The 24 hour follow up visit went very well. I can see much better already. It will take a few weeks for the eye to heal and settle in. I go back to the doctor on Monday for my next follow up visit. I will relax this weekend. ;-p I have to wear the eye guard while sleeping the next few nights. I can do that.
Let go, my friends! God will catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday update
Short entry today -- my cataract surgery went very well. I go back to the doctor in a few minutes to get the patch off of my left eye. I get to play pirate with the patch over my eye while I sleep the next three nights. Arghhh! hehehe
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers! It means so much! Duanebear
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers! It means so much! Duanebear
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Honor they Father and Mother... Oh brother!
Our Daily Bread
This is soooo weird! The devotional today is about honoring your parents. Guess who is staying with me right now! My mother! She drove down to take me to my cataract surgery today. Talk about coincidence!
I think we each need reminding about how important it is to honor our parents. I think it can be hard at any point in life. We have a tendency to retain baggage from our childhood and youth. We see the imperfections of the people who raised us. They sometimes don't follow the strict rules that they taught us when we were growing up. What a disappointment at times!
I learned that I need to focus on the good things that my parents taught me instead of focusing on the imperfections. God wants us to look at each person this way, not just our parents!
Lord, thank you for loving parents who did the best they could while rearing this stubborn old bear!
Teaching Tuesday
The Disciple 1 lesson continues on with reading about the first kings of Israel. Some weird and interesting stories in I and II Kings if you get a chance to read them! I am still amazed about how God can use ordinary, imperfect people for his plans!
Other Stuff
As I mentioned above, I am having cataract surgery today on my left eye. I hope it is the last eye surgery for quite a while! I will let you know how it goes.
I had a couple of quick chats with my new friend yesterday. He is such a sweetie. I am so glad I met him.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
This is soooo weird! The devotional today is about honoring your parents. Guess who is staying with me right now! My mother! She drove down to take me to my cataract surgery today. Talk about coincidence!
I think we each need reminding about how important it is to honor our parents. I think it can be hard at any point in life. We have a tendency to retain baggage from our childhood and youth. We see the imperfections of the people who raised us. They sometimes don't follow the strict rules that they taught us when we were growing up. What a disappointment at times!
I learned that I need to focus on the good things that my parents taught me instead of focusing on the imperfections. God wants us to look at each person this way, not just our parents!
Lord, thank you for loving parents who did the best they could while rearing this stubborn old bear!
Teaching Tuesday
The Disciple 1 lesson continues on with reading about the first kings of Israel. Some weird and interesting stories in I and II Kings if you get a chance to read them! I am still amazed about how God can use ordinary, imperfect people for his plans!
Other Stuff
As I mentioned above, I am having cataract surgery today on my left eye. I hope it is the last eye surgery for quite a while! I will let you know how it goes.
I had a couple of quick chats with my new friend yesterday. He is such a sweetie. I am so glad I met him.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Ya gotta Do right!
Our Daily Bread
This is a great devotional! Do what's right! It sounds so simple, but it gets complicated in our complicated world! I think the biggest test of a child of God is wondering what you will do in a situation where no one would know if you took the low road! Well, we often forget that God knows even if no one else might figure it out!
I told a friend recently that everything done in a dark place will eventually come to light. That is sort of scary, but appears to be true. Just ask the men who have been taken down the past year for lying or hiding their indiscretions! Yikes!
Let us all act like every action is seen by everyone. Do what's right!
Lord, thank you for my moral compass. Please help me to always follow it!
Movie Monday
I got to see two movies at the theater last week and one on DVD. I saw Immortals for the second time. It was cool again. ;-) I also saw Hugo and Paycheck.
Hugo
Hugo was a sweet movie, but much too long! The story is about a young boy that is on his own living in the train station in Paris. The movie tells the story of the boy and his gal pal and her god parents. It has some very touching moments, but like I said, it is WAY too long! My buddy fell asleep! Oh well.
I give it only one bear paw for being too long and boring. Oh well.
Paycheck
This is an old flick with Ben Affleck. He plays an engineer that takes on top secret projects. He has that part of his memory erased after after each project. He obviously gets a huge paycheck after each project! The movie tells the story about his latest big project that has some complications. It is sort of cool how it all fits together, though it is sort of unbelievable when you get to the end. ;-p
I give this DVD one bear paw. It was OK.
Other Stuff
I had an amazing weekend spending time with my new friend. I had a long trip from Kansas City to Columbus yesterday, but I made it home just fine. I need to unload my SUV and start laundry tonight.
This is a busy week with my dentist appointment today and my cataract surgery tomorrow. Mom visits tonight to help me through the surgery. It is not too serious, but I have to be careful at least the first day, and then be careful with lifting and such for at least a week or two. I am looking forward to clearer eye sight in my left eye!
I also had a great time with my best friend last week. We finished our Christmas shopping for each other, which is nice. We are both so hard to buy for!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
This is a great devotional! Do what's right! It sounds so simple, but it gets complicated in our complicated world! I think the biggest test of a child of God is wondering what you will do in a situation where no one would know if you took the low road! Well, we often forget that God knows even if no one else might figure it out!
I told a friend recently that everything done in a dark place will eventually come to light. That is sort of scary, but appears to be true. Just ask the men who have been taken down the past year for lying or hiding their indiscretions! Yikes!
Let us all act like every action is seen by everyone. Do what's right!
Lord, thank you for my moral compass. Please help me to always follow it!
Movie Monday
I got to see two movies at the theater last week and one on DVD. I saw Immortals for the second time. It was cool again. ;-) I also saw Hugo and Paycheck.
Hugo
Hugo was a sweet movie, but much too long! The story is about a young boy that is on his own living in the train station in Paris. The movie tells the story of the boy and his gal pal and her god parents. It has some very touching moments, but like I said, it is WAY too long! My buddy fell asleep! Oh well.
I give it only one bear paw for being too long and boring. Oh well.
Paycheck
This is an old flick with Ben Affleck. He plays an engineer that takes on top secret projects. He has that part of his memory erased after after each project. He obviously gets a huge paycheck after each project! The movie tells the story about his latest big project that has some complications. It is sort of cool how it all fits together, though it is sort of unbelievable when you get to the end. ;-p
I give this DVD one bear paw. It was OK.
Other Stuff
I had an amazing weekend spending time with my new friend. I had a long trip from Kansas City to Columbus yesterday, but I made it home just fine. I need to unload my SUV and start laundry tonight.
This is a busy week with my dentist appointment today and my cataract surgery tomorrow. Mom visits tonight to help me through the surgery. It is not too serious, but I have to be careful at least the first day, and then be careful with lifting and such for at least a week or two. I am looking forward to clearer eye sight in my left eye!
I also had a great time with my best friend last week. We finished our Christmas shopping for each other, which is nice. We are both so hard to buy for!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Friday, November 25, 2011
on location - back in KC
Joe and i had a great Thanksgiving i hope you dis too I drove back to KC today to spend some time with a new friend. Should be a fun weekend.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
on location St Louis
We had Hodaks chicken for supper last night. Mmmmm! Did a little Christmas shopping before heading back to Joes apartment. Getting stuff ready for having family over now. Have a great day!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Friday on location
Made it to St Louis ok. Had a great supper with my best friend. He is getting ready for our trip to Kansas City. I am relaxing. Have a great night!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The Real Thing
Our Daily Bread
Very busy day, so I need to be brief today!
The devotional warns us about the last days and the false prophets that will try to deceive us away from our relationship with Christ. Be careful out there! In 1 John 2, John gave three marks of false teachers who are controlled by the spirit of the antichrists: They depart from the fellowship (v.19), they deny Jesus as the Messiah (v.22), and they draw the faithful away from Jesus (v.26).
Lord, we ask for wisdom to know your will and know your true servants.
Witness Wednesday
I have had a crazy week so far. Sort of a perfect storm kind of week. I know I push myself too hard sometimes. Oh well. God has been there for me, as usual. I will see what happens the rest of the week as I get ready for my vacation. Whew!
Other Stuff
Had a weird situation come up yesterday. I set up a lunch date, but didn't really follow through with it. We had some confusion about the exact location. I messed up. We are meeting this morning for coffee. He seems very nice. Not sure if this will go anywhere or not. I am sure I will write about it either way! hehehe
I received my Kindle Fire yesterday. Woohooo! I will review it tomorrow. ;-)
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Very busy day, so I need to be brief today!
The devotional warns us about the last days and the false prophets that will try to deceive us away from our relationship with Christ. Be careful out there! In 1 John 2, John gave three marks of false teachers who are controlled by the spirit of the antichrists: They depart from the fellowship (v.19), they deny Jesus as the Messiah (v.22), and they draw the faithful away from Jesus (v.26).
Lord, we ask for wisdom to know your will and know your true servants.
I have had a crazy week so far. Sort of a perfect storm kind of week. I know I push myself too hard sometimes. Oh well. God has been there for me, as usual. I will see what happens the rest of the week as I get ready for my vacation. Whew!
Other Stuff
Had a weird situation come up yesterday. I set up a lunch date, but didn't really follow through with it. We had some confusion about the exact location. I messed up. We are meeting this morning for coffee. He seems very nice. Not sure if this will go anywhere or not. I am sure I will write about it either way! hehehe
I received my Kindle Fire yesterday. Woohooo! I will review it tomorrow. ;-)
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Under reconstruction....
Our Daily Bread
If you drive the roads around Columbus (or Pittsburgh where I visited recently) you will see a lot of "Under Construction" or "Construction ahead" signs. It is a warning to be careful for uneven roads, reduce your speed and watch out for workers!
