RENOVATIONS & ADDITIONS at Laura-Lee's Place

UPDATE & FYI:

**All sorts of new things being added to my PERSONAL Blog:

•  You can be notified by EMAIL when I add a NEW POST

• BIG FEEDBACK FORM (at the Bottom of the Page). You can't miss it. It requires a NAME (but you can make one up) and an EMAIL address (that will have to be real) and then submit your message.It's that simple. 

It will come straight to my PRIVATE email INBOX. (What could be easier) ?

• Of course there's the NEW Shout/ Chat Box here. Play with the buttons & see how it works. If you click on the "Option" button, the Chat Box will Pop open to a BIGGER screen, so that it's not so small. It can do other things too. Don't be afraid to test it. (There is also a button to "Delete" and/or "Edit" anything you write.)

• And don't forget the CHRISTMAS SONGS (2015) Playlist/ Slidebar. It's very easy to hit the PLAY button then PAUSE it, or SKIP to Next Song. Go for it. Enjoy the music. It's 16 of my Favorite Christmas Songs. From Traditional Carols to Toe Tapping songs to a few Unique ones I've discovered.

•  ~~~MERRY CHRISTMAS~~~

• I'm also thinking of adding "other" things, but I'm not sure what yet. So you'll have to stop back around.

I WELCOME 'LOOKIE-LOOs' !

• And at the bottom of each individual post you can always click on the COMMENT button. Or one of the SHARE icons to spread the post around (if you feel it's worthy of that).
• And of course HOVER over things. If the words change color OR your little pointer turns into a HAND, it means it's a LINK or it DOES something. As I told my cousin, Lena, this week, "The Cold War is over. Don't be afraid to push a few buttons."

As always you are "WELCOME" here. Just the way you are.

Love Laura-Lee (Was Here)

Saying "Hello" After my Busy Week ALIVE at National Bible Bee

Since I've been spending most of my time this week at my other blog, The Bible and The Biz, being part of the National Bible Bee's LIVE WEBCASTS, I haven't been able to be here since I don't possess the qualities of the Lord (namely being able to be in more than one place at a time).

But I still wanted to take a moment to say "hello" to my faithful friends who stop by here and say "thanks" to those who followed me over to my "Entertainment" blog to help make the promotion and participation of my first live event (The Bible Bee) a wonderful experience. It's been quite a week jumping between Twitter, Facebook, Google+, my Email and of course the Live Webcasts and the folks from the National Bible Bee themselves.

In a few minutes the LIVE WEBCAST  of the Closing Ceremonies of the National Bible Bee will begin (6:00 PM  CST). It's been so exciting and encouraging to see and hear the Bible quoted and cherished by so many people. Especially young people.

So, as the Sunday Sabbath (and my Technology Fast - which I deeply need this week) comes in another day, I want to pass on my hopeful feelings to you. God is most definitely not only in control but moving as well. I've seen evidence of him so often in just the past couple days ... how could I tell it all?

So I wish you a good weekend, let you know my prayers for you (my faithful friends and readers) are continuing, thank you for stopping by and reading what I write, telling you "you're always welcome here" and reminding you to leave a comment (I LOVE them so much).

 I hope this will be just the beginning (and training) of more Live Events to take place here, at my personal blog too

Turn your hearts towards rest and Jesus as we head to the weekend and the Sabbath (whichever day that is for you).

Love Always, Laura-Lee (Was Here)


Follow the Link Below if you wish to see what I've been up to this week.

The Bible and The Biz (Entertainment with Biblical View)




Oh. And here's your Reverend Fun cartoon of the week:

Reverend Fun Website Link

National Bible Bee LIVE BROADCAST HQ at The Bible & the Biz Blog

ANNOUNCEMENT: ( FYI):

For the next two days (November 19 - 20) visit my blog, The Bible & The Biz for all things to do with the National Bible Bee. 

