What I'm thinking about this morning......
1. I'm thinking about how someday I will have to give an account for how much I grew in my relationship with God. What if that day is today? What will the account I give look like? If that day isn't today, then what can I do to improve the account I give, because that day will come.
2. I'm thinking about how this year I learned that the way to keep from holding grudges and to forgive someone who hurts you is to pray for them. Which, I can honestly say that I do pray for my enemies. It wasn't hard to do, because it's what you're supposed to do, I didn't really have a choice did I? (Matthew 5:44) BUT this morning, I realized that I'm not just supposed to pray for my enemies, I am supposed to thank God for them, too. (I Timothy 2:1). That definitely seems like something that will be hard to do. Yet Jesus died for the person who hurt me. Jesus, who forgave my sins, shed His pure blood so I could be free. I KNOW that I just didn't deserve it in anyway. I think about my sins and am I any better than the person who hurt me? I can't even imagine His love and mercy to do that for me. Well, He died for that person, too. He wants them to come to Him and be free as much as He wanted me to. So how can I not thank God for that person?
3. Finally, believe it or not, I am also thinking about Starbucks and a caramel frappuccino. I really want a caramel frappuccino! Why do I live so far away from Starbucks? Oh, how I wish I could just pull in that parking lot right now! The caramel, the foam, it's so yummy, it would be so nice to have a caramel frap right now, and nothing else will do. Yet here I am, miles and miles away.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Praying Legacy
Diana made my day, week, month, year, or maybe even my life today! She told me that she really wanted to be like Grandpa (my Grandpa E) and pray for everybody. She said she has been adding anyone she meets to her prayer list. Today she prayed for 115 people. I can honestly say that there is nothing else I can think of that I would want to hear from her more. Now that could seem like someone just randomly sitting down and going over some names, if you haven't seen the power of prayer in action. I grew up with the witness of some amazing Grandparents and I can tell you that someone praying for everyone they know is a BIG deal in those people's life's, the grand scheme of things, and, most especially, the life of the person doing the praying. Prayer really is a big, BIG deal. Grandpa's prayers made a difference & praying for others is the legacy that he & Grandma left their kids, grand kids, and great-grand kids. I think sometimes about how they are in Heaven now, so does that mean that the world is minus those prayers? They taught us so much and if our family all prays like they did, there will be more praying, it can multiply. Diana is carrying on that tradition. That is making the world a better place. So, she said that, and made me cry today, but they were very good tears.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Playdoh
August 27, 2008
Play-doh is just not the same toy as it was when I was little. When I was young Christy and I used to get out like a can of red, blue, green, yellow, and maybe if we were lucky, we would find a can of purple. Then we would make a kitchen table full of creations, all straight from our imagination. Now-adays, things are little different for play-dohs kids. There are millions of colors, that are made to represent different things. Like Calvin's ice-cream maker play-doh toy, has "chocolate ice-cream brown" and even a special white, with confetti sprinkles in it to make extra special whipped cream.
When I was young, and we wanted to make a person, animal, or food with our playdoh. We pretty much had to get to work rolling, patting, and shaping all on our own. Play-doh kids of today, have step-by-step instructions included on how to make things just exactly perfect. His ice cream factory or whatever it is, makes the play doh come out looking just the same exact shape as ice cream comes out of one of those machines at Golden Corral or McDonald's or something. It even has something that pumps out little tiny sprinkles onto the top of the ice-cream. And a special pump for the sparkly whipped cream.
I remember being EXTRA careful, not to mix the colors up. Once you mix up the colors that is it all your play-doh is a weird purple-brown color because it has just all mixed around. Calvin's toy makes it pretty much impossible not to mix all the colors together. (Although maybe this is just play-doh's clever way of making it so parents have to go out and spend more money one new play-doh.) It is really a little hard for me to watch him, just smashing it all together and making green/brown, chocolate-mint ice cream. I have to close my eyes, it's his toy, not mine, and if he doesn't care that all his play doh looks remarkably like puke, then I guess I can live with that, somehow.
Here is Calvin with some of his special play-doh creations, the first is a Calvin showing off a flavor that I call, puke. The second is the special cone that he made for Grandpa Merton, complete with a big smile from Calvin and his kool-aid mustached face. . . . .
Play-doh is just not the same toy as it was when I was little. When I was young Christy and I used to get out like a can of red, blue, green, yellow, and maybe if we were lucky, we would find a can of purple. Then we would make a kitchen table full of creations, all straight from our imagination. Now-adays, things are little different for play-dohs kids. There are millions of colors, that are made to represent different things. Like Calvin's ice-cream maker play-doh toy, has "chocolate ice-cream brown" and even a special white, with confetti sprinkles in it to make extra special whipped cream.