The devotional today talks about this in a little different light -- building more mature Christians. I love this quote from today's devotional:
"Apply yourself to the Scriptures and the Scriptures to yourself."
I can testify that reading and studying the scriptures, both testaments, will change your life! What is God leading you to do today? Become a mature Christian or keep on feeding on spiritual baby food?
Lord, thank you the scriptures that you left for us. Thank you for being with us today!
Teaching Tuesday
We had a LOT of reading for this week! WE had to read a lot of 1 and II Samuel and some of I Kings. Lots to read! It was very, very interesting to read about the first few kings of Israel. Very interesting. Saul, David, and Solomon all had their ups and downs. We can read a lot about those ups and downs in the Psalms.
If you ever wonder how God could possibly use you, read these passages! God will show you that he uses imperfect people if they will only believe and trust him.
Other Stuff
I had a very busy day yesterday. I had to get all my work stuff straightened away for my cataract surgery. Whew... I also got my pre-admission testing done with my doctor and my tires installed at Costco. Two more things checked off my list! I worked on my mens chorus music while I was waiting for my car. I started the packing for my trip when I got home. I made some time for prayer before going to bed. It was a good night.
Another busy day. I have a class at work. Lunch with a friend. A short mens chorus gig tonight. Dinner with a friend. ;-) I love my life!
Let go, my friends! God will catch you and hold you in His loving arms!
If you drive the roads around Columbus (or Pittsburgh where I visited recently) you will see a lot of "Under Construction" or "Construction ahead" signs. It is a warning to be careful for uneven roads, reduce your speed and watch out for workers!
The devotional today talks about this in a little different light -- building more mature Christians. I love this quote from today's devotional:
"Apply yourself to the Scriptures and the Scriptures to yourself."
I can testify that reading and studying the scriptures, both testaments, will change your life! What is God leading you to do today? Become a mature Christian or keep on feeding on spiritual baby food?
Lord, thank you the scriptures that you left for us. Thank you for being with us today!
Teaching Tuesday
We had a LOT of reading for this week! WE had to read a lot of 1 and II Samuel and some of I Kings. Lots to read! It was very, very interesting to read about the first few kings of Israel. Very interesting. Saul, David, and Solomon all had their ups and downs. We can read a lot about those ups and downs in the Psalms.
If you ever wonder how God could possibly use you, read these passages! God will show you that he uses imperfect people if they will only believe and trust him.
Other Stuff
I had a very busy day yesterday. I had to get all my work stuff straightened away for my cataract surgery. Whew... I also got my pre-admission testing done with my doctor and my tires installed at Costco. Two more things checked off my list! I worked on my mens chorus music while I was waiting for my car. I started the packing for my trip when I got home. I made some time for prayer before going to bed. It was a good night.
Another busy day. I have a class at work. Lunch with a friend. A short mens chorus gig tonight. Dinner with a friend. ;-) I love my life!
Let go, my friends! God will catch you and hold you in His loving arms!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Goodness in grief
Our Daily Bread
Whenever grief strikes us, regardless of the form, we have a tendency to question God rather than dwell on God's goodness. It is only human. The grief could be the loss of a loved one, the separation of a relationship, etc. I tease my best friend that grief does NOT in include Lord and Taylor closing in St Louis! hehehe I guess we all experience grief in many ways! hehehe
The devotional talks about the prophet Jeremiah grieving during and after the destruction of Jerusalem. He had warned them about the horrible event, but they turned a deaf ear. How often do we turn a deaf ear to the warnings that God sends us through friends, sermons, Bible studies, etc. in our lives. We sometimes need the robot from Lost in Space to yell at us "Danger, Will Robinson, danger!" hehehe We sometimes let ourselves go because we don't see any immediate danger or consequences. Yikes!
Jeremiah saw God's goodness in everything during his grief. God has been there so many times during Israel's history. God will be there again for us just like he was for Israel! His goodness endures forever!
Lord, thank you for the warnings. Thank you for being there for us during our grief.
Movie Monday
I saw the movie Immortals in 3D on Saturday. It was interesting. In short, the story was about Theseus, a bastard peasant that was mentored by Zeus disguised in human form. The guy playing Theseus was very handsome. There were lots of scantily clad men so you know why I went to see it! hehehe Micky Roarke played King Hyperion, the bad guy in the movie. He did a great job at that! I liked the movie even though there was a LOT of blood shed!
I give it two stars. See it at the theater, in 3D or not, for the full effect!
Other Stuff
I had a restful day (at least for me!). I went to church. Went home and made a nice lunch. Took a nice nap. Went to mens chorus rehearsal. It was a good day!
I hope my new tires arrive at Costco today. Tonight would be the most convenient night to get them installed. I have stuff going on after work the other nights this week. I leave for St Louis at lunch time on Friday. I am looking forward to vacation.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms!
Whenever grief strikes us, regardless of the form, we have a tendency to question God rather than dwell on God's goodness. It is only human. The grief could be the loss of a loved one, the separation of a relationship, etc. I tease my best friend that grief does NOT in include Lord and Taylor closing in St Louis! hehehe I guess we all experience grief in many ways! hehehe
The devotional talks about the prophet Jeremiah grieving during and after the destruction of Jerusalem. He had warned them about the horrible event, but they turned a deaf ear. How often do we turn a deaf ear to the warnings that God sends us through friends, sermons, Bible studies, etc. in our lives. We sometimes need the robot from Lost in Space to yell at us "Danger, Will Robinson, danger!" hehehe We sometimes let ourselves go because we don't see any immediate danger or consequences. Yikes!
Jeremiah saw God's goodness in everything during his grief. God has been there so many times during Israel's history. God will be there again for us just like he was for Israel! His goodness endures forever!
Lord, thank you for the warnings. Thank you for being there for us during our grief.
Movie Monday
I saw the movie Immortals in 3D on Saturday. It was interesting. In short, the story was about Theseus, a bastard peasant that was mentored by Zeus disguised in human form. The guy playing Theseus was very handsome. There were lots of scantily clad men so you know why I went to see it! hehehe Micky Roarke played King Hyperion, the bad guy in the movie. He did a great job at that! I liked the movie even though there was a LOT of blood shed!
I give it two stars. See it at the theater, in 3D or not, for the full effect!
Other Stuff
I had a restful day (at least for me!). I went to church. Went home and made a nice lunch. Took a nice nap. Went to mens chorus rehearsal. It was a good day!
I hope my new tires arrive at Costco today. Tonight would be the most convenient night to get them installed. I have stuff going on after work the other nights this week. I leave for St Louis at lunch time on Friday. I am looking forward to vacation.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Suffering for good...
Our Daily Bread
How many times in our lives have we been punished for doing something bad? I don't know about you, but I was a spoiled, ornery boy! hehehe Getting punished or suffering for doing something bad makes sense to the human mind. Suffering for doing good doesn't!
Have there been times in your life that people made fun of you for doing something good? Did you stand up for someone who was being mistreated? Did you hang out with an unpopular person? Did you give your time away to be a servant instead of spending time with your friends and get teased for it? Or, the one we read about in the Bible where the saints were jailed or beaten for proclaiming Christ!
I had some friends who sort of ostracized me because I stood up for someone they didn't like. I told them I couldn't be around folks that treated people that way. It was not fair. It was undeserved. No one should be treated that way. They eventually figured out that I was right and respected me for my stand. It was not easy!
Lord, thank you for giving us the strength to stand up for you. Please help us do it more often!
Psalm Sunday
Very cool psalm this week. It is what I call a "typical" psalm. David is "up" in his personal like so he wrote more about how God is with him and how God works. Here are a few of my favorite verses:
v1: "you lifted me out of the depths"
v5 "his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime"
v6 "I will never be shaken"
v11 "you turned my walking into dancing"
Psalm 30
A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.[b] Of David.
1 I will exalt you, LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 LORD my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.
4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”
7 LORD, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.
8 To you, LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
LORD, be my help.”
11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
LORD my God, I will praise you forever.
Other Stuff
I had a nice Saturday, though I spent it all alone. I did some stuff around the house first thing and then went to the movies to see Immortal. I will review that tomorrow. I came come to have lunch. I watched the progression of the Ohio State game on the computer while I was reading my D1 readings. We had to read almost two full books of the Old Testament this week. It was very cool, but it took me all afternoon and part of the evening. I took a break to make some meatloaf for supper and watch a DVD. Vin Diesel was so hot in XXX!
I have church this morning and mens chorus tonight. Not sure what I will do this afternoon. I am thinking exercise! I gained a few pounds back since Wednesday by eating too much, especially Friday night. Yikes! I will NEVER fit into my sport coat at this rate! hehehe I will do better this week.
Let go, my friends! God will catch you and hold you in His loving arms...
How many times in our lives have we been punished for doing something bad? I don't know about you, but I was a spoiled, ornery boy! hehehe Getting punished or suffering for doing something bad makes sense to the human mind. Suffering for doing good doesn't!
Have there been times in your life that people made fun of you for doing something good? Did you stand up for someone who was being mistreated? Did you hang out with an unpopular person? Did you give your time away to be a servant instead of spending time with your friends and get teased for it? Or, the one we read about in the Bible where the saints were jailed or beaten for proclaiming Christ!
I had some friends who sort of ostracized me because I stood up for someone they didn't like. I told them I couldn't be around folks that treated people that way. It was not fair. It was undeserved. No one should be treated that way. They eventually figured out that I was right and respected me for my stand. It was not easy!