Including the LIVE WEBCAST Broadcasts, Schedules, Links, Background Info (and of course) my comments and stories.

The Bible and The Biz your National Bible Bee HQ for 2015

Sunday Sabbath Day of Rest - even from Fear

As most of you know by now, I shut down my computer as part of my "Technology Fast" for the Sunday Sabbath.

Of course, Paris and France are foremost on my mind and will be for quite some time.

But here is another Reverend Fun cartoon as we start to turn our thoughts toward the Lord after a difficult week and definitely a couple of very difficult days.

Rest people. Rest. The living God is always near.

Love Laura-Lee

King DAVID (as a teenager) kills the giant, GOLIATH with only his sling shot and a stone. 

Story found in the Bible (1 Samuel, chapter 17)

Follow the LINK below for more Reverend Fun Cartoons.

Reverend Fun Cartoons Website

France Killings : No Surprise to God

I pray very early in my day. Usually between 4:00 am - 6:00 am (MT in North America). When I'm not praying for myself (which is at least 75 % of the time), I'm praying for people I know. People I have contact with. But this morning my prayers seemed to be all over the place.

I started by praying for those I know who are suffering and deeply grieving. Mentioning each by name.
Then my prayers turned to these things, (seemingly jumping randomly from topic to topic):

* People everywhere who are grieving. Thinking about what a horrible thing grief is.

* For the relief of a world so filled with hate and fear.

* All the turmoil in Israel.

* For the Prime Minister of Canada. (I rarely pray for politicians) But I was thinking how troubled the world is now. Even more so then when his father was our Prime Minister. And that Justin Trudeau is himself no stranger to grief.

* For the people who read this blog.
    -That you would each have a good day & feel Jesus near
    -Wondering if the new Shout box would be adequate and if it would motivate you to talk with each other.
    - this blog should be translated into other languages. Especially French & Russian. French, because Canada is Bi-lingual and I should acknowledge that and Russian because I get a lot of "traffic" from Russia (although I don't know why). 

* This Bible verse jumped into my mind:  "No weapon forged against you will prosper." 

* That today is "Friday the 13th".  

That's when I suddenly thought, "Wait! Hold up! What's does that have to do with anything? That's just an ignorant superstition. Friday the 13th means nothing  to God."

Even though it means nothing to God, I felt He was telling me that Satan would be using that "superstition" to spread some extra fear today. Just as he uses Halloween for some extra "mischief".

* I prayed for any and all who might fall prey to Satan's schemes today.
* I prayed for those who would be watching the "Friday the 13th" Horror movies tonight because of today's date.

My prayers jumped around until I opened my Bible to Revelation, chapter 4.
That Scripture speaks about the "Throne of Heaven". What it looks like, what happens there, Who sits there, who is around it, who worships there, what they say.


Early this morning my prayers seemed strange & disjointed. But now, 16 hours later, after I see what this day has brought, to Paris, to our Prime Minister, to the world, to me,  I see they are not disjointed at all.  

Even the post I wrote a few days ago where I used several "OMNI" words as I spoke of God's character: 

Omniscient
Omnipresent
Omnipotent

These things are shown to be very relevant as a "state of Emergency" is declared in France, and Parisians are told to stay in their homes. Probably with their doors tightly locked. When more than 100 families will have to face their own grief. When politicians around the world will have to discover the truth and decide on a response.
As the rest of us ask the questions:
Will there ever be peace on the earth? Where can I go to truly be safe? Will I always live with fear?


Jesus came to us as a baby in a stable, but angels appeared to several people to herald His coming.

