Our Daily Bread
Have you looked at your spam folder recently in your email? Wow! I never knew I needed so many drugs and upgrades to my body and had so much money available to me! Wow! PLEASE tell me that you NEVER look at or respond to those emails! I finally got one family member to live by this one simple rule: If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!
There is one offer that is NOT too good to be true! It is the offer of salvation and heaven on earth that God offers us! Wow! Have you accepted his call to salvation and offer of life eternal? Have you accepted his offer of peace and life and love?
For me, I feel like I am living life with all the answers to life's most important questions: love God above all others and love others as yourself. Everything else falls into place if we keep these things in mind!
Lord, thank you for your gift of salvation and life and love. We praise you!
Teaching Tuesday
I read the section about III Isaiah, Ezra and Nehemiah this week. I thought the historical side was interesting, but didn't see anything jump out at me as a major revelation like many of the other chapters. I think the most interesting part is the arranging of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah into their correct chronological order (as best as we know now).
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Excavating your heart will unearth the beautiful things God has planted in you. - R. Howerton
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Heavenly peace
Our Daily Bread
It is amazing to me how many times I can listen to a song, but not really hear the lyrics. I pasted the chorus to "Will not be moved" by Natalie Grant in the tag line for this entry. Amazing lyrics! The lyrics also go along with the devotional today. God is so amazing for coordinating this consistent message!
The devotional talks about good ol' David. We look to him to learn so much about faith, about serving God and about horrible mistakes. I can hear David saying the works from "Will not be moved" over and over as he lived his eventful life. Amazing! Can we all say these words when life beats us down? When we think there is no hope? When we question why we follow God? We will NOT be moved. Amen!
Lord, thank you for being our Solid Rock. Please help us to rest in your peace and NOT be moved!
Movie Monday
I didn't make it to the movie theater this week. Had a lot going on AND there wasn't much that I wanted to see. I watched a few old favorites in my home theater: Monty Python and the Holy Grail and X-Men The last stand. Oldies, but goodies... My friends wondered why I kept saying "I'm not dead. I'm really feeling bettah. I might go for a walk..." and reply to questions with "Nee, Nee!" ha!
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I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
I will not be moved - Will not be moved by Natalie Grant
It is amazing to me how many times I can listen to a song, but not really hear the lyrics. I pasted the chorus to "Will not be moved" by Natalie Grant in the tag line for this entry. Amazing lyrics! The lyrics also go along with the devotional today. God is so amazing for coordinating this consistent message!
The devotional talks about good ol' David. We look to him to learn so much about faith, about serving God and about horrible mistakes. I can hear David saying the works from "Will not be moved" over and over as he lived his eventful life. Amazing! Can we all say these words when life beats us down? When we think there is no hope? When we question why we follow God? We will NOT be moved. Amen!
Lord, thank you for being our Solid Rock. Please help us to rest in your peace and NOT be moved!
Movie Monday
I didn't make it to the movie theater this week. Had a lot going on AND there wasn't much that I wanted to see. I watched a few old favorites in my home theater: Monty Python and the Holy Grail and X-Men The last stand. Oldies, but goodies... My friends wondered why I kept saying "I'm not dead. I'm really feeling bettah. I might go for a walk..." and reply to questions with "Nee, Nee!" ha!
*****************************
I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
I will not be moved - Will not be moved by Natalie Grant
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Peace I give you
Our Daily Bread
This is another morning when God lead me to pick a blog entry tag line that matched perfectly to the devotional -- before I read the devotional! I guess God wants us to get the message! Peace, I say, peace!
I am not talking about the two fingers sticking up that indicates peace. Or the peace between peoples or nations. I am talking about the peace of God that defies all understanding. It defies logic. It can't be gained by a pill or injection. It can only be gained by giving our lives to God. This peace helps us face the difficult patches in our lives. It calms us when we are upset. It helps us sleep when our mind is swirling with thoughts and what I call "scenarios". Yes, God is with us if we just call upon His name and accept his peace!
Lord, thank you for the peace beyond all understanding. Please help us accept it and live it!
Psalm Sunday
Let's look at Psalm 92 today. I love verses six and seven! ha! Can you testify to the Lord's greatness like this psalm?
Psalm 92
A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.
1 It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.
4 For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
5 How great are your works, Lord,
how profound your thoughts!
6 Senseless people do not know,
fools do not understand,
7 that though the wicked spring up like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever.
8 But you, Lord, are forever exalted.
9 For surely your enemies, Lord,
surely your enemies will perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
10 You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox;
fine oils have been poured on me.
11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
This is another morning when God lead me to pick a blog entry tag line that matched perfectly to the devotional -- before I read the devotional! I guess God wants us to get the message! Peace, I say, peace!
I am not talking about the two fingers sticking up that indicates peace. Or the peace between peoples or nations. I am talking about the peace of God that defies all understanding. It defies logic. It can't be gained by a pill or injection. It can only be gained by giving our lives to God. This peace helps us face the difficult patches in our lives. It calms us when we are upset. It helps us sleep when our mind is swirling with thoughts and what I call "scenarios". Yes, God is with us if we just call upon His name and accept his peace!
Lord, thank you for the peace beyond all understanding. Please help us accept it and live it!
Psalm Sunday
Let's look at Psalm 92 today. I love verses six and seven! ha! Can you testify to the Lord's greatness like this psalm?
Psalm 92
A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.
1 It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.
4 For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
5 How great are your works, Lord,
how profound your thoughts!
6 Senseless people do not know,
fools do not understand,
7 that though the wicked spring up like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever.
8 But you, Lord, are forever exalted.
9 For surely your enemies, Lord,
surely your enemies will perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
10 You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox;
fine oils have been poured on me.
11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
****************************
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. - 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Are we listening?
Our Daily Bread
I had a talk with my boss about communication this week. He encouraged me to communicate better with others, especially when it came to explaining how our software worked. I said I would work on it, but technically speaking, you can't communicate with someone who doesn't want to be communicated with! Ha!
Isn't that how we are with God sometimes? We say we are seeking God, we are not really listening for his responses. We talk and talk to God in our prayers, but we never close the communication loop by listening. Samuel had a trusted adviser that helped him to learn the voice of God and to obey. We have each other in the church to do that same thing. Find a trusted adviser this week. Be a trusted adviser. Pray and listen
Lord, please help your children listen as well as talk!
Simply Saturday
He will speak
I have been praying about the topic for today. I wasn't sure what it was supposed to be until I read the devotional about "listening to God". I want to write a little about that now based on the story of Samuel.
Listen
I have a bad habit. I tell someone to call me and then set the ringer on my iPhone to "off" so I don't hear the ring! Yikes! We can be that way with God. We ask God to answer our prayers, but we don't "have our ringer on" to listen for his answer. Samuel heard the call of God, but didn't realize it was God calling!
Discern
This is where discernment comes in. We need to discern what God is saying to us. Is it really God speaking or is it something else? I joke with friends that it is so hard to listen for God when all the other voices in my head are sooooo loud! Just kidding! Like Samuel, we sometimes need a trusted adviser to help us discern the voice of God and what to do with the message. I pray you have at least one close friend or minister that you can discuss these things!
Act
Once you have discerned the voice of God and what to do, then DO IT! I know it is difficult at times to do the things that God wants us to do. We can feel unworthy. We can feel awkward because of the separation from the world that doing God's will can cause. Separation is good in this case! Just do it!
I hope this helps simplify things a little. We have a tendency to make things too complicated! May the Lord be with you!
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Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40
I had a talk with my boss about communication this week. He encouraged me to communicate better with others, especially when it came to explaining how our software worked. I said I would work on it, but technically speaking, you can't communicate with someone who doesn't want to be communicated with! Ha!
Isn't that how we are with God sometimes? We say we are seeking God, we are not really listening for his responses. We talk and talk to God in our prayers, but we never close the communication loop by listening. Samuel had a trusted adviser that helped him to learn the voice of God and to obey. We have each other in the church to do that same thing. Find a trusted adviser this week. Be a trusted adviser. Pray and listen
Lord, please help your children listen as well as talk!
Simply Saturday
He will speak
I have been praying about the topic for today. I wasn't sure what it was supposed to be until I read the devotional about "listening to God". I want to write a little about that now based on the story of Samuel.
Listen
I have a bad habit. I tell someone to call me and then set the ringer on my iPhone to "off" so I don't hear the ring! Yikes! We can be that way with God. We ask God to answer our prayers, but we don't "have our ringer on" to listen for his answer. Samuel heard the call of God, but didn't realize it was God calling!
Discern
This is where discernment comes in. We need to discern what God is saying to us. Is it really God speaking or is it something else? I joke with friends that it is so hard to listen for God when all the other voices in my head are sooooo loud! Just kidding! Like Samuel, we sometimes need a trusted adviser to help us discern the voice of God and what to do with the message. I pray you have at least one close friend or minister that you can discuss these things!
Act
Once you have discerned the voice of God and what to do, then DO IT! I know it is difficult at times to do the things that God wants us to do. We can feel unworthy. We can feel awkward because of the separation from the world that doing God's will can cause. Separation is good in this case! Just do it!
I hope this helps simplify things a little. We have a tendency to make things too complicated! May the Lord be with you!
********************************
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40
Friday, April 26, 2013
Make the most of it
Our Daily Bread
There have been many times in my life that I had "once in a lifetime" opportunities or at least things that seemed that way. Singing at Carnegie Hall. Going to Hawaii. A rare eclipse. Can you think of any? What was the advice that I was given? "Make the most of it!" I know that I get teased a lot for being so active and doing so many different things in my life!
The devotional today reminds us to do that with our lives -- make the most of it! We only have one life to live. Living it for God in the best ways we know how is our best chance to see heaven on earth! I can testify that the times I have been closest to God have been the most amazing times in my life. I look forward to many more if God keeps me on this earth! How about you? Are you making the most of it?
Lord, thank you for giving us life. Please help us make the most of it by living for you!
Foodie Friday
I found this recipe last week and tried it. I LOVE it! I left out the corn and used salsa instead of the tomato paste. Great tasting!
Chorizo Chili quesadilla
1 box (10 oz) Green Giant® Niblets® frozen corn & butter sauce
10 oz ground pork chorizo
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained, rinsed
1 box Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
2 cups shredded pepper Jack cheese (8 oz)
We too can know this God and be assured of His presence. He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His Word. As we ask Him to make Himself known to us, we’ll learn that He is even more than the owner and creator of everything! - Our Daily Bread web site
There have been many times in my life that I had "once in a lifetime" opportunities or at least things that seemed that way. Singing at Carnegie Hall. Going to Hawaii. A rare eclipse. Can you think of any? What was the advice that I was given? "Make the most of it!" I know that I get teased a lot for being so active and doing so many different things in my life!
The devotional today reminds us to do that with our lives -- make the most of it! We only have one life to live. Living it for God in the best ways we know how is our best chance to see heaven on earth! I can testify that the times I have been closest to God have been the most amazing times in my life. I look forward to many more if God keeps me on this earth! How about you? Are you making the most of it?
Lord, thank you for giving us life. Please help us make the most of it by living for you!
Foodie Friday
I found this recipe last week and tried it. I LOVE it! I left out the corn and used salsa instead of the tomato paste. Great tasting!
Chorizo Chili quesadilla
1 box (10 oz) Green Giant® Niblets® frozen corn & butter sauce
10 oz ground pork chorizo
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained, rinsed
1 box Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
2 cups shredded pepper Jack cheese (8 oz)
- Heat oven to 375°F. Microwave corn as directed on box. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add chorizo, onion and tomato paste; cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, or until thoroughly cooked. Add corn and beans; cook 2 to 3 minutes longer, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly heated.
- Unroll one pie crust on large ungreased or parchement-lined cookie sheet; sprinkle 2/3 cup of the cheese over crust to within 1 inch of edge. Top with chorizo mixture and 2/3 cup of the remaining cheese.
