Good Friday followed by Resurrection Day...a perfect season for this celebration in North America.
The snow is gone. All flora appears dead and brown. The temperature low. The wind often blustery. Frequent clouds and rain.
Yet the fauna...birds mostly but, also ground hogs, skunks, bunnies, and an occasional chipmunk eager to begin the new season reveal themselves and remind us of the promise of what is soon to come.
Let's allow the things of the past to die. Let's put them in the grave.
A new season is beginning. A new cycle of life. A fresh start. There is a future. There is hope!
Colossians 3:1- 4:6
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
President Obama's Inaugural Speech
Look out! Here comes my "train of thought" on President Obama's inaugural speech!
This is evidence of me being more like a crock pot than a microwave ... thank you for indulging this idiosyncrasy and reading on.
On Tuesday I said, "There was nothing I didn't like about the speech the President gave on Tuesday." Which is true to a point; it definitely set a tone, inspired, and motivated. It elevated our thoughts to things above and beyond ourselves as individuals, put us in touch with our heritage as a nation, and gave a clear direction for us to focus on and move toward. It even instilled a sense of responsibility to the listeners for making concerted efforts to move in the stated direction. He even quoted many of my favorite historical figures!
BUT, he kept saying that he had faith in the American people, in our potential, our drive, our history, our ability, our competence, our strength, our American way. Not once did he reference our past or present dependence upon God for any of these character qualities or favorable outcomes. Not one hint. The absence of this could be chalked up to political correctness but, I don't think that's likely.
Everything about the speech was absolutely deliberate, specific, purposeful, intentional. Rick Warren's inclusion in the day's events, at first glance, seems only a token of "inclusion" (translate: appeasement) for those perceived to be "the intolerant, radical, right" and nothing more. But looking more closely, with eyes and hearts in tune through our relationship with God in Christ, we can see the LORD's glory revealed in that same inclusion! The truth of the good news about God was proclaimed and prayed without apology and broadcast to the world to the glory of God!
This is the truth: our hope is found in Christ Jesus alone. Without Him we are merely building another Tower of Babel and inviting God to intervene for His name's sake. He is a jealous God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished. There is no other and He is good.
With that, I step off my soap box.
This is evidence of me being more like a crock pot than a microwave ... thank you for indulging this idiosyncrasy and reading on.
On Tuesday I said, "There was nothing I didn't like about the speech the President gave on Tuesday." Which is true to a point; it definitely set a tone, inspired, and motivated. It elevated our thoughts to things above and beyond ourselves as individuals, put us in touch with our heritage as a nation, and gave a clear direction for us to focus on and move toward. It even instilled a sense of responsibility to the listeners for making concerted efforts to move in the stated direction. He even quoted many of my favorite historical figures!
BUT, he kept saying that he had faith in the American people, in our potential, our drive, our history, our ability, our competence, our strength, our American way. Not once did he reference our past or present dependence upon God for any of these character qualities or favorable outcomes. Not one hint. The absence of this could be chalked up to political correctness but, I don't think that's likely.
Everything about the speech was absolutely deliberate, specific, purposeful, intentional. Rick Warren's inclusion in the day's events, at first glance, seems only a token of "inclusion" (translate: appeasement) for those perceived to be "the intolerant, radical, right" and nothing more. But looking more closely, with eyes and hearts in tune through our relationship with God in Christ, we can see the LORD's glory revealed in that same inclusion! The truth of the good news about God was proclaimed and prayed without apology and broadcast to the world to the glory of God!
This is the truth: our hope is found in Christ Jesus alone. Without Him we are merely building another Tower of Babel and inviting God to intervene for His name's sake. He is a jealous God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished. There is no other and He is good.
With that, I step off my soap box.
Monday, December 29, 2008
New Year Resolutions...
A friend of mine says that the things that are most likely to initiate change in your life (for better or worse) are the people you meet and the books that you read. I concur.
I'd like to suggest two books that will do much to impact your life if you let them:
"Integrity: The Courage To Meet The Demands of Reality" by Dr. Henry Cloud
and
"The Emotionally Healthy Church" by Peter Scazzero.
If you're not a Christ follower don't let the title of the second book put you off. It will shed much light on what many people describe as the hypocrisy of the Christians they know.