When I was young, and we wanted to make a person, animal, or food with our playdoh. We pretty much had to get to work rolling, patting, and shaping all on our own. Play-doh kids of today, have step-by-step instructions included on how to make things just exactly perfect. His ice cream factory or whatever it is, makes the play doh come out looking just the same exact shape as ice cream comes out of one of those machines at Golden Corral or McDonald's or something. It even has something that pumps out little tiny sprinkles onto the top of the ice-cream. And a special pump for the sparkly whipped cream.
I remember being EXTRA careful, not to mix the colors up. Once you mix up the colors that is it all your play-doh is a weird purple-brown color because it has just all mixed around. Calvin's toy makes it pretty much impossible not to mix all the colors together. (Although maybe this is just play-doh's clever way of making it so parents have to go out and spend more money one new play-doh.) It is really a little hard for me to watch him, just smashing it all together and making green/brown, chocolate-mint ice cream. I have to close my eyes, it's his toy, not mine, and if he doesn't care that all his play doh looks remarkably like puke, then I guess I can live with that, somehow.
Here is Calvin with some of his special play-doh creations, the first is a Calvin showing off a flavor that I call, puke. The second is the special cone that he made for Grandpa Merton, complete with a big smile from Calvin and his kool-aid mustached face. . . . .
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Covert of Thy Wings
I've been taking my blog posts from myspace and posting them on here, with hopes of deleting the myspace soon. This is a post from September 5, 2008. I don't remember what was going on in my life at that time that was so hard for me and seemed so desperate. It sure is interesting how this speaks to me today. So weird because I know whatever was happening, it was nothing like what I am going through right now. It also makes me think that whatever I am going through the answers to these problems are in God's Word.
Lately, I have had some problems that seem insurmountable. In fact, I have even talked with quite a few friends today that have mentioned things that they needed prayer about. Then I sit down, just now, to do my Quiet Time, and I am once again shocked at the answers that the Bible gives. It is funny how people can think that the Bible is outdated, because it is almost miraculous how it is SO not outdated, but also how when I have a need I just "happen" to read a verse or chapter that answers or speaks directly to that need. If fact it does not, just "happen" at all.
Psalm 61:1-8
"Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king's life; and his years as many generations. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows."
So, this tells me that David felt overwhelmed. And really his problems seem a bit more frightening then mine, since David was running and hiding from a son who wanted to kill him. Sounds pretty overwhelming to me! But then David says that he can trust in God to give him a shelter, a tower to escape from enemies, he can trust in the covert of God's wings. I can just imagine, hiding under powerful wings completely safe from danger! The verses also say that God will preserve David's life and God did save David from this danger. David, even in this horrible danger was able to feel safety from God's protection. And that protection is not only for David, it is for me, too!!! Not only that, God will not get bored of me going to him with every single need I have. Because it also says "I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever" and "He shall abide before God for ever"
Actually this promise will be kept for anyone who comes to Jesus and trusts in the "Covert of thy wings". I can't help but remember another verse...
Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that are weak and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Lately, I have had some problems that seem insurmountable. In fact, I have even talked with quite a few friends today that have mentioned things that they needed prayer about. Then I sit down, just now, to do my Quiet Time, and I am once again shocked at the answers that the Bible gives. It is funny how people can think that the Bible is outdated, because it is almost miraculous how it is SO not outdated, but also how when I have a need I just "happen" to read a verse or chapter that answers or speaks directly to that need. If fact it does not, just "happen" at all.
Psalm 61:1-8
"Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king's life; and his years as many generations. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows."
So, this tells me that David felt overwhelmed. And really his problems seem a bit more frightening then mine, since David was running and hiding from a son who wanted to kill him. Sounds pretty overwhelming to me! But then David says that he can trust in God to give him a shelter, a tower to escape from enemies, he can trust in the covert of God's wings. I can just imagine, hiding under powerful wings completely safe from danger! The verses also say that God will preserve David's life and God did save David from this danger. David, even in this horrible danger was able to feel safety from God's protection. And that protection is not only for David, it is for me, too!!! Not only that, God will not get bored of me going to him with every single need I have. Because it also says "I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever" and "He shall abide before God for ever"
Actually this promise will be kept for anyone who comes to Jesus and trusts in the "Covert of thy wings". I can't help but remember another verse...
Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that are weak and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Corn
I live around corn in the summer. Corn everywhere I look. I have to admit that I always wish that someday I would be driving down the road in a tunnel of corn (because that's what it feels like, a tunnel of corn) or maybe walking beside the corn, and suddenly an alien would just step out of it, like the movie Signs. It would be so cool, because then I would have met an alien!
