Anytime I hear or think these two words together, I think of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" when they walk into the room with the knight and the hundreds of chalices. And in that scene, the man who chooses poorly dies.
This morning I was thinking about the things I may need on my "to do" list today. In fact, on any given day there are dozens of things that I might need or want to do, but I only have probably sixteen hours before I have to sleep again. In the movie, all but one of the chalices was made of precious metal and
heavily jeweled--but they all led to death. Similarly, I could choose
entertainment, or housework, or crafting of some sort, in
addition to doing school with the kids. None of these is intrinsically
evil, and "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:", I just don't always do things in their proper "season".
So as I thought about the things crying out for attention today, I prayed that I would choose wisely what I devote my time to. "Wisely" is kind of subjective. What may be "wise" for today might NOT be "wise" tomorrow or next week-- which is why I need help to recognize today's wise choices. I'm not afraid that I'll die if I choose poorly, but there will most certainly be consequences... The good news is that there is no choice I can make to cause God to love me any more or less than He already does in Christ! =)
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Romans 6:8-16
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Someone is ALWAYS Watching
I was thinking this morning about an email that a sister sent me a couple months ago. I had asked her to pray for me because I was struggling with selfishness in my heart. She was encouraging me that she had seen growth in my life. And I thought about how much I've learned and been encouraged by watching her life. That ran into thinking about watching my kids and other little people grow up, and how there are lots of older friends who have watched ME grow up. At first I thought, well, the older you get, the more people are watching you. Then I realized that people have been looking to my example-- for some reason there have always been people who mistakenly think that I've got my life together-- since I was very young. Light bulb moment: No matter your age or seeming anonymity, there will always be someone who is looking to you, WATCHING you, for a standard in their life. And beyond that, our Creator and King sees everything. So live carefully!
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
Philippians 3:8-17
The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.
Psalms 33:13-15
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
Philippians 3:8-17
The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.
Psalms 33:13-15
Monday, February 25, 2013
Short Fuse
I have always had a big temper and a short fuse. This morning I got up late, and got hung up working with pictures on the computer-- and forgot to eat breakfast. I also didn't get my devotions in. Bad plan since time with my King is the only thing able to lengthen my fuse. =( And my sweet Crew were the unhappy recipients of my temper. Mornings like this remind me just HOW MUCH I need a Savior. I need Him just as much today as I did when He first saved me, and I will continue to need Him until I die or He returns! But the good news is that He is patient with sinners! =)
In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?" Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power. Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel. In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror. When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.
Psalms 78:14-38
In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?" Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power. Yet he commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, and he rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven. Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; he rained meat on them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths, the anger of God rose against them, and he killed the strongest of them and laid low the young men of Israel. In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe. So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror. When he killed them, they sought him; they repented and sought God earnestly. They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer. But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not faithful to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath.
Psalms 78:14-38
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Pizza, Pizza, Pizza
I was busy this weekend first throwing, and then recovering from a birthday party. I think it was quite a success. The guests seemed to have fun, and the guest of honor DEFINITELY enjoyed herself! =) Her dinner request was pizza and fruit salad, and since we invited nearly fifty people, and most of those RSVP'd I wanted to be sure to have plenty of food... So I cooked eight 16" pizzas. Apparently this was a bit much as I brought home three of those, and left about a quarter of one with my parents. (Rental fee for letting us use their house. ;)) So in one way, it was nice to eat left-overs all day yesterday, but that meant that we ate pizza for four meals in a row! Well, five for Shorty and the kids as they ate the last of it for breakfast this morning! =?
Last night after supper I was thinking that I may not want to eat pizza for six weeks! That's a stretch, because I LOVE pizza. In fact, my brother and I argued when we were in high school about which of us could eat pizza for the most consecutive meals! =) But then I was reminded of the children of Israel when they were wandering in the wilderness. They ate manna for 40 YEARS!!! I was getting sick of pizza after less than TWO DAYS! And all of a sudden, I had a whole lot more compassion for their grumbling in the wilderness. I'm a whole lot like they were-- after all, people are people no matter their age, race, or place in history. And God is God, and is FAITHFUL to His people in spite of our sin! =)
They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily." So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "At evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?"
Exodus 16:1-7
Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at." Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. The people went about and gathered it and ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it. And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil.
