HAPPY (Hospital) Birthday Reflections

 

This is the sixth unit I've been in since I arrived at the Hospital three months ago. When I arrived here it was wild. People going around everywhere. The corridors jammed with people stopping me to find out WHO I was, telling me their medical history, how long they had been here, the name of their children and grandchildren, etc.

Finally the receiving nurse intervened and I got settled into my bed thinking, "What kind of three-ring circus is this?!"

I'm in a unit of people with brain injuries, dementia, poor people who don't have a home they can go back to because they have been here so long, people with mobility issues (myself included), etc.  Anybody who isn't accutely sick but cannot just be simply discharged. It is a specialized Transition unit.

It was a month ago that I arrived here and I just celebrated my 59th birthday within these walls and what a HUGE fuss everybody made over me. 

I was greeted in the morning by the nurse with,

"Happy Birthday, Laura-Lee. Time for another anal swab."😲

Then I discovered this wasn't just for me but EVERYBODY in the unit would get one and anyone who asked "Why do I have to have ANOTHER anal swab?"  were told it was "in honor of Laura's birthday".

You should have heard the comments:

"Well, I like Laura, but not THAT much."

"Aren't birthday candles suppose to go on the cake not in my butt?" 

(To which I responded, "Don't complain because they've got 58 more of them.")

And many more jokes I can't actually repeat here. 

The Lord took my birthday and used it to get everyone laughing through an experience that is NOT pleasant (understatement of the year).

But that was just the first part of my birthday.

An hour later I was brought a Hot Chocolate from Tim Hortons and told my presence was required in the Rec Room at 1:30 pm.

Everyone who was mobile was there. I was presented with  a donut from Timmies with sprinkles all over it (the kind Homer Simpson loves) with a candle on it while everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to me. I told them my wish when I blew out my candle was the same as my prayers; that everyone would find a home.

Then we played BINGO and won Chocolate bars, then finished up with cookies.

I haven't had anyone sing "Happy Birthday" to me in thirteen years (the last birthday I spent with Mom before she died).  But it wasn't just sung to me once but FIVE times more by people who weren't able to come to Laura's  Birthday Bingo Party. (Patients and Healthcare workers alike)

But as lovely as that was, it was the gifts and cards that were given to me that day that touched me the most. People who had no money and were not able to get out to get me something gave to me from whatever they had.

Gifts from their food Trays came to  me throughout the day with their love and birthday greetings. One lady made me a card, another revamped an Easter Card she received to give to me. 

It made me think of the Bible verse, 

"The Lord gathers the lonely into families." (Psalm 68:6)

and also about the widow who gave only two pennies to the Temple but Jesus pointed her out because she gave ALL that she had. (Luke 21)

I truly believe the Gospel of Jesus is spread the most effectively not from a podium or from behind a pulpit but person to person by just ordinary people. Exactly the way it was originally done by the first Christians.

Even when Peter gave his Pentecost sermon that saw thousands converted, after that they all gathered in smaller groups in people's homes.

What is my point? 

I don't have one. It's just me reflecting. You may glean from my vast 59 years of extreme wisdom whatever you wish. 💁‍♀️

The Truth with Love 

Aways Laura-Lee 

Crazy Beliefs Taught by Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis

 

🔴 The Tigris and Euphrates are not in the Middle East

🔴 There were no mountains before the Flood only large hills 

🔴 There were dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark (and from a tour of the Ark Encounter, LOTS of them. Not just one pair to represent their Kind)

🔴 Adam didn't name all the creatures God made, only their Kinds.

🔴 Noah put a  Moon Pool  on the Ark for stability.

🔴 We are not in the End Times. (He believes it could be another thousand years before Jesus returns)

And those are just the tip of the iceberg of the ridiculous things he believes. 

(I haven't even mentioned his greedy behavior and his evil actions, like rebuilding the Tower of Babel next to the Ark Encounter as a Theme Park ride.)

None of these things are in the Bible. They Come from the diseased brain of an evil man, who claims science backs up everything he says.

Well, if "scientific" evidence seems to go against the Bible, then it's being twisted or interpreted WRONG❗️

This man makes MILLIONS of dollars, has his entire family on the pay roll (including in-Laws), can't finish a sentence without including a sales pitch, and is given MILLIONS of dollars of Tax Payers money as tax breaks.