These have greatly impacted me this year and are top of the list re-reads for me in 2009.
I'm going into hibernation for a while now.
God bless your new year!
I'd like to suggest two books that will do much to impact your life if you let them:
"Integrity: The Courage To Meet The Demands of Reality" by Dr. Henry Cloud
and
"The Emotionally Healthy Church" by Peter Scazzero.
If you're not a Christ follower don't let the title of the second book put you off. It will shed much light on what many people describe as the hypocrisy of the Christians they know.
These have greatly impacted me this year and are top of the list re-reads for me in 2009.
I'm going into hibernation for a while now.
God bless your new year!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas confessions...
Well folks, this is a difficult time of year for me. Has been for more years than I care to admit. First, I denied it all and focused on the kids. Then, I denied it all and tried to manage it better. Finally, I got honest about it and focused on others' Christmas needs and applying the management skills I'd learned. My desire is to... hmmmm... eventually become conformed to the image of my Savior and since that is His goal for me, I'm sure it will be accomplished in His time. Until then I hope (that's the confident expectation of the goodness of God) to love while traveling through this season.
The reality is I'm surprised to hear the Spirit whispering that I need to also give attention to my Christmas needs. There is a selfish sound to that yet, I've been learning that "burning out for Jesus" is not necessarily congruent with, "If you try to save your life you will loose it, but if you loose your life for My sake, you'll find it in the end."
Jesus ministered to the sick and possessed for countless hours on end yet he would not let anyone divert him from the Father's plan for him... there is much yet that I need to learn.
I'm sorry, truly, for the ways my sinful patterns impact those around me. Some may say, "It's nothing, don't think of it again" but, large or small, sin is sin.
I'm grateful for the grace and love shown me by my fellow human beings.
I'm especially grateful for the love shown me by my holy God. Love truly covers a multitude of sins.
I confess... You are an AMAZING GOD!
The reality is I'm surprised to hear the Spirit whispering that I need to also give attention to my Christmas needs. There is a selfish sound to that yet, I've been learning that "burning out for Jesus" is not necessarily congruent with, "If you try to save your life you will loose it, but if you loose your life for My sake, you'll find it in the end."
Jesus ministered to the sick and possessed for countless hours on end yet he would not let anyone divert him from the Father's plan for him... there is much yet that I need to learn.
I'm sorry, truly, for the ways my sinful patterns impact those around me. Some may say, "It's nothing, don't think of it again" but, large or small, sin is sin.
I'm grateful for the grace and love shown me by my fellow human beings.
I'm especially grateful for the love shown me by my holy God. Love truly covers a multitude of sins.
I confess... You are an AMAZING GOD!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Decided...
Just thought I'd share a piece of correspondence I sent to some friends and family on election day, 2008:
Tuesday 11/4
We had a line of 20 people at 7am in our tiny little town of Mitchell!
I was #2, my husband was #3 - I voted using the electronic machine - first one of the day - and it didn't work. At least it malfunctioned on the first vote of the day so no other voters were effected! Praise God! They let me vote again on a paper ballot. And I got my "I Voted!" sticker so, if I were so inclined I could get my free Starbucks and my free crispy creme!
My husband is very disappointed that I voted Republican ... he is hoping my electronic voting debacle will somehow cause my vote to be invalid. He'll have to get over it. I'm asking God to reveal Himself and His truth to him so that he will not despair if McCain wins. Despair is not too strong a word for this. It is a literal emotion and state of mind that many have regarding the outcome of the election. He has his hope in Obama's economic policy promises and is convinced that without him our nation will sink into deep economic depression. (Is that something that one particular presidential candidate can ward off?) He does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ yet so, he has nothing to base his faith on but a vague Unitarian type of higher power. I would not want to be in his shoes during times like these.