Lord, thank you for giving us the strength to stand up for you. Please help us do it more often!
Psalm Sunday
Very cool psalm this week. It is what I call a "typical" psalm. David is "up" in his personal like so he wrote more about how God is with him and how God works. Here are a few of my favorite verses:
v1: "you lifted me out of the depths"
v5 "his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime"
v6 "I will never be shaken"
v11 "you turned my walking into dancing"
Psalm 30
A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.[b] Of David.
1 I will exalt you, LORD,
for you lifted me out of the depths
and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
2 LORD my God, I called to you for help,
and you healed me.
3 You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
you spared me from going down to the pit.
4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said,
“I will never be shaken.”
7 LORD, when you favored me,
you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
I was dismayed.
8 To you, LORD, I called;
to the Lord I cried for mercy:
9 “What is gained if I am silenced,
if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
10 Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
LORD, be my help.”
11 You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
LORD my God, I will praise you forever.
Other Stuff
I had a nice Saturday, though I spent it all alone. I did some stuff around the house first thing and then went to the movies to see Immortal. I will review that tomorrow. I came come to have lunch. I watched the progression of the Ohio State game on the computer while I was reading my D1 readings. We had to read almost two full books of the Old Testament this week. It was very cool, but it took me all afternoon and part of the evening. I took a break to make some meatloaf for supper and watch a DVD. Vin Diesel was so hot in XXX!
I have church this morning and mens chorus tonight. Not sure what I will do this afternoon. I am thinking exercise! I gained a few pounds back since Wednesday by eating too much, especially Friday night. Yikes! I will NEVER fit into my sport coat at this rate! hehehe I will do better this week.
Let go, my friends! God will catch you and hold you in His loving arms...
Saturday, November 12, 2011
God, only, knows...
Our Daily Bread
If you have read my blog at all, you probably remember my entries about my Disciple Bible study classes and the study of the Old Testament. While most folks consider studying the Old Testament "nice" or "too scary to read it all", I have found it an incredible description of human nature and God's nature. Granted, we need to read the OT in terms of the culture of that day! We can't impose our current culture's values on what we read!
The devotional today spoke to me very clearly AGAIN. This is has been an interesting week for me. God answered some prayers as I reported on Wednesday. It has been my experience, and what I read in the OT, that there is usually a low period or God allows us to be tested, right after a high point in our lives. God allowed me to be tested this week about the stuff he taught me. I have been doing OK so far with God's help. I need to keep remembering "strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord" and "I will NOT go back to Egypt"! hehehe The things I have been through the past few years have helped me start down the road to having a "quiet, confident joy" in my life. Woohoooo!
Lord, thank you for working in and through me. Please help me always remain open to your call and your Spirit.
Simply Saturday
Like I said, I had an interesting week. God answered prayers. I was able to be a blessing to a friend or two as God used me to reassure them that they are NOT alone. How cool is that!
I found out late yesterday afternoon that my cataract surgery will be on November 29. Woohoooo! That is exactly when I wanted it! I should be able to see clearly for my concerts and for Christmas! Double Woohoooo! hehehe
I am going to do a few things around the house today, like empty the dishwasher, finish laundry and some touch up cleaning. I want to see the movie Immortals this morning. You know how I am about my movies! I plan to read this afternoon. I plan to make a nice meatloaf for supper! I LOVE meatloaf! hehehe
Please know that God is waiting for you to call out to him. He hears each of us when we pray. Pray. Believe.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
If you have read my blog at all, you probably remember my entries about my Disciple Bible study classes and the study of the Old Testament. While most folks consider studying the Old Testament "nice" or "too scary to read it all", I have found it an incredible description of human nature and God's nature. Granted, we need to read the OT in terms of the culture of that day! We can't impose our current culture's values on what we read!
The devotional today spoke to me very clearly AGAIN. This is has been an interesting week for me. God answered some prayers as I reported on Wednesday. It has been my experience, and what I read in the OT, that there is usually a low period or God allows us to be tested, right after a high point in our lives. God allowed me to be tested this week about the stuff he taught me. I have been doing OK so far with God's help. I need to keep remembering "strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord" and "I will NOT go back to Egypt"! hehehe The things I have been through the past few years have helped me start down the road to having a "quiet, confident joy" in my life. Woohoooo!
Lord, thank you for working in and through me. Please help me always remain open to your call and your Spirit.
Simply Saturday
Like I said, I had an interesting week. God answered prayers. I was able to be a blessing to a friend or two as God used me to reassure them that they are NOT alone. How cool is that!
I found out late yesterday afternoon that my cataract surgery will be on November 29. Woohoooo! That is exactly when I wanted it! I should be able to see clearly for my concerts and for Christmas! Double Woohoooo! hehehe
I am going to do a few things around the house today, like empty the dishwasher, finish laundry and some touch up cleaning. I want to see the movie Immortals this morning. You know how I am about my movies! I plan to read this afternoon. I plan to make a nice meatloaf for supper! I LOVE meatloaf! hehehe
Please know that God is waiting for you to call out to him. He hears each of us when we pray. Pray. Believe.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Friday, November 11, 2011
No separation anxiety here...
Our Daily Bread
I took a psychology class in college. What a dangerous thing! hehehe One of the things I learned about was separation anxiety. I experienced it when I left home to go to college. I experienced it more recently after I broke up with my ex. Life was different. There is usually some anxiety with change!
The devotional reminds us that God will never leave us alone to face our perils. I love that language from a Thomas Merton prayer. God has been reminding me of this over and over the past few months. It is easy to feel detached and alone in today's society. God will be there to provide us strength to overcome the perils of this world.
Lord, thank you for always being there for us!
Foodie Friday
Not sure what to write about this week. Haven't had much time to cook lately, except for some comfort food like my pot roast. I swear that I would eat like a ten year old if I could get away with it. You know what I mean -- tacos, chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, and lots of sweets. I know better. I do try to eat better.
I ran across some articles by Dr. Weil the other day and this book -- Eating Well for Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Food, Diet, and Nutrition
http://www.amazon.com/Eating-Well-Optimum-Health-Essential/dp/0375407545
Some pretty amazing stuff. I plan to read it as soon as I can.
He also has a site to recommend vitamins:
https://www.drweilvitaminadvisor.com/drw/ecs/Va2/land_goog_08girl.html?aid=999910&aparam=Google_S_dr_weil&gclid=CJbx9J_UrqwCFdAEQAodWyzmbw
And I have to admit -- I think Dr Weil is hot... hehehe
Other Stuff
I had a nice supper last night, but didn't get as much reading done as I planned. A friend needed some help with stuff so I made time for him. God put us in each others' lives for several reasons. Last night was one of them. We had a nice time at choir practice.
I had something funny happen at rehearsal. Three young men, the sons of a couple in the choir, are singing The Messiah with us. I sat next to one of them who is like 17 years old. I joked when we had to do our shoulder massages "Is this legal in the state of Ohio?" hehehe I told him "Don't worry, I won't go Jerry Cunningham on you..." ha! We got a good laugh out of that!
I find out this afternoon when I will have my cataract surgery. Whew... I hope this is the last eye surgery for the rest of my life...
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms...
I took a psychology class in college. What a dangerous thing! hehehe One of the things I learned about was separation anxiety. I experienced it when I left home to go to college. I experienced it more recently after I broke up with my ex. Life was different. There is usually some anxiety with change!
The devotional reminds us that God will never leave us alone to face our perils. I love that language from a Thomas Merton prayer. God has been reminding me of this over and over the past few months. It is easy to feel detached and alone in today's society. God will be there to provide us strength to overcome the perils of this world.
Lord, thank you for always being there for us!
Foodie Friday
Not sure what to write about this week. Haven't had much time to cook lately, except for some comfort food like my pot roast. I swear that I would eat like a ten year old if I could get away with it. You know what I mean -- tacos, chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, and lots of sweets. I know better. I do try to eat better.
I ran across some articles by Dr. Weil the other day and this book -- Eating Well for Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Food, Diet, and Nutrition
http://www.amazon.com/Eating-Well-Optimum-Health-Essential/dp/0375407545
Some pretty amazing stuff. I plan to read it as soon as I can.
He also has a site to recommend vitamins:
https://www.drweilvitaminadvisor.com/drw/ecs/Va2/land_goog_08girl.html?aid=999910&aparam=Google_S_dr_weil&gclid=CJbx9J_UrqwCFdAEQAodWyzmbw
And I have to admit -- I think Dr Weil is hot... hehehe
Other Stuff
I had a nice supper last night, but didn't get as much reading done as I planned. A friend needed some help with stuff so I made time for him. God put us in each others' lives for several reasons. Last night was one of them. We had a nice time at choir practice.
I had something funny happen at rehearsal. Three young men, the sons of a couple in the choir, are singing The Messiah with us. I sat next to one of them who is like 17 years old. I joked when we had to do our shoulder massages "Is this legal in the state of Ohio?" hehehe I told him "Don't worry, I won't go Jerry Cunningham on you..." ha! We got a good laugh out of that!
I find out this afternoon when I will have my cataract surgery. Whew... I hope this is the last eye surgery for the rest of my life...
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms...
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Friends even in good times...
Our Daily Bread
As a single guy, I have to admit that I am more than a little envious when another single friend partners with someone or even meets someone that could be a person of interest. It is human nature.