Numbers 11:4-8
Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, 'This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and had committed great blasphemies, you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.
Nehemiah 9:18-21
Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Psalms 111:1-10
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Last night after supper I was thinking that I may not want to eat pizza for six weeks! That's a stretch, because I LOVE pizza. In fact, my brother and I argued when we were in high school about which of us could eat pizza for the most consecutive meals! =) But then I was reminded of the children of Israel when they were wandering in the wilderness. They ate manna for 40 YEARS!!! I was getting sick of pizza after less than TWO DAYS! And all of a sudden, I had a whole lot more compassion for their grumbling in the wilderness. I'm a whole lot like they were-- after all, people are people no matter their age, race, or place in history. And God is God, and is FAITHFUL to His people in spite of our sin! =)
They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily." So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "At evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?"
Exodus 16:1-7
Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at." Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. The people went about and gathered it and ground it in handmills or beat it in mortars and boiled it in pots and made cakes of it. And the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil.
Numbers 11:4-8
Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, 'This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and had committed great blasphemies, you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.
Nehemiah 9:18-21
Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Psalms 111:1-10
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Getting Old
Tomorrow will be an exciting day around the Fincher house (read that "chaotic day"). We are having Chaya's birthday party. In true me style, I'm trying to make my little person happy... which means I'm trying to prepare a couple Valentine's day activities. Actually, I thought her idea of making Valentines at her party was grand since the original plan was to have it before February 14. =) But life happened, and other commitments got in the way...
Anyway, in keeping with my last minute attempts to prepare for the fun in my life, I was sitting in the floor a couple hours ago cutting out heart shapes with my x-acto knife. I was sitting Indian style on the floor for about an hour and a half all together. The sad thing was that when I tried to stand up, all my joints protested! So I moaned, "Oh! I'm old! I'm old! I'm old!" And my Crew laughed at me. But that got me started thinking about a passage in Psalms that I've been studying.
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Psalms 92:12-15
Now I know that I'm not REALLY old yet. But there are days and times when I feel my mounting years. I love that this passage says that even when God's people are old, they will still bear fruit for Him. And then I thought of another verse.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16
Anyway, in keeping with my last minute attempts to prepare for the fun in my life, I was sitting in the floor a couple hours ago cutting out heart shapes with my x-acto knife. I was sitting Indian style on the floor for about an hour and a half all together. The sad thing was that when I tried to stand up, all my joints protested! So I moaned, "Oh! I'm old! I'm old! I'm old!" And my Crew laughed at me. But that got me started thinking about a passage in Psalms that I've been studying.
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Psalms 92:12-15
Now I know that I'm not REALLY old yet. But there are days and times when I feel my mounting years. I love that this passage says that even when God's people are old, they will still bear fruit for Him. And then I thought of another verse.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Not Right
Have I mentioned that my children are a lot like me? And that I learn-- or at least think about-- more lessons through things I am trying to teach them than through anything else? Probably because they are so much like me... at least sometimes. ;)
For example, Judah really likes to be right. In school he gets upset when he gets a wrong answer. And he gets mad at me if I won't tell him immediately whether an answer is right or wrong. He wants perfect scores on EVERYTHING! I had to talk to him recently about this type of situation. We were sitting at church in the middle of service, and he was pestering me to look over his answers to the sermon questions. Each time I told him to wait, he puffed up and sulked for several minutes. Right at the end of the service, it hit me that he was fixated on being "right". He wasn't so much concerned with listening to the sermon-- or in school, learning the lesson-- as thinking that he is "right". He is an awful lot like me! I have only begun to see that tendency in my life the last five years or so... not that it wasn't there before, I just didn't notice it or think it was a problem. =/
I started thinking about this earlier today as I was reading in the last chapter of Dug Down Deep, by Joshua Harris. (Another good read that I highly recommend. =)) The chapter is titled "Humble Orthodoxy". In it, he is encouraging readers to be concerned with right doctrine, but to approach it in humility, always aware that we can be wrong on many points. The following quote may be my favorite part of the book-- probably because it addresses an area of weakness (manifested by pride) in my life.
"It's not enough to get our doctrine straight. Life and doctrine can't be separated. Our lives either put the beauty of God's truth on display, or they obscure it.
---------
It helps me to remember that one day in heaven there will be only one right person.
I'm sorry, but it won't be you. Or me.
