And the birds don't look to happy about it either.
I am so excited! My friend has joined this bloggity adventure that we are on. If you get a chance, stop by and say hello!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Note to self....
It's better to make sure you are fully awake before you try to feed the critters. Otherwise, you might find yourself feeding a bowl of bird seed to some very confused dogs.
Cover to cover
We entered the Promised Land with Joshua this week and finished up today with his death. There were several things that stood out to me over the last few days. Oddly enough, I am reading John Ortberg's If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat, and he has some interesting thoughts about the Jordan miracle found in Joshua 3.
Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.
The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.
Ortberg says, "The people will experience God's power--but they will have to take the first step. This not only involves a mental acknowledgement of God's power, but requires them to take a step of action based on the assumption that God is trustworthy as well. They had to get their feet wet first. "
What a powerful statement. Do I trust God, Author of the Universe, enough to take the first step toward whatever work He has for me?
And do you wonder why the entire land didn't just surrender at that moment? The Israelite's God stopped the Jordan River from flowing! At a time when the river was overflowing!
So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord. Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath. Joshua 9:14-15
This spoke to me because so much of the time, I take the time to think through my actions and what the ramifications might be, but I do not take the time to ask the Lord what He thinks about it. In the Israelites case, not inquiring of the Lord caused them to not be able to do what God had asked. To remove all the current inhabitants of the Promised Land. What do I miss when I don't inquire of God? Or worse, what situations do I create when I go my own way?
Saturday, March 29, 2008
From My Perspective
I was reading last night before I went to bed when Elwood came up and decided to call it a day. After a little bit, I looked down and this is what I saw. 
I'm hoping you're focusing on his gi-normous nose as opposed to the size of my thigh. After all, there might be something I could do about my thigh (photo shop, maybe?) but I think he is stuck with his nose. And a cute nose it is!
I'm hoping you're focusing on his gi-normous nose as opposed to the size of my thigh. After all, there might be something I could do about my thigh (photo shop, maybe?) but I think he is stuck with his nose. And a cute nose it is!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Ivan the terrible
Ivan is our oldest dog. He is one of two Yorkies that lives here and he will be eleven in July. I have noticed that the older he gets, the more he grumbles and complains. (Not unlike other people I know) He is very possessive and protective. Everything in the house that he wants, belongs to him.
Bring in a new bag of dog food and set it down? It belongs to him.
Any one of the five dog food bowls? They all belong to him.
People? His.
Toys? His.
He continually takes on the bigger dogs for anything he feels they are doing wrong. (Although I suspect they see him as some kind of squeak toy that they can play with.)
Ivan also likes to protect me from things that he thinks might want to harm me. If my in-laws come over? Bark bark bark. Never mind the fact that he has seen them thousands of times and they have yet to kidnap, maim or otherwise harm me.
Prince Charming drops by? Bark bark bark.
Heaven help the mailman when he drops off a package. You'd think it was Satan himself, ringing my doorbell.
This morning at about 3 am, Ivan decided that I needed protecting again.
From the thunder.
Sigh.
Rumble, rumble rumble. Bark, bark bark.
Can I just say that it thundered for about two hours? Bark, bark, bark.
I'll be picking up a very LARGE Mountain Dew on my way to work this morning. And my little Yorkie? I'm sure he'll be sleeping the day away. After all, he was up all night protecting his mommy from the big bad thunder. That way he'll be nice and rested in case it returns again tonight.
Bring in a new bag of dog food and set it down? It belongs to him.
Any one of the five dog food bowls? They all belong to him.
People? His.
Toys? His.
He continually takes on the bigger dogs for anything he feels they are doing wrong. (Although I suspect they see him as some kind of squeak toy that they can play with.)
Ivan also likes to protect me from things that he thinks might want to harm me. If my in-laws come over? Bark bark bark. Never mind the fact that he has seen them thousands of times and they have yet to kidnap, maim or otherwise harm me.
Prince Charming drops by? Bark bark bark.
Heaven help the mailman when he drops off a package. You'd think it was Satan himself, ringing my doorbell.
This morning at about 3 am, Ivan decided that I needed protecting again.
From the thunder.
Sigh.
Rumble, rumble rumble. Bark, bark bark.
Can I just say that it thundered for about two hours? Bark, bark, bark.
I'll be picking up a very LARGE Mountain Dew on my way to work this morning. And my little Yorkie? I'm sure he'll be sleeping the day away. After all, he was up all night protecting his mommy from the big bad thunder. That way he'll be nice and rested in case it returns again tonight.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
My goodness, there has been much bloggity fodder around the heigh-ho house in the last 24 hours.
With the arrival of spring-like weather, it becomes necessary to remove the multitude of layers we've swaddled ourselves in. After the removal of said layers, it's time to assess one's winter "stores". (Insert "fat" for the word "stores".) It appears, in my case, that I must have been anticipating a winter of epic proportion, because I have "stores" (insert "fat" again) left over. It's always an awkward moment to actually view what's underneath the 47 layers of sweat clothing and long underwear. Only this year, I think that perhaps it wasn't really 47 layers of fabric, but more like 2 or 3 layers of clothing and 44 layers of me.
Sigh.
Thus, along with the arrival of the first crocus and the sighting of the first robin, comes the first dreaded uncovering of the recumbent bike. (In the interest of being completely honest, I must confess that while I am writing this, I am eating a chocolate poptart and drinking a glass of grape koolaid. Because they are nutritious and low in calories.)
