This is a pic of me and a good friend about a month ago when we went out to eat and then off to Wal*mart to scope out clearance for my girls. Not the best pic, but I love Moe's and Val is so much fun to hang out with!
Thursday, March 04, 2010
New Pic!
I finally decided it was time to update the pic. The old was was REALLY old. It was about 4 years old, in fact. This one was taken fairly recently after getting a new hair cut. I hardly ever (it's been so long I can't even tell you when it was) get my hair done/cut professionally, but I went to a great salon when I got some extra money and got this awesome 'do. Ever since my hair turned curly I've just let it grow and tried to figure out how it looked best. Now it has a shape and I am liking it.
This is a pic of me and a good friend about a month ago when we went out to eat and then off to Wal*mart to scope out clearance for my girls. Not the best pic, but I love Moe's and Val is so much fun to hang out with!
This is a pic of me and a good friend about a month ago when we went out to eat and then off to Wal*mart to scope out clearance for my girls. Not the best pic, but I love Moe's and Val is so much fun to hang out with!
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
The Brick
I got this in my email today. It is SO good!
THE
BRICK
A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!
He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting,
'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?'
The young boy was apologetic.
'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'
Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.'
Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took
out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy
push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to
remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.
Thought for the Day:
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning.
Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!
Send this to every 'beautiful person' you wish to bless.
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.
Read this line very slowly and let it sink in...
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
THE
BRICK
A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!
He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting,
'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?'
The young boy was apologetic.
'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'
Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.'
Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took
out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy
push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to
remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.
Thought for the Day:
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning.
Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!
Send this to every 'beautiful person' you wish to bless.
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.
Read this line very slowly and let it sink in...
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Love the Light
OK, so I have heard this song a lot lately on a local radio station. It really speaks to me. It goes along with the whole Peter thing too. We all have a past we're not proud of, but God can make a difference in our lives, if we let Him.
Love the Light by Ronnie Freeman (album: God Speaking)
I met a man who lost it all
Ten years ago, just like the fall
He gave in and did it his way
Traded his peace for shadows and shame
Now ten years later, with scars to bare
He's climbing back out of his pit of despair
It is no trouble for him to see
His need for a Savior, His need for mercy - cause
(Chorus)
HE LOVES THE LIGHT
HE'S NOT ASHAMED
HE'S NOTHING TO HIDE
EVERYTHING'S CHANGED
VOICES STILL CALL HIM
BACK TO THE NIGHT
BUT HE'S STANDING STRONG NOW
CAUSE HE LOVES, HE LOVES THE LIGHT
He's learning to dance, learning to sing
He's seeing colors he's never seen
You won't hear him deny who he used to be
He's an open book for the world to read
(Chorus)
HE LOVES THE LIGHT AND PEACE AND HOPE
AND FORGIVENESS
NO MORE HIDING, NO MORE SECRETS
HE LOVES THE SUN, HE LOVES THE SKY, THE CLOUDS
AND HE LOVES THE LIGHT
Love the Light by Ronnie Freeman (album: God Speaking)
I met a man who lost it all
Ten years ago, just like the fall
He gave in and did it his way
Traded his peace for shadows and shame
Now ten years later, with scars to bare
He's climbing back out of his pit of despair
It is no trouble for him to see
His need for a Savior, His need for mercy - cause
(Chorus)
HE LOVES THE LIGHT
HE'S NOT ASHAMED
HE'S NOTHING TO HIDE
EVERYTHING'S CHANGED
VOICES STILL CALL HIM
BACK TO THE NIGHT
BUT HE'S STANDING STRONG NOW
CAUSE HE LOVES, HE LOVES THE LIGHT
He's learning to dance, learning to sing
He's seeing colors he's never seen
You won't hear him deny who he used to be
He's an open book for the world to read
(Chorus)
HE LOVES THE LIGHT AND PEACE AND HOPE
AND FORGIVENESS
NO MORE HIDING, NO MORE SECRETS
HE LOVES THE SUN, HE LOVES THE SKY, THE CLOUDS
AND HE LOVES THE LIGHT
An explanation is in order
So, yesterday's post came from a frustrated point of view. I have learned that my duty is to try my best to live for God and it doesn't matter what men think of me. OK, well, that's easier said than done. Someone said something to me that felt like a judgment and I felt like the people that may read this blog need to know it is not any human's place to judge. You don't know what the other person is going through or has been through. You don't know their heart, only God does. I think people would get along better if they stopped trying to be the judge of others and looked on the inside to see what God wants of them.