To the father of John the Baptist: "Do not be afraid Zechariah. Your prayer has been heard"   (Luke 1:13)

To Mary: "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God."   (Luke 1:30)

To Joseph: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife."   (Matthew 1:20)

To Shepherds in a field near Bethlehem: "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you."   
  (Luke 2:10-11)

To King David: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;"  
  (Psalm 23:4)

To me, in the inner cover of my first Bible, at 9 years old:
"Perfect love casts out fear."    (1 John 4:18)

To me today (40 years later!):
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will help you with my righteous right hand."    (Isaiah 41:10)


I'm not more holy or special to God than anyone else. Neither are those people in the Bible. So what is Jesus saying to you right now? Have you asked Him to speak to you? Have you stopped to listen for His voice?


ALL Places
ALL Knowing
ALL Powerful

ALL Loving


My prayers are with you France and to all who have felt fear this day.

 ~~ Love Laura-Lee 


Former Post "Our Word of the Day is OMNI"

Christmas Songs, SHOE BOXES & Shout Boxes

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FYI :

~~~~  My Laura-Lee Was Here  Christmas Songs Play List (2015) has been posted after a 2 year absence. It is at the very bottom of the page, with our new Chat - Shout Box. That way you have the option to listen to great Christmas music as you Chat to the other people at this blog, or perhaps even to me. "WOW!" 

I put 16 songs in this Play List from dance to traditional. But all are excellent and you will find yourself enjoying them long after Christmas is over for everyone else.

(The Christmas Songs Play List (2015) is also at my other blog, "The Bible and the Biz")

SAMARITAN'S PURSE:  Operation Christmas Child (OCC)

Christmas Shoe Box Collection Week

NOVEMBER 16 - 22

I've always loved the idea of having a PARTY surrounding the Christmas Shoebox.  

It works especially well for Canadians. Americans have Thanksgiving that begins their Christmas  Season, but in Canada we have Thanksgiving back in October. 

So it's a wonderful idea to invite friends and family over to have some cookies and hot chocolate and everyone fills a Shoe Box for a Child who is truly poor, while you listen to great Christmas music.

 It's simple, fun and gets your mind and heart in a good place for the Christmas season. Not only do you create good memories but it alters your perceptions, priorities (and spending), when you fill the Shoe Box with precious things, like a Toothbrush, for a boy or girl who has never owned one before. 

As a Christian, the idea that this may be the first time a child and their family will hear the story of how Jesus was born in that Bethlehem stable as they celebrate their very first Christmas is actually quite thrilling.

As an annual FAMILY Tradition, it's a great idea too. Nobody can get into the Spirit of filling a Shoe Box for a Child like another Child can.

And of course, Churches and Businesses also get together to participate. 

But it's such a wonderful idea and it has grown so much the best thing I can do is give you the LINKS (see below) and let you follow them to whichever site you need.

I deeply hope (and pray) that if you haven't done this yet, you won't let another year go by without getting involved. I've probably made it sound much more complicated then it actually is.

But once you've filled a Shoe Box, you are hooked on the idea forever. 

It reminds you that:

1) there are people who are really poor in this world, 

2) we are very fortunate in our free and easy western society 

3) it unites you to the people you're filling the Shoe Boxes with 

4) it gets you focused off yourself for a while 

5) makes you grateful for what you have

6) gets you into the Christmas Spirit

7) reminds us it's "more blessed to give than to receive"  and on and on it goes ...

Next week is Shoe Box Collection week.

It's actually such a simple and fun  thing to participate in.

Here's the basics:

• Get a Shoe box  (it doesn't even have to be their official Shoe Box - any box about that size is fine.)
• Pick Boy or Girl and the age group 
• Print out (or pick out) whatever forms you need or want
• Stuff the box with the appropriate things (they list suggestions of what to give on the websites and in their brochure)
• Don't seal the box 
• Attach the label for whatever age & gender of child you picked
• insert into the box the envelope with the donation you need to include (usually $7 for shipping fee)
• Bring the Box in to wherever is the nearest collection site (also listed at the websites)