It will be God.
Everybody else in heaven will be wrong in a million different ways about a million different things. The Bible tells us that only those who trusted in Jesus Christ, who turned from sin and believed in him, will be in God's presence. But on a host of secondary matters, we'll all discover how much we got wrong." --Joshua Harris
My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
Psalms 34:2-3
Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD."
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Romans 16:25-27
For example, Judah really likes to be right. In school he gets upset when he gets a wrong answer. And he gets mad at me if I won't tell him immediately whether an answer is right or wrong. He wants perfect scores on EVERYTHING! I had to talk to him recently about this type of situation. We were sitting at church in the middle of service, and he was pestering me to look over his answers to the sermon questions. Each time I told him to wait, he puffed up and sulked for several minutes. Right at the end of the service, it hit me that he was fixated on being "right". He wasn't so much concerned with listening to the sermon-- or in school, learning the lesson-- as thinking that he is "right". He is an awful lot like me! I have only begun to see that tendency in my life the last five years or so... not that it wasn't there before, I just didn't notice it or think it was a problem. =/
I started thinking about this earlier today as I was reading in the last chapter of Dug Down Deep, by Joshua Harris. (Another good read that I highly recommend. =)) The chapter is titled "Humble Orthodoxy". In it, he is encouraging readers to be concerned with right doctrine, but to approach it in humility, always aware that we can be wrong on many points. The following quote may be my favorite part of the book-- probably because it addresses an area of weakness (manifested by pride) in my life.
"It's not enough to get our doctrine straight. Life and doctrine can't be separated. Our lives either put the beauty of God's truth on display, or they obscure it.
---------
It helps me to remember that one day in heaven there will be only one right person.
I'm sorry, but it won't be you. Or me.
It will be God.
Everybody else in heaven will be wrong in a million different ways about a million different things. The Bible tells us that only those who trusted in Jesus Christ, who turned from sin and believed in him, will be in God's presence. But on a host of secondary matters, we'll all discover how much we got wrong." --Joshua Harris
My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!
Psalms 34:2-3
Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD."
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Romans 16:25-27
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
From Suffering to Glory
It is shaping up to be a VERY BUSY week-- and longer-- at the Fincher house. That being said, I thought I'd share eloquent thoughts from someone else. One of my dear sisters gave me a devotional book for my birthday called Comforts from the Cross. I don't read it everyday, but it beautifully highlights aspects of the gospel that I often forget to think about, or just need to be reminded of on any given day! =) So today's entry was titled "From Suffering to Glory". Here is the biblical account she starts with, followed by an excerpt that stuck out to me:
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him." The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?" Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."
John 11:1-44
~~When we're facing the prospect of lifelong pain or the possibility of final separation from a beloved friend, it's easy to think that we know what would best glorify God. When it's my pain or loss, I think that God's glory would be seen most clearly in my immediate deliverance. But when I look at this story (and so many others), I see something different. I see Jesus raising a man who had been in the tomb four days, and I know that nothing is impossible. Sure, he could have instantly alleviated the family's suffering, but Jesus is more interested in our eternal cure than he is in our temporal relief. (Emphasis mine.)
Jesus is not a genie in a bottle nor is he a heartless despot. He is your compassionate Savior. That is why he waited until all hope was gone before he went back to Bethany, intent on blessing his friends and infuriating his enemies. He had already tallied up the cost of this act of love. He traversed the 25 miles to raise his friend from death and lay down his life...
I don't know what you are suffering right now, but he does. He is not capricious, picking petals off a daisy: "I think I'll help them, I think I won't." He's bearing your suffering and has entered into every bit of it, but he is waiting. Perhaps your deliverance will come before you take your next breath; perhaps it will come as you take your last. I don't know. But I do know that he has made a promise to you: if you believe you will see the glory of God (John 11:40). Just imagine that. Hang on to him in faith and imagine that you will see the glory of God! Your eyes will be opened to see how truly wise, powerful, and good he is.~~ Elyse Fitzpatrick
If you want short and sweet encouragement in the greatness of the gospel, I'd encourage you to buy this book! =)
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him." The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?" Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."