- Moisten edge of crust with water. Top with second crust; roll edge inward, pressing to seal. Cut 3 slits in top crust. Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven; sprinkle with remaining 2/3 cup cheese. Bake 3 to 4 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes.
We too can know this God and be assured of His presence. He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His Word. As we ask Him to make Himself known to us, we’ll learn that He is even more than the owner and creator of everything! - Our Daily Bread web site
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Double standard
Our Daily Bread
I have this thing about "fairness". Things should be consistent and fair for all people - EXCEPT when I need special treatment. Yes, that is called a double standard! Yikes!
I have to admit that I want a double standard when it comes to personal relationships and my relationship with God. I want God to crush my enemies, not be patient and loving to them. I know I want people to be extra patient to me because I deserve it! ha! Just kidding. God treats each of equally and loves each one of us equally. We are to show others the same level of love and patience that we expect in return. That is not always easy! God help us!
Lord,, please help us be as loving and patient with others as we request from you!
Technology Thursday
Not much to write about this week. I am happy to report that I found my solar powered phone charger. The device is about the size of a smart phone with solar panels on the front. The internal battery can recharge as much as 50% via the sun. It seems to recharge my iPhone twice with one charge. The down side is that you have to hook the charger up to a computer or wall charger to charge it 100%. Here is the info about the device. I have it charging in a sunny place today.
Opteka BP-SC4000 Ultra Thin Solar Powered High Capacity (4000mAh) Backup Battery and Charger
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Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
I have this thing about "fairness". Things should be consistent and fair for all people - EXCEPT when I need special treatment. Yes, that is called a double standard! Yikes!
I have to admit that I want a double standard when it comes to personal relationships and my relationship with God. I want God to crush my enemies, not be patient and loving to them. I know I want people to be extra patient to me because I deserve it! ha! Just kidding. God treats each of equally and loves each one of us equally. We are to show others the same level of love and patience that we expect in return. That is not always easy! God help us!
Lord,, please help us be as loving and patient with others as we request from you!
Technology Thursday
Not much to write about this week. I am happy to report that I found my solar powered phone charger. The device is about the size of a smart phone with solar panels on the front. The internal battery can recharge as much as 50% via the sun. It seems to recharge my iPhone twice with one charge. The down side is that you have to hook the charger up to a computer or wall charger to charge it 100%. Here is the info about the device. I have it charging in a sunny place today.
Opteka BP-SC4000 Ultra Thin Solar Powered High Capacity (4000mAh) Backup Battery and Charger
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Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Keep on keeping on
Our Daily Bread
I guess I am out of touch with popular TV today because I don't see the kinds of Tshirts around like I did when I was a younger person. It seemed like every TV show or commercial had a "saying" that was stamped on thousands of Tshirts and worn daily by young and old. "What you talkin' bout, Willis?" or "Dyno-mite!" or "Where's the beef?" are just a few of the ones I remember.
One popular saying that didn't really get its own Tshirt was "Keep on keeping on". It was an encouraging statement to keep doing what you are doing no matter what you face. It was further interpreted by some as a spiritual message to stay strong in the Lord so you might hear it in a sermon at church.
I find all of this so incredible. There was a paragraph in the 2 Isaiah lesson this week that I forgot about. The writer of 2 Isaiah had trouble getting the people of Israel to believe and accept the fact that YAWH promised to restore Israel. They had believed for so long, but it had not happened. The book mentioned that it is difficult to maintain faith when the promises of God continue to be postponed seemingly time after time. Isn't that the way we feel today? We must remember the "Keep on keeping on" message as we realize that Christ is walking or running next to us to bring us home!
Lord, thank you for working ALL things to the good of those that love you. Praise God!
Wellness Wednesday
Nine daily habits that will make you happier - from Inc.com
I like looking around for different types of articles for wellness. I thought this one was very interesting. I am not unhappy, but I am always looking for ways to be happier so I can be a better beacon for God. Let's take a look at them.
1. Start each day with expectation.
If there's any big truth about life, it's that it usually lives up to (or down to) your expectations. Therefore, when you rise from bed, make your first thought: "something wonderful is going today." Guess what? You're probably right.
2. Take time to plan and prioritize.
The most common source of stress is the perception that you've got too much work to do. Rather than obsess about it, pick one thing that, if you get it done today, will move you closer highest goal and purpose in life. Then do that first.
3. Give a gift to everyone you meet.
I'm not talking about a formal, wrapped-up present. Your gift can be your smile, a word of thanks or encouragement, a gesture of politeness, even a friendly nod. And never pass beggars leaving them something. Peace of mind is worth the spare change.
4. Deflect partisan conversations.
Arguments about politics and religion never have a "right" answer but they definitely get people all riled up over things they can't control. When such topics surface, bow out by saying something
like: "Thinking about that stuff makes my head hurt."
5. Assume people have good intentions.
Since you can't read minds, you don't really know the "why" behind the "what" that people do. Imputing evil motives to other people's weird behaviors adds extra misery to life, while assuming
good intentions leaves you open to reconciliation.
6. Eat high quality food slowly.
Sometimes we can't avoid scarfing something quick to keep us up and running. Even so, at least once a day try to eat something really delicious, like a small chunk of fine cheese or an chocolate. Focus on it; taste it; savor it.
7. Let go of your results.
The big enemy of happiness is worry, which comes from focusing on events that are outside your control. Once you've taken action, there's usually nothing more you can do. Focus on hand rather than some weird fantasy of what might happen.
8. Turn off "background" TV.
Many households leave their TVs on as "background noise" while they're doing other things. The entire point of broadcast TV is to make you dissatisfied with your life so that you'll buy stuff. Why subliminally program yourself to be a mindless consumer?
9. End each day with gratitude.
Just before you go to bed, write down at least one wonderful thing that happened. It might be something as small as a making a child laugh or something as huge as a million dollar deal.
Whatever it is, be grateful for that day because it will never come again.
****************************
Trusting God’s faithfulness dispels our fearfulness. - Our Daily Bread web site
I guess I am out of touch with popular TV today because I don't see the kinds of Tshirts around like I did when I was a younger person. It seemed like every TV show or commercial had a "saying" that was stamped on thousands of Tshirts and worn daily by young and old. "What you talkin' bout, Willis?" or "Dyno-mite!" or "Where's the beef?" are just a few of the ones I remember.
One popular saying that didn't really get its own Tshirt was "Keep on keeping on". It was an encouraging statement to keep doing what you are doing no matter what you face. It was further interpreted by some as a spiritual message to stay strong in the Lord so you might hear it in a sermon at church.
I find all of this so incredible. There was a paragraph in the 2 Isaiah lesson this week that I forgot about. The writer of 2 Isaiah had trouble getting the people of Israel to believe and accept the fact that YAWH promised to restore Israel. They had believed for so long, but it had not happened. The book mentioned that it is difficult to maintain faith when the promises of God continue to be postponed seemingly time after time. Isn't that the way we feel today? We must remember the "Keep on keeping on" message as we realize that Christ is walking or running next to us to bring us home!
Lord, thank you for working ALL things to the good of those that love you. Praise God!
Wellness Wednesday
Nine daily habits that will make you happier - from Inc.com
I like looking around for different types of articles for wellness. I thought this one was very interesting. I am not unhappy, but I am always looking for ways to be happier so I can be a better beacon for God. Let's take a look at them.
1. Start each day with expectation.
If there's any big truth about life, it's that it usually lives up to (or down to) your expectations. Therefore, when you rise from bed, make your first thought: "something wonderful is going today." Guess what? You're probably right.
2. Take time to plan and prioritize.
The most common source of stress is the perception that you've got too much work to do. Rather than obsess about it, pick one thing that, if you get it done today, will move you closer highest goal and purpose in life. Then do that first.
3. Give a gift to everyone you meet.
I'm not talking about a formal, wrapped-up present. Your gift can be your smile, a word of thanks or encouragement, a gesture of politeness, even a friendly nod. And never pass beggars leaving them something. Peace of mind is worth the spare change.
4. Deflect partisan conversations.
Arguments about politics and religion never have a "right" answer but they definitely get people all riled up over things they can't control. When such topics surface, bow out by saying something
like: "Thinking about that stuff makes my head hurt."
5. Assume people have good intentions.
Since you can't read minds, you don't really know the "why" behind the "what" that people do. Imputing evil motives to other people's weird behaviors adds extra misery to life, while assuming
good intentions leaves you open to reconciliation.
6. Eat high quality food slowly.
Sometimes we can't avoid scarfing something quick to keep us up and running. Even so, at least once a day try to eat something really delicious, like a small chunk of fine cheese or an chocolate. Focus on it; taste it; savor it.
7. Let go of your results.
The big enemy of happiness is worry, which comes from focusing on events that are outside your control. Once you've taken action, there's usually nothing more you can do. Focus on hand rather than some weird fantasy of what might happen.
8. Turn off "background" TV.
Many households leave their TVs on as "background noise" while they're doing other things. The entire point of broadcast TV is to make you dissatisfied with your life so that you'll buy stuff. Why subliminally program yourself to be a mindless consumer?
9. End each day with gratitude.
Just before you go to bed, write down at least one wonderful thing that happened. It might be something as small as a making a child laugh or something as huge as a million dollar deal.
Whatever it is, be grateful for that day because it will never come again.
****************************
Trusting God’s faithfulness dispels our fearfulness. - Our Daily Bread web site
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
I can see clearly now
Our Daily Bread
Some things are so obvious to folks and some folks are so oblivious to some things! ha! For example, this old bear struggled to open a new bottle of antacids one day. After watching me struggle, one of my coworkers said "Doesn't the top just twist off?" DOH! It was so obvious to him. To me -- no so much!
Walking our Christian lives can be the same way. There are so many things that seem obvious to us about what we should do and what we shouldn't do. Others don't give a second thought to what they do or say. Are we serving the same God? Well, yes, but each person can be in different places in their spiritual development. We are to love and support each other no matter where we are! The coolest thing to me is that one person can be strong in prayer, for example, and can help another who is not. That person is strong in teaching, so the person strong in prayer can learn from him! God works in wonderful ways!
Lord, thank you for sending your Spirit down to lead us and guide us and give us spiritual gifts. Please help us use them for you!
Teaching Tuesday
Did you know that Bible scholars think that Isaiah was written in three sections? I read that in my Bible study last year, however, the EFM chapters on Isaiah are much more in depth. What can be called "Second Isaiah", the books from 40 - 55, are thought to be written by a follower (or followers) of Isaiah that continued his stories past the destruction of Jerusalem into the restoration of Jerusalem. It is some interesting reading.
These chapters are also known for the "Servant Songs" where a "servant" is talked about in several ways. There is much debate on who exactly the servant is. Jesus? Cyrus? Israel? That is a question we will have to get answered in heaven!
**********************
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40
Some things are so obvious to folks and some folks are so oblivious to some things! ha! For example, this old bear struggled to open a new bottle of antacids one day. After watching me struggle, one of my coworkers said "Doesn't the top just twist off?" DOH! It was so obvious to him. To me -- no so much!
Walking our Christian lives can be the same way. There are so many things that seem obvious to us about what we should do and what we shouldn't do. Others don't give a second thought to what they do or say. Are we serving the same God? Well, yes, but each person can be in different places in their spiritual development. We are to love and support each other no matter where we are! The coolest thing to me is that one person can be strong in prayer, for example, and can help another who is not. That person is strong in teaching, so the person strong in prayer can learn from him! God works in wonderful ways!
Lord, thank you for sending your Spirit down to lead us and guide us and give us spiritual gifts. Please help us use them for you!
Teaching Tuesday
Did you know that Bible scholars think that Isaiah was written in three sections? I read that in my Bible study last year, however, the EFM chapters on Isaiah are much more in depth. What can be called "Second Isaiah", the books from 40 - 55, are thought to be written by a follower (or followers) of Isaiah that continued his stories past the destruction of Jerusalem into the restoration of Jerusalem. It is some interesting reading.