As a person who was born skinny and stayed skinny until she got married and birthed those babies, I hate to diet. Part of this may be because I think I am still 16 (not!) and I could always eat anything I wanted (interpret this to read Outback cheese fries) and I never gained weight. But those days are gone. Sigh.
All that said, I am still at the stage where I prefer to whine about my weight as opposed to actually doing anything about it. So, while I might climb on the bike while watching Dancing with the Stars (it is a two hour show. Surely I can ride for ten minutes while the dancers work out so hard.), I am most likely going to be clutching a book in one hand and a cupcake in the other while I get my exercise. (Hey, at least I won't be gaining any weight this way. And no, I don't want to know how many hours I'd have to ride to work off the calories from that cupcake!)
So, how about you? Did you "save up" more this winter than you "used up"? If so, what are you going to do about it?
With the arrival of spring-like weather, it becomes necessary to remove the multitude of layers we've swaddled ourselves in. After the removal of said layers, it's time to assess one's winter "stores". (Insert "fat" for the word "stores".) It appears, in my case, that I must have been anticipating a winter of epic proportion, because I have "stores" (insert "fat" again) left over. It's always an awkward moment to actually view what's underneath the 47 layers of sweat clothing and long underwear. Only this year, I think that perhaps it wasn't really 47 layers of fabric, but more like 2 or 3 layers of clothing and 44 layers of me.
Sigh.
Thus, along with the arrival of the first crocus and the sighting of the first robin, comes the first dreaded uncovering of the recumbent bike. (In the interest of being completely honest, I must confess that while I am writing this, I am eating a chocolate poptart and drinking a glass of grape koolaid. Because they are nutritious and low in calories.)
As a person who was born skinny and stayed skinny until she got married and birthed those babies, I hate to diet. Part of this may be because I think I am still 16 (not!) and I could always eat anything I wanted (interpret this to read Outback cheese fries) and I never gained weight. But those days are gone. Sigh.
All that said, I am still at the stage where I prefer to whine about my weight as opposed to actually doing anything about it. So, while I might climb on the bike while watching Dancing with the Stars (it is a two hour show. Surely I can ride for ten minutes while the dancers work out so hard.), I am most likely going to be clutching a book in one hand and a cupcake in the other while I get my exercise. (Hey, at least I won't be gaining any weight this way. And no, I don't want to know how many hours I'd have to ride to work off the calories from that cupcake!)
So, how about you? Did you "save up" more this winter than you "used up"? If so, what are you going to do about it?
Monday, March 24, 2008
100 things
Apparently it's tradition to post 100 things about yourself when you reach your 100th post. I am not sure that I can think of 100 things about me (and I'm not letting my children post) and I'm fairly certain that no one would want to read 100 things either. So I will post until I get bored and you can read until you get bored and we'll both feel like we've fulfilled our commitments to the bloggy tradition fairy.
1. My middle name is Louise.
2. I've always hated having the middle name Louise.
3. However, my father wanted to name me Louise, so Louise as a middle name isn't so bad.
4.I was a bald baby.
5. I stayed bald for a very long time. There are pictures of me at one years old with just enough hair to look like a kewpie doll. And that hair was strawberry blonde.
6. When I finally grew hair, it was platinum blonde. Sort of like now only some silly people refer to the platinum part as "white". Obviously, they need glasses.
7. I am 43. And a half. more than likely.
8. I have a husband and two children. I like them just fine.
9. We have five dogs. I'm not sure how or why we have five dogs. They range from very big to very small.
10. We have one cat. He is bigger than two of the dogs.
11. We have ten parrots. We are also insane. Notice I did not assign a number to that fact. I figure you probably already knew that.
12. I absolutely love to read. I will read anywhere at any time. I could finish a book a day if I had the chance.
13. I read all different genres. Including cereal boxes.
14. I have a purse obsession. I know it's a sickness and I need to seek help for it. Someday.
15. Are you bored yet?
16. I am adopted.
17. I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and was adopted when I was eleven days old.
18. I need to have the insurance adjuster look at our roof to see if it has storm damage from the tornado/strong storms in January.
19. I wrote that so that hopefully I will remember to call the insurance adjuster.
20. Somehow I became a fan of Dancing with the Stars.
21. I am slightly embarrassed about that.
22. My sister-in-law wants me to take dancing lessons with her.
23. I think I could do a mean tango. In my dreams.
24. I don't think I'd look so hot in one of those little bitty dancing costumes.
25. I think I've mentioned that I'm tall. I still am. I expect to shrink some. But being tall means that I can weigh more now and have more places to spread it out.
26. I have a Winnie the Pooh collection.
27. I also have a collection of stuffed animals. Yes, I know I should have outgrown that years ago.
28. But my stuffed animals are so cute and fluffy. With interesting expressions. And personality.
29. I do not text message.
30. I work at a Christian Book Store. With Books! Good stuff!
31. My current favorite food is Outback Cheese Fries.
32. Which have 2900 calories.
33. Which may be why I think I wouldn't look so hot in one of those itty bitty dancing costumes.
34. I can be tempted with chocolate, cheesecake, peanut m&m's, and other assorted forbidden foods. But not apples. If I were Eve, I would have said no. Til he whipped out the chocolate.
35. Someday I want to live in a lighthouse.
36. I also want to live in a villa in Tuscany. Someday. There are no lighthouses in Tuscany. I sense a "life conflict" coming on.
37. Basset hounds are the most willful creatures on the face of the earth.
38. I love tulips! Even though they don't smell.
39. There's a girl dog named Chloe that lives next door. My 5 boy dogs love her. Even though no one is anatomically correct anymore.
