". . . In A Melancholy Way"

Do you feel like the song from State Fair describing lovesickness? Well, if you' haven't fallen head-over-heels for someone, it may be Spring Fever.
I've read that Spring Fever is what happens to your immune system when, after the cold winter, it becomes suddenly warm, instead of gradually, and puts a strain on your body trying to adjust to the sudden change.

Other articles have said that it has nothing to do with the weather, only the pollens of spring, therefore it's really allergies. People may not think it's allergies if they don't have the common allergy symptoms. The less popular allergy symptoms are headaches, nausea, digestive problems, or lethargy (feeling drained and listless). You will probably know if this is the case if an antihistamine or a natural remedy makes you feel better.

In an old black & white Tom Sawyer movie, he was out-of-sorts with his aunt, so she said he must have Spring Fever and made him take some cod liver oil. Nowadays we know that essential fatty acids (like fish oils) are good for the immune system, inflammation and other allergy symptoms. See this informative article.
This article, explaining the 'Hygiene Hypothesis', states that allergic reactions might have something to do with our lack of tolerance to dust mites and other organisms that didn't use to bother us much in years past, until our society started keeping things too clean. ?

Whatever the theory about Spring Fever, it should pass when the wacky weather changes calm down and the pollen counts decrease.
But if your Spring Fever is caused by the Love Bug, here is one remedy that may help. "The treatment of lovesickness requires that the individual develop reliable sources of unconditional love." Robert F. Foreman PhD
Such sources of unconditional love should come from family members, best friends, and more importantly from a close relationship with the One who created you. You will be more likely to tone down that obsessive "needy" feeling, or to get over unrequited love if you nurture other relationships where you feel secure and accepted, just the way you are.

Praise Him in Your Storms

Sometimes it's hard to trust that everything is under His control.

Resurrection Day

The Bible emphasizes that Jesus was raised by the power of the Father (Rom. 6:4; Gal. 1:1;). Jesus also was raised by His own power. In John 10:18 He says, "I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." And Romans 8:11 says He was raised by the power of the Spirit. The entire Trinity is responsible for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Why is the fact that Jesus rose from the dead so important to our faith?
It means - He is the prophesied Messiah. Isaiah 53
It means - the sin that we are born into because of man's original disobedience is finally covered.
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

It means - that His children will follow in that resurrection to a joyous eternal life, instead of a horrendous one.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

It means - when we become His true follower we now have an advocate, a mediator to make it possible to commune with our Father, who does not tolerate sin.
1John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

I'm so greatful that Jesus will be there beside me as my advocate, because how unworthy I will feel. How much of what I put importance on is truly gold, and how much is only stubble and won't mean anything when I'm standing before the Great throne on that final day? None of us will measure up to all we could do with the resources and opportunities He gives us. That's why, as far back as Adam (Gen. 3:15), the Messiah has comforted His people with the promise of redemption, and gave the Law to cause us to hope in the promise of a redeemer.
Gal 3:19, 24 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator...Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The Resurrection is the hope throughout the old testament, the theme of the first sermons ever preached by the early church in Acts, and the theme throughout the epistles.
Heb 9:15 And for this cause He is the mediator of the new covenant, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

What a good reason to mark a special day as a tribute, and an opportunity of witness to the world. An event that has more status than our birthday, or any other day.
Have a great day with a heart full of gratitude.

Messiah - Our Atonement

As we remember Christ's sacrifice, think on this picture that I was told recently.
John 20:12 tells us a second angel accompanied the first angel in Christ's empty tomb--one was at the head of where the body once laid, and one was at the feet. That beautiful picture is reminiscent of the Ark of the Covenant. On the top of the Ark of the Covenant was the Mercy Seat, where atonement was made for sin. Cherubim were positioned on both sides of the mercy seat. In the tomb the angels were positioned on either side of the absent body of Christ--the same body that was offered as the atonement, the satisfaction for the sins of the world.

Wondering why Easter is coming so early this year? Here are interesting facts about that from Life With My Special K's.
You can have the dates of future Easters calculated here.

Also - today is National Down Syndrome Day! Find out why this day is chosen, over at Wonderful Writings.

Support the Right to Homeschool

Biblical Womanhood On-line has all the info about the California Court of Appeal's recent decision over homeschooling.
Please take time to support the California Call-To-Action Campaign and sign this petition from (click on the icon)

You don't have to live in California, just in the United States and territories. This will eventually effect all states and territories.

I had (partially) homeschooled my daughter for only a few years through Jr High, and I am so glad that we still have the liberty to make that decision. Like everything else, there are always going to be those that abuse this right, so bad press puts the rest at risk. We have to prevent more and more restrictions on a parent's right to do what they feel best for their child. Before you support a Bill that will restrict any of our freedom's for the sake of protecting against abuse, make sure there isn't already enough laws in place that just aren't being enforced (which there are in this case). Heaping on unnecessary laws can lead to a Big Brother government that will no longer be accountable to it's citizens.
To be more informed, visit the links above.

Make A Difference For One More Person

Do you want to give a little girl the opportunity of a half-way decent education?
Years ago, while on a missions trip, my daughter and son-in-law developed a special bond with a young Christian couple struggling to make a living. It is very expensive for most parents in that country to put a child into a school that will offer enough of an education to keep them from having to raise their own family in the squatters shacks that so many have to use for a home. This is the hope they have for their child. But in comparison, it doesn't seem like that much to us Americans. So Deliverance and Josh had taken on the task of helping to pay schooling fees to J-'s parents to give her that education, who faithfully give reports of her progress with each report card.
Now support has dropped off, and because of some unexpected financial strain, they cannot make sure J- will be able to stay in her school. They (and a few of us supporters) may be able to send a little to her family, but not nearly enough to cover the $600 this year that will let her continue.
I will not give J-'s name or the country she lives in because of the very real possibility of kidnapping of any person receiving money from us "rich Americans".
This a picture of a family living in a squatters village, because they couldn't go to a school that gives them the ability to acquire a good job. J-'s parents hope she will not have to grow up to live in one of these make-shift villages.

To read more about this story, or to find out how to donate (no matter how small) please go to the blog that Deliverance set up just for them, which is also on my sidebar links. There will be updates about J-'s schooling as they come in. Every little bit helps "one person at a time".

Loveable Pitbull Videos

What they're really like when they've never had a "fight trainer".






Some famous "Bully's"... Jessica Biel (??), Daddy, Isaboo, Backup, Target, Petey, Tige, Neville, Sgt Stubby, Michael J. Fox (?), Helen Kellar's Sir Thomas, Tobey, Nipper, Sui, Dakota