money. I do not agree with them in any way and do not want to give them any of my money. And I know many people who feel the same way I do about it.

Artistic and Autonomous

My kids like to draw a lot on their own. Sometimes I let them paint, but I have to be close when they do that or the little ones end up painting their hair, the walls and anything else they can reach. Here is a sample of their art projects.

Morgan did this on his own. He just got these two Webkinz. He drew pictures of them from looking at them.

Here are the triceratops and tiger and their friends - and Kelsey and Morgan! They love their Webkinz!

Fiona’s still life

Garrett's still life

I had Garrett and Fiona paint pictures of a couple of the flowers from our Valentines bouquet, and this is what they came up with.

This is the still life they painted.

Anna painted this when I called on the older kids to come and use up the paint that was left after the twins decorated their binders. I don’t like to waste anything!

And Kelsey painted this with leftover paint.

These are their lovely binders. They were plain black and blue when they started out. Not any more!

Kelsey drew all of their Webkinz.

Kelsey has created a character named Cherdy, and she writes comic strips about him. He’s a cute little guy. He kind of reminds me of Eve from Wall-E.

Fiona has been busy today. She loves to draw and make things. She made some bunnies and accessories for them today.

These bunnies are named Flopsy and Mo. The bat's name is Boom.
She made a couch for them and a table. She also made dishes and food for the bunnies. She made a food dish for Boom. He eats from his bowl on the floor.

Faith or Fear: Choose One

I read two powerful words today that I wanted to share with you:

The first is from David Wilkerson.

David Wilkerson Today

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011

FAITH IS AN INVITATION MORE THAN A COMMAND

Faith is a command. It is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Without
faith it is impossible to please God. Scripture adds, “If any man draw back, I will have no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38).

I shudder when I think of the terror and dangers of unbelief. Unbelief is a bottomless pit of fear, anguish and discouragement. The consequences of unbelief are horrendous. It begins with fearing what we cannot see. One fear today leads to two fears tomorrow, then three, and then fears become a bottomless pit of uncontrollable anguish and despair.

More and more I see that fear and unbelief end up as hopelessness. It leads into a wilderness of confusion and emptiness. It is not an option—it is not a small issue with God. It is a matter of life and death. It will lead to fearing everything, present and future. Fear is torment.

All God’s children are enduring afflictions and troubles of various kinds. It is heartrending to hear the painful things the righteous are now suffering. My family is also being severely tried and tested.

Some who face overwhelming and frightful sufferings, both physical and
spiritual, are losing heart. If you are going through the refining fires, I
have a word for you.

FAITH IS ALSO AN INVITATION TO PARTAKE OF THE GREAT GOODNESS OF THE LORD.

I refer you to one of the most encouraging promises in all of God’s Word. Let this promise sink deep into your soul:

“Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues”
(Psalm 31:19-20).

Here is great encouragement to hold steadfast in your faith. Here is a bold, glorious promise. God says, “You trust me before men and I will open my storehouse of great goodness and pour it on you. I will hide you in the secret of my presence; I will not allow strife to overwhelm you.”

Some may say, “We ought not trust God to obtain goodness from him.” Not so! It is also written, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, for it has a great recompence of reward” (Hebrews 10:35). It is also written, “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). We must believe that he is a rewarder.
Those rewards of faith are spiritual goodnesses, such as rewards of
strength—peace and calm in the storm.

Oh beloved, God rejoices in our faith. He awaits to give us hope and open our eyes to his loving care. The decision is ours to make—even this moment. It is within our power to choose to trust God in our present and future trials. It is either the wilderness of despair or the smile of the Lord and an open heaven.

God help us all to hold fast our faith. Do not give up. We are too close to the end of the race.

“Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” (Psalm 32:7-8).

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The second word is from Wanda Davis, wife of Paul Keith Davis. I believe this word is a “now” word not just for me but for many others.

Foremost among our enemy’s most successful strategies is to emphasize negativity through circumstances in life and amplify them beyond their reality. Nevertheless, the Lord wants us to view them from His perspective which is true reality. We do this by spending time with Him, intercession, meditation on the Word and the apprehension of His heart. As we join His attitude of victory through the warfare, the demonically imposed stress and anxiety will be alleviated.

One of the ways we can enter into this attitude is by not allowing anything in us to have agreement with the enemy and his accusations. When there is agreement in our heart with the enemy’s words spoken through other people or when he whispers them in our ear, it gives those words power; unbelief, defeat and hopelessness is then allowed to enter our hearts and rob us of our peace and victory in Christ. The Bible teaches us how to discern the Lord’s wisdom from the enemy’s tainted attitudes. James 3:17-18 tells us:

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

We must not allow our focus to be taken off who the Lord is and His purposes. I believe this attitude will be paramount in catapulting the Body of Christ into the faith of the Son of God. According to Galatians 2:20:

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

By understanding this we can reach into the unseen realm and call forth those things that are not through agreement with the Lord (Romans 4:17). Even though they may have not manifested in our present circumstance we can approach them from a posture and attitude of victory and maintain that mindset through all opposition of the enemy and his schemes.