40. I don't like movies that don't end happily.
41. Everyone knows that they are supposed to tell me if a movie doesn't end happily so that I won't watch it.
42. Someone forgot to tell me that Pirates 3 doesn't end happily. (my version of happy anyway.)
43. I will never watch Star Wars 3: the stith movie. Because it doesn't end happily.
44. I'm allergic to bees.
45. I can't believe you are still reading this. I'm not even reading this anymore. Just kidding.
46. Mary Jane said she wouldn't read past 45. I'm just checking.
47. I live in Kentucky and I'm wearing shoes. I am also not pregnant but I am in the kitchen.
48. I should be doing laundry.
49. I am sitting here with my head down on the computer desk at the prospect of trying to think of 51 more things.
1. My middle name is Louise.
2. I've always hated having the middle name Louise.
3. However, my father wanted to name me Louise, so Louise as a middle name isn't so bad.
4.I was a bald baby.
5. I stayed bald for a very long time. There are pictures of me at one years old with just enough hair to look like a kewpie doll. And that hair was strawberry blonde.
6. When I finally grew hair, it was platinum blonde. Sort of like now only some silly people refer to the platinum part as "white". Obviously, they need glasses.
7. I am 43. And a half. more than likely.
8. I have a husband and two children. I like them just fine.
9. We have five dogs. I'm not sure how or why we have five dogs. They range from very big to very small.
10. We have one cat. He is bigger than two of the dogs.
11. We have ten parrots. We are also insane. Notice I did not assign a number to that fact. I figure you probably already knew that.
12. I absolutely love to read. I will read anywhere at any time. I could finish a book a day if I had the chance.
13. I read all different genres. Including cereal boxes.
14. I have a purse obsession. I know it's a sickness and I need to seek help for it. Someday.
15. Are you bored yet?
16. I am adopted.
17. I was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and was adopted when I was eleven days old.
18. I need to have the insurance adjuster look at our roof to see if it has storm damage from the tornado/strong storms in January.
19. I wrote that so that hopefully I will remember to call the insurance adjuster.
20. Somehow I became a fan of Dancing with the Stars.
21. I am slightly embarrassed about that.
22. My sister-in-law wants me to take dancing lessons with her.
23. I think I could do a mean tango. In my dreams.
24. I don't think I'd look so hot in one of those little bitty dancing costumes.
25. I think I've mentioned that I'm tall. I still am. I expect to shrink some. But being tall means that I can weigh more now and have more places to spread it out.
26. I have a Winnie the Pooh collection.
27. I also have a collection of stuffed animals. Yes, I know I should have outgrown that years ago.
28. But my stuffed animals are so cute and fluffy. With interesting expressions. And personality.
29. I do not text message.
30. I work at a Christian Book Store. With Books! Good stuff!
31. My current favorite food is Outback Cheese Fries.
32. Which have 2900 calories.
33. Which may be why I think I wouldn't look so hot in one of those itty bitty dancing costumes.
34. I can be tempted with chocolate, cheesecake, peanut m&m's, and other assorted forbidden foods. But not apples. If I were Eve, I would have said no. Til he whipped out the chocolate.
35. Someday I want to live in a lighthouse.
36. I also want to live in a villa in Tuscany. Someday. There are no lighthouses in Tuscany. I sense a "life conflict" coming on.
37. Basset hounds are the most willful creatures on the face of the earth.
38. I love tulips! Even though they don't smell.
39. There's a girl dog named Chloe that lives next door. My 5 boy dogs love her. Even though no one is anatomically correct anymore.
40. I don't like movies that don't end happily.
41. Everyone knows that they are supposed to tell me if a movie doesn't end happily so that I won't watch it.
42. Someone forgot to tell me that Pirates 3 doesn't end happily. (my version of happy anyway.)
43. I will never watch Star Wars 3: the stith movie. Because it doesn't end happily.
44. I'm allergic to bees.
45. I can't believe you are still reading this. I'm not even reading this anymore. Just kidding.
46. Mary Jane said she wouldn't read past 45. I'm just checking.
47. I live in Kentucky and I'm wearing shoes. I am also not pregnant but I am in the kitchen.
48. I should be doing laundry.
49. I am sitting here with my head down on the computer desk at the prospect of trying to think of 51 more things.
50. I love Jesus. And He loves me. (How could I not have mentioned this first?)
51. I am going to memorize Psalm 90. Ask me how I'm doing sometime.
52. Did I say my birthday is in October? My husband's birthday is two days later than mine. But he's older than me. My friend MJ's birthday is the same day as hubby's. She's older than me too. But don't tell her I said so.
53. I probably partake of too much caffiene. I try to resist. but I am weak.
54. My daughter's getting married. January 2nd, 2010. Which is way too soon.
55. Sometimes I think I want a ferret. Because I am crazy.
56. I have an NCAA bracket. I picked Tennesse to win. Just because. They are an SEC team. And you always pull for the SEC team. And we all knew UK wasn't going to win this year.
57. I love my church. You can feel God there. It's a cool thing.
58. I am a crier. Over commercials. Movies. Extreme Makeover:Home Edition. Books. Other people's children graduating. Weddings. God has been merciful to keep me from bawling my eyes out at important events of my children. I have not embarrassed them by clinging to their legs, wailing, "no, not my baby! She's too young to (fill in the blank here.) Yet. There's still time.
59. Oooo...that was a long one. It should count for two.
60. Cinderella originally wanted to get married four weeks after her college graduation and two weeks after The Boy's high school graduation. I told her that I would be a bald-headed crazy woman if she did.