The devotional talks about putting aside human nature to be the kind of people that God wants us to be. For example, rejoicing when good things happen to special friends in your life. Putting aside all jealousy and envy so you can share in their happiness. How cool is that? If John the Baptist can do it, then we should at least give it a shot! hehehe
Lord, I want to put aside all selfishness and jealousy so I can be the kind of friend you want me to be.
Travel Thursday
Since the technology scene is horribly boring right now, so I decided to alternate the topic on Thursday between Technology when there is something to write about and Travel. I love to travel! I will write about some of the places I have been, some travel tips I learned over the years and point to some interesting travel related sites. My first entry includes some general tips on how to stretch your travel dollars.
Credit card rewards
Sometimes, using a branded credit card to get points for free flights or other travel discounts can be a very lucrative thing! I used my Southwest Chase Visa to pay for my school in 2009 and then paid off the balances when my company reimbursed me. I racked up thousands of points! Earning points for every day purchases can be a good thing. You usually have to pay a premium for these perks, usually in the form of a higher interest rate, so try not to keep a balance on these types of cards.
Also keep track of special offers through these credit cards as well. In 2010, I earned a $100 gift card for spending more than $1000 for three months in a row. I was already doing that due to my summer travel schedule. I also earned 1000 extra points for filling out a questionnaire for the company as well.
Frequent customer clubs
I am a member of the Hotels.com Welcome Rewards program. They recently upgraded me to their Five Star program as well. In this program, I get a credit towards a free night for every ten nights I book on Hotels.com. Watch out for the "no welcome rewards awarded for this booking" text when you are booking. Some room rates are so low, they can't offer the Welcome Rewards credit in addition to the low room rate. I have earned four or five nights so far. They come in handy. Note that you usually can't "double dip" by getting both Hotels.com Welcome Rewards credit and hotel rewards program points for the same stay. Darn it!
There are other rewards type programs as well, such as Hilton, Marriott, Best Western, Expedia, etc. Check them out to figure out the one that works best for you. I did some Christmas shopping with points I earned from the Hilton program when I was traveling to New York City a lot!
Gift cards for some purchases
I try to anticipate some of my purchases, especially restaurants when I travel. I buy gift cards at Giant Eagle to earn discounts on gasoline (Kroger also has a gas program as well). They have gift cards for some airlines and hotel chains as well. I like to pay as little for the things I need, like gasoline, so I have more money for the things I want, like travel!
Other Stuff
I tried attending the monthly Network Columbus meeting last night. I couldn't stay long. My friends didn't show up. It was a bust for me. I went to church early and prayed instead. It was a better choice I think! D1 was good last night. We have a LOT of reading to do for next week. We have the following Wednesday off due to Thanksgiving weekend.
God is so good. Reading the Old Testament reminds me over and over how much I forget what God has done in my life. It reminds me how impatient I am (and have been). Like I said yesterday, strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms!
As a single guy, I have to admit that I am more than a little envious when another single friend partners with someone or even meets someone that could be a person of interest. It is human nature.
The devotional talks about putting aside human nature to be the kind of people that God wants us to be. For example, rejoicing when good things happen to special friends in your life. Putting aside all jealousy and envy so you can share in their happiness. How cool is that? If John the Baptist can do it, then we should at least give it a shot! hehehe
Lord, I want to put aside all selfishness and jealousy so I can be the kind of friend you want me to be.
Travel Thursday
Since the technology scene is horribly boring right now, so I decided to alternate the topic on Thursday between Technology when there is something to write about and Travel. I love to travel! I will write about some of the places I have been, some travel tips I learned over the years and point to some interesting travel related sites. My first entry includes some general tips on how to stretch your travel dollars.
Credit card rewards
Sometimes, using a branded credit card to get points for free flights or other travel discounts can be a very lucrative thing! I used my Southwest Chase Visa to pay for my school in 2009 and then paid off the balances when my company reimbursed me. I racked up thousands of points! Earning points for every day purchases can be a good thing. You usually have to pay a premium for these perks, usually in the form of a higher interest rate, so try not to keep a balance on these types of cards.
Also keep track of special offers through these credit cards as well. In 2010, I earned a $100 gift card for spending more than $1000 for three months in a row. I was already doing that due to my summer travel schedule. I also earned 1000 extra points for filling out a questionnaire for the company as well.
Frequent customer clubs
I am a member of the Hotels.com Welcome Rewards program. They recently upgraded me to their Five Star program as well. In this program, I get a credit towards a free night for every ten nights I book on Hotels.com. Watch out for the "no welcome rewards awarded for this booking" text when you are booking. Some room rates are so low, they can't offer the Welcome Rewards credit in addition to the low room rate. I have earned four or five nights so far. They come in handy. Note that you usually can't "double dip" by getting both Hotels.com Welcome Rewards credit and hotel rewards program points for the same stay. Darn it!
There are other rewards type programs as well, such as Hilton, Marriott, Best Western, Expedia, etc. Check them out to figure out the one that works best for you. I did some Christmas shopping with points I earned from the Hilton program when I was traveling to New York City a lot!
Gift cards for some purchases
I try to anticipate some of my purchases, especially restaurants when I travel. I buy gift cards at Giant Eagle to earn discounts on gasoline (Kroger also has a gas program as well). They have gift cards for some airlines and hotel chains as well. I like to pay as little for the things I need, like gasoline, so I have more money for the things I want, like travel!
Other Stuff
I tried attending the monthly Network Columbus meeting last night. I couldn't stay long. My friends didn't show up. It was a bust for me. I went to church early and prayed instead. It was a better choice I think! D1 was good last night. We have a LOT of reading to do for next week. We have the following Wednesday off due to Thanksgiving weekend.
God is so good. Reading the Old Testament reminds me over and over how much I forget what God has done in my life. It reminds me how impatient I am (and have been). Like I said yesterday, strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Strength will rise...
Our Daily Bread
I found two albums of dance mixes on iTunes a few months ago. Not a big deal? The dance mixes were of Contemporary Christian songs! I listen to them when I walk or workout or do housecleaning. One of my favorites is the mix of Everlasting God. One phrase repeats many, many times "strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, as we wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord". I listen to the song over and over when I am doubting and being impatient!
Once again, the devotional was timely for me. It reinforces something that God taught me earlier this week (read the Witness Wednesday section below for more details). As I joke with my friends "I am tapping my foot patiently as I wait upon the Lord". Tapping your foot while you are waiting is NOT being patient! hehehe
I WILL wait. I will grow in strength as God's purposes work themselves in my life. I am NOT wasting time (the other point made by the devotional!). Sometimes time and perspective are the only things that can affect change in your life. I have a tendency to be too hard on myself when I can't learn stuff as fast as I want. I want a Cliff Notes book for my life lessons! hehehe
Lord, thank you for your love, healing and peace.
Witness Wednesday
I have had some fervent talks with God about some things the past few months. Sunday night and Monday morning were no exception. God answered finally answered my prayers in a more wonderful way than I could have imagined! Isn't God great! God used a new friend to remind me of what he has in store for me in a relationship. I have no idea if this new friend is going to be a romantic interest or what, but God used him to speak to me. God reminded me that I have been trying to "go back to Egypt" for way too long. I feel there were two things going on.
First, God was using me to speak to another friend of mine that I was interested in dating. The dating thing didn't work out even though I over-romanticized what was really happening between us. God also used me to speak to him about some things in his life -- a prophet of sorts. God released me from that responsibility on Monday.
Second, God wanted me to wander in the wilderness for a while to get some things straight in my stubborn head. Being patient. Having faith. Not "going back to Egypt" by over-romanticizing some previous relationships. Forgiving myself for not figuring some things out sooner. Believing that the Lord knows the desires of my heart and points me in ways to fulfill those desires. Wow!
I will trust. I will have faith. I will be patient. I will NOT go back to Egypt. ;-)
Other Stuff
I had a busy evening again. I ordered my new tires from Costco. I picked up a few other things from there as well. I also got my oil changed in anticipation of my trip to St Louis next Friday. I had some leftover pot roast for supper. MmmmMmmmm! I made a few phone calls. I worked on my mens chorus music.
I have my D1 class tonight. I also plan to attend a social that a friend told me about. It might be interesting. I will write about it tomorrow.
Let go, my friends! God will catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
I found two albums of dance mixes on iTunes a few months ago. Not a big deal? The dance mixes were of Contemporary Christian songs! I listen to them when I walk or workout or do housecleaning. One of my favorites is the mix of Everlasting God. One phrase repeats many, many times "strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, as we wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord". I listen to the song over and over when I am doubting and being impatient!
Once again, the devotional was timely for me. It reinforces something that God taught me earlier this week (read the Witness Wednesday section below for more details). As I joke with my friends "I am tapping my foot patiently as I wait upon the Lord". Tapping your foot while you are waiting is NOT being patient! hehehe
I WILL wait. I will grow in strength as God's purposes work themselves in my life. I am NOT wasting time (the other point made by the devotional!). Sometimes time and perspective are the only things that can affect change in your life. I have a tendency to be too hard on myself when I can't learn stuff as fast as I want. I want a Cliff Notes book for my life lessons! hehehe
Lord, thank you for your love, healing and peace.
Witness Wednesday
I have had some fervent talks with God about some things the past few months. Sunday night and Monday morning were no exception. God answered finally answered my prayers in a more wonderful way than I could have imagined! Isn't God great! God used a new friend to remind me of what he has in store for me in a relationship. I have no idea if this new friend is going to be a romantic interest or what, but God used him to speak to me. God reminded me that I have been trying to "go back to Egypt" for way too long. I feel there were two things going on.