John 11:1-44
~~When we're facing the prospect of lifelong pain or the possibility of final separation from a beloved friend, it's easy to think that we know what would best glorify God. When it's my pain or loss, I think that God's glory would be seen most clearly in my immediate deliverance. But when I look at this story (and so many others), I see something different. I see Jesus raising a man who had been in the tomb four days, and I know that nothing is impossible. Sure, he could have instantly alleviated the family's suffering, but Jesus is more interested in our eternal cure than he is in our temporal relief. (Emphasis mine.)
Jesus is not a genie in a bottle nor is he a heartless despot. He is your compassionate Savior. That is why he waited until all hope was gone before he went back to Bethany, intent on blessing his friends and infuriating his enemies. He had already tallied up the cost of this act of love. He traversed the 25 miles to raise his friend from death and lay down his life...
I don't know what you are suffering right now, but he does. He is not capricious, picking petals off a daisy: "I think I'll help them, I think I won't." He's bearing your suffering and has entered into every bit of it, but he is waiting. Perhaps your deliverance will come before you take your next breath; perhaps it will come as you take your last. I don't know. But I do know that he has made a promise to you: if you believe you will see the glory of God (John 11:40). Just imagine that. Hang on to him in faith and imagine that you will see the glory of God! Your eyes will be opened to see how truly wise, powerful, and good he is.~~ Elyse Fitzpatrick
If you want short and sweet encouragement in the greatness of the gospel, I'd encourage you to buy this book! =)
Monday, February 18, 2013
Who Is THIS???
Yesterday during Sunday school we were in Colossians 1:15-20.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:15-20
When we got to the part "in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell", we began to discuss other passages that state the God-ness, the full deity, of Jesus Christ. I was reminded of the story that I read to Chaya in one of her reading lessons last week.
And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
Mark 4:36-41
I used to wonder why the disciples were so amazed in this story. But I am reading from the perspective of a twentieth century Westerner. I grew up on the Bible stories. And sometimes the miraculous nature of the events is lost on me. A couple months ago I was reading in Psalms and came upon this passage:
By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples,
Psalms 65:5-7
After reading this I realized why the disciples were so afraid-- well, probably. This passage in Psalms is speaking about the power of Yaweh, the God of Israel, the One True God. And the disciples, being Jews, would have been familiar with this passage. So they would know that God is the only one with power over the wind and waves. It was as if they were looking at Jesus, and thinking, "Only God can command the wind and seas. He MUST be God. But how can a MAN be GOD?!?! Who IS this?"
So as I was chewing over how to write this down, I was reminded of a song we used in a Christmas play at church a few years ago. It is called "Who is this?"
If you are interested, you can listen to it here:
"Who is this? (Miracles)"
A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, "Glory!" The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
Psalms 29:1-11
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5:11-14
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:15-20
When we got to the part "in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell", we began to discuss other passages that state the God-ness, the full deity, of Jesus Christ. I was reminded of the story that I read to Chaya in one of her reading lessons last week.
And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
Mark 4:36-41
I used to wonder why the disciples were so amazed in this story. But I am reading from the perspective of a twentieth century Westerner. I grew up on the Bible stories. And sometimes the miraculous nature of the events is lost on me. A couple months ago I was reading in Psalms and came upon this passage:
By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples,
Psalms 65:5-7
After reading this I realized why the disciples were so afraid-- well, probably. This passage in Psalms is speaking about the power of Yaweh, the God of Israel, the One True God. And the disciples, being Jews, would have been familiar with this passage. So they would know that God is the only one with power over the wind and waves. It was as if they were looking at Jesus, and thinking, "Only God can command the wind and seas. He MUST be God. But how can a MAN be GOD?!?! Who IS this?"
So as I was chewing over how to write this down, I was reminded of a song we used in a Christmas play at church a few years ago. It is called "Who is this?"