61. Fortunately, she changed the date.
62. I probably wouldn't look too good as a bald-headed crazy woman.
63. My favorite scripture today is Psalm 43:8.
64. It says,"Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life."
65. Cool, huh?
66. I am reading the bible chronologically this year. And loving every minute of it!
67. I have a brother.
68. We don't talk about him much.
69. But he has two children.
70. I like to talk about them. My niece is 9. My nephew is...older than he should be. 25.
71. He was born the year I graduated high school.
72. Which means I've been out of high school for 25 years.
73. This is getting depressing.
74. There will not be a quiz later.
75. Okay, 75 things is enough. Just pretend like this is my 75th post and we can stop the madness now!
If you are still reading at the end of this post, thank you! May your day be blessed!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
cover to cover
I have to throw this out before we get down to the Bible recap. I'm writing this on Easter Sunday afternoon and it is SNOWING! Big giant sized flakes. I'm not sure how I feel about this recent development.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled program.
I think, for me, there was a sense of sadness in this week's reading. Partly from my knowing that Moses is ending his journey with us and partly because he knows that they are going to rebel. He knows that all these horrible things are going to happen to Israel. I think it would be difficult for me to leave (as if I had a choice) knowing the future that awaited the nation that I had been responsible for, had loved and prayed over. Because regardless of how frustrated he became with them, he loved them.
The one thing that I think the Lord is working with me about right now is "obedience." Most the verses that touch my heart are about obeying.
The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 30:9b-10
Is that not a promise we want to keep? To have the Lord delight in us? Oh, my heart sings at the thought of being so pleasing to my Father that He delights in me! And in all honesty, having Him delighted in me is reward enough.
Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. Deuteronomy 30:11
He knows me too well. The answer to the question/complaint that I haven't voiced yet. "I can't do that, it's too hard!"
No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. Deuteronomy 30:14
One thing I've felt this year is that I need to memorize and carry in my heart more of His word. (of course, it's March and I'm not telling how far I've gotten on this...)
For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. Deuteronomy 30:16
If ever I needed a blueprint for what God expects of me, I think this is it. It pretty much covers everything.
Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:8
What a beautiful promise. And the cool thing is that Joshua already knows this. He's been Moses's right hand man this whole time. He knows who God is and that God means what He says. May we have the same assurance in our day to day walk.
I also love the fact that we finished the week up with Moses's song and a Psalm. I'll leave you with this final thought.
Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90:12
As always, if you want to be blessed with words by those who can explain it so much better than I do, check out what Annette, and Bev have to say. Also, please lift Bev up in prayer. She is having difficulties with a broken toe and severe back pain.
Blessings!
Spring Reading Thing
Katrina over at Callapidder Days is hosting a Spring Reading Thing and since I have this book obsession, it seems like a match made in heaven for me to participate. Now, you have to understand that I have never participated in anything like this, so forgive me if I mess up the link or the post or the pixies dancing on the tulips. (Just checking to see if you were paying attention.) My current reading list is as follows:Late additons:
I'm fairly certain that I will pick up a few new releases before June 19th. (Perhaps it's not so much an obsession as a compulsion!) Anyway, I'm thrilled to have any excuse to read. And if you're a reader too, grab a bunch of books you've been dying to read and check this out!
Sunday Scripture Mark 16:2-7
Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.
When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.
Mark 16:2-7
Saturday, March 22, 2008
In Christ Alone...for I am His and He is mine
This video uses scenes from the visual Bible "Matthew". I absolutely love the final scenes where Jesus is laughing and beckoning us to join him...to come and follow him.
The Boy and I made our weekly trek to Walmart today. On our way home, I looked at the gray dreary day and commented that this looked like it might have after Jesus was crucified. The Boy looked at me and said,"except for the four million people at Walmart. And the fact that it's the Sabbath and there are all these cars driving around. I don't think they had cars during Jesus' lifetime."
I love how this boy's mind works.
We went to our easter service tonight. They expect over 23 thousand to attend this weekend so we were asked to go at the "alternate" times. The service was wonderful. Kyle presented a great evangelistic message entitled "Who"s going to save me." And it was really neat to watch him preach from the Jerusalem set that's up for the Easter Pageant. If you want to see a little clip of the pageant, go here. I wish each of you could come and see it. It was wonderful!
I love how this boy's mind works.
We went to our easter service tonight. They expect over 23 thousand to attend this weekend so we were asked to go at the "alternate" times. The service was wonderful. Kyle presented a great evangelistic message entitled "Who"s going to save me." And it was really neat to watch him preach from the Jerusalem set that's up for the Easter Pageant. If you want to see a little clip of the pageant, go here. I wish each of you could come and see it. It was wonderful!
Friday, March 21, 2008
thoughts on a Friday
The Lord said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." Numbers 21:8
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. John 3:14-15
My heart is heavy this day as I ponder the great sacrifice that He was willing to make for me. I know that the resurrection is coming, but I think it does a disservice to gloss or skip over the suffering that precedes it.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Isaiah 53:7
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
May this day be thoughtful...
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. John 3:14-15
My heart is heavy this day as I ponder the great sacrifice that He was willing to make for me. I know that the resurrection is coming, but I think it does a disservice to gloss or skip over the suffering that precedes it.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Isaiah 53:7
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
May this day be thoughtful...
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Reflecting...
I am silent today.
