February - A Month of Discovering God

As we wrap up this month of DISCOVERY, it's important to reflect on what has been learned about God and the faith practices of those around us.

This month, I learned that God exists with or without religion.
Religion is merely a social dynamic adapted for people to relate with one another.

I'm grateful to have met God from a different perspective. I have a new-found appreciation for the faith practices of others. There are many cultural differences that divide our human race. Having gained a better understanding of those differences, I am better able to embrace our many similarities.

There is a God.
May you find him now.

~Amber.
A City Mouse. Amber Wetrosky. Copyright © 2007-2012. All Rights Reserved

God

God exists with or without religion.
His magesty abounds in the laughter of children.
The radiant colors of nature are proof that our Creator
is diligently at work. The way sunlight peeks
through the gray clouds on a cold day is God's kiss to
warm a chilly cheek. An act of kindness is the Holy Spirit
reminding us that He is there. A feeling of joy is His way
of mending a broken heart.

I have found through my search, that God exists in the
simple things -- regardless of faith practices, rituals, and
religions alike.

After reading about Islam and comparing my faith practices
to others, I've concluded that my faith, and the
lens through which I peer, suits me best.


I've read about Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, Judaism, and lots more -- in an eager quest to find God.

But it seems, dear readers, that I never misplaced Him.

For He has been with me the whole time.


~Amber

A City Mouse. Amber Wetrosky. Copyright © 2007-2012. All Rights Reserved

Friday Afternoon Islamic Service

There is a Friday afternoon prayer service in South Sioux City, NE from 12:30pm - 1:15pm. I will feel "out of my element" but am looking forward to learning more!
I've done my homework and found this site most helpful.

Islamic Prayer Service Guidelines

Now to find some clean socks and a head covering!

~Amber

A City Mouse. Amber Wetrosky. Copyright © 2007-2012. All Rights Reserved

Thoughts on God

I've encountered skepticism on my quest for understanding.
One person said "But they believe in a different God."

Readers, do you really think that they believe in a different God?
Or do we all believe in God, but view God differently?

This relates to my Lens Theory.

~Amber

A City Mouse. Amber Wetrosky. Copyright © 2007-2012. All Rights Reserved

Finding My Religion

My goal this month is to discover religions which vary from my own.
The human race is akin to cultivate a healthy relationship with God,
however; no two religions view God the same way.
But almost all religions view God.

How do others view God? Are they comfortable with their religion? As it were, I too, crave a healthy relationship with God.

Christianity, Islam, and Judaism base their religions and faith practices on a single God. This is known as Monotheism. [1] Judaism and Islam reject many 
distinctions, particularly that the God of Israel, whom Muslims identify as Allah, which is associated with the Christian notion of a triune God and the doctrine of Jesus as God in the flesh, and the Holy Spirit. [2]

I choose to think of religion as a lens. 
An Islamic person's lens may differ from that of a Buddhist.


Either way, we're all trying to see the same thing through a
different set of eyes.

I was born in a Christian society, to Christian parents, and have lived as a Christian all my life. Christianity is all I know. And sadly, I have viewed Christianity as being vastly superior to all other religions. This is what I was taught, this is what I've learned.

To hold an opinion of something, of which you have no understanding;
is arrogance at its best. - A.D. Wetrosky


There are several religions throughout the world. The Western world is primarily made up of Protestant Christians. Those in this religion
believe that the only way to God is through Jesus Christ. They affirm that their justification is by [Jesus] grace through faith [in Jesus]. [3] 
Because Christianity is common throughout the United States, I will focus my studies more on Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.






Today, I will focus on Islam. It is the second largest religion in the world today.
A Muslim is a follower of the Islamic religion. Those in this religion believe that Allah (known to Western civilizations as God) is one (as opposed to the Christian triune God), and the sole purpose of existence is to worship Allah. [4] The Islam religion considers the Qur'an to be the inerrant word and final revelation of God. Their values are based on Five Pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars are
used as a framework for worship and a sign of  commitment to the Islamic faith. The obligatory Five Pillars of Faith are as follows:

1. The Shahada (the creed)
2. Salat (daily prayers)
3. Sawm (fasting during Ramadan)
4. Zakāt (almsgiving)
5. The pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) at least once in a lifetime. [5]

The five pillars of faith govern subordination and guidance on virtually every aspect of life and society.
Islamic people believe that Allah has many profits inluding Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Ezekiel, Jesus, and Muhammad to name a few. Gabriel was an angel, among many. Gabriel is thought to have scripted Allah's commands without error.