Well, yesterday I was out walking, shockingly enough, surrounded by corn, when I started hearing some noises in the corn. I thought I was imagining it. I took my headphones out and started listening more carefully. Wasn't my imagination, there was definitely noises coming from the corn. Naturally, my first thought was that there were aliens hiding in the corn, probably like preparing their weapons, or if they were friendly aliens their gifts. I just stopped walking, hoping one would walk out and I'd finally see an alien! Then I looked closely at the corn and noticed something.
Well, yesterday I was out walking, shockingly enough, surrounded by corn, when I started hearing some noises in the corn. I thought I was imagining it. I took my headphones out and started listening more carefully. Wasn't my imagination, there was definitely noises coming from the corn. Naturally, my first thought was that there were aliens hiding in the corn, probably like preparing their weapons, or if they were friendly aliens their gifts. I just stopped walking, hoping one would walk out and I'd finally see an alien! Then I looked closely at the corn and noticed something.
That corn is planted way too close together for aliens to be hiding in it, living in it, planning to take over earth in it, waiting for the best moment to walk out and surprise me in it. And I think all the corn in Indiana is planted real close together like that too! It wasn't like that in the movie Signs at all! Mel Gibson just walked through it barely even pushing it out of his way. No way could he walk through this corn with ease. See look at the corn in the movie Signs, it was way far apart. I don't know what kind of stupid farmer was planting that corn, he was missing out on a lot of money leaving all that space. Not to mention he was opening the world up to take over by giving the aliens the perfect hiding place.
So, I guess the sounds I heard in the corn had something to do farming and nothing to do with aliens. Oh the disappointment. Now, since the corn's so close together round here, I'm betting that I will never see an alien walk out of it. Oh well, if I'd seen an alien it would have changed my life forever anyway. The way I see it, it would have been the coolest thing that ever happened to me, and I'd want to tell everyone, but no one would believe me, and they'd just think I was crazy. So, maybe it's best that I just live around boring corn fields that hide no aliens, that are planted super close together so the farmers can make more money.
Cj's Questions
Cj asked me some great questions about God, the Bible, Salvation the other day
Cj- Why is there a devil?
Me- Because he wanted to be more powerful than God
Cj- What is the devil anyway?
Me- He's the opposite of God. God is good & pure, the devil is all evil & sin.
Cj- Why is there sin?
Me- When the first people, Adam & Eve, were in the garden they didn't follow the rules that God gave them to follow. And now, just like you have my eyes because I passed them down to you, You have sin because Adam passed it down to you.
So, then I went on and talked to him about sin, whether or not he has sinned. You know even an almost 6 year-old knows that he sins. He told me that he sins by not obeying his Mom and Dad, stealing his brother's toys, and lying. I told him that the Bible says, "It's appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgement" Hebrews 9:27. I asked him when he was before God, would God say that he had sinned or not sinned.
Cj- He will see that I sinned, But can't Jesus's blood cover up my sin?
So, we talked for awhile longer about putting faith in Jesus's blood and repenting. And then he had more questions.
Cj- What happens after you get saved, does that mean you never, never sin again?
Me- No, you will still sin sometimes, because you are in an earthly body, that's called the flesh, and it's sinful.
Cj- Well, what happens when you sin again, do you get unsaved?
Me- No, Jesus's blood covers your past sins, your sins of today, and sins in the future.
He asked some pretty good questions! I was pretty impressed. I don't think he really has a complete understanding of salvation yet though. It's so cool to see him thinking along these lines.
Cj- Why is there a devil?
Me- Because he wanted to be more powerful than God
Cj- What is the devil anyway?
Me- He's the opposite of God. God is good & pure, the devil is all evil & sin.
Cj- Why is there sin?
Me- When the first people, Adam & Eve, were in the garden they didn't follow the rules that God gave them to follow. And now, just like you have my eyes because I passed them down to you, You have sin because Adam passed it down to you.
So, then I went on and talked to him about sin, whether or not he has sinned. You know even an almost 6 year-old knows that he sins. He told me that he sins by not obeying his Mom and Dad, stealing his brother's toys, and lying. I told him that the Bible says, "It's appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgement" Hebrews 9:27. I asked him when he was before God, would God say that he had sinned or not sinned.
Cj- He will see that I sinned, But can't Jesus's blood cover up my sin?
So, we talked for awhile longer about putting faith in Jesus's blood and repenting. And then he had more questions.
Cj- What happens after you get saved, does that mean you never, never sin again?
Me- No, you will still sin sometimes, because you are in an earthly body, that's called the flesh, and it's sinful.
Cj- Well, what happens when you sin again, do you get unsaved?
Me- No, Jesus's blood covers your past sins, your sins of today, and sins in the future.
He asked some pretty good questions! I was pretty impressed. I don't think he really has a complete understanding of salvation yet though. It's so cool to see him thinking along these lines.
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