If you want to be read a beautiful Easter perspective, visit with my friend. You will be blessed by her words.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Me and Oswald
Or is it Oswald and me? Anyway, I am a fan of Oswald Chambers. Actually, it took me twenty years to get into him (or understand him) but now we are tight. We don't always see eye to eye, but he usually says something worth listening to. I thought I would share what Oswald has to say to us today.
This devotion is titled "Abraham's Life of Faith". Mr. Chambers (Oswald sounds too familiar) contends that Abraham's life is an example of faith. He says,"Living a life a faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading." He goes on to say, "The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process. We feel the presence of God around us when we pray, yet we are only momentarily changed. We tend to keep going back to our everyday ways and the glory vanishes. A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles wings, but is a life of day in and day out consistency; a life of walking without fainting." He goes on to say that Abraham lived this kind of life, citing Romans 4:3 "Abraham believed God". What simple but powerful words.
My prayer is that my life would reflect a life of faith. One with a day in and day out consistancy. A life of walking without fainting.
But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Blessings to you and yours this Holy week.
This devotion is titled "Abraham's Life of Faith". Mr. Chambers (Oswald sounds too familiar) contends that Abraham's life is an example of faith. He says,"Living a life a faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading." He goes on to say, "The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process. We feel the presence of God around us when we pray, yet we are only momentarily changed. We tend to keep going back to our everyday ways and the glory vanishes. A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles wings, but is a life of day in and day out consistency; a life of walking without fainting." He goes on to say that Abraham lived this kind of life, citing Romans 4:3 "Abraham believed God". What simple but powerful words.
My prayer is that my life would reflect a life of faith. One with a day in and day out consistancy. A life of walking without fainting.
But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Blessings to you and yours this Holy week.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
How beautiful
How Beautiful the hands that served
The Wine and the Bread and the sons of the earthHow beautiful
the feet that walked
The long dusty road and the hill to the cross
How Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ
How Beautiful the heart that bled
That took all my sins and bore it instead
How beautiful the tender eyes
That choose to forgive and never despise
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ
And as He lay down His life
We offer this sacrifice
That we will live just as He died
Willing to pay the price
Willing to pay the price
How Beautiful the radiant bride
Who waits for her Groom with His light in her eyes
How Beautiful when humble hearts give
The fruit of pure love so that others may live
How beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ
How beautiful the feet that bring
The sound of good news and the love of the King
How Beautiful the hands that serve
The wine and the bread and the sons of the Earth
How Beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful is the body of Christ
Monday, March 17, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Cover to Cover
We finished the book of Numbers and moved into Deuteronomy this week on our journey. This week's reading began with a truly beautiful account of God's provision for His people. I love how Moses reminded Israel of how much God loved and cared for them.
There was one recurring theme that kept running through the verses that caught my eye this week.
Remember that the Lord rescued you from the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt in order to make you his very own people and his special possession, which is what you are today.
Deuteronomy 4:20
For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.
Deuteronomy 7:6
But they are your people and your special possession, whom you brought out of Egypt by your great strength and powerful arm.
Deuteronomy 9:29
I take great delight in being thought of as God's special treasure or possession. I struggle sometimes with feelings of worthlessness and these verses this week were a beautiful reminder of how God views me.
...And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.
Deuteronomy 4:29
...people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 8:3
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.
Deuteronomy 11:22
I thought these were all very clear commands of how we are to live our lives. Do you see how much our God wants us? He desires us to cling to Him. He has chosen us! He wants us to search for Him. As we enter this holy week, leading to the resurrection, I can think of no better way to please Him than to walk in His ways and hold tightly to Him. May this be the desire of our hearts.
Sunday Scripture
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Look at what I've got!
Clean Laundry! I'm so excited! And no, that green silky thing is not underwear. It's a tablecloth. I probably would have moved it if I had realized that it might look like something I wouldn't want to be showing on the internets. Anyhow, the new washer and dryer arrived yesterday afternoon! And I did laundry til eleven pm. And I'm doing more laundry now. I might even be washing things just to be washing them. Because I am so happy!
Dh did a wonderful job picking out new ones. (He said chose these because they had blue knobs. Um...that kind of sounds like why I might pick something. Perhaps after 21 years of marriage, we're growing more and more alike.)
Now, in case you weren't overwhelmed with a picture of my clean laundry, here's a picture of a surprise from Thursday. This little bitty flower was hiding under all that snow we had. It was just waiting for it's moment to shine. (I like the frog toes in this picture too!)
Well, the dryer just buzzed and so I'm off for another clothes adventure. (I know, you're thinking, "yeah, she's off, alright.")
Blessings from my house to yours!
Friday, March 14, 2008
3.14
There are very few times when I think I would like to be back in high school. I did not particularly enjoy my high school years. I was tall. Very tall. And thin. Very thin. Think 5'10 and 114 pounds. I was awkward, shy and quiet. I preferred to be invisible. (The only thing in that description that still applies is that I am still tall. I also think I am shy but most people would tell you that I am not. )
Anyway, back to this high school thing. Today, March 14th, I wouldn't mind being in high school. Because today, 3.14, is PIE day. At least at The Boy's school. It's the only day that everyone loves math. Because they celebrate all things PIE. Including this:
Everyone brings a pie to math class. Then they spend the class period sampling each other's pie. What a great idea! The Boy took a homemade (by his grandmother) chocolate pie. Traditionally, hers is the first to be eaten. That pie sat in my refrigerator all night, taunting me everytime I passed by. Dh ate dinner at his mom's (the pie maker) last night and she had an extra piece for him. (Extra piece? How does one get an extra piece of pie? I suspect she made two and they ate the second one all up!)
