Harden Not Your Hearts

*Warning the post ahead is not only FOREVER long it is also NOT for the faint of heart. But, this is what I have been thinking about a lot these days so hang with me here as I process this out with YOU beloved reader. When is the last time you cried, I mean really cried about something that moved you? For me, it's not hard to remember because I'm somewhat of a cry baby.  But, I'm not talking about crying over something like a good, happy ending of a movie. Or a sappy commercial. NO, I'm talking about the poverty in the world, the thousands of children who don't have parents to love them and care for them, or maybe the children who do have parents, but those parents are broken and abusive. I'm talking about the broken marriages, the broken politicians, the broken pastors, the broken teens, THE broken. It's  the stuff we see on the news every night. Well, YOU see on the news, I don't watch the news for this very reason, It makes me cry.  I've always wondered what it would be like if the anchorman or woman would read the news with the emotions of a relative to the person they are reporting about? With a heart that wasn't hard? Human trafficking, War,  Elder abuse, all the injustices of this world. These are not topics that any of us like to think about. In fact if you are like me you avoid topics like this with every ounce of your being, you run the other way from topics like this. I run because, I feel helpless. I feel overwhelmed. I feel like I wish I could adopt every beautiful orphan child, but My Giant said No! *Sidenote- Whenever I think of all the world and humanity in it's darkest state, I remember in the movie The 5th Element when the Alien lady sees' all the worlds devastation like war, and terrorism and she thinks twice about saving the world that she has come to save.  There's a good analogy there with the whole "Savior of the world" thing. Put a pin in that thought we will come back to that. Have you seen The 5th Element? It's one of our favorites around here. Good movie, but that's a side note there. A brief intermission before we get  Back to the heavy.

  Recently, I have been surrounded with a lot of heavy news from friends and family. It's hard not to feel so much sadness when I talk to these beloved people in my life. I can very easily become consumed by the sadness, but I have to remember that's not where I should stay.  Speaking of staying,   I know this is a heavy topic. I know it's not happy. I know you want to skip this blog right about now and go to another happy place, but wait. I promise a happy ending and even a song at the end of this story. Let me tell you that I know the easy route to take when you read and hear of tragedies is to either ignore, or feel there is nothing we can do to help so we harden our hearts. We don't realize this is what is occurring.  We are unaware that over time when we stop watching the news, when we stop hearing the out cries of injustices we are hardening our hearts. I'm guilty of this a thousand times over. And then before you know it, it's been a really, really long time since you have wept over something other than that spilt milk. Your probably thinking about now, well what are you getting at Noël? Should I turn on the news and immerse myself with every sad story that there is out there? Should I become a social activist? Crisis counselor? Should I go find every homeless person I can and invite them to live with me? Should I drop everything and fly to Africa and bring home some beautiful babes as my homecoming present? And to that I say NO BIG DUMBY!  No I would never call you dumb my beloved reader, but NO don't do that.  I mean unless that's what you feel prompted to do after reading my silly blog. To be quite honest, I'm not really sure what I'm trying to get at here. Except maybe, that even I need to remember that it's not doing nothing when we pray. Jesus Heal. There is a NAME we can call when we need help. Jesus Heal. It's not doing nothing when we try to help where there is an outstretched arm. Jesus Heal. It's not doing nothing when you do what you can when you can. Jesus Heal. There is a NAME that is above all names, it's better than calling 911 in an emergency. Jesus Heal. It's not doing nothing to keep a soft heart, and there is only one name I know that can keep this heart from hardening. Jesus Heal.   This is what I read today; "Blessed(happy fortunate and to be envied) is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord at all times(regardless of circumstances), but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity." Proverbs 28:14
And then I read this: "In his hands are the deep places of the earth; the heights and the strength of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.  Today if you hear his voice Harden not your hearts" Psalm 95:7-8
That last sentence reminds me of my Gram or "Grandma THE Great" is what my kids called her before she went home to be with Jesus. Yes, she loved Jesus and she would say(with a beautiful East Coast accent) all the time, "Today if you hear his voice harden not your hearts." But, that whole scripture reminds me of the age old childhood song, "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands" and that makes me feel better. Like I don't have to solve all the worlds problems, but I can listen for HIS voice, ask HIM to keep my heart soft,  and pray.  Jesus Heal. I want to have a soft heart for when I hear of tragedies, of very hard things that my friends and family are going through, so I can weep with them. I want to share in the joys AND the sorrows. His Great Name is what keeps this heart soft. 

Peace In Jerusalem

This morning while reading my favorite book I came across a scripture that I have read a thousand times before. Maybe not this same exact scripture a thousand times but certainly others like it. It goes like this,
" Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you, the Holy City." Psalm 122:6
Normally when I read scriptures that mention praying for the peace of Jerusalem I shout out a quick prayer for peace for them and I am on my merry way, but this morning something hit me.
I was thinking how bizarre it is that the whole world is told in these scriptures to pray for the peace of this city. Would if we came across something that said, "Pray for the peace of Reno, Nevada" ? I think because we have heard this slogan or phrase so many times we don't stop and take note or as the bible says, SELAH. Stop, ponder, think upon these things.
Well, this morning I did just that. I stopped and thought about how Jerusalem is such an unsettled city. Every time I hear of Jerusalem is usually because there was a bomb, or a fight, or something violent going on there. I am happy to report that when I checked the New York times this morning for headlines regarding Jerusalem there was none of the above.
So I thought well, I pray that there will be more days when I check the headlines and don't find them reporting turmoil in Jerusalem. Today in fact there was an article about some who are migrating back to Jerusalem from Peru. I found it so interesting how so many people migrate to different countries for different reasons. Some migrate on their own accord but many leave because they have to.
Then I thought if I was born in this city Jerusalem and I read about my fame in a book that was most famous what would that be like? Would I ever want to leave that city? Many people still live so far away from the city of Jerusalem for fear if they go back they might not survive until their next birthday.
It's worth noting that Jerusalem always will be the center of attention for something because it's not everyday that God's Son is born. It's not everyday that someone as beautiful as Jesus walks the earth. He will come again and I wonder will that be the city he returns to? Is that why I am praying for peace for this city that I have never been to?