• Feel Good

Besides having all this above information at these websites, they also have several ideas that I have personally done, like sending a family photo so the child opening the box can relate to the people or person sending it.

For children here, there's actually a form they can fill out that includes their likes and dislikes, hobbies, a place for their school photo, a globe to color & show where in the world we live, etc, etc.

They have made videos of the kids opening their Shoe Boxes in previous Christmases and if those videos don't convince you and stick a big, dumb grin on your face, nothing will. Here's a few photos to get you started.

Enjoy! And with much love,

  Laura-Lee

P.S. If you are reading this and it's past collection week, don't worry. You can fill a "virtual" Shoe Box by picking specific items online, pay for it there and a box will be filled for whichever child you picked and with the items you chose.

Samaritan's Purse is the umbrella organization and Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is the official name of the Shoe Box people. Now it's a global organization, so make sure you're heading to the correct websites.

* I've included both the American and Canadian ones here too.

Samaritan's Purse International (HQ)

Operation Christmas Child (USA) Christmas Shoe Box

Samaritan's Purse CANADA - Operation Christmas Child (OCC) The Christmas Shoe Box

Operation Christmas Child: How to Pack a Shoe Box

How to find Your Nearest Collection Center (CANADA)

 ~~ Love Always, Laura-Lee (Was Here)

Remembrance Day: Poppy, Poem, Silence, & Savior

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

~ by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

(May 1915 )

So many people gave their entire lives to fight for what they truly believed and won the "freedom" we now stand on.

Please honor them with 60 seconds of silence - even if you're the only person in the room to do it.

(November 11th @ 11:00 am)

Love Laura-Lee

One year I was working as a waitress in a busy little coffee shop on Remembrance Day. It was coffee break time so it was super busy at 11:00 am. Lots of noise, people talking & laughing loudly, asking for things, scolding children, but  the radio was playing, so I noticed when it turned 11:00 am. Nobody stopped what they were doing but I stopped wiping off a table to close my eyes and observe the minute of silence, Gradually the room got quiet and when I opened my eyes again, just 60 seconds later the room was completely silent, even to the smallest child. Some heads were bowed but almost every one was watching me. I was such a shy person that my face turned beet-red and I rushed away. But Friends, don't ever be afraid to do what you believe is right, even if nobody else is. Sometimes it just takes one short, shy, silent person to  start the ball rolling.

  

 REMEMBRANCE DAY: Poppy Hint 

(How-to keep your Poppy from Falling Off Your Coat)

HEY! Just noticed somebody gave me a Thumbs Down "Unlike" click at YouTube. [sigh] 

Look below for the LINKs to my "How-to" keep your poppy from falling off your coat video & 

my "These Bones" Music Video (which you may wish to watch again for Remembrance Day)

LINK to Above "Poppy" Video at YouTube

THESE BONES: My YouTube Christian Music Video LINK

Our "Word of the Day" is: OMNI

Good morning, Boys & Girls. 

Our "New Word" for the day is: "omni".

 If you've seen it and you're from the Western World, you probably know it as the name of that science magazine. But I'm going to use it at the front of a bunch of long words:

Omniscient
Omnipotent
Omnipresent               

Many years ago, I was working at the head office of Mohawk Oil. We were all grabbing our morning coffee before getting to work. A lady, who was not a Christian, was lamenting about all the bad things that were happening to her. 
I made the statement, "These things are no surprise to God. He is always with you and sees all that you do," thinking this would bring her comfort. 
I often remind myself of those facts when I feel overwhelmed and  feel God is far away.  But judging from the look on her face (and everyone else's) this did NOT bring her comfort. In fact, she looked "spooked" by this knowledge and glanced around the room as if she feared God might "pop out" at any moment, from any place.

To me, it was another hardcore reminder that Christians and non-Christians view the world and God very differently. She still had all her sins firmly rooted in her life and even though she had a basic belief in God, He was watching her, but "from a distance" (as Bette Midler sings).