So happy pie day, internets! May you find the flavor you love and indulge yourself. I'm going to sneak over to the school and pretend that I'm sixteen and in geometry class!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
A strange smell
Our receiver broke a bottle of annointing oil today. He was embarrassed because no matter where he walked, you could sense (or is that scents?) his presence. The more I thought about it though, the more he became a really cool metaphor for our christian walk. 2 Cornithians 2:15 & 16 says,
"Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?"
My hope for you today is that you will bear a Christ-like fragrance everywhere you may go.
Blessings!
"Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?"
My hope for you today is that you will bear a Christ-like fragrance everywhere you may go.
Blessings!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Just another ordinary day
My washer exploded last night. It was not a pretty thing. I walked into the laundry room about nine and there was this suspicious puddle on the floor. I immediately blamed the cat. (His litter box is also in the laundry room.) Because of course, my ten year old washer could certainly not put a puddle of water out, could it? Of course it could. (As a side note, I now have a very clean laundry room. Nothing like a washer draining it's water onto the floor to make you pull both appliances out and clean behind them. For one brief moment, I even thought about painting.) So dh is washer shopping this evening. Without me. Because I am working late. He's concerned that he'll buy the wrong thing. I suspect that there have been washer improvements over the last ten years and as long as it "washes", we will be fine. In the mean time, everyone has strict instructions not to dirty up any clothes.
We had a security door put on the back door today. (It's a real hotbed of activity at my house lately.) I'm not sure if I've mentioned it, but we have five dogs. Of the five, one is mentally challenged (he's a shepherd mix who thinks he fits behind the toilet) and one is afraid of everything. Really. Everything. (like the sound of his toenails on the hardwood floor.) And now, with the new door on the back of the house, they are afraid to come back inside. We had a lovely dog vs. people discussion as I tried to persuade them that the door will not bite.
Or attack.
Or even look at them.
After twenty minutes, I got Wolfgang inside only to have him run back out again while I was trying to get the other one in. All while I was supposed to be leaving for work. Sigh.
Life is often not what we expect. However, it is what we have. And I am grateful that it wasn't the cat who made an icky mess all over my floor. I am grateful that I now have a clean laundry room (and a new washer.) I am grateful that it snowed Saturday and that I was stuck indoors and was able to catch up on my laundry. I am grateful for my dogs making me laugh. I am grateful that we have a secure door on the back of the house. (and it looks pretty too.) And I hope that I can always find things to be grateful for even when the day turns out to be not so ordinary.
God bless!
We had a security door put on the back door today. (It's a real hotbed of activity at my house lately.) I'm not sure if I've mentioned it, but we have five dogs. Of the five, one is mentally challenged (he's a shepherd mix who thinks he fits behind the toilet) and one is afraid of everything. Really. Everything. (like the sound of his toenails on the hardwood floor.) And now, with the new door on the back of the house, they are afraid to come back inside. We had a lovely dog vs. people discussion as I tried to persuade them that the door will not bite.
Or attack.
Or even look at them.
After twenty minutes, I got Wolfgang inside only to have him run back out again while I was trying to get the other one in. All while I was supposed to be leaving for work. Sigh.
Life is often not what we expect. However, it is what we have. And I am grateful that it wasn't the cat who made an icky mess all over my floor. I am grateful that I now have a clean laundry room (and a new washer.) I am grateful that it snowed Saturday and that I was stuck indoors and was able to catch up on my laundry. I am grateful for my dogs making me laugh. I am grateful that we have a secure door on the back of the house. (and it looks pretty too.) And I hope that I can always find things to be grateful for even when the day turns out to be not so ordinary.
God bless!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Cover to Cover
I am reading through the Bible this year (chronologically) at engage the journey. At the beginning of each week, there is a recap of the scriptures at annie's eyes, bev's blog, Ang's blog, and at Girlfriends in God. (Patty hasn't posted hers as of this blogging, but I will correct the link once she does.)
Although my thoughts are not as poetic or insightful as the ones that you might find at the above blogs, here's the two things that struck me this week.
Then they got up early the next morning and went to the top of the range of hills. “Let’s go,” they said. “We realize that we have sinned, but now we are ready to enter the land the Lord has promised us.” Numbers 14:40
The Israelites had just angered God once again. This time they questioned whether or not Canaan could truly be theirs. God pronounces His sentence. They will not enter the promised land. Instead, they will wander about the wilderness for forty years. And the next day, the Israelites shrug their shoulders, say, "oh well," like nothing ever happened. Like God had never spoken. Like there was no consequence for their sin. I don't know that I ever noticed this before. But it sure reminded me of me. And how many times I'm willing to proceed forward, overlooking my sin. Treating it like it's an "oopsie" instead of an act of willful disobedience.
The other verse was Numbers 15:39 when the Lord was giving Moses instructions.
When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do.
I found the "as you are prone to do" part humbling. My God knows me (and us) so well. It makes me wish that tassels were still in style. Perhaps if I had a constant, before my eyes every moment of the day reminder, I might remember and obey so much better.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Sunday Scripture
I have no one in heaven but you;
I want nothing on earth besides you.
My body and my mind may become weak,
but God is my strength.
He is mine forever.
Psalm 73:25-26 NCV
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Today was the big VBS workshop. However, God had other plans. Can you tell what they were?
We ended up with fourteen inches of snow!
The dogs were thrilled.
