Month: August 2010

With war on the brink and other madness on the home front
here in the Negev, recording has kinda been on the back burner. I am asking if
you would prayerfully consider helping me to record a new album. Click on the link below and make any contribution. Even small amounts will go a long way. Worthy Cause?? I thank you PROFUSELY in advance. XOXO

http://www.indiegogo.com/Baht-Rivka-Whitten-?a=33012&i=fbst

We as human beings tend to blame people for their lousy behavior and then make generalizations about them — this is how racism and other forms of intolerance thrive in our society.

Here in Israel we are surrounded by a majority of people who dislike us greatly and actively try to hurt us — they aim rockets and bombs at us, targeting places crammed with innocent people like buses and marketplaces (and to make matters worse, the whole world around us seems to think we deserve it…. but I digress).

When you are faced with this kind of persecution daily — when it’s your neighbor, your friend, your family member calling to tell you they were nearly a casualty of such an attack — when rockets are coming down just a few miles from your home — it’s hard not to make generalizations and become intolerant. It’s much easier to get bitter — to want to fight back — to defend yourself — to protect your loved ones and your home.

This is the much bigger picture — and in my opinion, the ultimate answer to all forms of mistreatment or persecution you might be facing today. The people who do these things do not understand that they are being manipulated by an enemy who hates us — a powerful force who would like nothing more than to lie to us, kill us, steal our joy and all the good things we deserve.  This evil entity wants total control of our lives.

Here is my point: We need to get crackin at HIM. We must not be angry at the people doing these things — they are simply pawns in his game….poor people — they know not what they do.

An episode tonight with a bug reminded me of this funny story. Before we were married, my husband took me on this sweet hiking trail, along  a river not far from his house.

About a mile or two in I started hearing this loud and bizarre humming sound. “Honey,” I said, “Do you hear that buzzing sound?” “No,” he replied. Once again, I heard this strange sound and asked him “Hear that?”… still no.

Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. This ENORMOUS shiny bug flying along with me, right about at ear level… Eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This thing FOLLOWED me as I began to walk faster and yet faster until I found myself running full speed for dear life, an entire mile an half back to the car — I don’t think I have ever run so fast for so long….. and this thing stayed at my side all the way to the car. It was FREAKY!

So, the moral of today’s story is not a spiritual one, but a wise word nonetheless: I don’t care HOW BADLY you want to impress your man — never, NEVER wear perfume hiking — you might impress a big bug MORE. LOL. ~Thoughts from the Negev :)

Good things are happening in the desert. :) With the sacrificial assistance of a busy friend of mine, I discovered that my primary love language is communication. This means that I feel best and most loved when I have good communication with someone. This was very, VERY. good for me to understand. She also helped me understand the utmost importance of what I have named my husband’s “respect language.” I am learning the beauty and depth of God’s design for marriage….
It rained today — in the middle of the dead summer heat — and then a breathtaking rainbow showed itself right above us. He loves us… oh, how He loves us. ~Thoughts from the Negev :)

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us. Hmmm. ~Thoughts from the Negev :)