Normally, fasting is thought of as a private thing but, we are in a time and season that corporate fasting is necessary. We need to communicate this to one another, spurring one another on to love and good deeds! I've been on a "Daniel fast" for the past 40 days (no rich foods, I abstained from meat, sugar/sweets, yeast breads, eating only veggies, fruit and dairy products, limiting beverage choices to water or green tea, while seeking Christ's heart, mind and direction). I broke my fast this morning after I voted with a cup of strong black coffee and 2 home made chocolate chip cookies. (I think I've shocked my system! That will be it for today ... back to vegetables, fruit and cottage cheese for me... I'll reintroduce meat in a couple of days.) If you do not already practice the discipline of fasting, I'd like to encourage you to set aside blocks of time to fast and seek the Lord personally. I'd also like to encourage you to suggest a corporate fast together with your prayer partners or Bible study groups. This is a significant discipline that was practiced regularly in both the old and new testaments. It is still widely practiced in many cultures other than our affluent American one. It's about humility, overcoming the flesh and aligning yourself with our Lord's will. It is a form of prayer that will individually and/or corporately strengthen your spiritual muscles, accelerate your spiritual growth, and clarify your heavenly perspective.
Today I have confident peace regarding the vote I cast and a continuing sense of the need to pray throughout the next 2 weeks as the vote is being counted and indefinitely for those who have their hope anywhere other than in Christ.
Regardless of the results of today's election, God is in charge. Our hope is in Him alone - not a president or a party or a policy - and He is able to keep His own. He wants us to be ambassadors for Him in the darkness of our times and seasons. He will provide what we need to bring Him glory in the eyes of those who have yet to be introduced to Him and be given the opportunity to humble themselves before Him while it is still DAY.
The following scriptures have become very significant to me as I've prayed over the past weeks. I'm impressed more and more that our focus and trust need to be in Christ and His purposes for us in this earth and that He desires to use us as salt and light and as a witness to the wicked who will have no peace or provision or hope and will be eternally lost without Him.
(Look at these verses in different translations to get a broader understanding of what is being said.)
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
2 Corinthians 9:6 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.
Just thought I'd share these with you as well. Be encouraged! Keep the faith!
Tuesday 11/4
We had a line of 20 people at 7am in our tiny little town of Mitchell!
I was #2, my husband was #3 - I voted using the electronic machine - first one of the day - and it didn't work. At least it malfunctioned on the first vote of the day so no other voters were effected! Praise God! They let me vote again on a paper ballot. And I got my "I Voted!" sticker so, if I were so inclined I could get my free Starbucks and my free crispy creme!
My husband is very disappointed that I voted Republican ... he is hoping my electronic voting debacle will somehow cause my vote to be invalid. He'll have to get over it. I'm asking God to reveal Himself and His truth to him so that he will not despair if McCain wins. Despair is not too strong a word for this. It is a literal emotion and state of mind that many have regarding the outcome of the election. He has his hope in Obama's economic policy promises and is convinced that without him our nation will sink into deep economic depression. (Is that something that one particular presidential candidate can ward off?) He does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ yet so, he has nothing to base his faith on but a vague Unitarian type of higher power. I would not want to be in his shoes during times like these.
Normally, fasting is thought of as a private thing but, we are in a time and season that corporate fasting is necessary. We need to communicate this to one another, spurring one another on to love and good deeds! I've been on a "Daniel fast" for the past 40 days (no rich foods, I abstained from meat, sugar/sweets, yeast breads, eating only veggies, fruit and dairy products, limiting beverage choices to water or green tea, while seeking Christ's heart, mind and direction). I broke my fast this morning after I voted with a cup of strong black coffee and 2 home made chocolate chip cookies. (I think I've shocked my system! That will be it for today ... back to vegetables, fruit and cottage cheese for me... I'll reintroduce meat in a couple of days.) If you do not already practice the discipline of fasting, I'd like to encourage you to set aside blocks of time to fast and seek the Lord personally. I'd also like to encourage you to suggest a corporate fast together with your prayer partners or Bible study groups. This is a significant discipline that was practiced regularly in both the old and new testaments. It is still widely practiced in many cultures other than our affluent American one. It's about humility, overcoming the flesh and aligning yourself with our Lord's will. It is a form of prayer that will individually and/or corporately strengthen your spiritual muscles, accelerate your spiritual growth, and clarify your heavenly perspective.
Today I have confident peace regarding the vote I cast and a continuing sense of the need to pray throughout the next 2 weeks as the vote is being counted and indefinitely for those who have their hope anywhere other than in Christ.
Regardless of the results of today's election, God is in charge. Our hope is in Him alone - not a president or a party or a policy - and He is able to keep His own. He wants us to be ambassadors for Him in the darkness of our times and seasons. He will provide what we need to bring Him glory in the eyes of those who have yet to be introduced to Him and be given the opportunity to humble themselves before Him while it is still DAY.
