Monday, February 25, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Global Outreach Celebration
This week in our church is our Global Outreach Celebration. Here are a couple of videos to not only make you smile, but to help you understand about this wonderful time for our church body and the missionaries that come to visit:
I have to say that my Pastor is a great sport!
I have to say that my Pastor is a great sport!
Prayer Requests
I have several unspoken prayer requests for our family. I can tell you that God is proving Himself ever faithful to answer prayers above and beyond what we expect! Even if things don't go as we have planned, He has a better plan than we do, and all things are in His hands and in His time. God is good ALL the time!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Saying Grace
This came in an email this morning and I wanted to share.
Last week, I took my children to a restaurant.
My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.
As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"
Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman
Remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is
God mad at me?"
As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.
He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."
"Really?" my son asked.
"Cross my heart," the man replied.
Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.
He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."
Last week, I took my children to a restaurant.
My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.
As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"
Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman
Remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is
God mad at me?"
As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.
He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."
"Really?" my son asked.
"Cross my heart," the man replied.
Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.
He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already."
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Problem Or Promise?
PROBLEM OR PROMISE?
You Can Only Look at One
by Chip Ingram
Reptiles have an amazing ability to look at two different objects simultaneously. Their eyes function independently of one another, so they can gaze in opposite directions. That’s an impressive feat. I wish I could do it.
But human beings aren’t equipped with that kind of vision. We can only look in one direction at a time. (We have other perks, like depth perception and an insect-free diet.)
This limitation applies not only to our physical vision but also to our spiritual focus. When we stand between a problem of circumstances and a promise of God, we can really only focus on one or the other. When we focus on the problem, the result is paralysis, anxiety, and stress. When we focus on the promise, the result is power, faith, the presence of God, and the peace that passes understanding.
Seems like an easy choice, doesn’t it? But our tendency is to gaze at problems more than we gaze at God’s faithfulness. The consequences of magnifying our circumstances don’t seem to deter us. Meanwhile, the God who has the whole world in His hands—whose power to save has been proven again and again, and whose promises cover every situation we find ourselves in—offers to take our burdens off of our shoulders. All He asks is that we trust Him.
Probably all of us in a difficult trial have been advised by a caring friend to “turn it over to God.” Most of us have even offered that wisdom to someone else. It’s great advice, but how do we accomplish it? How do we get a burden out of our own hands and put it into God’s—and leave it there?
I think the answer is found in Romans 4, where Paul discusses the process Abraham went through to believe in a very unlikely promise. After describing God as the one who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they are, Paul identifies Abraham’s focus: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed” (v. 18). Abraham considered the fact that he and Sarah were far too old to have children, and he probably had a lot of questions about how God would accomplish His promise. But according to Romans 4, he didn’t focus on the questions. According to verses 20-21, he took his eyes off of the problem and gazed at the promise—or, better yet, the Promiser.
The result was that Abraham was considered righteous—and that he received the promise. The timing and the means were entirely in God’s hands, but the responsibility for faith was in Abraham’s. That’s our responsibility too.
For some reason, we assume more responsibility than that. We hold our problems in our hands, sometimes very tightly, stressing over them, advising God of all the ways He might want to resolve them, and strenuously praying without faith until we’re exhausted. Usually only when we let go of them does He take them and work out His answers.
Ask yourself these two questions: (1) “What problems are in my hands today?” You can probably think of several pressing issues pretty quickly—things that your mind is drawn to whenever it has some down time; and (2) “What does God hold in His hands today?” The answer, of course, is the whole world. Everything.
Think about that. If you let go of what’s in your hands, whose hands will it be in? God’s. That ought to make you feel pretty secure. You, along with your issues, are in God’s hands. If you let go of the circumstances that worry you, they remain in God’s hands. But they don’t remain in yours.
That’s where faith comes in. The way to focus on the promise rather than the problem is to emulate Abraham in the way he did not waver in unbelief but was fully persuaded that God was able—and willing—to faithfully fulfill His word.
We’ll never be fully persuaded when the problem occupies our whole range of vision, and we won’t be anxious when God is our entire focus. Unlike reptiles, we have to choose one or the other. Decide whose hands you want your problems to rest in. Then you can rest in His hands yourself.
You Can Only Look at One
by Chip Ingram
Reptiles have an amazing ability to look at two different objects simultaneously. Their eyes function independently of one another, so they can gaze in opposite directions. That’s an impressive feat. I wish I could do it.
But human beings aren’t equipped with that kind of vision. We can only look in one direction at a time. (We have other perks, like depth perception and an insect-free diet.)
This limitation applies not only to our physical vision but also to our spiritual focus. When we stand between a problem of circumstances and a promise of God, we can really only focus on one or the other. When we focus on the problem, the result is paralysis, anxiety, and stress. When we focus on the promise, the result is power, faith, the presence of God, and the peace that passes understanding.