These chapters are also known for the "Servant Songs" where a "servant" is talked about in several ways. There is much debate on who exactly the servant is. Jesus? Cyrus? Israel? That is a question we will have to get answered in heaven!
**********************
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40
Monday, April 22, 2013
You never know
Our Daily Bread
I have always been a teaser. I have teased people about ALL kinds of things, including dust. No, not in the "do you EVER dust?" kind of teasing. My family had been talking about the "man came from dust, and to dust shall he return" scripture while on a trip to visit relatives. I noticed a lot of dust on the tables, chairs, etc at the relatives' home. I teased my brother and sisters: "I am not sure if someone is coming or going!". ha!
The devotional made me think about the way I can "dismiss" people sometimes. I hate to admit that in a public forum, but God requires me to be honest. We are all made of the same simple stuff -- dust and water. Granted there are lot of things going on with those two ingredients! AND, they can produce very different results when combined different ways! Wow! The point is that we need to treat each person for the miracle he or she is! Praise God!
Lord, you saw beauty in dust and made us all! Please help us all look at each other in the same way!
Movie Monday
I saw the new Tom Cruise movie called Oblivion on Friday night. It was a Sci-Fi movie a little over two hours long. I mention the time because of my belief that if you can't express the story line in ninety minutes, then why tell it? ha! There are obviously some exceptions to that rule. This movie was not one of the exceptions. It was just OK. There were some very cool special effects, but not enough to justify spending $10 to see the movie. The story line was odd to me, but OK. Overall, I think it was just an OK movie. If you see it at the theater, then go to a matinee. Don't pay full price! ha!
I give this movie two bear paws. Renting it on Netflix is probably a good plan!
****************************
If we’re gonna pray about it
There’s no use in worrying
If we’re gonna worry about it
Why are we praying
Just leave it in the hands of the Father
Leave it in the hands of the Healer
Leave it in the hands of Jesus
And walk away
Walk away -- Brandon Heath & Thad Cockrell
I have always been a teaser. I have teased people about ALL kinds of things, including dust. No, not in the "do you EVER dust?" kind of teasing. My family had been talking about the "man came from dust, and to dust shall he return" scripture while on a trip to visit relatives. I noticed a lot of dust on the tables, chairs, etc at the relatives' home. I teased my brother and sisters: "I am not sure if someone is coming or going!". ha!
The devotional made me think about the way I can "dismiss" people sometimes. I hate to admit that in a public forum, but God requires me to be honest. We are all made of the same simple stuff -- dust and water. Granted there are lot of things going on with those two ingredients! AND, they can produce very different results when combined different ways! Wow! The point is that we need to treat each person for the miracle he or she is! Praise God!
Lord, you saw beauty in dust and made us all! Please help us all look at each other in the same way!
Movie Monday
I saw the new Tom Cruise movie called Oblivion on Friday night. It was a Sci-Fi movie a little over two hours long. I mention the time because of my belief that if you can't express the story line in ninety minutes, then why tell it? ha! There are obviously some exceptions to that rule. This movie was not one of the exceptions. It was just OK. There were some very cool special effects, but not enough to justify spending $10 to see the movie. The story line was odd to me, but OK. Overall, I think it was just an OK movie. If you see it at the theater, then go to a matinee. Don't pay full price! ha!
I give this movie two bear paws. Renting it on Netflix is probably a good plan!
****************************
If we’re gonna pray about it
There’s no use in worrying
If we’re gonna worry about it
Why are we praying
Just leave it in the hands of the Father
Leave it in the hands of the Healer
Leave it in the hands of Jesus
And walk away
Walk away -- Brandon Heath & Thad Cockrell
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Definition of Success
Our Daily Bread
Have you ever subscribed to the "success" type magazines? Success, Forbes, Inc, Entrepreneur are just a few of them. What is there definition of success?
Our society defines success as making lots of money, being beautiful, being famous, having nice houses, and having power. That is just one reason that the people of God are "in this world, but not of it". The devotional had a great definition of success:
You are a success in God’s kingdom if you are faithful where He has placed you.
The example of success in the devotional was Phillip witnessing to the Ethiopian eunuch. Phillip took the opportunity to be faithful where God placed him. Can we do that today and every day?
Lord, thank you for leading us if we will just listen. Please help us be faithful where you place us.
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 91 is a beautiful psalm of faith and assurance. Read this one twice and reaffirm your faith!
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
****************************
Trusting God’s faithfulness dispels our fearfulness. - Our Daily Bread web site
Have you ever subscribed to the "success" type magazines? Success, Forbes, Inc, Entrepreneur are just a few of them. What is there definition of success?
Our society defines success as making lots of money, being beautiful, being famous, having nice houses, and having power. That is just one reason that the people of God are "in this world, but not of it". The devotional had a great definition of success:
You are a success in God’s kingdom if you are faithful where He has placed you.
The example of success in the devotional was Phillip witnessing to the Ethiopian eunuch. Phillip took the opportunity to be faithful where God placed him. Can we do that today and every day?
Lord, thank you for leading us if we will just listen. Please help us be faithful where you place us.
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 91 is a beautiful psalm of faith and assurance. Read this one twice and reaffirm your faith!
Psalm 91
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
****************************
Trusting God’s faithfulness dispels our fearfulness. - Our Daily Bread web site
Saturday, April 20, 2013
u r fawm
Our Daily Bread
I like to text though I only do it a few hundred times per month. I am not like a lot of teenagers today that text thousands of times per week! I ain't got time for that! HA!
One of my favorite text messages is an encouragement text that I have used as my blog entry tag line several times: u r a bcog u r fawm That stands for "You are a beloved child of God. You are fearfully and wonderfully made". I love those two sentences, especially when I am having a a "down" day! The second part of that text is from the Psalms:
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Ps. 139:14).
Simply Saturday
I keep my eyes out for new tag lines for the end of my daily blog entry. I started keeping them on Evernote so I have them with me whenever I need them -- either for my blog or just for some encouragement. I ran across one this week that I want to write about:
Excavating your heart will unearth the beautiful things God has planted in you. - R. Howerton
R. Howerton is a friend of mine from college. When I saw this posted on Facebook, I asked him for the source. He is the source! Great job! Here is what the saying means to me.
Excavate gently
I am not an expert on archaeology, but I have seen enough movies and TV shows to know this: archaeologists don't use a bulldozer or large pick axes to excavate! That is the way we can be with ourselves at times when we are excavating our heart, whether we are looking for good things or not so good things. Be careful!
Extract lovingly
Whenever archaeologists extract something from a site, they do it gently because they can't be sure of the value of each object until it is examined by an expert. Our expert is the Holy Spirit that helps excavate and examine each object from our heart. The miraculous thing is that each object can be good and bad. I tease a friend of mine that God planted a stubborn spirit in each of us so we could be stubborn for God and NOT stubborn for the sake of being stubborn! God can take each object we excavate from our hearts, look at it and then lead us in how to deal with that object. Oh, and the best part? God will plant new, wonderful things in there as well!
Never forget
There are a LOT of small fragments of pots and jars and scrolls in museums all around the world. It always amazes me how God can use each fragment in some special way. For example, I saw the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit in the Cincinnati Museum Complex recently. While most of the artifacts were small in size, they were big in meaning as their historical relevance displayed. We should always remember where we came from and what God has done in our lives. Praise God!
I am reminded of yet another song: Something Beautiful by the Gaither Vocal Band
Something beautiful, something good
All my confusion He understood
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But he made something beautiful of my life
If there ever were dreams
That were lofty and noble
They were my dreams at the start
And hope for life's best were the hopes
That I harbor down deep in my heart
But my dreams turned to ashes
And my castles all crumbled, my fortune turned to loss
So I wrapped it all in the rags of my life
And laid it at the cross.
Let God help you find something beautiful and plant something beautiful in you today.
****************************************
We are far from perfect, but despite our mistakes and our sins, we will never abandon the Lord and he will never abandon us - adapted from a statement about Abraham from the EfM Training Guide
I like to text though I only do it a few hundred times per month. I am not like a lot of teenagers today that text thousands of times per week! I ain't got time for that! HA!
One of my favorite text messages is an encouragement text that I have used as my blog entry tag line several times: u r a bcog u r fawm That stands for "You are a beloved child of God. You are fearfully and wonderfully made". I love those two sentences, especially when I am having a a "down" day! The second part of that text is from the Psalms:
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Ps. 139:14).
What a wonderful reminder of who we really are whenever Satan tries to tell us otherwise!
Lord, thank you for making us in such a miraculous way!
Simply Saturday
I keep my eyes out for new tag lines for the end of my daily blog entry. I started keeping them on Evernote so I have them with me whenever I need them -- either for my blog or just for some encouragement. I ran across one this week that I want to write about:
Excavating your heart will unearth the beautiful things God has planted in you. - R. Howerton
R. Howerton is a friend of mine from college. When I saw this posted on Facebook, I asked him for the source. He is the source! Great job! Here is what the saying means to me.
Excavate gently
I am not an expert on archaeology, but I have seen enough movies and TV shows to know this: archaeologists don't use a bulldozer or large pick axes to excavate! That is the way we can be with ourselves at times when we are excavating our heart, whether we are looking for good things or not so good things. Be careful!
Extract lovingly
Whenever archaeologists extract something from a site, they do it gently because they can't be sure of the value of each object until it is examined by an expert. Our expert is the Holy Spirit that helps excavate and examine each object from our heart. The miraculous thing is that each object can be good and bad. I tease a friend of mine that God planted a stubborn spirit in each of us so we could be stubborn for God and NOT stubborn for the sake of being stubborn! God can take each object we excavate from our hearts, look at it and then lead us in how to deal with that object. Oh, and the best part? God will plant new, wonderful things in there as well!
Never forget
There are a LOT of small fragments of pots and jars and scrolls in museums all around the world. It always amazes me how God can use each fragment in some special way. For example, I saw the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit in the Cincinnati Museum Complex recently. While most of the artifacts were small in size, they were big in meaning as their historical relevance displayed. We should always remember where we came from and what God has done in our lives. Praise God!
I am reminded of yet another song: Something Beautiful by the Gaither Vocal Band
Something beautiful, something good
All my confusion He understood
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But he made something beautiful of my life
If there ever were dreams
That were lofty and noble
They were my dreams at the start
And hope for life's best were the hopes
That I harbor down deep in my heart
But my dreams turned to ashes
And my castles all crumbled, my fortune turned to loss
So I wrapped it all in the rags of my life
And laid it at the cross.
Let God help you find something beautiful and plant something beautiful in you today.
****************************************
We are far from perfect, but despite our mistakes and our sins, we will never abandon the Lord and he will never abandon us - adapted from a statement about Abraham from the EfM Training Guide
Friday, April 19, 2013
You are not doing it right...
Our Daily Bread
I try to work out several times a week to improve my body and overall health. I tease my friends a lot and get teased a lot about these efforts. One of our jokes is about pain. They ask "Doesn't it hurt to exercise that much?" My silly answer "If it doesn't hurt then you aren't doing it right!" ha!
I am not saying that hurting is part of the Christian life, though sometimes be "of the world, but not in the world" can feel hurtful. We are not in touch the latest TV shows or the coolest fashion trends or doing the latest cool activity because we are spending time in serving God, reading his Word and praying. I have a difficult time explaining to my friends my different priorities now. How about you? Have things changed for you? Should they?
Lord, thank you for being with us and helping through every good or bad time in our lives. Please help us always look towards you!
Foodie Friday
I had two new food experiences this week. I tried Jets Pizza and ABC BBQ. Both are near my house.
ABC BBQ
I had some beef brisket with the ABC homemade sauce and their potato skins during my recent visit. Sadly, I wasn't very impressed with either of them. The potato skins were greasy and tasteless. The brisket looked like it was from an Aldi's box. It was not very good. The homemade sauce was not too bad, though not as good as most other sauces I have had. I doubt that I will go back.