If you are interested, you can listen to it here:
"Who is this? (Miracles)"
A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, "Glory!" The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
Psalms 29:1-11
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5:11-14
Friday, February 15, 2013
Song of the Day- 9
We began a children's program for Wednesday nights at our church last week. Our pastor's wife does an awesome job coordinating the music and is using the Seeds Family Worship songs for our beginning assembly. My Crew and I have been singing the two songs from this week for the last two days. And the great thing about the Seeds songs is that they are simply Bible verses set to music! =)
So, for your listening pleasure... ;)
"Do not be Anxious"
"Young"
So, for your listening pleasure... ;)
"Do not be Anxious"
"Young"
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Fairy Tales
I love fairy tales! When I was a kid, I read every fairy tale I could get my hands on, from many different cultures. Now, with the trend of retelling fairy tales, and making TV series and movies based on fairy tales, I've been really excited... but the retellings are a bit wanting, in my opinion. I wrote in a previous post that I love happy endings. The happy ending is an integral part of a fairy tale! I was reading an interesting new weaving of fairy tales recently, but the main characters were ALL monsters! This was a bit frustrating for me because, as I was telling Shorty, there is a REASON that there are "good guys" in fairy tales, and there is a REASON for monsters. People did not previously aspire to become monsters! The reason for monsters and dragons in fairy tales is so that they can be defeated.
"Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed." -- G. K. Chesterton
Now as I was looking for this quote, (I had been told that it was from Hans Christian Anderson) I found lots of threads suggesting that fairy tales are unnecessary or even detrimental to children. After reading some of them, I can only come to the conclusion that much of my generation is living without hope. They see fairy tales as wishful thinking. And "happily ever afters" as foolishness. I see fairy tales as a dim reflection of the gospel-- certainly not adequate, but a starting place. =) You have a character (or characters) in need-- all mankind sinned in Adam and are guilty before God. You have a hero who is able to satisfy the need-- God became man, satisfied the righteous requirement of the law, and then died as payment for the sins of His people. And of course, there is the "happily ever after" when everything in the story is set to rights-- one day Christ will return to judge the world and finally and fully deliver his people from the presence of sin! I'm waiting for happily ever after! =)
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
Titus 1:1-3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Revelation 21:1-7
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:1-5
"Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed." -- G. K. Chesterton
Now as I was looking for this quote, (I had been told that it was from Hans Christian Anderson) I found lots of threads suggesting that fairy tales are unnecessary or even detrimental to children. After reading some of them, I can only come to the conclusion that much of my generation is living without hope. They see fairy tales as wishful thinking. And "happily ever afters" as foolishness. I see fairy tales as a dim reflection of the gospel-- certainly not adequate, but a starting place. =) You have a character (or characters) in need-- all mankind sinned in Adam and are guilty before God. You have a hero who is able to satisfy the need-- God became man, satisfied the righteous requirement of the law, and then died as payment for the sins of His people. And of course, there is the "happily ever after" when everything in the story is set to rights-- one day Christ will return to judge the world and finally and fully deliver his people from the presence of sin! I'm waiting for happily ever after! =)
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
Titus 1:1-3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
Revelation 21:1-7
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:1-5
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
My Favorite Person
I met my favorite person about thirteen and a half years ago. I was new to the community and high school, and was searching for a home church. He was a young adult who still acted more like a kid. It really is funny reminiscing over how the Lord put us together. Some of our earliest thoughts and observations about each other are rather comical in their inadequacy! We both joke that we had to "wait for [Leila] to grow up" before we could get married, but marriage was definitely on the table from the beginning.
We were sitting up chatting recently and our conversation turned to the first years of our marriage. We agree that they were less than exceptional. We hadn't realized how very different we were, and we were not excellent communicators. Add to that the fact that I was VERY young, and almost didn't have cards in the "discretion" suit! I think we would both say that for the first four to five years, we were NOT each others' "favorite person". Sure, we had good times and fun talks, and God blessed us with four babies-- but the joys of marriage were more exception than norm.
And then God began really growing us spiritually. He stretched our theology. He kindled a desire in each of us to know more of Him. And in the process, He also got really busy knitting our hearts together. We became more aware of our differences, but we also learned-- and are still learning-- to appreciate them. We've both learned to communicate together more effectively. And with my Shorty's help, I've added a few cards to my discretion suit. ;) I'm not saying that it's all roses now. We are both still sinners, and sin against each other regularly. But my Shorty is my favorite person. In fact, I often think, "I know he is far from perfect, but he's the perfect guy for me!" =)
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
Ephesians 5:22-31
As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women. As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me!
Song of Solomon 2:2-6
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.
Song of Solomon 8:7
We were sitting up chatting recently and our conversation turned to the first years of our marriage. We agree that they were less than exceptional. We hadn't realized how very different we were, and we were not excellent communicators. Add to that the fact that I was VERY young, and almost didn't have cards in the "discretion" suit! I think we would both say that for the first four to five years, we were NOT each others' "favorite person". Sure, we had good times and fun talks, and God blessed us with four babies-- but the joys of marriage were more exception than norm.