Seems like an easy choice, doesn’t it? But our tendency is to gaze at problems more than we gaze at God’s faithfulness. The consequences of magnifying our circumstances don’t seem to deter us. Meanwhile, the God who has the whole world in His hands—whose power to save has been proven again and again, and whose promises cover every situation we find ourselves in—offers to take our burdens off of our shoulders. All He asks is that we trust Him.
Probably all of us in a difficult trial have been advised by a caring friend to “turn it over to God.” Most of us have even offered that wisdom to someone else. It’s great advice, but how do we accomplish it? How do we get a burden out of our own hands and put it into God’s—and leave it there?
I think the answer is found in Romans 4, where Paul discusses the process Abraham went through to believe in a very unlikely promise. After describing God as the one who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they are, Paul identifies Abraham’s focus: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed” (v. 18). Abraham considered the fact that he and Sarah were far too old to have children, and he probably had a lot of questions about how God would accomplish His promise. But according to Romans 4, he didn’t focus on the questions. According to verses 20-21, he took his eyes off of the problem and gazed at the promise—or, better yet, the Promiser.
The result was that Abraham was considered righteous—and that he received the promise. The timing and the means were entirely in God’s hands, but the responsibility for faith was in Abraham’s. That’s our responsibility too.
For some reason, we assume more responsibility than that. We hold our problems in our hands, sometimes very tightly, stressing over them, advising God of all the ways He might want to resolve them, and strenuously praying without faith until we’re exhausted. Usually only when we let go of them does He take them and work out His answers.
Ask yourself these two questions: (1) “What problems are in my hands today?” You can probably think of several pressing issues pretty quickly—things that your mind is drawn to whenever it has some down time; and (2) “What does God hold in His hands today?” The answer, of course, is the whole world. Everything.
Think about that. If you let go of what’s in your hands, whose hands will it be in? God’s. That ought to make you feel pretty secure. You, along with your issues, are in God’s hands. If you let go of the circumstances that worry you, they remain in God’s hands. But they don’t remain in yours.
That’s where faith comes in. The way to focus on the promise rather than the problem is to emulate Abraham in the way he did not waver in unbelief but was fully persuaded that God was able—and willing—to faithfully fulfill His word.
We’ll never be fully persuaded when the problem occupies our whole range of vision, and we won’t be anxious when God is our entire focus. Unlike reptiles, we have to choose one or the other. Decide whose hands you want your problems to rest in. Then you can rest in His hands yourself.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Obituary
This was posted on a friends Xanga and I thought I'd share it here:
Obituary--Someone Else
Our association was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else. Someone's passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person's share of the work. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone's list, "Let Someone Else do it." Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results: "Someone Else can work with that group." It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our association. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference. Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? When you are asked to help this year, remember - we can't depend on Someone Else anymore.
Obituary--Someone Else
Our association was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else. Someone's passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person's share of the work. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone's list, "Let Someone Else do it." Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results: "Someone Else can work with that group." It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our association. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference. Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? When you are asked to help this year, remember - we can't depend on Someone Else anymore.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Rainbow
Yesterday afternoon I was working upstairs and looked out the window and saw this:
Pretty cool, eh?
Pretty cool, eh?
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Visitation
Tuesday night Tom had hospital visitation. This is one of his duties as a deacon in our church. Personally, I don't care for this part of the ministry. Hospital visits and nursing homes just don't do it for me.
On one of our visits we went to the nursing home across the street from our old church building. The neighbor hood is not one you want to stay in for any length of time after the sun sets. Tom and I go in to visit Mary. This precious little gem was glowing from head to toe with JOY! We don't know what all is physically wrong with Mary, but we could see that she couldn't speak. She has a lamenated paper that has the alphabet on it that she uses to communicate with. Her eyes glowed and her face shown with gladness and joy at our brief visit. Here she is in a nursing home, which can be amongst the saddest places to be and though she couldn't speak, it was obvious that she was joyful. She has risen above her circumstances and her trials and is joyful. I want to be like Mary!
On one of our visits we went to the nursing home across the street from our old church building. The neighbor hood is not one you want to stay in for any length of time after the sun sets. Tom and I go in to visit Mary. This precious little gem was glowing from head to toe with JOY! We don't know what all is physically wrong with Mary, but we could see that she couldn't speak. She has a lamenated paper that has the alphabet on it that she uses to communicate with. Her eyes glowed and her face shown with gladness and joy at our brief visit. Here she is in a nursing home, which can be amongst the saddest places to be and though she couldn't speak, it was obvious that she was joyful. She has risen above her circumstances and her trials and is joyful. I want to be like Mary!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Divine Appointment
Sunday morning after our Sunday school class, I went down the hall to the ladies room. It was packed and I couldn't wait that long, so I went down the elevator to the first floor ladies room. In this particular building is our Chapel and the Parlor where Pastor Rob has a reception for new visitiors after the first and second services of the day. As I walk past the Parlor, Sue, Pastor's secretary is standing outside the room talking to a couple. I recognize the woman! Cindy and I went to the same 'tech' school for medical secretary, and worked together for a number of years at Blue Shield back before Tom and I were married. She and Tom went to elementary, jr. high and high school together. Anyway, I touched her shoulder and called her name and she turned around and gave me a big hug! I found out that she and her family have been attending our church for about 4 weeks, and they are joining and are wanting to get plugged in. I invited them to our Sunday school class. We exchanged phone numbers, and they don't live too far from us, so I'm going to give her a call later this week. I can not tell you how many times over the past years I've thought about Cindy, and prayed for her. We lost touch after Tom and I moved to Germany in 1984. When I went to the sanctuary to find Tom and take my seat, he was wondering why it took me so long to get in. I told him to guess who I ran into in the other building, and of course he had no idea. I told him and he was like "get out!" I hope we see them in our class, I think they would fit right in!