Jets Pizza
My roommate brought home a Jets Pizza last night. It had a hand-tossed type of crust that was buttery and tasty. The toppings of cheese, jalapenos and pepperoni were tasty. The sauce was a little disappointing considering how good the crust was. I would get it again since it is close to the house. I still prefer Adriaticos or Pizza Rustica over any other pizza places I have eaten at in Columbus.
*******************
Excavating your heart will unearth the beautiful things God has planted in you. - R. Howerton
I try to work out several times a week to improve my body and overall health. I tease my friends a lot and get teased a lot about these efforts. One of our jokes is about pain. They ask "Doesn't it hurt to exercise that much?" My silly answer "If it doesn't hurt then you aren't doing it right!" ha!
I am not saying that hurting is part of the Christian life, though sometimes be "of the world, but not in the world" can feel hurtful. We are not in touch the latest TV shows or the coolest fashion trends or doing the latest cool activity because we are spending time in serving God, reading his Word and praying. I have a difficult time explaining to my friends my different priorities now. How about you? Have things changed for you? Should they?
Lord, thank you for being with us and helping through every good or bad time in our lives. Please help us always look towards you!
Foodie Friday
I had two new food experiences this week. I tried Jets Pizza and ABC BBQ. Both are near my house.
ABC BBQ
I had some beef brisket with the ABC homemade sauce and their potato skins during my recent visit. Sadly, I wasn't very impressed with either of them. The potato skins were greasy and tasteless. The brisket looked like it was from an Aldi's box. It was not very good. The homemade sauce was not too bad, though not as good as most other sauces I have had. I doubt that I will go back.
Jets Pizza
My roommate brought home a Jets Pizza last night. It had a hand-tossed type of crust that was buttery and tasty. The toppings of cheese, jalapenos and pepperoni were tasty. The sauce was a little disappointing considering how good the crust was. I would get it again since it is close to the house. I still prefer Adriaticos or Pizza Rustica over any other pizza places I have eaten at in Columbus.
*******************
Excavating your heart will unearth the beautiful things God has planted in you. - R. Howerton
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Hope so
Our Daily Bread
There have been times in my life when things don't seem to go the way they are supposed to. During those times, I am fortunate to have friends that encourage me to hang in there (or to let go as I say...). Things will get better. My lame response many times is "I hope so". Is this really hope?
The devotional talks about true hope - the hope that only God can give. The hope of our lives on earth with Him guiding us. The hope of God fulfilling His promises to us. The hope of the coming of Jesus. The hope and anticipation of our heavenly home for eternity. My response is not "I hope so". It is "I KNOW so!"
God has been bringing to my consciousness how much I whine about things and how little faith I have the past few months. After reading some of my posts on this blog and on Facebook, you might say "Seriously? You seem very positive!". Yes, I am positive I whine a lot have have little faith! To give you an example of God reinforcing things with me, look at the tag line at the bottom of today's blog post. I added that line BEFORE I read the devotional. God was saying to me "When will you put all your hope and trust in me?". I WILL trust in the Lord. I WILL wait patiently on Him!
How about you?
Lord, thank you for being the God of all hope and light. Please help us trust in you!
Technology Thursday
There's an app for that
Have a smart phone or tablet? Android or iOS? It doesn't usually matter because most companies make their apps for both operating systems. Here are a few of my favorite apps on my iPhone5. You can check your app store to see if they are available for your device. TIP: DON'T use secure applications such as banking applications in public wifi spots like Starbucks. Danger, Will Robinson! I don't usually play games on my phone, so I don't have those listed here.
Chase
I bank at Chase and really enjoy their banking app. I can do a lot of things quickly like check balances, pay bills, and deposit a check (yes, by taking pictures of the front and back!). Very cool app if you bank with Chase. Several other banks have similar apps.
Yelp
I love this app when I am trying to find a store or service nearby. I use it extensively when I travel. I use it in Columbus if someone asks me "Where is the nearest Chinese restaurant?". ha! It is very handy!
Flixster
I am a movie-aholic. I use the Flixster app to check theater listings and movie times. I set up my four favorite theaters, which makes things even faster. It also includes movie releases and DVD releases. Very nice app.
Dictionary.com
The Dictionary.com app for finding word meanings is very nice. I use it a lot when I am reading. It is very easy to use and very accurate.
Piano
I have used this app many, many times to find a note or play my part on my phone or iPad. It is quick and simple and easier than also carrying around a pitch pipe. I recently used it to play my starting note when I cantored a psalm at a Holy Week service!
*******************************
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13
There have been times in my life when things don't seem to go the way they are supposed to. During those times, I am fortunate to have friends that encourage me to hang in there (or to let go as I say...). Things will get better. My lame response many times is "I hope so". Is this really hope?
The devotional talks about true hope - the hope that only God can give. The hope of our lives on earth with Him guiding us. The hope of God fulfilling His promises to us. The hope of the coming of Jesus. The hope and anticipation of our heavenly home for eternity. My response is not "I hope so". It is "I KNOW so!"
God has been bringing to my consciousness how much I whine about things and how little faith I have the past few months. After reading some of my posts on this blog and on Facebook, you might say "Seriously? You seem very positive!". Yes, I am positive I whine a lot have have little faith! To give you an example of God reinforcing things with me, look at the tag line at the bottom of today's blog post. I added that line BEFORE I read the devotional. God was saying to me "When will you put all your hope and trust in me?". I WILL trust in the Lord. I WILL wait patiently on Him!
How about you?
Lord, thank you for being the God of all hope and light. Please help us trust in you!
Technology Thursday
There's an app for that
Have a smart phone or tablet? Android or iOS? It doesn't usually matter because most companies make their apps for both operating systems. Here are a few of my favorite apps on my iPhone5. You can check your app store to see if they are available for your device. TIP: DON'T use secure applications such as banking applications in public wifi spots like Starbucks. Danger, Will Robinson! I don't usually play games on my phone, so I don't have those listed here.
Chase
I bank at Chase and really enjoy their banking app. I can do a lot of things quickly like check balances, pay bills, and deposit a check (yes, by taking pictures of the front and back!). Very cool app if you bank with Chase. Several other banks have similar apps.
Yelp
I love this app when I am trying to find a store or service nearby. I use it extensively when I travel. I use it in Columbus if someone asks me "Where is the nearest Chinese restaurant?". ha! It is very handy!
Flixster
I am a movie-aholic. I use the Flixster app to check theater listings and movie times. I set up my four favorite theaters, which makes things even faster. It also includes movie releases and DVD releases. Very nice app.
Dictionary.com
The Dictionary.com app for finding word meanings is very nice. I use it a lot when I am reading. It is very easy to use and very accurate.
Piano
I have used this app many, many times to find a note or play my part on my phone or iPad. It is quick and simple and easier than also carrying around a pitch pipe. I recently used it to play my starting note when I cantored a psalm at a Holy Week service!
*******************************
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Home where I belong
Our Daily Bread
I recently considered pursuing a job that would require 60 - 80% travel. It sounded exciting to me since I love to travel, even to small "po-dunk" towns around the country. A close friend reminded me of his life -- traveling 60 - 80% of the time and the problems it can cause. He make me think about the importance of home.
The devotional is about longing for home -- our heavenly home. Looking forward to our eternal home with Christ is something I don't always think about. God has been talking to me lately about longing for home and the coming of Christ. I am reminded of the BJ Thomas song "Home Where I Belong". Longing for home today? Think and pray for those who truly long for home.
Lord, thank you for the promise of our eternal home with you.
Wellness Wednesday
Quick Stress relief
Here are eight quick stress relief tips:
Quick Body Scan
To help quiet your mind and boost awareness of the sensations in your body, sit or lie down in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Start by drawing your attention to different parts of your physical body, and checking in with how they feel. You can begin at the feet and work your way up to the head, noticing and releasing any tension as you go.
Email Meditation
From this web site, consider saying this brief meditation when you click the Send button.
Listen To Nature Sounds
According to Dr. Kathleen Hall, stress expert and founder of the Mindful Living Network, nature sounds can do wonders to reduce stress. Hall recommends sitting quietly for one to three minutes and listening to the sounds of natural landscapes, like oceans, rainforests or brooks.
Laugh
Even if it doesn't feel natural at first, making time for a quick laugh -- whether it's by watching a silly animal video or reminding yourself of a funny joke -- can help bust you out of a stressful headspace.
Deep Breathing
Breathly deeply in and out for just one minute can help to refresh your mind and reset your body. Harvard University research in the 1970s conducted by Dr. Herbert Benson found that short periods of meditation that focused on the breath had the power to alter the body's stress responses, activating the "relaxation response." Find a quiet place to sit for one minute, focusing on breathing deeply in and out and letting go of distracting thoughts.
Essential Oils
The part of the brain that processes smells is located in close proximity to that which governs emotion and memory, so scent can be a powerful way to induce pleasant emotions and calm the mind.
Neck & Shoulder Massage
Help soothe tense muscles in the neck and shoulders (also known as the "stress triangle") by giving yourself a brief massage. But make sure it's not a mindless massage while staring at the computer -- for the full de-stressing benefits, stop what you're doing and bring mindful awareness to the muscle tension you feel, as well as the release of that tension
Dance
The free motion and stretching movements of dance can help to release tension from the body and lift your spirits. Exercise in any form can act as a stress reliever by pumping up endorphins, according to the Mayo Clinic, and dancing can be a particularly enjoyable way to blow off steam for many people. Put a favorite song on your headphones, step away from the computer, and let loose for a minute -- it's almost guaranteed to boost your mood.
**************************
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
I recently considered pursuing a job that would require 60 - 80% travel. It sounded exciting to me since I love to travel, even to small "po-dunk" towns around the country. A close friend reminded me of his life -- traveling 60 - 80% of the time and the problems it can cause. He make me think about the importance of home.
The devotional is about longing for home -- our heavenly home. Looking forward to our eternal home with Christ is something I don't always think about. God has been talking to me lately about longing for home and the coming of Christ. I am reminded of the BJ Thomas song "Home Where I Belong". Longing for home today? Think and pray for those who truly long for home.
Lord, thank you for the promise of our eternal home with you.
Wellness Wednesday
Quick Stress relief
Here are eight quick stress relief tips:
Quick Body Scan
To help quiet your mind and boost awareness of the sensations in your body, sit or lie down in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Start by drawing your attention to different parts of your physical body, and checking in with how they feel. You can begin at the feet and work your way up to the head, noticing and releasing any tension as you go.
Email Meditation
From this web site, consider saying this brief meditation when you click the Send button.
Listen To Nature Sounds
According to Dr. Kathleen Hall, stress expert and founder of the Mindful Living Network, nature sounds can do wonders to reduce stress. Hall recommends sitting quietly for one to three minutes and listening to the sounds of natural landscapes, like oceans, rainforests or brooks.
Laugh
Even if it doesn't feel natural at first, making time for a quick laugh -- whether it's by watching a silly animal video or reminding yourself of a funny joke -- can help bust you out of a stressful headspace.
Deep Breathing
Breathly deeply in and out for just one minute can help to refresh your mind and reset your body. Harvard University research in the 1970s conducted by Dr. Herbert Benson found that short periods of meditation that focused on the breath had the power to alter the body's stress responses, activating the "relaxation response." Find a quiet place to sit for one minute, focusing on breathing deeply in and out and letting go of distracting thoughts.
Essential Oils
The part of the brain that processes smells is located in close proximity to that which governs emotion and memory, so scent can be a powerful way to induce pleasant emotions and calm the mind.
Neck & Shoulder Massage
Help soothe tense muscles in the neck and shoulders (also known as the "stress triangle") by giving yourself a brief massage. But make sure it's not a mindless massage while staring at the computer -- for the full de-stressing benefits, stop what you're doing and bring mindful awareness to the muscle tension you feel, as well as the release of that tension
Dance
The free motion and stretching movements of dance can help to release tension from the body and lift your spirits. Exercise in any form can act as a stress reliever by pumping up endorphins, according to the Mayo Clinic, and dancing can be a particularly enjoyable way to blow off steam for many people. Put a favorite song on your headphones, step away from the computer, and let loose for a minute -- it's almost guaranteed to boost your mood.