Just because he believes God created everything and the Earth is only 6,000 years old (Young Earth  Theory) doesn't mean we should accept everything else he says and does.

WAKE UP Christians! Why are any of you still listening to this man? 

Run from him, Answers in Genesis and his fellow ministry pals (like Ray Comfort, John Macarthur and Voddie Baucham) as fast as you can.

The Truth with Love 

Always Laura-Lee 

My post, "What Makes a Cult? (Simplified)"

CRAPPY Birthday Reflections

 

My Birthday always makes me reflective and this one is no different. I've been in the hospital for months with total body paralysis and in 2019  I was also in this same hospital for months with total body paralysis. Today I estimated that approximately 400 different people have seen my innocent, naked Canadian butt and about 3/4 of them were there to wipe it for me. 

Did Jesus do this to me? Did Jesus afflict me this way?

ABSOLUTELY❗️

Jesus is LORD of ALL. That means EVERYTHING comes from His hand of divine Providence.

Forty-seven years ago I promised Jesus I would go wherever He sent me. I was only eleven years old but I meant it. He has sent me to some very deep and dark pits but He has always been in them with me and has taught me many amazing things in these pits. 

Pits of physical suffering. Pits of grief. Pits of fear. Pits of despair. Pits of isolation and loneliness. Pits of poverty. Pits of addiction. 

But it's in these pits that we learn and grow the most. And it is in these pits that we grow intimate with our Lord.

I've learned that "I am the Master of my own Destiny" is not merely an illusion but a total lie. 

I have learned that Jesus is not sharing MY suffering but I am sharing HIS.

I have learned to appreciate the blessing of a sense of humor, which God has given to each and every person. (Perhaps this is another example of how we are created in God’s image)

I have learned how to accept anything that Jesus asks of me.

I have learned the power of prayer. Me praying for others and others praying for me.

I've learned that people have a deep, DEEP hunger to know about Jesus and "what's so special about that book [the Bible] that you are reading all the time?".

I have learned the magnificent power of praising the Lord FROM the pit (not only after He gets us out of it).

I've learned that it is still possible to maintain my dignity and testimony for Jesus while somebody is wiping s**t  from  my butt.

I've learned about the huge influence I have because I have "Street Cred" when it comes to suffering.

It reminds me of what Betsy Ten BOOM said to her sister,  Corrie, when they were in the Ravensbruck concentration camp during World War 2,

"There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still. We must tell this to everybody. They will believe us because we have been here."

What are you ready to do for Jesus? If you want a deeper faith you must be ready and willing to pick up your DAILY cross even when your DAILY bread is not being supplied.

And since I came to this hospital because I had not had anything to eat in a month (not by my choice I assure you), I know what I'm talking about. 

Jesus told us to "count the cost"  (Luke 14:28) before we give ourselves to Him, but I echo the heart of Paul when he says,

"What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:8)

We live in some very dark days, but Jesus has set aside a group of people who will remain true to Him. 

Is that you❓️It can be. I am not more holy or extraordinary than the next person, but I am more pathetic than most. The realization of this has led me to Jesus for my strength time and time again and He has been generous in multiplying His gifts to me.

You CAN do it too. The only thing Jesus requires of you is to be willing and available. He does the rest.

You need Jesus in this life and in the next and if you approach Him with a humble heart that cries out to Him,

"God be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13) 

just watch how quickly He responds.

You were made for "Such a time as this" (Esther 4:14) and there are many others, like you, who have refused to bow to the idols and gods of this age. So be encouraged.

And if that's not encouraging enough, heed the words of Jesus when He said,

"Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done." (Revelation 22:12)

I pray this will become a (Born-Again) Birthday for everyone reading the words of this post.

The Truth with Love 

Always, Laura-Lee 

My post, "The Bible for Newbies"

1980s Christian Music Flashback, "Count the Cost" by David Meece

"Wonderful, Merciful Savior" by Selah (Lyric Video)

A David Meece Double-Play

(This is my favorite)

David Meece "His Love Was Reaching"

Is Your Minister/Priest a Christian?

 

That sounds like an odd question but it really isn't. There are many Christian leaders who don't believe the Bible is to be taken literally and that there are many paths to God and you don't even need to believe in Jesus to get to heaven.

 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" 

Matthew 7:21-23

So here is the best way to figure out if you are being led by a genuine Christian.

Are they behaving like Jesus? 

Simple but the ultimate sign of all Christians.