Resolutions and the like
I've never been one to make a resolution at New Years time. Doing so just never seemed to 'do it' for me. In recent years I've set goals to be accomplished during the year. Well, last year, I didn't accomplish any of my goals. 2007 was a year I was glad to see go. I honestly can say that even though I didn't accomplish my goals, God accomplished much in my life.
This year, I'm looking at goals a bit differently. This article is one reason. The women on a message board that I have posted on off and on for a number of years used this article to choose their "word". I began to pray about what my goals or my "word" should be. This devotion arrived in my inbox on New Year's Day. I took this as a hint and my word for the year is "consecrated". Why? During 2007, I took my focus off what should be the most important thing in my life: my walk with the Lord. Sure, I attend church every week, but the time alone with God was missing. Last night I was reading through some blogs and came across this post written by one of the ministers at my church. I believe it goes right along with my word, consecration. I need to be intentional in my putting God first. Period. How have I begun to go about this? My list is below:
~~Reading the Word daily. I used to think I had to read through the Bible in a year, and keep up with the schedule. Now, I know it's important to be in the Word, and not worry about a schedule. If I read through it in a year, great! If not, that's okay too.
~~Spending time in private prayer.
~~Reading my Sunday school lesson instead of showing up on Sunday morning and expecting Matt to impart his wisdom on me.While Matt's a great teacher, and we are blessed to have him, I know that I'll get much more out of studying on my own, and comparing notes in class.
~~Participating in a Wednesday evening class. After my father-in-love died, Tom and I got caught up in helping my mother-in-love get through stuff, and we lost the habit of being in a study on Wednesday. This go around I'm participating in a Beth Moore study. Tom is doing a study at home with Kayla on our church's doctrinal statement, Mikaija is going to the middle school youth department, and Kris is attending the college group when he's not working.
~~The last thing I'm doing is Praise Moves, which is a Christian alternative to yoga. For so many years, I've tried to get fit on my own, and it's just not happening. This year, my workouts and my fitness will be dedicated to strengthen this temple God had given me, so I may be fit for service in His kingdom.
So, I guess my "word"/"words" are now, intentional consecration.
This year, I'm looking at goals a bit differently. This article is one reason. The women on a message board that I have posted on off and on for a number of years used this article to choose their "word". I began to pray about what my goals or my "word" should be. This devotion arrived in my inbox on New Year's Day. I took this as a hint and my word for the year is "consecrated". Why? During 2007, I took my focus off what should be the most important thing in my life: my walk with the Lord. Sure, I attend church every week, but the time alone with God was missing. Last night I was reading through some blogs and came across this post written by one of the ministers at my church. I believe it goes right along with my word, consecration. I need to be intentional in my putting God first. Period. How have I begun to go about this? My list is below:
~~Reading the Word daily. I used to think I had to read through the Bible in a year, and keep up with the schedule. Now, I know it's important to be in the Word, and not worry about a schedule. If I read through it in a year, great! If not, that's okay too.
~~Spending time in private prayer.
~~Reading my Sunday school lesson instead of showing up on Sunday morning and expecting Matt to impart his wisdom on me.While Matt's a great teacher, and we are blessed to have him, I know that I'll get much more out of studying on my own, and comparing notes in class.
~~Participating in a Wednesday evening class. After my father-in-love died, Tom and I got caught up in helping my mother-in-love get through stuff, and we lost the habit of being in a study on Wednesday. This go around I'm participating in a Beth Moore study. Tom is doing a study at home with Kayla on our church's doctrinal statement, Mikaija is going to the middle school youth department, and Kris is attending the college group when he's not working.
~~The last thing I'm doing is Praise Moves, which is a Christian alternative to yoga. For so many years, I've tried to get fit on my own, and it's just not happening. This year, my workouts and my fitness will be dedicated to strengthen this temple God had given me, so I may be fit for service in His kingdom.
So, I guess my "word"/"words" are now, intentional consecration.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Dusting this thing off!
I decided tonight to dust off this old Blogger account, and put some thoughts here! :-)
I'll be back tomorrow with a better post.
I'll be back tomorrow with a better post.
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