**************************
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Count it all joy
Our Daily Bread
I am not a big gardener, but I am learning a few things here and there. I didn't realize why I had to plant bulbs in the Fall. During the Winter, the bulbs settle in the ground and start their growing process so they can be ready for Spring. Wow! Who knew?
Our lives can be like that. We don't always understand that qualities like patience and long-suffering are like flower bulbs we plant in the Fall. They will take root in our during our Winter times so we can continue to grow and blossom during the Spring times in our lives! Wow! Who knew? ;-) I encourage you to plant those bulbs now even though it is not the Fall season in the weather report. It may be a "Fall season" in your life. Let the bulbs of patience and long-suffering take root.
Lord, thank you for letting the gifts of the Holy Spirit grow in us if we will only let you plant the bulbs! Thank you for our trials and for our good times!
Teaching Tuesday
I was behind a week, so I read two chapters this week. The first lesson was about Jeremiah. The second lesson was about Isaiah.
If you want to learn about Jeremiah, there is a great movie about him that I highly recommend. It seems to be very accurate to the Biblical account of his life. It stars Patrick Dempsey who plays McDreamy on a popular TV show.
The chapter about Isaiah struck me funny. I knew that the lives of the prophets were not easy. They were usually outcasts or killed for their messages. It was not an easy life. The book of Isaiah gave a lot of details about his struggles. It was very interesting to me.
****************************
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
I am not a big gardener, but I am learning a few things here and there. I didn't realize why I had to plant bulbs in the Fall. During the Winter, the bulbs settle in the ground and start their growing process so they can be ready for Spring. Wow! Who knew?
Our lives can be like that. We don't always understand that qualities like patience and long-suffering are like flower bulbs we plant in the Fall. They will take root in our during our Winter times so we can continue to grow and blossom during the Spring times in our lives! Wow! Who knew? ;-) I encourage you to plant those bulbs now even though it is not the Fall season in the weather report. It may be a "Fall season" in your life. Let the bulbs of patience and long-suffering take root.
Lord, thank you for letting the gifts of the Holy Spirit grow in us if we will only let you plant the bulbs! Thank you for our trials and for our good times!
Teaching Tuesday
I was behind a week, so I read two chapters this week. The first lesson was about Jeremiah. The second lesson was about Isaiah.
If you want to learn about Jeremiah, there is a great movie about him that I highly recommend. It seems to be very accurate to the Biblical account of his life. It stars Patrick Dempsey who plays McDreamy on a popular TV show.
The chapter about Isaiah struck me funny. I knew that the lives of the prophets were not easy. They were usually outcasts or killed for their messages. It was not an easy life. The book of Isaiah gave a lot of details about his struggles. It was very interesting to me.
****************************
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Monday, April 15, 2013
Money, money, money
Our Daily Bread
While reading the devotional, I was reminded of an ABBA song called Money, Money, Money. I think it expresses what most folks feel. Check out the lyrics here. There aren't many in the "rich man's world"!
The devotional talks about a touchy subject to many church folks -- money. How much to give or should I give at all? The Bible says 10%. Is that before or after taxes? Should I give to special charities or other needy folks? Shouldn't I be smart about it and make sure I can deduct any donations? In short, I believe God will lead us and God will provide. It sounds so simple. I am not saying this in a casual or condescending way. I have had my difficult times. I have also given out of faith that God will provide. Like anything else, pray about it. Follow God's leading. I can testify that He is faithful!
Lord, you gave us all we have, even if we don't want to admit it. Please help us be good stewards of your gifts!
Movie Monday
I saw a double header on Saturday, one of my favorite things to do! I saw 42 and Scary Movie 5. I even had a coupon for popcorn! Woohoo!
Scary Movie 5
The scariest part of this movie is that they actually released it! Yikes! I like these types of movies, but this one was pretty bad. I think I laughed more at the out takes at the end than I did during the movie. Be sure to stay for the out takes! There were a few bright spots that were very funny, but they were few and far between.
I give this movie one bear paw. It is probably best seen on NetFlix while intoxicated.
42
I loved this hero movie. From what I understand, it is pretty accurate. It shows the whole gamut of emotions during the first season of Jackie Robinson playing in the all-white farm team and his first pro season with the Brooklyn Dodgers. There were solid performances from the entire cast. The love story between Jackie and his wife was very sweet. The hate and vitriol displayed by the white folks was unbelievably horrible. I felt ashamed even though I wasn't even born when this happened!
I give this movie four bear paws. See it soon.
*************************************
I pray the weight of my sins doth not crush me back to dust from where I came. I pray that God create in me a new, clean heart and place a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. Praise the Almighty God from whom all blessings flow.
While reading the devotional, I was reminded of an ABBA song called Money, Money, Money. I think it expresses what most folks feel. Check out the lyrics here. There aren't many in the "rich man's world"!
The devotional talks about a touchy subject to many church folks -- money. How much to give or should I give at all? The Bible says 10%. Is that before or after taxes? Should I give to special charities or other needy folks? Shouldn't I be smart about it and make sure I can deduct any donations? In short, I believe God will lead us and God will provide. It sounds so simple. I am not saying this in a casual or condescending way. I have had my difficult times. I have also given out of faith that God will provide. Like anything else, pray about it. Follow God's leading. I can testify that He is faithful!
Lord, you gave us all we have, even if we don't want to admit it. Please help us be good stewards of your gifts!
Movie Monday
I saw a double header on Saturday, one of my favorite things to do! I saw 42 and Scary Movie 5. I even had a coupon for popcorn! Woohoo!
Scary Movie 5
The scariest part of this movie is that they actually released it! Yikes! I like these types of movies, but this one was pretty bad. I think I laughed more at the out takes at the end than I did during the movie. Be sure to stay for the out takes! There were a few bright spots that were very funny, but they were few and far between.
I give this movie one bear paw. It is probably best seen on NetFlix while intoxicated.
42
I loved this hero movie. From what I understand, it is pretty accurate. It shows the whole gamut of emotions during the first season of Jackie Robinson playing in the all-white farm team and his first pro season with the Brooklyn Dodgers. There were solid performances from the entire cast. The love story between Jackie and his wife was very sweet. The hate and vitriol displayed by the white folks was unbelievably horrible. I felt ashamed even though I wasn't even born when this happened!
I give this movie four bear paws. See it soon.
*************************************
I pray the weight of my sins doth not crush me back to dust from where I came. I pray that God create in me a new, clean heart and place a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. Praise the Almighty God from whom all blessings flow.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
You know one
Our Daily Bread
I have always been amazed by my ability to whine and complain. I am serious. I complain about the way my life has gone sometimes while I am stting in the comfort of my beautiful home, with lots of friends, a great job and a loving church community. I get to sing as much as I want and live in a country where I can study the Bible and live my faith without persecution. How much better could life be?
We all know one. We all know at least one person who humbles us. A person who makes us feel truly thankful for all we have because this person has persevered more than we can even comprehend. The example in the devotional was David Schumm. Who is your example? What can we learn from these special folks? In my opinion, we can learn that we can serve God with all of our abilities no matter how many or how few we think we have. We can choose to server the Lord with gladness instead of feeling sorry for ourselves or whining about the few things we don't have or think we need.
God knows better than we do about our needs. He knows the right time to meet those needs and the best way to do that. I keep listening to this song over and over again. It is called Better Than I, sung by David Campbell. What do you need to give over to Lord today? I am saying my prayers, believe me....
Lord, thank you for planting special people in our lives. Please help us always remember you truly know better that we do and help us trust you more.
Psalm Sunday
This is a cool "why don't we realize who you are, God?" psalm. Read it and see what you think.
Psalm 90
A prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
4 A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.
7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
10 Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
***************************
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. - 2 Thessalonians 3:16
I have always been amazed by my ability to whine and complain. I am serious. I complain about the way my life has gone sometimes while I am stting in the comfort of my beautiful home, with lots of friends, a great job and a loving church community. I get to sing as much as I want and live in a country where I can study the Bible and live my faith without persecution. How much better could life be?
We all know one. We all know at least one person who humbles us. A person who makes us feel truly thankful for all we have because this person has persevered more than we can even comprehend. The example in the devotional was David Schumm. Who is your example? What can we learn from these special folks? In my opinion, we can learn that we can serve God with all of our abilities no matter how many or how few we think we have. We can choose to server the Lord with gladness instead of feeling sorry for ourselves or whining about the few things we don't have or think we need.
God knows better than we do about our needs. He knows the right time to meet those needs and the best way to do that. I keep listening to this song over and over again. It is called Better Than I, sung by David Campbell. What do you need to give over to Lord today? I am saying my prayers, believe me....
Lord, thank you for planting special people in our lives. Please help us always remember you truly know better that we do and help us trust you more.
Psalm Sunday
This is a cool "why don't we realize who you are, God?" psalm. Read it and see what you think.
Psalm 90
A prayer of Moses the man of God.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
4 A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.
7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
10 Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
***************************
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. - 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Stories
Our Daily Bread
I think everyone has at least one in their family -- the storyteller. The aunt or uncle that everyone crowds around to hear about some fascinating or funny or both stories that people take with them. If you are lucky, the young people will try to remember them. I recall a young cousin trying to retell a story she heard from my grandmother. It was embellished, but it was very cool hearing it from her!
Telling the stories of our relationships with God is crucial. That is how Christianity spread like wildfire. People telling people! How can the next generation and the next and the next continue to spread the Gospel if we don't plant it in their heads and hearts now?
Lord, thank you for your everlasting story. Please help us share it with everyone we can.
Simply Saturday
Be careful
I was joking with a friend the other day about something we saw while walking around. We both said "I can NEVER un-see what I just saw! EEwwwww!" That got my silly brain thinking. On the way home from work one day this week, the words to the song "Slow Fade" stuck in my head. Here are the lyrics:
Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
********************************
We too can know this God and be assured of His presence. He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His Word. As we ask Him to make Himself known to us, we’ll learn that He is even more than the owner and creator of everything! - Our Daily Bread web site
I think everyone has at least one in their family -- the storyteller. The aunt or uncle that everyone crowds around to hear about some fascinating or funny or both stories that people take with them. If you are lucky, the young people will try to remember them. I recall a young cousin trying to retell a story she heard from my grandmother. It was embellished, but it was very cool hearing it from her!
Telling the stories of our relationships with God is crucial. That is how Christianity spread like wildfire. People telling people! How can the next generation and the next and the next continue to spread the Gospel if we don't plant it in their heads and hearts now?
Lord, thank you for your everlasting story. Please help us share it with everyone we can.
Simply Saturday
Be careful
I was joking with a friend the other day about something we saw while walking around. We both said "I can NEVER un-see what I just saw! EEwwwww!" That got my silly brain thinking. On the way home from work one day this week, the words to the song "Slow Fade" stuck in my head. Here are the lyrics:
Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
While there are some single events in our lives that change them forever, most changes come in via the slow fade like the son says. How does this really affect our daily lives?
For me, I started a few years ago cleaning house, so to speak, about the things I see and hear. I got rid of questionable movies in my collection. I deleted the questionable pictures off of my computer. I did my best to stop the questionable things that I dwelled on in my silly head sometimes.
The mind cleaning also lead to the scripture passage about asking God for a clean heart and a right mind. Wow... Like the song says, it is amazing how changes in your mind and heart move to your hands. You have different priorities. You want to do more for others. You feel fulfilled as a person because of the relationships you develop in the Lord.
Be careful. Be vigilant.
********************************
We too can know this God and be assured of His presence. He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His Word. As we ask Him to make Himself known to us, we’ll learn that He is even more than the owner and creator of everything! - Our Daily Bread web site
Friday, April 12, 2013
Honoring God
Our Daily Bread
Do you remember the promise you made to your bestest childhood friend about keeping a secret or the brotherly (or sisterly) bond you had between each other? You honored the relationship is some way that was special to you at that tender age. For me, it was something like giving my best marble or maybe the sacred blood brothers ceremony!