Another Islamic basic belief is Qaran -- or divine predestination. It is thought that human knowledge and future predictions is limited, and the will of Allah is imminent.

Many Muslims believe that Qaran was commanded by God and written in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lauḥ al-Maḥfūẓ). Belief that all that has happened and will happen, which will come to pass as written. A person's actions are not caused by what is written in the Preserved Tablet, rather the action was written in the Tablet because God already knows all occurrences without the restrictions of time. [6]

A final primary Islamic belief is Yawm al-Qiyāmah. This is the Islamic view of the Last Judgment. This is believed to be God's final assessment of human existence at its current stage before Qiyamah (End time).  Similar to Christian beliefs, the time of Qiyamah is unknown and feared.

So it seems that there are striking similarities between Christianity and the Islamic faith. Perhaps it is the verbiage that culminates a mass divide between people, leading to misunderstanding and a widening cultural divide. 

I am grateful to have a few Islamic friends. I plan to reach out, in the coming days, to gain a better understanding of their faith practices and direction in life. If nothing more than to create a realistic perspective and close the culture gap.

Throughout the month, I am hopeful to discover new ways to worship God; to understand and embrace those ways. I am eager to learn and appreciate God through a different set of lenses. Christianity and Islam are only the beginning!

~Amber.

A City Mouse. Amber Wetrosky. Copyright © 2007-2012. All Rights Reserved

1. "Monotheism", Britannica, 15th ed. (1986), 8:266.
2. Monotheism 2012. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
3. Eph. 2:8 KJV.
4. "Human Nature and the Purpose of Existence". Patheos.com. http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam/Beliefs/Human-Nature-and-the-Purpose-of-Existence.html. Retrieved 2012-2-1.
5. Pillars of Islam , Oxford Islamic Studies Online.
6. J. M. Cowan (ed.) (1976). The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic. Wiesbaden, Germany

As today is the last day in January, this marks the last post for
Discovering Boundaries.
As a reminder, each month is 2012 is dedicated to discovering
something new.
~Amber

Love Yourself First

                                                                       

Love yourself first.

When you love yourself and respect your own boundaries,

others will too. Drawing clear boundaries is detrimental

for a healthy sense of self. Respect the limits of others, as you

would have them respect yours. When your boundaries are

pushed, stand firm - but maintain courtesy. Practice saying

"no" when you feel uncomfortable - and of course, say yes

when you can.

Make yourself a priority.

Love yourself first.

~Amber

A City Mouse. Amber Wetrosky. Copyright © 2007-2012. All Rights Reserved

Identifying Toxic Relationships

If we're afraid of how 
someone will react when
we say "no," these people

are the reason we need

boundaries in the first

place. It's their presence

in our lives that makes us

question ourselves.

~Amber

A City Mouse. Amber Wetrosky. Copyright © 2007-2012. All Rights Reserved

Toxic Friendships

Oil is good for the proper lubrication of... pretty much everything.

Water is good for... well, just about everything!

But oil and water together, do not mix.

This is how I describe the term "toxic friendships."

The people within the relationship aren't bad people. But the combination leaves much to be desired.

Part of setting and maintaining clear boundaries is

identifying our toxic relationships and letting them go.

Respect the feelings of others and let them go with love.

Should they demand an explanation, do so ONLY within your

comfort zone.

~Amber.
A City Mouse. Amber Wetrosky. Copyright © 2007-2012. All Rights Reserved

A Year of Disovery

     The New Year brings about new surprises waiting to be discovered, new thoughts to be had, and new challenges to strengthen our spirit. Instead of setting unrealistic expectations known by many enthusiasts as "resolutions," this year, I've created a theme.

My theme for 2012 is Discovery.

     I'm excited to discover people, places, thoughts, and feelings that I wouldn't normally discover if I weren't looking. I plan to discover, embrace, and learn from the things that make me most uncomfortable.

     For the month of January, I've set out to discover and embrace healthy boundaries. Creating and maintaining boundaries preserves a personal balance. A balance between family life, work, and personal time is a virtue desired by many.

     Setting and maintaining healthy boundaries can be a daunting task for even the bravest of heart. Over the years, my desire to please, and my fear of relational abandonment has diminished my boundaries to some degree.