And the people were too! Work was closed and we have hibernated all day inside. (Except for the shoveling and picture taking!)We did have one little bit of excitement today. For some unknown reason, I decided to cut doggie toenails. Because I am a glutton for punishment. And I apparently cut Wolfie's one nail too short. Wolfie is not happy with me. And I am not happy with me. Because there is doggie blood everywhere. Ick. Wolfie is a foot chewer. Which means that whenever the silly thing stops bleeding, he is compelled to lick and chew on it til it starts again. Plus he will probably never let me touch his feet again. But other than that one little bump in the day, we are enjoying the day. I hope you are too!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Ordinary
Angela Thomas came and spoke at our women's ministry fall kick off a couple of years ago. She told a story about a speaking trip she had taken (I think to Africa) and how well it went and so forth. After she was done speaking she went to lunch with the coordinator and the coordinator told her that the reason that the women enjoyed her speaking was because she was so "ordinary". You have to hear her tell, with her pseudo-british accent, about her being "just an ordinary girl with an ordinary life, and ordinary hair and ordinary clothes, in an ordinary state and an ordinary job" and so forth. And that's what today was. Ordinary. I like ordinary, by the way.
I had a day off today because of the big VBS workshop coming up on Saturday. (Prayer would be appreciated!) And in a hint of irony, there is a possibility of snow (up to twelve inches) by Saturday morning which could either cancel or severely curtail the number of attendees listening to me hack and cough my way through the miracles of Power Lab VBS. So I don't suppose you'll be hearing me complain about the lack of spring anymore. (and it was 47 today so I went out without a heavy coat. Which may explain some of the hacking and coughing.)
Back to my ordinary day. It was off to the grocery at 8:30 to beat the milk and bread crowd that always descends when snow is threatened. I was somewhat embarrassed to be buying two loaves of bread (no, I don't expect that much snow. It's just that we ran out of bread in the middle of the week and I am trying to avoid that next week. I hate grocery shopping.) but I didn't buy any milk. Then it was back home to scale the Mount Everest of laundry. Cinderella is on spring break this week (twelve inches of snow!) so she took some time out from seeing Prince Charming and persuaded me to take her to our local Chinese buffet. (all you can eat and sweat pants = a match made in heaven.) She had to head off to work after that and dh and The Boy are eating out at my mother-in-law's this evening, so it's just me in the house. Nothing spectacular about the day. Except that the sun was shining, my heart was lifted and God sang me a song today. Because He's cool like that. Many blessings to you, my friends!
I had a day off today because of the big VBS workshop coming up on Saturday. (Prayer would be appreciated!) And in a hint of irony, there is a possibility of snow (up to twelve inches) by Saturday morning which could either cancel or severely curtail the number of attendees listening to me hack and cough my way through the miracles of Power Lab VBS. So I don't suppose you'll be hearing me complain about the lack of spring anymore. (and it was 47 today so I went out without a heavy coat. Which may explain some of the hacking and coughing.)
Back to my ordinary day. It was off to the grocery at 8:30 to beat the milk and bread crowd that always descends when snow is threatened. I was somewhat embarrassed to be buying two loaves of bread (no, I don't expect that much snow. It's just that we ran out of bread in the middle of the week and I am trying to avoid that next week. I hate grocery shopping.) but I didn't buy any milk. Then it was back home to scale the Mount Everest of laundry. Cinderella is on spring break this week (twelve inches of snow!) so she took some time out from seeing Prince Charming and persuaded me to take her to our local Chinese buffet. (all you can eat and sweat pants = a match made in heaven.) She had to head off to work after that and dh and The Boy are eating out at my mother-in-law's this evening, so it's just me in the house. Nothing spectacular about the day. Except that the sun was shining, my heart was lifted and God sang me a song today. Because He's cool like that. Many blessings to you, my friends!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
I know my redeemer lives!
Some days just seem a little darker than others. I heard this again the other day and it's a perfect reminder to cling to when things are a little more difficult. God bless!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
I work late on Monday nights at a local christian book store. (At least I will until Dancing with the Stars starts on the 17th. Isn't that an interesting commentary on my life. I schedule my work around a pseudo-dance competition. We won't even mention my habit of eating some high calorie snack while watching, all the while hoping that my body looks that good at 50. Irony, anyone?)
Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Presuming there is a subject. I normally get home around 9:45 in the evening and it's always exciting for me to see what interesting developments crop up in my absence. Last nights development was the cell phone bill. And my son. (and taxes. But we aren't talking about that.)
As I looked through the bill to make sure we weren't running out of minutes or texting ourselves into the poor house (we don't text at our house but somehow we always seem to be charged for some texting. I wonder how that happens?), I noticed The Boy's cell phone usage. (I should be using all caps for this child's name at this point.) Would anyone care to guess how many minutes this precious child of mine used this past month? Anyone? Let's try....6,000 minutes. When asked about said usage, his comment was, "but they were shared minutes so they didn't cost anything." Sigh. Since said excessive phone usage is accompanied by a slight slipping of his grades, we are currently reassessing The Boy's "free time." (Have I mentioned how many times I have seen him using the cell phone and the house phone along with the computer? This boy can multi-task but I'm not sure this is a bankable skill.)
All in all, the discussion went well, partly due to the fact that his mama was totally doped up on cold pills and decided to deliver her lecture in the cadence of a revival preacher. Daddy sat at the table doing hand motions and generally having a chuckle over the ridiculousness of the whole thing. Which, come to think of it, may not have imparted the seriousness of the message I was trying to get across. Only time will tell.
Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Presuming there is a subject. I normally get home around 9:45 in the evening and it's always exciting for me to see what interesting developments crop up in my absence. Last nights development was the cell phone bill. And my son. (and taxes. But we aren't talking about that.)