As got older, these things faded away. How do we honor relationships now? Specifically, how do we honor our relationship with God? Do we serve Him? Do we participate in a community of believers in a church? Do we study His Word and hide His Word in our hearts? Do we pray and seek a new, clean heart and steadfast mind? Let us think and pray about these things today as we honor our relationship with God!
Lord, thank you for offering to have a relationship with each and every one of us. Please help us do all we can to honor that relationship!
Foodie Friday
Some friends have been posting lots of dessert recipes on Facebook. This one is similar to a recipe I have made before. We called it seven layer dream dessert. This recipe calls it sex in a pan. Hmmmm. No other comments about that! Here is the recipe.
Sex in a Pan
Ingredients:
Crust:
1 cup pecans, chopped
3 tbsp white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
Cream cheese layer:
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup whipped cream or cool whip
Vanilla pudding layer:
1 package of instant vanilla pudding (5.1 oz or 144 g)
3 cups milk
Chocolate Pudding layer:
1 package of instant chocolate pudding (5.1 oz or 144 g)
3 cups milk
Last layer:
2 cups whipped cream or cool whip
shaved chocolate
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
In a mixer mix all the crust ingredients together and press the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Bake it for about 20 minutes.
Prepare the vanilla pudding as per the instructions on the package.
Prepare the chocolate pudding as per the instructions on the package.
In a mixer add the cream cheese, powdered sugar and the cup of whipped cream. Mix until light and fluffy.
Let the crust cool. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust evenly.
Spread the chocolate pudding over the creme cheese filling, then the vanilla pudding over the chocolate.
Top with the whipped cream and sprinkle with the chocolate.
Refrigerate for a couple hours so that it sets.
***********************************
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. - 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Do you remember the promise you made to your bestest childhood friend about keeping a secret or the brotherly (or sisterly) bond you had between each other? You honored the relationship is some way that was special to you at that tender age. For me, it was something like giving my best marble or maybe the sacred blood brothers ceremony!
As got older, these things faded away. How do we honor relationships now? Specifically, how do we honor our relationship with God? Do we serve Him? Do we participate in a community of believers in a church? Do we study His Word and hide His Word in our hearts? Do we pray and seek a new, clean heart and steadfast mind? Let us think and pray about these things today as we honor our relationship with God!
Lord, thank you for offering to have a relationship with each and every one of us. Please help us do all we can to honor that relationship!
Foodie Friday
Some friends have been posting lots of dessert recipes on Facebook. This one is similar to a recipe I have made before. We called it seven layer dream dessert. This recipe calls it sex in a pan. Hmmmm. No other comments about that! Here is the recipe.
Sex in a Pan
Ingredients:
Crust:
1 cup pecans, chopped
3 tbsp white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
Cream cheese layer:
1 8 oz package cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup whipped cream or cool whip
Vanilla pudding layer:
1 package of instant vanilla pudding (5.1 oz or 144 g)
3 cups milk
Chocolate Pudding layer:
1 package of instant chocolate pudding (5.1 oz or 144 g)
3 cups milk
Last layer:
2 cups whipped cream or cool whip
shaved chocolate
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
In a mixer mix all the crust ingredients together and press the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Bake it for about 20 minutes.
Prepare the vanilla pudding as per the instructions on the package.
Prepare the chocolate pudding as per the instructions on the package.
In a mixer add the cream cheese, powdered sugar and the cup of whipped cream. Mix until light and fluffy.
Let the crust cool. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the crust evenly.
Spread the chocolate pudding over the creme cheese filling, then the vanilla pudding over the chocolate.
Top with the whipped cream and sprinkle with the chocolate.
Refrigerate for a couple hours so that it sets.
***********************************
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. - 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Restoration
Our Daily Bread
I have had a lot of medical issues in my life. God has been gracious in helping me overcome each one. A friend of mine commented: "you are like a freakin' phoenix!". If you are not familiar with the legend of the phoenix bird, "In Greek mythology, a phoenix or phenix (Ancient Greek φοίνιξ phóinīx) is a long-lived bird that is cyclically regenerated or reborn. Associated with the sun, a phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor." (from Wikipedia).
I have been reading the Old Testament this year in my Bible study class about how God restored the relationship with the children of Israel over and over. God will do that with us as well. Ideally, we should turn to God and stop sinning. We are human, however, and continue to sin even when we have the best of intentions.
I loved the overall message of the devotional - God never gives up on making something beautiful out of our lives. NEVER...
Lord, thank you for the grace that never ends. Please help us accept your forgiveness, forgive ourselves for our transgressions, and move on to live in you!
Technology Thursday
5 Worst Tech Ripoffs
Rip-off #1: Buying from the Carrier
Buying a new phone poses lots of questions – starting with: where should you get your new device? The cell service providers would love you to believe that if you buy from them, you’ll get an amazing package deal. They’d also love you to believe that you HAVE to get your phone from them. You don’t. As long as the type of phone is supported by the service provider you choose, you can often save a significant percentage by buying the device from a third party site like Amazon Wireless or Wirefly. Just as an example, I recently found the HTC EVO 4G LTE for $30 on Wirefly, while the carrier wanted $100 bucks on for the exact same phone. Likewise, I found the Samsung Galaxy SIII listed for $200 with the carrier, the same day it was being offered by Amazon Wireless for $70. Note that in both of these examples, I made apples-to-apples comparisons – same phone, same service plan on the same carrier, and equally easy to set up. But speaking of apples, you may not be able to find an iPhone on these sites. So while these third-party cell phone sellers may not have deals on every phone, if you are in the market for an Android, Blackberry or Windows phone, shop around.
Rip-off #2: Software to Speed Up Your PC
Ads and infomercials promise to “keep your PC running like new.” But is that worth $30? Many of these programs will tweak a few settings and get rid of remnant files, but you can accomplish most of these simple fixes with the built-in Windows tools. Further, by installing the speed-up software, or any other program, you bog down your system even more. Bottom line, no software can make a 5-year-old computer run like new.
Rip-off #3: Extra Phone Services
When setting up your new phone service, for the most part, say no to all the extras:
· Insurance: No. The accountants at the phone company have done the math: If they plan to make money selling you insurance, chances are, you’ll lose money by buying it.
· Ring tones and ring-back tones: Again, no. You can make your own for free.
· Navigation services: if you have a smartphone, navigation software comes included. Google maps and the IOS native mapping service both offer turn-by-turn directions. No need to spend between $3 and $10 a month for something you can get for free.
Rip-off #4 Extra Computer Services
When you decide to buy that new computer, all kinds of offers will fly your way:
· Extended warranty: This is just like the insurance case above; manufacturers make money selling extended warranties because most people don’t actually need them.
· Extra tech support: Maybe if you’re a complete novice who has never owned a computer before, this would be worth it. But chances are, you’re currently on a computer you’ve used a lot, and you’ll be fine without paying for this extra.
· CD in the mail of software you will download or that comes preinstalled?? That’s just ridiculous. Once you download the software, burn a DVD with the files if you want a back-up copy.
Rip-off #5 Extra Hard Drive Space
When you buy a new laptop, you may think you should load up on internal hard drive storage. But adding 500 GB of internal storage on a new Mac laptop costs an extra $200; on a PC it costs over $80. On the other hand, if you buy a 500 GB external drive, it’s only $59. Plus, if you’re thinking of getting more hard drive space now because you might need more storage for all your photos and movies sometime in the future, that’s all the more reason not to buy more storage space now; prices will only drop. So unless you are doing super fast computing that mandates really fast access to a lot of data, wait, and buy an external drive when you really need it.
****************************
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
I have had a lot of medical issues in my life. God has been gracious in helping me overcome each one. A friend of mine commented: "you are like a freakin' phoenix!". If you are not familiar with the legend of the phoenix bird, "In Greek mythology, a phoenix or phenix (Ancient Greek φοίνιξ phóinīx) is a long-lived bird that is cyclically regenerated or reborn. Associated with the sun, a phoenix obtains new life by arising from the ashes of its predecessor." (from Wikipedia).
I have been reading the Old Testament this year in my Bible study class about how God restored the relationship with the children of Israel over and over. God will do that with us as well. Ideally, we should turn to God and stop sinning. We are human, however, and continue to sin even when we have the best of intentions.
I loved the overall message of the devotional - God never gives up on making something beautiful out of our lives. NEVER...
Lord, thank you for the grace that never ends. Please help us accept your forgiveness, forgive ourselves for our transgressions, and move on to live in you!
Technology Thursday
5 Worst Tech Ripoffs
Rip-off #1: Buying from the Carrier
Buying a new phone poses lots of questions – starting with: where should you get your new device? The cell service providers would love you to believe that if you buy from them, you’ll get an amazing package deal. They’d also love you to believe that you HAVE to get your phone from them. You don’t. As long as the type of phone is supported by the service provider you choose, you can often save a significant percentage by buying the device from a third party site like Amazon Wireless or Wirefly. Just as an example, I recently found the HTC EVO 4G LTE for $30 on Wirefly, while the carrier wanted $100 bucks on for the exact same phone. Likewise, I found the Samsung Galaxy SIII listed for $200 with the carrier, the same day it was being offered by Amazon Wireless for $70. Note that in both of these examples, I made apples-to-apples comparisons – same phone, same service plan on the same carrier, and equally easy to set up. But speaking of apples, you may not be able to find an iPhone on these sites. So while these third-party cell phone sellers may not have deals on every phone, if you are in the market for an Android, Blackberry or Windows phone, shop around.
Rip-off #2: Software to Speed Up Your PC
Ads and infomercials promise to “keep your PC running like new.” But is that worth $30? Many of these programs will tweak a few settings and get rid of remnant files, but you can accomplish most of these simple fixes with the built-in Windows tools. Further, by installing the speed-up software, or any other program, you bog down your system even more. Bottom line, no software can make a 5-year-old computer run like new.
Rip-off #3: Extra Phone Services
When setting up your new phone service, for the most part, say no to all the extras:
· Insurance: No. The accountants at the phone company have done the math: If they plan to make money selling you insurance, chances are, you’ll lose money by buying it.
· Ring tones and ring-back tones: Again, no. You can make your own for free.
· Navigation services: if you have a smartphone, navigation software comes included. Google maps and the IOS native mapping service both offer turn-by-turn directions. No need to spend between $3 and $10 a month for something you can get for free.
Rip-off #4 Extra Computer Services
When you decide to buy that new computer, all kinds of offers will fly your way:
· Extended warranty: This is just like the insurance case above; manufacturers make money selling extended warranties because most people don’t actually need them.
· Extra tech support: Maybe if you’re a complete novice who has never owned a computer before, this would be worth it. But chances are, you’re currently on a computer you’ve used a lot, and you’ll be fine without paying for this extra.
· CD in the mail of software you will download or that comes preinstalled?? That’s just ridiculous. Once you download the software, burn a DVD with the files if you want a back-up copy.
Rip-off #5 Extra Hard Drive Space
When you buy a new laptop, you may think you should load up on internal hard drive storage. But adding 500 GB of internal storage on a new Mac laptop costs an extra $200; on a PC it costs over $80. On the other hand, if you buy a 500 GB external drive, it’s only $59. Plus, if you’re thinking of getting more hard drive space now because you might need more storage for all your photos and movies sometime in the future, that’s all the more reason not to buy more storage space now; prices will only drop. So unless you are doing super fast computing that mandates really fast access to a lot of data, wait, and buy an external drive when you really need it.
****************************
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
KISS principle
Our Daily Bread
You know the KISS principle, right? Keep It Simple, Stupid! I usually prefer to say "silly" instead of "stupid'. I guess I started that after I saw the movie Forrest Gump! ha!