Paul Keith and Wanda Davis
WhiteDove Ministries
Email: inquiries@whitedoveministries.org

I got this from ElijahList.com

A Very Sweet Valentine’s Day

♥

I had a “Give a Mouse a Cookie” moment that won me a date with my hubby. I went up to my bathroom to fix myself up a little so Kelsey could take a picture of me with Kirby. I hadn’t even brushed my hair yet! So I brushed my hair. It still looked kind of poofy from the way I slept, but I was just going to leave it. But I noticed my foundation sitting there on the bathroom counter. I haven’t used it in months (maybe years). I thought, hmmm, I think I’ll put some foundation on. So I did. Then I thought, hmmm, that won’t look good unless I put eye shadow on. So I put some eye shadow on. Surprisingly, I remembered how to do it. Then I put my mascara on (the only makeup I wear regularly). Then I couldn’t leave my hair all poofy. So I wet my hair down and got out my curling iron. I still remembered how to do that, too.

Then I noticed that my shirt was all wrinkly. Funny, I hadn’t noticed that before. So I went to my closet to get one of my old stand-by shirts, and I noticed a fancy black blouse that I’ve never worn. I put that on. I don’t have any fancy black pants or fancy black shoes, but I figured I had done enough by that time. I just left my black Danskin warm-up pants on and my black Reeboks.

While I was doing all that fixing, the thought came to me that I should ask Gary to take me out to eat since it was the day before Valentine’s Day. We were planning to go grocery shopping anyway. What was to stop us from going out to eat first? So I went downstairs looking for Kelsey and Kirby to get my picture taken (and looking for Gary to see if he would take the hint). I couldn’t find any of them. So I sat on the couch and read my Bible. Gary finally came and sat beside me. He didn’t say anything at first, but then he really looked at me and said, “Wow, you look good.” I used that to wrangle a date out of him. We went to eat at Panera and had a nice leisurely chat and then went grocery shopping together. We were both relaxed and enjoyed ourselves more than we have in a long time.

Then I got my picture taken with Gary instead of Kirby.

So I want to know who put my foundation on the counter right in front of my face. When I find out, I’m going to give them a big hug!

We started our Valentine’s Day with heart-shaped waffles. They were good!

Fiona arranged her waffles in the shape of a butterfly. Another budding artist in the family!

Kirby's at it again! Trying to take credit for my cooking successes!

Garrett had some hair issues, so he wet it down and rushed downstairs when he heard me announce on the intercom, “Come get your Valentine waffles!”

Doesn’t Kirby look proud of “his” creation?

Abby ♥’s her waffles!

Here I am telling Chef Kirby that I’m the one who made the waffles, not him. Kelsey takes his side, of course.

We made chocolate cookie dough last night and let it chill over night. Then we shaped it like play-do and made heart-shaped cookies today. Fiona and Emma enjoyed helping me with this part of the party preparations. They tasted yummy.

Fiona decorated her cookie. It doesn’t look chocolate any more! Oh, by the way, I just found out that chocolate is better for you than fruit!
I’m being a very good Mommy, then.

Here are our sandwiches made from the little toast things that started the whole Valentine’s Tea Party idea. They actually tasted really good. We put ham on some, turkey on the other platter with 3 different types of cheese. Kelsey and Anna made them. They also put cubes of cheese on toothpicks and crowned them with green grapes. Then Kelsey put toothpicks in carrots! We had a very nice spread that tasted delicious.

Shawn was in charge of the tea. He boiled the water, took our orders, called out when each person’s tea was ready and sweetened our tea for us.

Patrick got a hold of the camera and took a nice close-up of Garrett.

Then we had this for dessert: fruit pizza! One of my favorite things. It, too, was delicious. Fiona, Kelsey and Morgan made valentines for each of us and passed them out.

Sweet? Yeah, that’s the word for this Valentine’s Day.

Love That’s Enough

We all know 1 Corinthians 13, don’t we? I used to have it memorized. I kind of have it memorized now. I sang it in a wedding once.

But I read it in the Amplified version one time, and something stuck out to me that I hadn’t really gotten out of it before. Actually, Gloria Copeland commented on it, and I thought about it later.

Here is 1 Corinthians 13:5 in the Amplified:

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

Are you ever touchy?

Or fretful?

Or resentful?

Uh, my hand’s up on each one. Especially touchy. You know, when you feel kind of moody and don’t really want anybody to touch you. When you feel like you hate everybody.

Okay, that’s a little more than touchy, isn’t it? Well, I hate to admit it, but every once in a while, I don’t want anybody near me. And I can even pull away from one of my children when they try to come close. I really hate to admit that. And later, I feel so bad about it.

So I see my lack of love, and I take it to the Lord and ask Him to help me love at all times. I ask Him to help me to stop being so prickly. I really don’t want to be that way. And I can’t blame it on hormones. They might be part of the problem, but if the Lord told us to love with the kind of love that is never touchy, fretful or resentful, then He obviously intends to give us the power and enough love to do it. He has to give us His love in order to love perfectly. So that’s what I will do. Ask Him to fill me with His love. I know my love isn’t big enough.

But God’s is.