First, God was using me to speak to another friend of mine that I was interested in dating. The dating thing didn't work out even though I over-romanticized what was really happening between us. God also used me to speak to him about some things in his life -- a prophet of sorts. God released me from that responsibility on Monday.
Second, God wanted me to wander in the wilderness for a while to get some things straight in my stubborn head. Being patient. Having faith. Not "going back to Egypt" by over-romanticizing some previous relationships. Forgiving myself for not figuring some things out sooner. Believing that the Lord knows the desires of my heart and points me in ways to fulfill those desires. Wow!
I will trust. I will have faith. I will be patient. I will NOT go back to Egypt. ;-)
Other Stuff
I had a busy evening again. I ordered my new tires from Costco. I picked up a few other things from there as well. I also got my oil changed in anticipation of my trip to St Louis next Friday. I had some leftover pot roast for supper. MmmmMmmmm! I made a few phone calls. I worked on my mens chorus music.
I have my D1 class tonight. I also plan to attend a social that a friend told me about. It might be interesting. I will write about it tomorrow.
Let go, my friends! God will catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Peace, brother...peace, sister
Our Daily Bread
How many times do we make our churches battle grounds? Christian folks worry so much about worldly stuff that we forget why the church was organized in the first place! It was not to see who gets sole ownership of the keys to the kitchen or whose name gets put on a plaque somewhere!
The devotional spoke to me to remind me that I always need to come from a place of love in my heart instead of acting out from a place of hurt and anger. It is not always easy as you see people who have hurt you, whether it is in church or at work or wherever. I KNOW it is not always easy! hehehe
Remember, whether you realize it or not, you are always wearing the church t-shirt. You have to deal with others in a Godly manner!
Lord, thank you for the reminder today. Please let me turn over my hurt and anger to you so I can love others better.
Teaching Tuesday
The topic for this week falls in line with today's elections! Wow! The Hebrew people were looking for a leader after the death of Moses. We learned about Joshua, Deborah, Gideon and Samson. Some pretty amazing stories!
Take a look at the book of Judges. Very cool stuff. The theme of "God using ordinary people"continues throughout!
Other Stuff
I got home as quickly as I could last night so I could work in the yard before it got dark. I finished mowing the lawn and raking leaves just in time. The pot roast filled the house with a homey smell. It tasted great, too! I got some exercise and worked on my music for the rest of the evening. Oh, I did make a quick trip to Target for a few things and some Target gift cards for a project at church. I had a little trouble sleeping, but got some good rest.
I plan to do some things around the house tonight.
Oh, God answered a fervent prayer yesterday. I will write more as I feel comfortable. I can say right now that regardless of what happens with our friendship, meeting a guy yesterday morning changed some things in my life. Praise God!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms...
How many times do we make our churches battle grounds? Christian folks worry so much about worldly stuff that we forget why the church was organized in the first place! It was not to see who gets sole ownership of the keys to the kitchen or whose name gets put on a plaque somewhere!
The devotional spoke to me to remind me that I always need to come from a place of love in my heart instead of acting out from a place of hurt and anger. It is not always easy as you see people who have hurt you, whether it is in church or at work or wherever. I KNOW it is not always easy! hehehe
Remember, whether you realize it or not, you are always wearing the church t-shirt. You have to deal with others in a Godly manner!
Lord, thank you for the reminder today. Please let me turn over my hurt and anger to you so I can love others better.
Teaching Tuesday
The topic for this week falls in line with today's elections! Wow! The Hebrew people were looking for a leader after the death of Moses. We learned about Joshua, Deborah, Gideon and Samson. Some pretty amazing stories!
Take a look at the book of Judges. Very cool stuff. The theme of "God using ordinary people"continues throughout!
Other Stuff
I got home as quickly as I could last night so I could work in the yard before it got dark. I finished mowing the lawn and raking leaves just in time. The pot roast filled the house with a homey smell. It tasted great, too! I got some exercise and worked on my music for the rest of the evening. Oh, I did make a quick trip to Target for a few things and some Target gift cards for a project at church. I had a little trouble sleeping, but got some good rest.
I plan to do some things around the house tonight.
Oh, God answered a fervent prayer yesterday. I will write more as I feel comfortable. I can say right now that regardless of what happens with our friendship, meeting a guy yesterday morning changed some things in my life. Praise God!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms...
Monday, November 7, 2011
Eyes wide shut
Our Daily Bread
One of the most ridiculous movies I ever saw in my life was Eyes Wide Shut. A friend and I laughed and laughed about the soundtrack! Oh well.
Unfortunately, children of God can walk around with their eyes wide shut. We look and act like we are present and paying attention. We go through the motions of being children of God. We really don't see the prize before us. We don't see the poor and needy around us. We don't see the "post at the end of the field" that the devotional talked about that we need to "plow a straight row " when moving through our lives.
How are your eyes doing? What u lookin' at? hehehe
Thank you for eyes that can see and ears that can hear.
Movie Monday
I saw two movies on Saturday: Tower Heist and Puss in Boots
Tower Heist
This was a cute movie. Lots of laughs. Lots of "the bad guy gets his..." kind of stuff. In short, the plot involves a powerful Wall Street guy that loses all the money that folks invested with him. The problem is the guy lost the pension money of the employees of his very exclusive high rise in New York City. The former building manager plots to find the powerful Wall Street guy's parachute money, usually stored in an easy to access place like his penthouse apartment. I don't want to ruin the ending for you, but let me tell you that a LOT happens after they find the safe in his penthouse!
I give this movie two bear paws. Seeing it on the big screen has some advantages.
Puss in Boots
OK, I realize it sounds funny for me to see this movie! It was very cute in so many places and I am not even a cat person! Puss in Boots has spent his life trying to pay a debt. When he follows a beautiful cat after a fight, he runs into his childhood friend and blood brother, Humpty Dumpty (yes, that is really what I said). There are lots of plot twists and odd things going on. One of the most bizarre was Jack and Jill. You will know what I am talking about when you see it!
I give this movie two bear paws as well. See it on home video.
Other Stuff
I had a lazy Sunday afternoon. I stopped by the grocery to pick up some things. Kroger had my favorite beef roasts for BOGO. Woohooo! I will put one of the roasts in the crock pot with some salt potatoes (thank you, my hero!) and some carrots. I bought some French onion soup as well.
I stopped at O'Charleys to use the prime rib coupon I got in my email the other day. It was delicious! The server had some issues getting my bill correct, but we figured it out. After putting my groceries away, I took an extended nap. Whew!
Mens chorus was great. I am looking forward to our concerts the second weekend in December.
Let go, my friends! God will catch you and hold you in His loving arms!
One of the most ridiculous movies I ever saw in my life was Eyes Wide Shut. A friend and I laughed and laughed about the soundtrack! Oh well.
Unfortunately, children of God can walk around with their eyes wide shut. We look and act like we are present and paying attention. We go through the motions of being children of God. We really don't see the prize before us. We don't see the poor and needy around us. We don't see the "post at the end of the field" that the devotional talked about that we need to "plow a straight row " when moving through our lives.
How are your eyes doing? What u lookin' at? hehehe
Thank you for eyes that can see and ears that can hear.
Movie Monday
I saw two movies on Saturday: Tower Heist and Puss in Boots
Tower Heist
This was a cute movie. Lots of laughs. Lots of "the bad guy gets his..." kind of stuff. In short, the plot involves a powerful Wall Street guy that loses all the money that folks invested with him. The problem is the guy lost the pension money of the employees of his very exclusive high rise in New York City. The former building manager plots to find the powerful Wall Street guy's parachute money, usually stored in an easy to access place like his penthouse apartment. I don't want to ruin the ending for you, but let me tell you that a LOT happens after they find the safe in his penthouse!
I give this movie two bear paws. Seeing it on the big screen has some advantages.
Puss in Boots
OK, I realize it sounds funny for me to see this movie! It was very cute in so many places and I am not even a cat person! Puss in Boots has spent his life trying to pay a debt. When he follows a beautiful cat after a fight, he runs into his childhood friend and blood brother, Humpty Dumpty (yes, that is really what I said). There are lots of plot twists and odd things going on. One of the most bizarre was Jack and Jill. You will know what I am talking about when you see it!
I give this movie two bear paws as well. See it on home video.
Other Stuff
I had a lazy Sunday afternoon. I stopped by the grocery to pick up some things. Kroger had my favorite beef roasts for BOGO. Woohooo! I will put one of the roasts in the crock pot with some salt potatoes (thank you, my hero!) and some carrots. I bought some French onion soup as well.
I stopped at O'Charleys to use the prime rib coupon I got in my email the other day. It was delicious! The server had some issues getting my bill correct, but we figured it out. After putting my groceries away, I took an extended nap. Whew!
Mens chorus was great. I am looking forward to our concerts the second weekend in December.
Let go, my friends! God will catch you and hold you in His loving arms!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
We can laugh
Our Daily Bread
Some friends of mine used to laugh at the book of Revelation. "That guy must have been on some good stuff!" :-\ Yeah, we laughed at the time. We really didn't understand!
I studied Revelation as a teenager with mixed results. Laughing was one result. A deep feeling of awe and majesty was the other! I realized then the kind of God we had! For the rest of my laugh, I usually ask "Why not?" when we talk about the impossible miracles of the Old and New Testaments! I try to keep that child-like faith in my every day life as I trust God completely. No, I don't do it all the time. I am working on it. I still keep things back from God, mess them up and then cry out to God for help! That reminds me of what the children of Israel did over and over in the Old Testament!