The point of the devotional is that we should keep it simple when we tell others about Jesus. What? I guess we need to deal with the fact that most of us are shy about talking about Jesus and our relationship with God. I know I can talk about cars and movies and sports, but get shy when talking about God. Why is that? I think the suggestion to keep is simple is a great one. We often think it is too difficult to explain or feel awkward telling others they need to be saved. I am trying harder to share my faith with others. It is still not as easy as talking about cars and movies and sports, but I am doing a little better. How about you?
Lord, thank you for the gift of salvation. Please help us keep it simple and tell others the wonderful story!
Wellness Wednesday
I like reading the Healthy Living section of the news.aol.com site. They always have a lot of interesting health article from respectable sources. Here is one I found about breakfast. Too many folks skip breakfast. That is a bad thing! Just as bad is not eating the right things for breakfast. Check out the article
Healthy Breakfast Tips: Avoid These Morning Mistakes
Not Enough Protein
Many of my patients have a bowl of cereal with milk for their breakfasts. Seems like a good choice, right? Yes, one cup of milk provides eight grams of protein, but think about it: How often do slurp down all the milk that accompanies our cereal? Not often, I would guess. Protein digests more slowly than carbohydrates, so without ample amounts, you'll be hungry sooner rather than later. If you don't want to drink the milk from the bowl, add a hard-boiled egg to your meal for extra protein. You can also consume protein via 100 percent whole-grain toast, and when you do, don't top it with just a tiny smear of peanut or almond butter. Enjoy the full serving of nut butter with your toast to get more protein.
Too Little Fiber
The more sugar in your breakfast cereal, the faster it digests, and the hungrier you'll be. Conversely, more fiber will keep you fuller longer. So, here's my rule of thumb for cereal: There should always be at least five grams of fiber, and there should always be more fiber than sugar. For extra fiber, add chia or flax seeds. If you choose the latter, make sure to grind the seeds first, or else you won't absorb their nutritional benefits.
No Fat
A meal with no fat can make you hungry again within an hour. Let's look at the supposed healthy breakfast of non-fat Greek yogurt, high-fiber cereal and berries. Where's the fat? I tell my patients to either switch to 2 percent-fat yogurt or to add some nuts to prevent feeling hungry. However, whenever I mention adding fat, I want to drive home the point that more isn't better. A little fat goes a long way.
Not Enough Food
While a piece of fruit is rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, it's not enough for breakfast. Many of my patients have found that a grab-and-go breakfast -- like an apple on the drive to work -- simply doesn't cut it. However, if they sit down and mindfully consume about 300 to 400 calories, they feel way more satisfied. By the time lunch approaches, those extra calories are no longer relevant, and have likely kept them from a day of overeating.
Too Late In The Day
I usually recommend eating within an hour of waking, if possible. The longer a person waits to eat breakfast, the hungrier they usually become, making it harder to be satisfied once they eat. Remember: One of a breakfast's main purposes is to provide you with fuel after a long break from eating. Once your breakfast blurs with the lines of lunchtime, it no longer does its job efficiently.
Bottom line. If you want your breakfast to keep you satisfied, let's try and keep the mistakes to a minimum. But remember: Any breakfast is better than no breakfast.
******************************
Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God - William Carey
You know the KISS principle, right? Keep It Simple, Stupid! I usually prefer to say "silly" instead of "stupid'. I guess I started that after I saw the movie Forrest Gump! ha!
The point of the devotional is that we should keep it simple when we tell others about Jesus. What? I guess we need to deal with the fact that most of us are shy about talking about Jesus and our relationship with God. I know I can talk about cars and movies and sports, but get shy when talking about God. Why is that? I think the suggestion to keep is simple is a great one. We often think it is too difficult to explain or feel awkward telling others they need to be saved. I am trying harder to share my faith with others. It is still not as easy as talking about cars and movies and sports, but I am doing a little better. How about you?
Lord, thank you for the gift of salvation. Please help us keep it simple and tell others the wonderful story!
Wellness Wednesday
I like reading the Healthy Living section of the news.aol.com site. They always have a lot of interesting health article from respectable sources. Here is one I found about breakfast. Too many folks skip breakfast. That is a bad thing! Just as bad is not eating the right things for breakfast. Check out the article
Healthy Breakfast Tips: Avoid These Morning Mistakes
Not Enough Protein
Many of my patients have a bowl of cereal with milk for their breakfasts. Seems like a good choice, right? Yes, one cup of milk provides eight grams of protein, but think about it: How often do slurp down all the milk that accompanies our cereal? Not often, I would guess. Protein digests more slowly than carbohydrates, so without ample amounts, you'll be hungry sooner rather than later. If you don't want to drink the milk from the bowl, add a hard-boiled egg to your meal for extra protein. You can also consume protein via 100 percent whole-grain toast, and when you do, don't top it with just a tiny smear of peanut or almond butter. Enjoy the full serving of nut butter with your toast to get more protein.
Too Little Fiber
The more sugar in your breakfast cereal, the faster it digests, and the hungrier you'll be. Conversely, more fiber will keep you fuller longer. So, here's my rule of thumb for cereal: There should always be at least five grams of fiber, and there should always be more fiber than sugar. For extra fiber, add chia or flax seeds. If you choose the latter, make sure to grind the seeds first, or else you won't absorb their nutritional benefits.
No Fat
A meal with no fat can make you hungry again within an hour. Let's look at the supposed healthy breakfast of non-fat Greek yogurt, high-fiber cereal and berries. Where's the fat? I tell my patients to either switch to 2 percent-fat yogurt or to add some nuts to prevent feeling hungry. However, whenever I mention adding fat, I want to drive home the point that more isn't better. A little fat goes a long way.
Not Enough Food
While a piece of fruit is rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, it's not enough for breakfast. Many of my patients have found that a grab-and-go breakfast -- like an apple on the drive to work -- simply doesn't cut it. However, if they sit down and mindfully consume about 300 to 400 calories, they feel way more satisfied. By the time lunch approaches, those extra calories are no longer relevant, and have likely kept them from a day of overeating.
Too Late In The Day
I usually recommend eating within an hour of waking, if possible. The longer a person waits to eat breakfast, the hungrier they usually become, making it harder to be satisfied once they eat. Remember: One of a breakfast's main purposes is to provide you with fuel after a long break from eating. Once your breakfast blurs with the lines of lunchtime, it no longer does its job efficiently.
Bottom line. If you want your breakfast to keep you satisfied, let's try and keep the mistakes to a minimum. But remember: Any breakfast is better than no breakfast.
******************************
Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God - William Carey
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Go, go, go!
Our Daily Bread
You will see these three words in my Facebook posts almost every weekend "Go, go, go!" Do something, I say! So many folks sit around and watch TV and wonder where the weekend went!
As someone who is usually highly motivated to "go, go, go", the devotional made me think about why I do this, especially at the age of 53. Isn't go, go, go a younger person's mantra? I realized that I need to look at my motivation. Am I doing this to give the glory to God or to build myself up? After thinking about for a little while, I think it is a little "build myself up" and mostly "to the Glory of God". That is my story and I am sticking to it! Yes, I enjoy the compliments from my friends who tease me about being so active. Even more, I enjoy the motivation I give others to do more, especially in their relationship to God. Regarding going to the gym and working out, I do those things for the Glory of God and for my health. Both good things! What are you doing? What should you be doing? Let's pray about that together!
Lord, thank you for being our strength and motivation. Please help us always be motivated by serving you and our fellow folks!
Teaching Tuesday
I didn't read my lesson for this week since I have a concert tonight and won't be attending class. That is a poor excuse. I don't want to get behind with only a few weeks left! I will catch up this week.
The lesson was about Jeremiah. Take a look at the book of Jeremiah if you get the chance.
******************************
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
You will see these three words in my Facebook posts almost every weekend "Go, go, go!" Do something, I say! So many folks sit around and watch TV and wonder where the weekend went!
As someone who is usually highly motivated to "go, go, go", the devotional made me think about why I do this, especially at the age of 53. Isn't go, go, go a younger person's mantra? I realized that I need to look at my motivation. Am I doing this to give the glory to God or to build myself up? After thinking about for a little while, I think it is a little "build myself up" and mostly "to the Glory of God". That is my story and I am sticking to it! Yes, I enjoy the compliments from my friends who tease me about being so active. Even more, I enjoy the motivation I give others to do more, especially in their relationship to God. Regarding going to the gym and working out, I do those things for the Glory of God and for my health. Both good things! What are you doing? What should you be doing? Let's pray about that together!
Lord, thank you for being our strength and motivation. Please help us always be motivated by serving you and our fellow folks!
Teaching Tuesday
I didn't read my lesson for this week since I have a concert tonight and won't be attending class. That is a poor excuse. I don't want to get behind with only a few weeks left! I will catch up this week.
The lesson was about Jeremiah. Take a look at the book of Jeremiah if you get the chance.
******************************
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Mini me
Our Daily Bread
I joke with folks about the Austin Powers character named Mini Me. He is the smaller version of Dr Evil that looks, acts and dresses like him. Hilarious!
I thought of this silly character while reading the devotional and had a serious thought, yes, I say, a serious thought! Wouldn't the world be great if we were all Mini Jesus'? In my mind, a Mini Jesus wouldn't necessarily look and dress like Jesus, but would definitely act like Jesus! Can you imagine a world full of attributes, which include tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering (Col. 3:12), and, above all, love? Wow! After writing this, God said something like "Wouldn't it be nice if there was a Mini Jesus in YOUR house?" ha! I am looking at the man in the mirror. What do you see when you look in the mirror?
Lord, thank you for enabling us to be more like you if we are just willing!
Movie Monday
I didn't get to the movie theater last week. Was too busy. I know being too busy for movies is crazy talk from me, but that was the case! Here are some DVD releases that have happened or that are coming up.
Most of the Academy Award nominated movies like Lincoln, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and Les Miserables.
Some others out or that are coming out:
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
Parental Guidance
This is 40
Apparently the first five Fast and Furious movies are on Bluray this coming week.
Some good movies to watch! Have a good time!
********************************
We are far from perfect, but despite our mistakes and our sins, we will never abandon the Lord and he will never abandon us - adapted from a statement about Abraham from the EfM Training Guide
I joke with folks about the Austin Powers character named Mini Me. He is the smaller version of Dr Evil that looks, acts and dresses like him. Hilarious!
I thought of this silly character while reading the devotional and had a serious thought, yes, I say, a serious thought! Wouldn't the world be great if we were all Mini Jesus'? In my mind, a Mini Jesus wouldn't necessarily look and dress like Jesus, but would definitely act like Jesus! Can you imagine a world full of attributes, which include tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering (Col. 3:12), and, above all, love? Wow! After writing this, God said something like "Wouldn't it be nice if there was a Mini Jesus in YOUR house?" ha! I am looking at the man in the mirror. What do you see when you look in the mirror?
Lord, thank you for enabling us to be more like you if we are just willing!
Movie Monday
I didn't get to the movie theater last week. Was too busy. I know being too busy for movies is crazy talk from me, but that was the case! Here are some DVD releases that have happened or that are coming up.
Most of the Academy Award nominated movies like Lincoln, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and Les Miserables.
Some others out or that are coming out:
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters
Parental Guidance
This is 40
Apparently the first five Fast and Furious movies are on Bluray this coming week.
Some good movies to watch! Have a good time!
********************************
We are far from perfect, but despite our mistakes and our sins, we will never abandon the Lord and he will never abandon us - adapted from a statement about Abraham from the EfM Training Guide
Sunday, April 7, 2013
How do I love thee?
Our Daily Bread
There is a famous quote by Elizabeth Barrett Browning asking this question: "How do I love thee?" The answer of course is "Let me count the ways". Many star-crossed lovers over the years have used this quote!
The devotional and the scripture passage today got me counting "How do I love you, Lord? Let me count the ways". I was a little embarrassed that my counting didn't go higher. ;-( Yes, I say I love the Lord, but how many ways do I show it? I tried to stay on the positive side of this personal review, but found myself focusing on the "you are dead to sins" section of the scripture passage. While writing this, I realized that God has been speaking to me about removing some sinful junk from my life so He can fill it with Him! Talk about some Spring cleaning! How about you?