I had a break-through a while back. I can't actually tell you when it was, but I just got serious with God and asked Him, "what do you want me to do?" You know what immediately came to my mind? A scripture verse I've know for a LONG time! This is why it is crucial to not only read the scriptures, but to apply them to your life. I have known this verse at least half my life and have just recently been trying to make the application. Do I still stumble? Yes, I am human, but I would say I am doing a better job of weighing my words and actions since God reminded me of it.
So here it is:
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
In trying to live by this verse, I have found myself judging myself more and judging others less. It helps, because the focus is on where YOU are with the Lord, not anyone else. For really, if you are watching what others are doing, then you are not focused on the path ahead of you and it can lead you to tripping/stumbling over things you didn't see.
I heard a good sermon on Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Basically, our Christian life is like a marathon. It's steady growth, toward Christ, until we reach the end (earthly death). If a marathon runner gets distracted (as the man that preached this sermon had), he can get injured by things he didn't expect ahead. But, Jesus says in John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
So we need to follow the way HE leads. It may be completely different than what we would have planned but remember God knows what's best for you.
Oh, I wanted to apologize for not getting the sermon notes up. Seriously, I have had some sinus crud for most of the last month or so, as well as a sinus infection that I've now taken 2 antibiotics for. I just haven't felt much like typing up and looking up sermon notes and Scriptures. Hopefully I can try to get the whole series on Peter posted. It's been REALLY good. I am just so thankful that Jesus left us the story of Peter. He was a shoot from the hip, ask questions later, kind of guy that God transformed into the leader of the New Testament church! I'm so glad that God would take someone that not only cursed and maimed others, but also denied the Lord himself and helped him become something admirable. It's like the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly. If he did it for Peter 2000 years ago, he can do it for you and me! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!
I had a break-through a while back. I can't actually tell you when it was, but I just got serious with God and asked Him, "what do you want me to do?" You know what immediately came to my mind? A scripture verse I've know for a LONG time! This is why it is crucial to not only read the scriptures, but to apply them to your life. I have known this verse at least half my life and have just recently been trying to make the application. Do I still stumble? Yes, I am human, but I would say I am doing a better job of weighing my words and actions since God reminded me of it.
So here it is:
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
In trying to live by this verse, I have found myself judging myself more and judging others less. It helps, because the focus is on where YOU are with the Lord, not anyone else. For really, if you are watching what others are doing, then you are not focused on the path ahead of you and it can lead you to tripping/stumbling over things you didn't see.
I heard a good sermon on Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Basically, our Christian life is like a marathon. It's steady growth, toward Christ, until we reach the end (earthly death). If a marathon runner gets distracted (as the man that preached this sermon had), he can get injured by things he didn't expect ahead. But, Jesus says in John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
So we need to follow the way HE leads. It may be completely different than what we would have planned but remember God knows what's best for you.
Oh, I wanted to apologize for not getting the sermon notes up. Seriously, I have had some sinus crud for most of the last month or so, as well as a sinus infection that I've now taken 2 antibiotics for. I just haven't felt much like typing up and looking up sermon notes and Scriptures. Hopefully I can try to get the whole series on Peter posted. It's been REALLY good. I am just so thankful that Jesus left us the story of Peter. He was a shoot from the hip, ask questions later, kind of guy that God transformed into the leader of the New Testament church! I'm so glad that God would take someone that not only cursed and maimed others, but also denied the Lord himself and helped him become something admirable. It's like the transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly. If he did it for Peter 2000 years ago, he can do it for you and me! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
A couple of thoughts on being judgmental
James 4:11 Do not speak against one another, brethren He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.
Matthew 7:1 Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this-- not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.
John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone.
Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
All verses are in the NASB, but if you are interested in other versions www.biblegateway.com is a great source!
Matthew 7:1 Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
Romans 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this-- not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.
John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone.
Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
All verses are in the NASB, but if you are interested in other versions www.biblegateway.com is a great source!
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