And then God began really growing us spiritually. He stretched our theology. He kindled a desire in each of us to know more of Him. And in the process, He also got really busy knitting our hearts together. We became more aware of our differences, but we also learned-- and are still learning-- to appreciate them. We've both learned to communicate together more effectively. And with my Shorty's help, I've added a few cards to my discretion suit. ;) I'm not saying that it's all roses now. We are both still sinners, and sin against each other regularly. But my Shorty is my favorite person. In fact, I often think, "I know he is far from perfect, but he's the perfect guy for me!" =)
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
Ephesians 5:22-31
As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women. As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me!
Song of Solomon 2:2-6
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.
Song of Solomon 8:7
Monday, February 11, 2013
Recovering
Well, we seem to have survived flu season and our final patient is well on the mend. =) It has been a very enlightening month for me though. I used to think that I could survive the illnesses that occasionally hit my family pretty easily, because my Crew are generally healthy. But as I've thought back over the past month, (and more realistically at the previous few years) I've realized that I start to fall apart when sickness hits. I don't mean that chunks of my body literally start falling off, or even that my house is that much of a mess-- although it is some days! ;) In the chaos that follows "sick" into our home, my devotions start to slip. And if the sickness is drawn out over weeks, I begin to lose my taste for spiritual things. So now we are ALL "recovering" from illness-- I'm just recovering from being sin-sick. Thankfully, Jesus Christ lived and died for my sin-sickness! =)
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Romans 3:10-18
And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Mark 2:14-17
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:3-6
For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:16-18
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:9-10
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Romans 3:10-18
And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Mark 2:14-17
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:3-6
For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:16-18
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:9-10
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Stains
Reanna is still contagious, so Shorty and I switched off for church today. He attended Sunday school, and I went for the worship service. One of my FAVORITE things to do when most or all of my Crew is out of the house is clean. I just get so much MORE done without the demands of my little blessings (read "mess-makers" ;))! So I got myself mostly ready to go, and then I began the cleaning session. The majority of which was laundry.
Shorty's workout yesterday was a series of bear crawls, crab walks, and military crawls at the football field. This led to some significant grass stains on his sweat shirt and pants. He had asked me the night before if I could get grass stains out. I told him that I could... but it might take a while. =? So after starting a load to wash, I began working on the stains. And I started thinking about how my sinful actions "stain" me. It leaves a mark on me. Then I had the amazing thought that in Christ, God sees me spotless. Only God could wash the stains of sin from a human soul! And that's good news! =)
Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord GOD.
Jeremiah 2:22
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Psalms 51:1-3
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 1:18
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:20-26
Shorty's workout yesterday was a series of bear crawls, crab walks, and military crawls at the football field. This led to some significant grass stains on his sweat shirt and pants. He had asked me the night before if I could get grass stains out. I told him that I could... but it might take a while. =? So after starting a load to wash, I began working on the stains. And I started thinking about how my sinful actions "stain" me. It leaves a mark on me. Then I had the amazing thought that in Christ, God sees me spotless. Only God could wash the stains of sin from a human soul! And that's good news! =)
Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord GOD.
Jeremiah 2:22
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Psalms 51:1-3
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 1:18
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:20-26
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Heavy
Do you ever have a moment when something that has been rolling off your tongue hits you like a ton of bricks? I've been praying for a couple of months that God would "help me to be faithful in the responsibilities [He's] entrusted to me." As I prayed that this morning, it hit me that that is a totally LOADED prayer!!!
Definition time. Three words: faithful, responsibilities, entrusted.
faithful: 3. constant in the performance of duties or services; exact in attending to commands; as a faithful servant.
responsibilities: 1. The state of being accountable or answerable, as for a trust or office, or for a debt.
entrusted: 1. to charge or invest with a trust or responsibility; charge with a specified office or duty involving trust: We entrusted him with our lives.
I am well aware of the fact that I often fail to be faithful. And I know that when God puts something under my care, I must answer to Him for how I care for those things. So I'm asking for His help because I know I'm weak, but that is a BIG thing that I'm asking of Him. But praise be to God that He is ABLE to do BIG things!