The following scriptures have become very significant to me as I've prayed over the past weeks. I'm impressed more and more that our focus and trust need to be in Christ and His purposes for us in this earth and that He desires to use us as salt and light and as a witness to the wicked who will have no peace or provision or hope and will be eternally lost without Him.
(Look at these verses in different translations to get a broader understanding of what is being said.)
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
2 Corinthians 9:6 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.
Just thought I'd share these with you as well. Be encouraged! Keep the faith!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Undecided...
This continues to be a very trying election season.
I don't trust political rhetoric or advertisements.
Don't even get me started on the email forwards.
Research (discovering the facts and their correct context) is difficult and time consuming.
The worst thing about it is trying to talk with those whom you know about why they are going to choose a particular candidate or not. It seems a great many people don't know what they believe or why they believe it, let alone being able to express themselves logically and respectfully. I keep running in to these disappointing scenarios that end up being a stress on the relationship because I keep pressing the why, and how, and what is the source of your info questions.
I want to be convinced.
I'm a willing listener not a captive audience. Convince me. Here's your chance to make a difference, to influence the outcome of an election.
Just think about this before you get on your soapbox; do you think describing your listener as an "idiot" will help convince them of your point of view? Do you think expressing contemptuous remarks about a particular candidate without a factual, intelligent argument as to why you believe they deserve such disrespect will help your listener align with your point of view? (Although, I suppose "birds of a feather, flock together" could apply in positive and negative ways.)
For those of you who are working hard at getting the best info for making the best decision in this election, here are a couple of links that have been helpful to me. It's nice to know that there are those who understand the need.
http://www.factcheck.org/
http://congress.org/
I don't trust political rhetoric or advertisements.
Don't even get me started on the email forwards.
Research (discovering the facts and their correct context) is difficult and time consuming.
The worst thing about it is trying to talk with those whom you know about why they are going to choose a particular candidate or not. It seems a great many people don't know what they believe or why they believe it, let alone being able to express themselves logically and respectfully. I keep running in to these disappointing scenarios that end up being a stress on the relationship because I keep pressing the why, and how, and what is the source of your info questions.
I want to be convinced.
I'm a willing listener not a captive audience. Convince me. Here's your chance to make a difference, to influence the outcome of an election.
Just think about this before you get on your soapbox; do you think describing your listener as an "idiot" will help convince them of your point of view? Do you think expressing contemptuous remarks about a particular candidate without a factual, intelligent argument as to why you believe they deserve such disrespect will help your listener align with your point of view? (Although, I suppose "birds of a feather, flock together" could apply in positive and negative ways.)
For those of you who are working hard at getting the best info for making the best decision in this election, here are a couple of links that have been helpful to me. It's nice to know that there are those who understand the need.
http://www.factcheck.org/
http://congress.org/
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Criticism (Did I spell that right??)
I was recently invited to write a product review. I was given a list of suggestions on "How to write a good review". That was an interesting choice of words. The power of suggestion carries quite a bit of weight. I went ahead and wrote the review - it was favorable - I like the product! It was flattering to be asked my opinion.
"Everyone's a critic."
Agree or disagree?
I agree. We all have an opinion on everything we experience whether we choose to share it or not.
Thing is, not everyone receives criticism well. I'm one of those who does my very best to make as many happy as possible and to get it done right the first time. Receiving criticism well is something I've had to learn how to do. It's been a costly investment yet it has held some of the highest returns. Today I'm of the opinion that with a discerning ear and the security found in my Jesus, 9 times out of 10 there is at least a bit of helpful input to be gained from any critic.
This article is one of the best I've read on the subject. What's your opinion?
"Everyone's a critic."
Agree or disagree?
I agree. We all have an opinion on everything we experience whether we choose to share it or not.
Thing is, not everyone receives criticism well. I'm one of those who does my very best to make as many happy as possible and to get it done right the first time. Receiving criticism well is something I've had to learn how to do. It's been a costly investment yet it has held some of the highest returns. Today I'm of the opinion that with a discerning ear and the security found in my Jesus, 9 times out of 10 there is at least a bit of helpful input to be gained from any critic.
This article is one of the best I've read on the subject. What's your opinion?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
