Author Archives

Norma L. Brumbaugh

Inspirational Writer, Author, and Speaker

PO Box 6432, Chico, CA 95927
nlbrumbaugh@gmail.com

Keep a smile in your heart.

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Choose Love

Choose love. FLY FREE. It’s God’s way. God calls us to leave what is safe–to let go of our prejudices, our biases, our limits and parameters and well-defined boxes. God calls us to love.

We don’t get to choose. God chooses for us. There are lines we must cross out of obedience to His teachings and message.

My walk is not your walk. How can I tell you what God would have you to do? I can’t. That is His business.

We can be blind–so blind–to the work of God. We can’t choose who we are going to love. We love those who God brings to us, who He puts in our path, who He directs us to seek out. There is wisdom in this. We are kept from planning our own destiny by leaving our destiny up to God

Our thinking is shallow at times. But God is never shallow. He is wisdom personified. In Him is abundant wisdom. Trust is well-placed when it rests in Him.

We need to leave what is safe to step into the unscripted way of the cross–the road less traveled. Our friends and family may not understand, but that is not our concern, they don’t have to. Instead we must have the courage to step out into the center of God’s great big will for us, even if it causes consternation and pain to those who do not understand the way of the cross in us. Safe?

Forsaking all, we follow Christ.

God calls us to unconditional love. We tend to put conditions on who we are going to love. We must recognize these conditions and put them aside. We must be free to love ALL, saint or sinner, friend or foe, believer or unbeliever. NO conditions.

God has given me the tools to write. I must write what God gives me to write. I must ask Him to give me the courage, which I know will come relative to my level of trust in Him and my ability to rest in Him.

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United vs Divided

WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL: United we stand, divided we fall. We are divided. Will we fall? What is our current reality and how will we approach this diversity of opinion?

We as a nation have entered a new era. First, there must be an acknowledgement of our differences and why the recent decision of our nation’s Supreme Court has repercussions for us all. There is a major shift in public opinion which is shaping a whole new generation of people. The court’s decision impacts everyone in this country. Will there be an allowance for people to conduct business according to their conscience? How will this play out for those who support gay marriage and also for those who don’t support gay marriage?

My thoughts on the changing scene:

This past week the people of the USA found themselves positioning themselves in one of two groups. When the Supreme Court decision came down, legalizing gay marriage, on one side there was great celebration. Our president was in this group. This group saw the the decision as a progressive movement toward freedom for all of its people. Those in this group were elated because of what this represents to them and their beliefs toward what they perceive as for the better good of society. What they had worked for long and hard was now a reality they could celebrate and enjoy.

On the opposite side is the other group, those who believe in marriage as only between a man and a woman, people who saw the decision as a repressive movement with moral consequences leading to confusion and the compromise of spiritual principals, which promotes something they see as detrimental to its people. In this group there was a pervasive sadness that was deeply felt while they were watching America’s icons being lit up in rainbow color in support of something that went down like an in-the-face affront and shocking to their sensibilities. It was hard for them to see those in leadership, who represent everyone in our nation, choose to represent one segment of the populace in American’s landscape in a way they’ve never seen before.

The way I see it, it seems to me that America is divided on some things which relate back to its people’s beliefs. Five people decided and changed the direction of our future as a nation and through this action they have changed the way we will live out our freedoms. You are either celebrating this or you are grieving this. These judges will be responsible for their decision and their interpretation of the law of our land.

I remember the Roe vs. Wade decision. That was and is a divide that separates us as citizens, which also comes down to our personal belief systems and our views concerning the rights of the unborn. We are what we believe, and our beliefs differ…sometimes greatly differ. But we are also a civil society. We must think of our people and our future. Somehow we must not lose our ability to be true to our own consciences.

We are a country that has prided itself on its liberties and its independence. But these same rights and liberties can be abused and used for the bad. Yes, I have an opinion, and it relates to my spiritual beliefs. I will not compromise what I believe because it goes deeper than just an opinion. My belief in God comes first as it should. I follow His ways and desire to walk as Christ walked. This frames my belief system. We are three dimensional beings. Our beliefs define us. Everyone has a belief system. We act from out of our beliefs.

I will be kind. I choose to be kind. I only ask that you be kind in return. I ask that people on both sides be gracious. Don’t call each other names. That is counter productive. Don’t put someone down because you feel superior to them; that speaks of arrogance. None of us are superior people.

This is not about winning, how can you win or lose if something is a belief system? We don’t need the anger. Please refrain from commenting on this post unless your comment is one that is graciously presented. I desire to make my own statement and not hear the venting.

My motto: Stand up for what you believe is right even if you have to stand alone.