As I looked through the bill to make sure we weren't running out of minutes or texting ourselves into the poor house (we don't text at our house but somehow we always seem to be charged for some texting. I wonder how that happens?), I noticed The Boy's cell phone usage. (I should be using all caps for this child's name at this point.) Would anyone care to guess how many minutes this precious child of mine used this past month? Anyone? Let's try....6,000 minutes. When asked about said usage, his comment was, "but they were shared minutes so they didn't cost anything." Sigh. Since said excessive phone usage is accompanied by a slight slipping of his grades, we are currently reassessing The Boy's "free time." (Have I mentioned how many times I have seen him using the cell phone and the house phone along with the computer? This boy can multi-task but I'm not sure this is a bankable skill.)
All in all, the discussion went well, partly due to the fact that his mama was totally doped up on cold pills and decided to deliver her lecture in the cadence of a revival preacher. Daddy sat at the table doing hand motions and generally having a chuckle over the ridiculousness of the whole thing. Which, come to think of it, may not have imparted the seriousness of the message I was trying to get across. Only time will tell.
Monday, March 3, 2008
We interrupt our regularly scheduled program...Updated
Bowing to tremendous pressure from local townspeople, meteorologists have cancelled today's scheduled snowfall. Instead, they have opted to go with temperatures in the low 70's and lots of rain. Woo hoo!
The Windows are open, people. I repeat, the windows are OPEN!
The Windows are open, people. I repeat, the windows are OPEN!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Sunday Scripture
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
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,
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
Saturday, March 1, 2008
The happiest day of the year!
We live in a very northern part of a southern state. We are so northern that most of the state doesn't want to claim us. They call us "pretend southerners."
Anyhow, in spite of this, my husband likes to grow things.
And he's good at it.
He especially likes to grow tropical things. It kind of helps him to pretend that he lives in Hawaii instead of smack dippity-do-dab in the middle of the continental US of A. (Actually, we probably aren't "smack" in the middle. I have forgotten all of my geography and am to lazy to look up a map.)
Regardless, there are 70 (yes, I counted) tropical plants that grow around my house in the summer. There are a variety of orchids, palm trees, banana trees, plumeria and citrus trees. (And other species as well that I cannot recall.) They look absolutely beautiful in the summer. Transforms the deck into some kind of tropical oasis. Makes the front of the house look positively balmy.
However, just as day turns to night, winter follows summer. (No, I didn't forget about fall.) And tropical plants do not like winter in northern parts of southern states.
So all 70 plants come inside. My house. (Except for 6 plumeria trees that are still small enough to be transported by truck to my mother-in-laws shower.) Of the 63 remaining plants, 7 are plumeria trees (one over 6 feet) and 3 are citrus trees. (two lemons and an orange.)
Now, I don't particularly mourn when the plants come inside. The orchids bloom all year long and it's nice to have fragrant flowers blooming in the dead of winter (and the plumeria have bloomed this winter too.)
But I do rejoice when they all go back outside. Hence the celebration of the happiest day of the year. (I always do a little happy dance at work when this day comes. Everyone who works there knows what it means. )
No more navigating around giant pots. No more keeping kitty out of the dirt. No more doggies burying treats in the big pots of dirt. No more frogs in the house. (One year we brought "trevor the giant frog" in unknowingly. Trevor lived in the pot for months before we noticed. Or rather, the cat noticed. Trevor went back outside.)
So, all this to say, regardless of the fact that some silly weatherman is threatening me with an "up to 20 inch" snowfall next week, it's March! Which means the happiest day of the year is just right around the corner!
Anyhow, in spite of this, my husband likes to grow things.
And he's good at it.
He especially likes to grow tropical things. It kind of helps him to pretend that he lives in Hawaii instead of smack dippity-do-dab in the middle of the continental US of A. (Actually, we probably aren't "smack" in the middle. I have forgotten all of my geography and am to lazy to look up a map.)
Regardless, there are 70 (yes, I counted) tropical plants that grow around my house in the summer. There are a variety of orchids, palm trees, banana trees, plumeria and citrus trees. (And other species as well that I cannot recall.) They look absolutely beautiful in the summer. Transforms the deck into some kind of tropical oasis. Makes the front of the house look positively balmy.
However, just as day turns to night, winter follows summer. (No, I didn't forget about fall.) And tropical plants do not like winter in northern parts of southern states.
So all 70 plants come inside. My house. (Except for 6 plumeria trees that are still small enough to be transported by truck to my mother-in-laws shower.) Of the 63 remaining plants, 7 are plumeria trees (one over 6 feet) and 3 are citrus trees. (two lemons and an orange.)
Now, I don't particularly mourn when the plants come inside. The orchids bloom all year long and it's nice to have fragrant flowers blooming in the dead of winter (and the plumeria have bloomed this winter too.)
But I do rejoice when they all go back outside. Hence the celebration of the happiest day of the year. (I always do a little happy dance at work when this day comes. Everyone who works there knows what it means. )
No more navigating around giant pots. No more keeping kitty out of the dirt. No more doggies burying treats in the big pots of dirt. No more frogs in the house. (One year we brought "trevor the giant frog" in unknowingly. Trevor lived in the pot for months before we noticed. Or rather, the cat noticed. Trevor went back outside.)
So, all this to say, regardless of the fact that some silly weatherman is threatening me with an "up to 20 inch" snowfall next week, it's March! Which means the happiest day of the year is just right around the corner!
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