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
In hope he [Abraham] believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
Romans 4:18-21
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10
Definition time. Three words: faithful, responsibilities, entrusted.
faithful: 3. constant in the performance of duties or services; exact in attending to commands; as a faithful servant.
responsibilities: 1. The state of being accountable or answerable, as for a trust or office, or for a debt.
entrusted: 1. to charge or invest with a trust or responsibility; charge with a specified office or duty involving trust: We entrusted him with our lives.
I am well aware of the fact that I often fail to be faithful. And I know that when God puts something under my care, I must answer to Him for how I care for those things. So I'm asking for His help because I know I'm weak, but that is a BIG thing that I'm asking of Him. But praise be to God that He is ABLE to do BIG things!
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
In hope he [Abraham] believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
Romans 4:18-21
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10
Friday, February 8, 2013
Unrestricted Access
God always gives good gifts! One grand gift that He has given to married couples is the gift of physical intimacy. I was thinking recently about Shorty's & my wedding night. We had only kissed for the first time a few hours before. And I smiled remembering the first time we had "unrestricted access" to one another.
So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Genesis 2:21-25
The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
1 Corinthians 7:3-4
Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths.
Proverbs 5:15-21
So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Genesis 2:21-25
The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
1 Corinthians 7:3-4
Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths.
Proverbs 5:15-21
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Dry
It's been a long six weeks. Sickness really wears me out. I think the hardest part-- even more than the sleeplessness and fatigue-- is being away from my church family. I am SO THANKFUL that our building is closer now because Shorty and I have each been able to make at least one meeting a week, but still, that's slim pickings.... =( It's also so much harder for me to get my devotions in. So yeah, I'm feeling dry right now.
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
Psalms 63:1-8
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
Psalms 63:1-8
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Too Tired
Missing out on a solid night's sleep two days in a row is just too much for this old lady... So today, I'm letting God's word speak for itself-- He doesn't need me anyway. =)
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalms 1:1-6
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalms 1:1-6
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Do I love them?
The flu has been meandering through our family. Reanna is the latest victim. Last night was REALLY rough on her. She has had the fever (although low grade most of the time) and the runny nose, sore throat and bloodshot eyes-- all classic symptoms. But last night she also suffered from the less commons symptoms of nausea and vomiting. She is quite a tough little patient, and seems to have a ridiculously high pain tolerance. But she HATES to throw up. And for some reason, she seems to think that my very presence will remedy her misery. =/
So at 11:00-ish last night and again about 12:30 when she began vomiting, she hollered for me and woke Adara up. Both times I was in that almost/not quite asleep state that leaves you feeling terribly sluggish. Then at 3:30 she yelled and woke Judah up. I am thankful that both older children came to get me... I think. However, when she came to my room just before 6:00 this morning complaining that her throat hurt "REALLY REALLY BAD", I sent her back to bed. I DID NOT want to start my day on that tiny amount of sleep. I'm willing to give up quite a lot for my Crew, but sacrificing my sleep for them is something I struggle with. But as I lay in bed after she left, I just kept thinking to myself, "Are you loving her?", and "Love means sacrifice." She was miserable and unable to help herself... And so, thanks (or maybe not "thanks" at the time) to the convicting prodding of the Spirit, I rolled out of bed and got my sweet girl a drink and some medicine. I even got in a few minutes of devotions-- between playing nurse to miss Reanna. ;)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:3-8
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:9-11
So at 11:00-ish last night and again about 12:30 when she began vomiting, she hollered for me and woke Adara up. Both times I was in that almost/not quite asleep state that leaves you feeling terribly sluggish. Then at 3:30 she yelled and woke Judah up. I am thankful that both older children came to get me... I think. However, when she came to my room just before 6:00 this morning complaining that her throat hurt "REALLY REALLY BAD", I sent her back to bed. I DID NOT want to start my day on that tiny amount of sleep. I'm willing to give up quite a lot for my Crew, but sacrificing my sleep for them is something I struggle with. But as I lay in bed after she left, I just kept thinking to myself, "Are you loving her?", and "Love means sacrifice." She was miserable and unable to help herself... And so, thanks (or maybe not "thanks" at the time) to the convicting prodding of the Spirit, I rolled out of bed and got my sweet girl a drink and some medicine. I even got in a few minutes of devotions-- between playing nurse to miss Reanna. ;)
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:3-8
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:9-11
Monday, February 4, 2013
Change of Plans
I like lists and planning-- except when it keeps me from spending time with people! ;)
And I LOVE having a general plan for my days-- pancakes for breakfast on Thursdays, changing the bed sheets on Fridays, school at a certain time on certain days, supper around 6:00, etc. I do get a bit irritable when my plans get changed. ESPECIALLY with regards to school. I know my children need a certain foundation of knowledge to function well in higher education as well as out in real life. But I'm not the most organized or diligent person. =(
Add to that the adage, "Life is what happens when you're making other plans.", and you can imagine that we regularly experience slices of chaos.