What is your vision of God? A God to be feared and obeyed? A God to be loved and worshiped? Think about that this week and talk to God about it!
Lord, thank you for the way you have shown yourself to me in my life. I want to be open to your Spirit every second of life.
Psalm Sunday
The psalm for this week is Psalm 29. Wow! This psalm goes perfectly with today's devotional! How about that! Isn't God amazing! Read through it as you think about your vision of God.
Psalm 29
A psalm of David.
1 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.
Other Stuff
I had another busy day on Saturday. I did stuff around the house all morning. It is sort of clean now. ;-p I also rotated my mattress and fixed the bed skirt that has been a mess for a long time! I got most of the laundry done and put away. Finished vacuuming and dusting. Whew. After an online workshop with MediaShout, I spent the afternoon at the movies. I saw Tower Heist and Puss in Boots. I will review them tomorrow on Movie Monday!
I was very tired when I got home, so I took a short nap. I set back all my clocks for the time change and then finished my D1 reading. I wanted to watch the LSU-Alabama football game, but decided to go to sleep instead. It looked like a classic!
Going to church this morning. I plan to work on the yard this afternoon. I hope it is the last mowing of the year! hehehe I have mens chorus rehearsal tonight.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms!
Some friends of mine used to laugh at the book of Revelation. "That guy must have been on some good stuff!" :-\ Yeah, we laughed at the time. We really didn't understand!
I studied Revelation as a teenager with mixed results. Laughing was one result. A deep feeling of awe and majesty was the other! I realized then the kind of God we had! For the rest of my laugh, I usually ask "Why not?" when we talk about the impossible miracles of the Old and New Testaments! I try to keep that child-like faith in my every day life as I trust God completely. No, I don't do it all the time. I am working on it. I still keep things back from God, mess them up and then cry out to God for help! That reminds me of what the children of Israel did over and over in the Old Testament!
What is your vision of God? A God to be feared and obeyed? A God to be loved and worshiped? Think about that this week and talk to God about it!
Lord, thank you for the way you have shown yourself to me in my life. I want to be open to your Spirit every second of life.
Psalm Sunday
The psalm for this week is Psalm 29. Wow! This psalm goes perfectly with today's devotional! How about that! Isn't God amazing! Read through it as you think about your vision of God.
Psalm 29
A psalm of David.
1 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.
Other Stuff
I had another busy day on Saturday. I did stuff around the house all morning. It is sort of clean now. ;-p I also rotated my mattress and fixed the bed skirt that has been a mess for a long time! I got most of the laundry done and put away. Finished vacuuming and dusting. Whew. After an online workshop with MediaShout, I spent the afternoon at the movies. I saw Tower Heist and Puss in Boots. I will review them tomorrow on Movie Monday!
I was very tired when I got home, so I took a short nap. I set back all my clocks for the time change and then finished my D1 reading. I wanted to watch the LSU-Alabama football game, but decided to go to sleep instead. It looked like a classic!
Going to church this morning. I plan to work on the yard this afternoon. I hope it is the last mowing of the year! hehehe I have mens chorus rehearsal tonight.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Our greatest fear
Our Daily Bread
The TV show The Biggest Loser has been popular for a few years now. The goal of the show is to encourage people to make life changing decisions and take actions about their body weight. The results can be amazing. The post-show stories can be amazing and heart breaking!
Our lives can sort of be that way. We can make life changing decisions and take actions in our life every day. The results can be amazing and/or heart breaking! ;-p I learned several things from the devotional. First, if we really love God, we will try to do the things he taught us about in the Bible (love Him with all our hearts, love others as ourselves, etc). We do these things because we love God and because these things are the best way for us to live our lives! Second, face your worst fears by giving them over to God. Take look at the closing line of my recent blog entries! ;-) This is easier said than done. I realize that. What are your worst fears? How can you give them over to God? Let's pray for each other that we can do that each day! Lastly, when we do the first two things, we can be a blessing to others. I visited a guy in the hospital several times in the past few weeks. I had only met him once. I felt that I could be a blessing to him while he was there. We had some nice visits. When you have the fountain of life flowing in you, you can't keep it from flowing out of you!
Lord, thank you for your amazing love. I want to turn everything over to you, even though that is one of my greatest fears!
Simply Saturday
I had a busy week, which is good. I promised myself that I wouldn't do too much today. I doubt that will happen... ;-p I already stripped my bed linens and am washing the mattress pad. I won't go into the list of To Do's. I may just chuck them all and go to the movies. hehehe Tower Heist and The Three Musketeers look fun!
I had a good time last night. I scheduled a 90 minute massage with a buddy of mine. He has his own massage therapy shop now after finishing school and getting his license. We had a great time. He did a great job with the massage. I will try to get back to him once a month, if possible. I went to church after that to volunteer for the refreshment table for the Capital Pride Band concert. My church buddy Connie also volunteered. We had a great time chatting and working and cleaning up. The guy who organized the refreshments seemed pleased with the way things went. I was too tired to stay for the end of the concert. I went home and went to bed. I worked sort of hard. That caused me to sweat a lot. Ewww!
So I have been trying to do better about some things in my life. Mainly the "turning things over to God" part. I did a little better job of that this week. Praise God! Today's devotional comes after realizing one of my biggest fears this week (or God reminding me of it). Can I really turn that over to God? Or, will I be like some of my other friends. Some pursue the resolution to their fears in almost desperate fashion. Some settle for less than what God has for them because they can't deal with it all. I can't settle. I won't give up. I will trust in the Lord because He is worthy to be praised. Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord. God wants us to be whole -- whatever that means to each of us.
The other thing that I had to think about this week is expectations. My expectations to be specific. I am a demanding person. I demand a lot out of myself. I apparently demand a lot of those around me. I am not sure if that is a control thing or what. Still praying about that question. Whatever the root cause, I need to temper my expectations with love. I can do this with God's help.
Have a great weekend! Go Bucks!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
The TV show The Biggest Loser has been popular for a few years now. The goal of the show is to encourage people to make life changing decisions and take actions about their body weight. The results can be amazing. The post-show stories can be amazing and heart breaking!
Our lives can sort of be that way. We can make life changing decisions and take actions in our life every day. The results can be amazing and/or heart breaking! ;-p I learned several things from the devotional. First, if we really love God, we will try to do the things he taught us about in the Bible (love Him with all our hearts, love others as ourselves, etc). We do these things because we love God and because these things are the best way for us to live our lives! Second, face your worst fears by giving them over to God. Take look at the closing line of my recent blog entries! ;-) This is easier said than done. I realize that. What are your worst fears? How can you give them over to God? Let's pray for each other that we can do that each day! Lastly, when we do the first two things, we can be a blessing to others. I visited a guy in the hospital several times in the past few weeks. I had only met him once. I felt that I could be a blessing to him while he was there. We had some nice visits. When you have the fountain of life flowing in you, you can't keep it from flowing out of you!
Lord, thank you for your amazing love. I want to turn everything over to you, even though that is one of my greatest fears!
Simply Saturday
I had a busy week, which is good. I promised myself that I wouldn't do too much today. I doubt that will happen... ;-p I already stripped my bed linens and am washing the mattress pad. I won't go into the list of To Do's. I may just chuck them all and go to the movies. hehehe Tower Heist and The Three Musketeers look fun!
I had a good time last night. I scheduled a 90 minute massage with a buddy of mine. He has his own massage therapy shop now after finishing school and getting his license. We had a great time. He did a great job with the massage. I will try to get back to him once a month, if possible. I went to church after that to volunteer for the refreshment table for the Capital Pride Band concert. My church buddy Connie also volunteered. We had a great time chatting and working and cleaning up. The guy who organized the refreshments seemed pleased with the way things went. I was too tired to stay for the end of the concert. I went home and went to bed. I worked sort of hard. That caused me to sweat a lot. Ewww!
So I have been trying to do better about some things in my life. Mainly the "turning things over to God" part. I did a little better job of that this week. Praise God! Today's devotional comes after realizing one of my biggest fears this week (or God reminding me of it). Can I really turn that over to God? Or, will I be like some of my other friends. Some pursue the resolution to their fears in almost desperate fashion. Some settle for less than what God has for them because they can't deal with it all. I can't settle. I won't give up. I will trust in the Lord because He is worthy to be praised. Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord. God wants us to be whole -- whatever that means to each of us.
The other thing that I had to think about this week is expectations. My expectations to be specific. I am a demanding person. I demand a lot out of myself. I apparently demand a lot of those around me. I am not sure if that is a control thing or what. Still praying about that question. Whatever the root cause, I need to temper my expectations with love. I can do this with God's help.
Have a great weekend! Go Bucks!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Friday, November 4, 2011
God's Word
Our Daily Bread
Despite all the fighting among the different religions, there is one key point that we often miss: the Bible is still God's Word. We don't need to know or understand every detail about infallibility or creation or heaven (the list goes on and on!).
The point of today's devotional is that God's Word will speak to anyone who reads it and is open to the Holy Spirit. Reading the Bible as a scientific book or history book or whatever else you are looking for is not a great idea. It is a very small piece of the revelation of God. It is the evolution of mankind's understanding of God as well. God didn't change over the past few thousand years. That amount of time is not even a blink of his eyes (if he really has eyes!).
Just as we change as we grow and mature, God wants our relationship with him to grow and mature as well!
Lord, I want to "grow up" in my relationship to you!