     Being conscious of personal boundaries requires some effort. It requires honesty and strength. A pen and paper may come in handy. Three steps that have helped me with healthy boundaries are:

1. Make a hand written list of people, places, or things that make you feel uncomfortable. Note: Hand writing things instills a sense of commitment and ownership. When you write these things down, you admit that they're troublesome, and you're subconsiously commiting yourself to take action.
2. Say NO.
3. Maintain your stance. 

Refer back to your list when you feel like your boundaries are weakening.

Remember how you felt and why you listed it in the first place.

When you set and enforce personal boundaries, others will gain respect for you and your priorities. Embrace yourself, respect yourself, love yourself.

~Amber.

A City Mouse. Amber Wetrosky. Copyright © 2007-2012. All Rights Reserved

A Recovered Blog!

Friends,
It's been years since I've written here. I thought it was all gone. I'm glad I was mistaken!
Today is a snowy icy day. The cold weather outside makes me want to crawl under the warm blankets and cuddle up with cocoa and a good book. I think I'll do just that.
~Amber

The Mini Vacation

My children are my motivation to continue growing.
I am a student of life.
Learning more everyday - how to be me.

Glad to be back, Amber.
(orig. post 2010)

Maybe more blogging?

Might do some more blogging here, have to think about it though.

Do You Value Holy Matrimony?

One of the headlines on www.hotmail.com says "Is Marriage a smart money move?". Another says "Warning, Annoyances Ahead: Is Moving in together a relationship killer?", and wait... One more!!! "Advice: Rushing into love after divorce".
These headlines obviously aren't promoting marriage as a healthy lifelong vow, rather a choice based on monetary gain and/or fleshly desires - possibly just a "glitch" in one's dating life. The statements made, bother me - really, because marriage is something I take very seriously, and my kids are exposed to comments such as these. They may seem harmless, but by referring to marriage as something people do out of convenience or a stage of life that deserves no real attention drives me up the wall! I feel that there are four important stages in life: you live, you marry, you parent, and you die. Regarding any of these "seasons" as unimportant, a choice of convenience, or a consequence of fleshly recklessness is not only foolish, but could be construed as straight blasphemy.
~Amber

A City Mouse. Amber Wetrosky. Copyright © 2007-2012. All Rights Reserved

An Encouraging Word for the "Under-Privileged"

Many people suggest that poverty may be the worst experience that's ever happened to anyone. I grew up in poverty. It was an experience that's greatly impacted my life in a very positive way. I believe it was one of the best experiences and lifelong lessons that has shaped my character. I, like other "financially under-priveleged" folks don't take things for granted. We enjoy the smaller things in life. We don't need upgrades. We are humble in spirit and find joy in things with substance, rather than expect to find happiness and personal contentment through material things.
Don't get me wrong, I don't hold other's successes against them. I am not jealous of other's accomplishments, rather I stand by silently cheering them on. But when one becomes so engrossed in their personal belongings, career status, or what have you, and depend soley on these things for personal security and self reassurance, I also stand by silently and pray.

Remember what Jesus said when he addressed his disciples...

Matt. 19:24 "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Love to all, Amber

A City Mouse. Amber Wetrosky. Copyright © 2007-2012. All Rights Reserved

Do not judge, lest ye be judged...

As a nation, we are conditioned to look at the top layer to determine value.

This morning, I walked the kids to school.

The air was brisk, the morning sun was shining and the dew glistened from every blade of grass, thus creating a beautiful array of colors.
We walked slow, admiring everything up close and personal.
We greeted curious passerbys, staring on with as we "parked it" on the sidewalk here and there to talk about ... this and that...

Their eyes shone everytime we came upon an ant colony. We admired the intricate workings of ants and talked all about their "servitude". They live for nothing but the greater good of their society as a whole. Look at Proverbs 6:6-8, "Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter."

Isn't this interesting? Okay, so maybe I went off on a little tangent there, but go with me...

I can only hope that my little babies will retain their innocence and see the world through their childhood eyes for as long as they can.
Its better to look a little closer for the small things to determine value, than to judge the overall package at first glance.

I certainly learned alot this morning, and hope that you too will take a walk to notice God's beauty flourishing all around you.

Have a very wonderful day.
Amber

A City Mouse. Amber Wetrosky. Copyright © 2007-2012. All Rights Reserved

Goodbye...

It is been great sharing myself with you. I am however, going to tell you, Goodbye. I wish no longer for such personal information about myself to be posted for the whole world to see. What I went through last spring was very personal and very deep. Already too many people know, I wish I could take that back.
I emerged from my depression a much stronger person. So has my husband.
I want to thank you all for your prayers and thoughts.
God Speed, Amber