This month my Crew has had the flu. We have had several doctor visits. And there have been numerous business and ministry "interruptions" in my days. And as I was looking at yet ANOTHER change to my plans, my thoughts turned God-ward. I have little control over even my small sphere of influence. My children disobey, illnesses come, Shorty has needs arise... and my plans change. But God NEVER has to change His plans, because He does have total control over all circumstances! That is not to say we're all puppets or to engender some fatalistic point of view. But I take great comfort and delight in knowing that God is able to keep His promises because NOTHING can change His plans! =)
Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
Psalms 33:8-11
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
Joshua 21:45
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2 Peter 1:2-4
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
And I LOVE having a general plan for my days-- pancakes for breakfast on Thursdays, changing the bed sheets on Fridays, school at a certain time on certain days, supper around 6:00, etc. I do get a bit irritable when my plans get changed. ESPECIALLY with regards to school. I know my children need a certain foundation of knowledge to function well in higher education as well as out in real life. But I'm not the most organized or diligent person. =(
Add to that the adage, "Life is what happens when you're making other plans.", and you can imagine that we regularly experience slices of chaos.
This month my Crew has had the flu. We have had several doctor visits. And there have been numerous business and ministry "interruptions" in my days. And as I was looking at yet ANOTHER change to my plans, my thoughts turned God-ward. I have little control over even my small sphere of influence. My children disobey, illnesses come, Shorty has needs arise... and my plans change. But God NEVER has to change His plans, because He does have total control over all circumstances! That is not to say we're all puppets or to engender some fatalistic point of view. But I take great comfort and delight in knowing that God is able to keep His promises because NOTHING can change His plans! =)
Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
Psalms 33:8-11
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
Proverbs 19:21
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
Joshua 21:45
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2 Peter 1:2-4
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Saturday, February 2, 2013
In the Works
Adara is becoming quite the little cook/baker. She did the cooking on Tuesday while I was stuck on the couch, and she regularly asks me if she can "cook something". =) Well, I focused on other areas of cleaning yesterday, so the kitchen was A MESS!!! This morning I had to clean before I could cook the eggs. But I was chuckling to myself as I washed dishes and wiped counter tops because Adara is still at the stage in her learning where she makes a BIG mess when she cooks. ;) You know, flour sprinkles and liquid dribbles of all kinds, just about of everywhere. And for the most part, it's kind of a disaster unless I help...
That got me thinking about my attempts to be like my Father. I want to do good things, but my sin gets in the way. I want to serve, but I often end up making a mess. And if God is not working in and through me, it will be disastrous! I'm just a more sophisticated version of Adara-- I'm "in the works"! ;)
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Psalms 127:1
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:1-10
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:4-13
That got me thinking about my attempts to be like my Father. I want to do good things, but my sin gets in the way. I want to serve, but I often end up making a mess. And if God is not working in and through me, it will be disastrous! I'm just a more sophisticated version of Adara-- I'm "in the works"! ;)
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
Psalms 127:1
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:1-10
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:4-13
Friday, February 1, 2013
Song of the Day- 8
Okay, so to any of my "older" readers, I may seem awfully young. ;) But I think "old" may be just as subjective as "beauty"! =) I know I'm only thirty, but I've been married for nearly 40% of my life and my time of training my children is nearly half over. That is not to say that I FEEL "old" but that I have come to realize how VERY FLEETING life is! And how very brief the years of child-rearing are. And sometimes, country music just says it so well... so today you get a two-fer! ;)
"Young" and "Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney
The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
Proverbs 20:29
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
Proverbs 16:31
"Young" and "Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney
The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
Proverbs 20:29
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
Proverbs 16:31
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