But if you know you're forgiven, your sins are no longer charged against you and God Himself is the One who removed them (by "charging" them to Jesus and Jesus shed His blood to pay for them) because of his Omni-Love (is that a real word?), then it is not a "freaky" thing but a beautiful truth.

Back to our 3 new words. They are Latin and translated mean:

ALL knowing
ALL powerful
ALL present

Each one describes a fact about God and reveals some aspect of His character. He knows everything, about everyone because He is everywhere. And if that isn't enough, He has complete power over everything. If knowing these things is "creeping you out", on any level, I would say things between you and God are not going very good.

For the longest time, even after I was a Christian and knew Jesus forgave all my sins, there were still parts of my life that I hoped He didn't know about. Basically hoping He was "looking the other way" while I was involved in them. But gradually I realized that if He truly was those "omni" words, then there was no "keeping Him out" of any aspect of my life.  So, if I couldn't keep Him out, I may as well INVITE Him in. That may sound like a small thing to do, but it actually radically changed my life because Jesus is waiting and longing for us to do just that. To invite Him in.

So, this morning (or whenever you are reading this), perhaps as you stir your coffee, please keep the "3 Omnis in mind.




"Lord Jesus, I pray that each person will come across the word 'OMNI' everywhere. To the point where they believe it can be no accident but only your hand steering their lives. 
Find them a Bible and give them such a strong desire to read it, they can find no peace until they do just that. Immediately!
Give each person reading this all the strength they need for this day and enough faith to begin to speak to You. Directly. But mostly that it would be just the beginning of a lifetime of knowing You on a personal level and in an intimate way. That your existence and participation in their life is such a reality it will alter them forever.
       Thank you, Jesus. Amen."

And thanks to you for stopping by and taking the time to read this.

~~ Love Laura-Lee


" Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."

  (Philippians 4:4-5)


P.S. Don't forget to leave a Comment or perhaps, "Shout" at me as you try out the buttons and options of our new "Shout/Chat Box". I study the Blogger Statistics about my blog, but there's nothing so wonderful as hearing from you directly. (even if you disagree with me). L-L

NOTE:   Shout Box  - Chat Box at tippy bottom of  page. Keep going. Keep going. You'll get there.

Shout (Box) to the Lord

At last I've done something I've meant to do for a while. Insert a Chat or Shout Box at my blog. This will pave the way for LIVE  events here. I have in my mind to start doing interviews with people.

So I have added a Chat box at the very, very, very bottom of the page. It's simple to use but has enough options to be useful. 

Whether I'm talking to you directly or doing a live interview with somebody - you can either just watch and read along OR suddenly jump in with your own comments and questions. ( with the option to still be anonymous - as many of you prefer)

I encourage you to go to the Chat box and try out all the buttons. If it's simple enough for me to use, then you can figure it out too.

Have a wonderful weekend as you begin to turn your eyes towards the things of the Lord and

"the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."

Love Laura-Lee 

LINK to Reverend Fun Cartoons


LINK "Back Seat Morals" My Post of the Week


**REMEMBER:  The Shout Box is at the very "tippy - bottom" of the page. Past everything. Keep going. You'll find it. 

~~ Love Laura-Lee 

Back Seat Morals

I think the term "Back Seat Morals" conjures up exactly what I want it to. People 'making out' in the back seat of a car. 

I have been very fortunate on two accounts: 
1) I have a lively imagination and 
2) A mother who raised me in such a fashion that I felt I could talk and ask her about anything. And often did. Even to the point of ridiculous sometimes.

By the time I was finishing up my teen years I had presented her with every scenario of, "What would you do if I ...?"

From "What would you do if I wanted to get married at 16 years old?" all the way to
 "What would you do if I wanted to marry a man who was in his 80's,  uh ...
on life support,  ... uh ... 
about to die, 
BUT he was single and  ... uh, still a virgin and, uh ... a Christian?  A Born Again Christian! "

Mom laughed and said, "I'd say 'He's mine. I saw him first' !"
 Yeah. I think that pretty much demonstrates that I was running out of  "What if ... ?" questions. (or was I?)