Foodie Friday
I have been craving meatloaf the past week. I looked for my favorite meatloaf recipe and remembered this one that I tried last year. It is a little healthier than many of the ones I used in the past. I hope you like it.
Brown Rice Meatloaf
Instant brown rice is needed in this recipe because it has to soften while the meatloaf bakes. Regular rice would just stay too hard.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Standing time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients:
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup minced red bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup uncooked instant brown rice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. white pepper
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup milk
1-1/2 lbs. ground beef
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In heavy skillet, cook onion, bell pepper, and garlic in olive oil until tender. Place in large bowl along with rice, salt, pepper, eggs, ketchup, and milk and mix well. Add beef and cheese and mix until combined. Form into loaf shape on broiler pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 55-65 minutes or until internal temperature registers 160 degrees F. Let loaf stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
Other Stuff
I had a busy evening again. ;-p I had an appointment with my counselor after work. I got there early, so I had time for a quick nap. hehehe I grabbed a burger at Red Robin aftewards and then made a quick stop at Walmart before driving to church for choir rehearsal. Rehearsal is fun!
I am looking forward to a nice evening. I have a massage scheduled after work. I am helping with the refreshments at the Capital Pride Band concert after that. Looking forward to nothing scheduled for Saturday! I am sure I will figure out a way to do too much (as usual).
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms...
Despite all the fighting among the different religions, there is one key point that we often miss: the Bible is still God's Word. We don't need to know or understand every detail about infallibility or creation or heaven (the list goes on and on!).
The point of today's devotional is that God's Word will speak to anyone who reads it and is open to the Holy Spirit. Reading the Bible as a scientific book or history book or whatever else you are looking for is not a great idea. It is a very small piece of the revelation of God. It is the evolution of mankind's understanding of God as well. God didn't change over the past few thousand years. That amount of time is not even a blink of his eyes (if he really has eyes!).
Just as we change as we grow and mature, God wants our relationship with him to grow and mature as well!
Lord, I want to "grow up" in my relationship to you!
Foodie Friday
I have been craving meatloaf the past week. I looked for my favorite meatloaf recipe and remembered this one that I tried last year. It is a little healthier than many of the ones I used in the past. I hope you like it.
Brown Rice Meatloaf
Instant brown rice is needed in this recipe because it has to soften while the meatloaf bakes. Regular rice would just stay too hard.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Standing time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Yield: Serves 8
Ingredients:
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup minced red bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup uncooked instant brown rice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. white pepper
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup milk
1-1/2 lbs. ground beef
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In heavy skillet, cook onion, bell pepper, and garlic in olive oil until tender. Place in large bowl along with rice, salt, pepper, eggs, ketchup, and milk and mix well. Add beef and cheese and mix until combined. Form into loaf shape on broiler pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 55-65 minutes or until internal temperature registers 160 degrees F. Let loaf stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
Other Stuff
I had a busy evening again. ;-p I had an appointment with my counselor after work. I got there early, so I had time for a quick nap. hehehe I grabbed a burger at Red Robin aftewards and then made a quick stop at Walmart before driving to church for choir rehearsal. Rehearsal is fun!
I am looking forward to a nice evening. I have a massage scheduled after work. I am helping with the refreshments at the Capital Pride Band concert after that. Looking forward to nothing scheduled for Saturday! I am sure I will figure out a way to do too much (as usual).
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms...
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Evian can't top this....
Our Daily Bread
I remember the first time I saw Evian bottled water in the stores. I couldn't believe how much it cost! That much for some fancy French water? How much better could it be? I bought a small bottle. I didn't notice much difference! hehehe Oh well.
The water in today's devotional represents two things - water that gives physical life and water that gives spiritual life. Jesus was thirsty, so he asked the woman at the well for a drink. She was very surprised by his question, and even more surprised by his answers!
Jesus offers us the same living water today if we accept him as our Lord and Savior. Praise God!
Lord, thank you for your living water. Let it wash me clean and never thirst again!
Technology Thursday
Christmas is coming up. A friend asked me last night what he should ask for if he wanted a cool piece of technology. I asked him what he wanted to do with the device. Read on it? Listen to music? Surf the web? What price range are we talking about? After we talked about it for a few minutes, we couldn't decide. After I told him I had a massage scheduled for Friday, he decided that is what he wanted for Christmas! So much for technology! hehehe
So if you are looking for a technology gift for Christmas, I would ask you the same questions. How will the device be used?
Read on it?
Listen to music?
Surf the web?
Manage calendar?
Play games?
How much do you want to spend to meet as many of these goals as possible?
Think about the answers and write them down. Here are a few suggestions:
Amazon.com Kindle Fire: this new device might be in short supply for Christmas, so I recommend pre-ordering as soon as you can. It ships starting on November 15. The device is $200, can play music, use Kindle books from Amazon.com, and surf the 'Net. It is to be determined how well it does ALL of those things!
Apple iPad2: The iPad is almost legend by now. It captured a very high percentage of the tablet market. It can do all the stuff mentioned above and then some. There is a price tag associated with that -- it starts at $499 for the 16 gig version. You can buy this device with Wifi only or Wifi+3G connectivity (the latter requires a data plan with a wireless carrier).
Samsung Galaxy Tab: This is probably the best tablet for a non-Apple person (even there are a LOT of them out there right now). They come in 7", 8.9" or 10" models. They start at $349 and go up from there depending on the features you want (amount of storage, size of screen, Wifi only or Wifi-3G or 4G). This device runs the Android OS which is interesting at times.
Other Stuff
I had a busy evening last night. I started with a dermatologist appointment right after work. That was sort of a waste of time. "put creams and ointments on it. it will help". Thanks a lot. Oh well. I took my clothes off for nothing! hehehe I had time for a quick nap at home before meeting a friend for dinner. We had a nice talk. I went to D1 class. It was a good class. We have been covering very, very dry material, so it is good that we can stay interested. Next week's lesson will be much more interesting.
I scheduled my Chicago car show trip when I got home. Woohoooo! I haven't been to the car show there since 2009. I am looking forward to it. I found a decent hotel for about $100 per night near the Miracle Mile. I used my $100 Southwest gift card to pay for most of the flight. woohooo! I will buy my car show ticket online sometime soon. It will be a nice getaway the first quarter of the year.
I have to admit that I am nervous about my eye doctor appointment on November 11. The cataract is getting much worse. I will relax and let go of the nervousness. This could be my last eye surgery if things go well. Praise God! I need to work around my busy Christmas season for the surgery. Whew!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
I remember the first time I saw Evian bottled water in the stores. I couldn't believe how much it cost! That much for some fancy French water? How much better could it be? I bought a small bottle. I didn't notice much difference! hehehe Oh well.
The water in today's devotional represents two things - water that gives physical life and water that gives spiritual life. Jesus was thirsty, so he asked the woman at the well for a drink. She was very surprised by his question, and even more surprised by his answers!
Jesus offers us the same living water today if we accept him as our Lord and Savior. Praise God!
Lord, thank you for your living water. Let it wash me clean and never thirst again!
Technology Thursday
Christmas is coming up. A friend asked me last night what he should ask for if he wanted a cool piece of technology. I asked him what he wanted to do with the device. Read on it? Listen to music? Surf the web? What price range are we talking about? After we talked about it for a few minutes, we couldn't decide. After I told him I had a massage scheduled for Friday, he decided that is what he wanted for Christmas! So much for technology! hehehe
So if you are looking for a technology gift for Christmas, I would ask you the same questions. How will the device be used?
Read on it?
Listen to music?
Surf the web?
Manage calendar?
Play games?
How much do you want to spend to meet as many of these goals as possible?
Think about the answers and write them down. Here are a few suggestions:
Amazon.com Kindle Fire: this new device might be in short supply for Christmas, so I recommend pre-ordering as soon as you can. It ships starting on November 15. The device is $200, can play music, use Kindle books from Amazon.com, and surf the 'Net. It is to be determined how well it does ALL of those things!
Apple iPad2: The iPad is almost legend by now. It captured a very high percentage of the tablet market. It can do all the stuff mentioned above and then some. There is a price tag associated with that -- it starts at $499 for the 16 gig version. You can buy this device with Wifi only or Wifi+3G connectivity (the latter requires a data plan with a wireless carrier).
Samsung Galaxy Tab: This is probably the best tablet for a non-Apple person (even there are a LOT of them out there right now). They come in 7", 8.9" or 10" models. They start at $349 and go up from there depending on the features you want (amount of storage, size of screen, Wifi only or Wifi-3G or 4G). This device runs the Android OS which is interesting at times.
Other Stuff
I had a busy evening last night. I started with a dermatologist appointment right after work. That was sort of a waste of time. "put creams and ointments on it. it will help". Thanks a lot. Oh well. I took my clothes off for nothing! hehehe I had time for a quick nap at home before meeting a friend for dinner. We had a nice talk. I went to D1 class. It was a good class. We have been covering very, very dry material, so it is good that we can stay interested. Next week's lesson will be much more interesting.
I scheduled my Chicago car show trip when I got home. Woohoooo! I haven't been to the car show there since 2009. I am looking forward to it. I found a decent hotel for about $100 per night near the Miracle Mile. I used my $100 Southwest gift card to pay for most of the flight. woohooo! I will buy my car show ticket online sometime soon. It will be a nice getaway the first quarter of the year.