Christene and a Prayer Request

My friend Christene called today from Stafford Medical. After countless MRI's and tests and walking around with white round sticky things on her head she was retiring for the night only to wake early tomorrow for "the big dig" as she calls it. How do you sleep on a night like this? Knowing that the next morning they are going to cut open your head.

I am amazed by her strength and attitude despite one of the hardest setbacks in her life(she was in remission for the last 3 years) she still managed to make me laugh. 

She is amazing.

Please keep her in your prayers tomorrow and the rest of the week for her recovery from her 4th brain surgery. 

1 week

In one week I will be traveling to Europe to see my sister Jenny and some friends in Germany. I am so very excited but could really use some prayers support to get everything in order here on the homefront taken care of before I head out. This week my kiddos are out of school on spring break and so I am really looking forward to having the time with them before I go. That part I couldn't have planned better if I tried. BUT, with them being home it will be hard to get the things done that I need to , phone calls, grocery shopping, lot's o laundry (so the big guy doesn't have to worry bout stinky underwear) etc. so that being said I am wondering how it's all going to work. I know it will, I just don't want to procrastinate and cause more chaos for myself than what is necessary. Also, if everyone could pray that while I am gone Moses would be given Superman strength to do both our jobs. "What a man , what a man, what a MIGHTY GOOD man" (just singing) and also for safe travel for me and my traveling companion Andre. We will be all over the map over there and I really don't want to get lost where I don't know the language.
I am pretty sure that I won't have time to blog but if I do I will leave some updates.

Mississippi

We leave tomorrow for Mississippi to see our niece graduate from high school. I don't know how much access I will have to a computer so I probably won't be bloggin for a bit but upon my return I promise a few pics from the trip and also the highlights.
We are leaving the chillins here so could everyone please be praying for them as 7 days is a very long time for those that are under 10 years of age(well it is also a long time for those that are 32 years of age but that's another prayer request.) I know that they are in very good hands and I know that the time with my hubby is going to be fabulous but I just want to cover all the basis here at the homefront and it helps me to know that people are praying , so thank you in advance.
See ya when we get back.

Shout Out

Just thought I would ask for continued prayers for all those who are up at Old Oak Ranch this week. There are 15 of us from Hillside, including Joni and Louie and lil Weezer. I am sure they would appreciate any and all prayers.

Shout Out!!

Just a shout out for my friend Shontell. Lord, let that baby come like yesterday already.
Health, pain free as possible, peace, comfort, strength, rest, wisdom and a debut very soon. Thank you Jesus.
Baby Samuel's already in big trouble.

Please Pray

I am asking everyone I know to keep Moses dad in prayer. His name is Russell. He fell the day before Christmas and broke his hip that he recently had hip replacement surgery on. While in surgery to fix the damage done, he suffered from a massive stroke and is no longer able to speak. He is still in a lot of pain and desperately needs your prayers.

Jesus Prayer For Me

" Sanctify them by the truth; your word is the truth" John 17:17
(sanctify to set apart for a sacred use or make holy)
" In the begining was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" John 1:1
When I first read this scripture I was thinking about God's word being the bible but then reading it again I am thinking of how Jesus is the word.
I think both would apply because the word of God does a work of sanctification in my life on a daily basis. When my heart and attitude are not holy all I need to do is look to the word the bible for an adjustment.
I am so thankful for Jesus being the living translation of the Father's heart for His children.
The scripture in John 17:17 was actually Jesus prayer for me. How amazing is that. I love to read his prayers for me. They are so powerful.
Thank you Jesus for praying for me.

Please Pray

I need prayers for a friend of mines, nephew. He was shot in the arm on Saturday. He is currently at home but is in need of God's mercy,comfort, love, and grace in his life right now. He is only 18. Pray for strength,peace, and wisdom for his parents and grandparents that he lives with right now.
Thank you so very much.

Please Pray

Just thought I would ask for prayers for a close friend who has had to evacuate in Texas with 4 small children and two puppies. Please pray for all those in the south and for a miracle in the weather predictions.

Recent Prayers of The Scofield Kids

So, something that I have loved to do for years is quote my children in thier own special quote books, and well, as of late it has been thier prayers that have been most worthy of quotin. I thought for everyones enjoyment and the lighter side of life I would share some of them with you all.
Solomon- "Momma, I prayed for to Jesus , that for my birwfday that He would send snow and fireworks."
Chloe at lunch-"Dear Lord I pray that you keep us healthy with this good food and more good foods like fruit is healthy, and brocolli is healthy, and milk is healthy, and you Jesus you are healthy ......right Momma??" "Right Chloe"
Emma at bedtime-"I pray for our friends Promise,Samantha, and Nikki that they would feel right at home in thier new home in Oregon and that if that don't that would come back home to thier home in Reno."
Chloe after first day of kindergarten-"Lord thank you for my good day and my new lots of friends, and tomorrow that I go again to school so I will know my friends names.