Back when it was time for me to learn about the "birds and the bees", Mom actually never once mentioned birds or bees. After she told me the basics, I looked at her pointedly and asked (with a slight amount of disgust), "And you and Dad did this?!"

She answered truthfully, "Yes we did. Twice. Once for your brother and once for you."

I was only 6 years old and she believed too young for "the talk", but I'd been hearing things wrong and she felt I needed to get the "basics" from her so that I wouldn't be messed up about sex for the rest of my life. But at that time and place, she was wise enough to know I was not ready to hear it all. 

But by the time I had to start dealing with my changing body, dating and how far I'd go sexually and my questions started surfacing, she was ready and available to help me in whatever way I needed. But by then she wanted me to figure things out for myself. She knew that forcing her beliefs on me would work only for a certain amount of time and only to a certain point. Eventually, if I didn't truly believe for myself what was right or wrong, then the moment I was out of her sight or believed I could "get away" with something ... I would. 

She encouraged two things:
1) I be honest with myself and 
2) to use that imagination of mine.

But God also gave me a very rare gift to help me in my "fight" against sin. The ability to learn from  OTHER peoples' mistakes.
 I don't have to experience something myself to discover it's a bad place to be. I see someone make a mistake, commit a sin and then see the evidence of how it turns out and the consequences they have to face. Sometimes horrible consequences.


The problem with sin is that it does not announce itself. It doesn't say, "Hi. I'm sin and I'm going to give you some momentary pleasure, lead you into a downward spiral and eventually completely destroy your life."

I was watching a film once with some other people about a woman who cheated on her husband and ended up losing her entire family. When I asked, "When did she commit adultery?"
The answer was "When she had sex with the other man."

Really? Or was it when she made plans to get together with the other man secretly?  Or when she started lying to her husband and children about where she was going? Or when she found herself preferring the company of the other man to her husband? Back and back we went. 

Once you learn how to spot the moment when sin first arrives (sometimes looking all sweet and innocent) you'd be surprised how much easier it is to recognize those moments the next time.
  
In the case of the movie we were watching, we finally came to the conclusion Sin arrived the moment the woman found herself alone with a man she was attracted to who was not her husband. At that point, the 'other man' hadn't even noticed her. And at that point she would have had the strength needed to resist the temptation to cheat on her husband.

When you're in the back seat of a car, your hormones are pulsing and you feel love (or at least lust) for the person you're with, that is not the moment to be making the best decisions that will effect the rest of your life. Or decide in general what is right and what is wrong. You'll probably rationalize what you are doing and very quickly. 
 "This isn't so bad. We're not hurting anyone. We care about each other. One of us may die tomorrow and we'll have missed out on this chance. Let's go for it."


So right now, take the time to figure out what you believe and why.  Where did you get your ethics and morals from? Is the method you use to measure right from wrong even accurate?  Imagine yourself in different circumstances and think about what could  happen. Ponder. Investigate. Scrutinize. Hold it up to the light. If it's wrong or lacking, change it. Then if you need to, change it again. And again, until you've boiled it down to it's core. That may be exactly what you need to give you the power to overcome it.

How many unwanted babies are killed, teenage lives ruined, people become hard core addicts, drunk drivers kill someone, marriages are destroyed,  rapes and murders committed,  dictators come to power (and on and on)  because people waited until sin had such a huge strangle hold on their lives, they didn't have the strength or even the desire to resist it. 

If we continue with the "Back Seat" metaphor for Sin ... 
I'm not just saying, "Don't get into the 'back seat'."
I'm not even saying, "Don't get into a car that has a 'back seat'. 
I'm saying, "Don't even go out with someone who OWNS A CAR!"

 And make sure you also know WHY. For yourself.

 We're going to return to this topic but thanks for listening. 

And, as always, feel free to leave a comment.

Love Laura-Lee