I have to admit that I am nervous about my eye doctor appointment on November 11. The cataract is getting much worse. I will relax and let go of the nervousness. This could be my last eye surgery if things go well. Praise God! I need to work around my busy Christmas season for the surgery. Whew!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Old Faithful
Our Daily Bread
As most folks know, Old Faithful is a geyser in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It is known for erupting on a regular schedule. After reading the devotional today, I thought of some folks in my life that erupt with folly on a regular basis! hehehe I have to admit that I do it sometimes as well! Yikes!
I also admit that I have trouble with what comes out of my mouth sometimes. I don't always stop to figure out what the kind, loving answer should be. I am just human. I can, however, be more disciplined about many things in my life (see below).
Lord, I want to measure every word by the high standard that you set for us in your Word!
Witness Wednesday
As I mentioned above, God is working on me about my self-discipline. There is so much room to grow! I have to balance between being patient with myself (and not getting down on myself) and moving forward in my life. God calls each of us to holiness and purity. Those are not words usually used to describe me! ;-( The words usually used to describe me are horny and playful! Double yikes!
It is difficult for me to back off my "folly". It is OK to be playful and funny as long as it is not a distraction from my witness for God. I know I have made some folks' days by my humor many times over the years. Letting that humor or other statements digress into folly can be a fine line!
The other area I am working on is moving towards the "adult" stage of loving. I recently sent a friend an email apologizing for getting angry during an interaction we had last month. I felt like he lied to my face to hide something he was ashamed of. I called him on it with angry words. In my email, I explained why I got so angry and apologized. I try to make my love unconditional, but again, I am only human. Forgiving my brother 7 or 70 or 77 or 490 times, however you read that passage, should be my attitude. Accepting the person where he or she is, lovingly chiding and prayerfully supporting them in their journey. I am not saying you should hold these folks as your closest friends. I find that too difficult for words. I am saying we can't totally exclude them. You could be bringing light to a dark place in their lives. What a blessing that can be!
Please pray about how today's devotional applies to your life. I will keep praying for my transformation!
Other Stuff
I had a busy evening. I had a dentist appointment. My cleaning went well, but I found out I need to have a crown replaced. I guess my bite IS worse than my bark! hehehe We scheduled that for the Monday after Thanksgiving. I picked up my shirts from the laundry, returned my Halloween candy to Target, and then went home to make supper. After supper, I visited my friend in the hospital. I won't be able to visit again until Saturday, if he is still at OSU. He will probably transfer back to the Dayton area sometime this week. It is amazing that he doesn't require the serious surgery that we came to OSU for! Praise God!
I got home and fell into bed. I felt much better than Monday, but was tired by 9:00. I am feeling OK today.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms!
As most folks know, Old Faithful is a geyser in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It is known for erupting on a regular schedule. After reading the devotional today, I thought of some folks in my life that erupt with folly on a regular basis! hehehe I have to admit that I do it sometimes as well! Yikes!
I also admit that I have trouble with what comes out of my mouth sometimes. I don't always stop to figure out what the kind, loving answer should be. I am just human. I can, however, be more disciplined about many things in my life (see below).
Lord, I want to measure every word by the high standard that you set for us in your Word!
Witness Wednesday
As I mentioned above, God is working on me about my self-discipline. There is so much room to grow! I have to balance between being patient with myself (and not getting down on myself) and moving forward in my life. God calls each of us to holiness and purity. Those are not words usually used to describe me! ;-( The words usually used to describe me are horny and playful! Double yikes!
It is difficult for me to back off my "folly". It is OK to be playful and funny as long as it is not a distraction from my witness for God. I know I have made some folks' days by my humor many times over the years. Letting that humor or other statements digress into folly can be a fine line!
The other area I am working on is moving towards the "adult" stage of loving. I recently sent a friend an email apologizing for getting angry during an interaction we had last month. I felt like he lied to my face to hide something he was ashamed of. I called him on it with angry words. In my email, I explained why I got so angry and apologized. I try to make my love unconditional, but again, I am only human. Forgiving my brother 7 or 70 or 77 or 490 times, however you read that passage, should be my attitude. Accepting the person where he or she is, lovingly chiding and prayerfully supporting them in their journey. I am not saying you should hold these folks as your closest friends. I find that too difficult for words. I am saying we can't totally exclude them. You could be bringing light to a dark place in their lives. What a blessing that can be!
Please pray about how today's devotional applies to your life. I will keep praying for my transformation!
Other Stuff
I had a busy evening. I had a dentist appointment. My cleaning went well, but I found out I need to have a crown replaced. I guess my bite IS worse than my bark! hehehe We scheduled that for the Monday after Thanksgiving. I picked up my shirts from the laundry, returned my Halloween candy to Target, and then went home to make supper. After supper, I visited my friend in the hospital. I won't be able to visit again until Saturday, if he is still at OSU. He will probably transfer back to the Dayton area sometime this week. It is amazing that he doesn't require the serious surgery that we came to OSU for! Praise God!
I got home and fell into bed. I felt much better than Monday, but was tired by 9:00. I am feeling OK today.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Mr Clean
Our Daily Bread
Once again, the topic for today's devotional follows what I planned to write for the Teaching Tuesday section! How amazing is that!
The devotional is about "staying clean" in the eyes of the Lord. How can we as sinful humans do that? We can do that by following a healthy routine of confession and asking forgiveness! I know I forget to do this. I sort of ask for forgiveness, don't really repent and then sin again! Yikes! Not exactly Mr Clean!
What do I mean by a "healthy" routine? Perfectionists such as me can beat themselves up over and over during and after each sin. We don't accept God's love and forgiveness because we can't forgive ourselves. We punish ourselves over and over. Accepting God's love and forgiveness enables us to do better the next time we are tempted. Praise God!
Lord, I want to do better. Please help me forgive myself. Please help me to repent and turn away from my repetitive sins!
Teaching Tuesday
The D1 lesson this week is on Atonement. Boring! ;-p It is so important in the history of the Hebrew people. God used these instructions and rituals to set the Hebrew people apart from the rest of the world. I think we forget that God wants us today to be part of this world, but not of this world. We are to act differently than other folks.
The other thing I realized is that God doesn't NEED our sacrifices. He was teaching the Hebrews about giving their best to the Lord. We are supposed to do that today as well. Do we have to sacrifice a bull or a lamb? No. God tells us in his Word that he doesn't need our sacrifices. He wants our love and obedience and fellowship with him. Those are the reasons he created us! Through the revelation of himself in the Bible, God is trying to get us back to the Garden of Eden -- a place of fellowship with God!
Other Stuff
I did NOT feel well last night. I went to bed about ten minutes after I got home. I work up a few minutes before the Beggars Night ended. Heavy sigh. I had been looking forward to handing out candy to the ghouls and goblins! I will return the candy to Target tonight. After having a bite to eat, I went back to bed and slept till morning. I feel much better today!
I have a dentist appointment after work tonight. I plan to visit my friend in the hospital after that. I might finish my housecleaning after the hospital visit. I am very busy the rest of the week. If I don't finish the cleaning tonight, I will finish it on Saturday. I need to mow the lawn one last time and clean up the dead plants in my landscaping for the winter. I am soooo looking forward to the landscaping in the Spring! I hope my hard work wasn't in vain! ;-)
God is working in me this week in several ways. I will see how things work out. What does it matter where the road goes as long as God is leading?
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms...
Once again, the topic for today's devotional follows what I planned to write for the Teaching Tuesday section! How amazing is that!
The devotional is about "staying clean" in the eyes of the Lord. How can we as sinful humans do that? We can do that by following a healthy routine of confession and asking forgiveness! I know I forget to do this. I sort of ask for forgiveness, don't really repent and then sin again! Yikes! Not exactly Mr Clean!
What do I mean by a "healthy" routine? Perfectionists such as me can beat themselves up over and over during and after each sin. We don't accept God's love and forgiveness because we can't forgive ourselves. We punish ourselves over and over. Accepting God's love and forgiveness enables us to do better the next time we are tempted. Praise God!
Lord, I want to do better. Please help me forgive myself. Please help me to repent and turn away from my repetitive sins!
Teaching Tuesday
The D1 lesson this week is on Atonement. Boring! ;-p It is so important in the history of the Hebrew people. God used these instructions and rituals to set the Hebrew people apart from the rest of the world. I think we forget that God wants us today to be part of this world, but not of this world. We are to act differently than other folks.
The other thing I realized is that God doesn't NEED our sacrifices. He was teaching the Hebrews about giving their best to the Lord. We are supposed to do that today as well. Do we have to sacrifice a bull or a lamb? No. God tells us in his Word that he doesn't need our sacrifices. He wants our love and obedience and fellowship with him. Those are the reasons he created us! Through the revelation of himself in the Bible, God is trying to get us back to the Garden of Eden -- a place of fellowship with God!
Other Stuff
I did NOT feel well last night. I went to bed about ten minutes after I got home. I work up a few minutes before the Beggars Night ended. Heavy sigh. I had been looking forward to handing out candy to the ghouls and goblins! I will return the candy to Target tonight. After having a bite to eat, I went back to bed and slept till morning. I feel much better today!
I have a dentist appointment after work tonight. I plan to visit my friend in the hospital after that. I might finish my housecleaning after the hospital visit. I am very busy the rest of the week. If I don't finish the cleaning tonight, I will finish it on Saturday. I need to mow the lawn one last time and clean up the dead plants in my landscaping for the winter. I am soooo looking forward to the landscaping in the Spring! I hope my hard work wasn't in vain! ;-)
God is working in me this week in several ways. I will see how things work out. What does it matter where the road goes as long as God is leading?
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in His loving arms...
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