🔴 Do they have a huge burden for the poor which is demonstrated in a very humble lifestyle?

🔴 Can you picture this person selling ALL that they have to give to the poor?

🔴 Can you picture this person washing the feet of their parishioners and even the feet of their enemies.

(Jesus washed the feet of Judas too)

🔴 Do they have the attitude, demeanor and actions that demonstrate they are a SLAVE to Jesus and a SERVANT to EVERY member of their church?

"This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:1)

"From Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ," (Titus 1:1)

Now, no Minister is perfect, but it should not be difficult picturing them doing these things. If both Peter and Paul considered themselves SLAVES to Jesus and lived their lives as reflections of that belief, I think our leaders should at least make an attempt to do the same.

Right?

Beware and Be warned.

I'm sorry to have to tell you these things but better you discover the Truth sooner than later.

I hope I was helpful.

The Truth with Love,

Always Laura-Lee 

Story of the Rich Young Ruler who Meets Jesus (Matthew 19)

Please Note: My blogs have NO STORE and  NO ADVERTISING.

How to Know if You are in a Christian Cult

 

Let me say again that what defines a CULT is not its beliefs but its STRUCTURE, means of controlling its members and its goals and motivations.

 So let's dive into the main signs of a Christian/Religious cult.

(The biggest indicator)

🔴 A Charismatic Leader who is NEVER criticized or corrected. In the eyes of the members this person is adored, referred to constantly and can do no wrong.

🔴 When the Bible is quoted there is no reference given and they don't read directly from the Bible. They make general statements like, "Paul says in the epistle to the Romans ..." or  "As the Psalmist says..."

🔴 The Leaders live extremely well. Big houses, nice cars, and nice clothes, which will contrast deeply to the average member.

🔴 Members/Followers have the Church as the complete focus of their lives and rarely associate with anyone not a member even to the exclusion of family members. They spend their free time volunteering for the church and give MUCH more money than their 10% tithe.

🔴 Followers will all be repeating the same phrases and often they will be redefined to mean something different to the Follower than the real meaning. 

For example, "Biblical World View" or "Family Values" which can mean many different things to different people. 

🔴 Us vs Them mentality. People outside the church are evil or being deceived, even if they are Christians and just attend a different church or are from a different denomination. You believe ALL that the Leader teaches or you are an outsider to be spurned.

🔴 Followers will mention the name of their leaders WAAAAY more often than the name of JESUS. (a huge indicator)

🔴 Members don't have as much time to commit to their private Bible study and alone time with Jesus because they are kept so busy.

🔴 Whenever there is corruption somewhere amongst the Elders and/or Higher-Ups it is rationalized, justified and sometimes completely hushed up. If you are in a church where nobody is doing wrong, it's being covered up because ALL Christians do wrong and these things must be confronted and dealt with in a Biblical way.

There are other signs but these ones are the Biggies to watch for. 

Also, not all cults have all of these signs BUT if you have the first one (Charismatic Leader who is always right) and at least two of the indicators, you need to take an EXTREMELY CLOSE look at what kind of place you are hooked into.

Also (again), cults can now be solely ONLINE and never meet in a physical building but the signs will remain the same.

I did not expect to be spending my final days focused on cults but there aren't just a handful anymore. They are everywhere and hunting for anyone who is vulnerable. Maybe you've lost your job, you're new in the area, feeling lonely, struggling with health concerns or grieving the loss of a loved one. These things leave you open to the other members Love-Bombing, which is done to intentionally lure you in.

Unfortunately, you must be suspicious of everybody because I have seen these things played out in some very mainstream and well respected "Christian" Churches and organizations. We are in the End Times when the Apostate (False) Church is everywhere, so you must KNOW your Bible and KNOW Jesus very well or you will be deceived. 

"Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. " (Matthew 24:4)

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(Matthew 26:41)

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope it's been helpful. 

The Truth with Love 

Always Laura-Lee 

Shaneen is a Christian counselor (who escaped from a cult) and looks at things from a Practical and Biblical viewpoint. Plus, in this particular video, she doesn't just tell us the negative things "toxic churches" do, but also demonstrates, from the Scriptures, the way a genuine Christian Church and Minister should be behaving.

Shaneen Megji "When Your Church Becomes a Cult"

My Post "The Bible for Newbies"

Please Note that my blog has NO STORE and NO ADVERTISING.