Lord, thank you for being our example of love and service. Please help us show your love in many of the same ways!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 89 is one of the "praise" psalms. It goes into a lot of detail about all the things that we should praise God about. Give it a read. Please remember that psalms are best read out loud!
Psalm 89
A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations.
2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,
4 ‘I will establish your line forever
and make your throne firm through all generations.’”
5 The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.
8 Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;
with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.
12 You created the north and the south;
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.
13 Your arm is endowed with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
they celebrate your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favor you exalt our horn.
18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.
19 Once you spoke in a vision,
to your faithful people you said:
“I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
I have raised up a young man from among the people.
20 I have found David my servant;
with my sacred oil I have anointed him.
21 My hand will sustain him;
surely my arm will strengthen him.
22 The enemy will not get the better of him;
the wicked will not oppress him.
23 I will crush his foes before him
and strike down his adversaries.
24 My faithful love will be with him,
and through my name his horn will be exalted.
25 I will set his hand over the sea,
his right hand over the rivers.
26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, the Rock my Savior.’
27 And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,
the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
28 I will maintain my love to him forever,
and my covenant with him will never fail.
29 I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.
30 “If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,
31 if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,
32 I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;
33 but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my covenant
or alter what my lips have uttered.
35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
and I will not lie to David—
36 that his line will continue forever
and his throne endure before me like the sun;
37 it will be established forever like the moon,
the faithful witness in the sky.”
38 But you have rejected, you have spurned,
you have been very angry with your anointed one.
39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant
and have defiled his crown in the dust.
40 You have broken through all his walls
and reduced his strongholds to ruins.
41 All who pass by have plundered him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 Indeed, you have turned back the edge of his sword
and have not supported him in battle.
44 You have put an end to his splendor
and cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with a mantle of shame.
46 How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how fleeting is my life.
For what futility you have created all humanity!
48 Who can live and not see death,
or who can escape the power of the grave?
49 Lord, where is your former great love,
which in your faithfulness you swore to David?
50 Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked,
how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,
51 the taunts with which your enemies, Lord, have mocked,
with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.
52 Praise be to the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.
***********************************
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13
There is a famous quote by Elizabeth Barrett Browning asking this question: "How do I love thee?" The answer of course is "Let me count the ways". Many star-crossed lovers over the years have used this quote!
The devotional and the scripture passage today got me counting "How do I love you, Lord? Let me count the ways". I was a little embarrassed that my counting didn't go higher. ;-( Yes, I say I love the Lord, but how many ways do I show it? I tried to stay on the positive side of this personal review, but found myself focusing on the "you are dead to sins" section of the scripture passage. While writing this, I realized that God has been speaking to me about removing some sinful junk from my life so He can fill it with Him! Talk about some Spring cleaning! How about you?
Lord, thank you for being our example of love and service. Please help us show your love in many of the same ways!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 89 is one of the "praise" psalms. It goes into a lot of detail about all the things that we should praise God about. Give it a read. Please remember that psalms are best read out loud!
Psalm 89
A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.
1 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations.
2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,
4 ‘I will establish your line forever
and make your throne firm through all generations.’”
5 The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,
your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?
7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.
8 Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?
You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You rule over the surging sea;
when its waves mount up, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;
with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
11 The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
you founded the world and all that is in it.
12 You created the north and the south;
Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.
13 Your arm is endowed with power;
your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
they celebrate your righteousness.
17 For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favor you exalt our horn.
18 Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.
19 Once you spoke in a vision,
to your faithful people you said:
“I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
I have raised up a young man from among the people.
20 I have found David my servant;
with my sacred oil I have anointed him.
21 My hand will sustain him;
surely my arm will strengthen him.
22 The enemy will not get the better of him;
the wicked will not oppress him.
23 I will crush his foes before him
and strike down his adversaries.
24 My faithful love will be with him,
and through my name his horn will be exalted.
25 I will set his hand over the sea,
his right hand over the rivers.
26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,
my God, the Rock my Savior.’
27 And I will appoint him to be my firstborn,
the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
28 I will maintain my love to him forever,
and my covenant with him will never fail.
29 I will establish his line forever,
his throne as long as the heavens endure.
30 “If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,
31 if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,
32 I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;
33 but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my covenant
or alter what my lips have uttered.
35 Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
and I will not lie to David—
36 that his line will continue forever
and his throne endure before me like the sun;
37 it will be established forever like the moon,
the faithful witness in the sky.”
38 But you have rejected, you have spurned,
you have been very angry with your anointed one.
39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant
and have defiled his crown in the dust.
40 You have broken through all his walls
and reduced his strongholds to ruins.
41 All who pass by have plundered him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 Indeed, you have turned back the edge of his sword
and have not supported him in battle.
44 You have put an end to his splendor
and cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short the days of his youth;
you have covered him with a mantle of shame.
46 How long, Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how fleeting is my life.
For what futility you have created all humanity!
48 Who can live and not see death,
or who can escape the power of the grave?
49 Lord, where is your former great love,
which in your faithfulness you swore to David?
50 Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked,
how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,
51 the taunts with which your enemies, Lord, have mocked,
with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.
52 Praise be to the Lord forever!
Amen and Amen.
***********************************
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Blind spots
Our Daily Bread
Like the author in the devotional, I have seen danger a couple of times in my life. My first memory was swimming in a lake in Kentucky. I turned around to look at someone and saw a water moccasin snake about six feet from me. Something scared him off, so he didn't attack. I think I added to the water level at that moment if you know what I mean. Another time, I was swimming (seeing a pattern here) in a lake in Canada. My dad was doing something with the boat and lost control. The rear of the boat, with the propeller spinning wildly, came way too close to me. Whew... It is amazing I have lived as long as I have!
Our Christian lives can be fraught with peril as well as we seek to serve the Lord with all of our beings. Combine our tendency to sin with our known and unknown sins and we have a dangerous combination! I know I have a tendency to do stupid and/or sinful things over and over. I ask for forgiveness, but I think I hear God saying "Seriously, Duane? We talked about this!" ha! Oh well. God and I will keep talking about the "not sinning" stuff. I hope you will keep that conversation open with God as well.
Lord, thank you for encouraging me to sin no more so I can server you better. I love you and praise you!
Simply Saturday
Memories
I had an odd thought last night as I was driving home -- how would I rebuild my life if I was in a car accident and lost my memory? What, if any, memories would I want to get back? What memories would I have difficulty accepting if I relearned them? Would I still be gay? Would I still want to do computer stuff for a living? Would I still write this blog every day? How would my life be different?
I am sure that the people that are important to me would still be important to me. I hope that the people that shouldn't be important to me would no longer be! I hope that I would be able to dump a lot of the baggage that I have accumulated over the years. My joke with my friends is: "Yes I have baggage, but it is tasteful and color coordinated..." ha!
I hope that "things" are not as important to me. I swelled with pride as some friends visited my home for the first time last night. I have several more friends coming over tonight for a potluck dinner. They are just "things". I hope they are as important to me in my new life.
Lastly, I know for sure that I would still pursue my relationship with God. The most important relationship in my life has to remain in place. I wish I could dump all the sin and shame that I can't forgive myself for so I could focus better on serving God. I wish I could dump all the crap that is in my head so I can fill it with God's Word and Jesus' teachings.
Want to know the good news? First, I did not have a car wreck. I remembered who I was when I woke up this morning and I am writing my blog. WoohooO! Second, if we give our lives to Christ fully, He can help us move on with our lives. He won't wipe away the bad memories or baggage, but he will forgive us. He will help us forgive ourselves. Our sins are lessons learned. Removing ourselves from the places we are tempted and the people that can tempt us is a good start. We move on. We acknowledge the crap that has filled our lives and move on to serving God to the best of our abilities! Praise God!
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I am far from perfect, but despite my mistakes and my sins, I will never abandon the Lord and he will never abandon me - adapted from a statement about Abraham from the EfM Training Guide
Like the author in the devotional, I have seen danger a couple of times in my life. My first memory was swimming in a lake in Kentucky. I turned around to look at someone and saw a water moccasin snake about six feet from me. Something scared him off, so he didn't attack. I think I added to the water level at that moment if you know what I mean. Another time, I was swimming (seeing a pattern here) in a lake in Canada. My dad was doing something with the boat and lost control. The rear of the boat, with the propeller spinning wildly, came way too close to me. Whew... It is amazing I have lived as long as I have!
Our Christian lives can be fraught with peril as well as we seek to serve the Lord with all of our beings. Combine our tendency to sin with our known and unknown sins and we have a dangerous combination! I know I have a tendency to do stupid and/or sinful things over and over. I ask for forgiveness, but I think I hear God saying "Seriously, Duane? We talked about this!" ha! Oh well. God and I will keep talking about the "not sinning" stuff. I hope you will keep that conversation open with God as well.
Lord, thank you for encouraging me to sin no more so I can server you better. I love you and praise you!
Simply Saturday
Memories
I had an odd thought last night as I was driving home -- how would I rebuild my life if I was in a car accident and lost my memory? What, if any, memories would I want to get back? What memories would I have difficulty accepting if I relearned them? Would I still be gay? Would I still want to do computer stuff for a living? Would I still write this blog every day? How would my life be different?
I am sure that the people that are important to me would still be important to me. I hope that the people that shouldn't be important to me would no longer be! I hope that I would be able to dump a lot of the baggage that I have accumulated over the years. My joke with my friends is: "Yes I have baggage, but it is tasteful and color coordinated..." ha!
I hope that "things" are not as important to me. I swelled with pride as some friends visited my home for the first time last night. I have several more friends coming over tonight for a potluck dinner. They are just "things". I hope they are as important to me in my new life.
Lastly, I know for sure that I would still pursue my relationship with God. The most important relationship in my life has to remain in place. I wish I could dump all the sin and shame that I can't forgive myself for so I could focus better on serving God. I wish I could dump all the crap that is in my head so I can fill it with God's Word and Jesus' teachings.
Want to know the good news? First, I did not have a car wreck. I remembered who I was when I woke up this morning and I am writing my blog. WoohooO! Second, if we give our lives to Christ fully, He can help us move on with our lives. He won't wipe away the bad memories or baggage, but he will forgive us. He will help us forgive ourselves. Our sins are lessons learned. Removing ourselves from the places we are tempted and the people that can tempt us is a good start. We move on. We acknowledge the crap that has filled our lives and move on to serving God to the best of our abilities! Praise God!
*******************************
I am far from perfect, but despite my mistakes and my sins, I will never abandon the Lord and he will never abandon me - adapted from a statement about Abraham from the EfM Training Guide
Friday, April 5, 2013
reading glasses
Our Daily Bread
I remember the first time that I required reading glasses to read something. It was trying to read the small print of a user agreement booklet that came with one of my electronic gadgets. I was embarrassed by that then, but I didn't want to miss any details. It is commonplace for me now!
I still require reading glasses today to read God's word. I don't want to miss any details, though for different reasons. When reading the gadget agreement, I wanted to learn what I shouldn't do if I didn't want to break the agreement and invalidate my warranty. While reading God's Word, I want to learn what to do to better serve God! Can you see the difference? I know some folks seem to read God's Word the same wayi they read a warranty or a contract!
Lord, thank you for teaching us how to live. Please help us focus on what we should be doing instead of what we can get away with!
Foodie Friday
I am hosting my church's Saturday dinner tomorrow night. Similar to my dinner group, the host is responsible for making the entree. Since it is April, I decided to call the entree "Spring Chicken". ha! I am such a silly bear sometimes! Here is the recipe from allrecipes.com for Southern-style buttermilk friend chicken. I plan to make it with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I plan to add a little garlic and some sliced onion to the marinade as well (something I saw in some other recipes).
Southern-Style Buttermilk Fried Chicken
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups buttermilk
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
5 cups vegetable oil for frying
DIRECTIONS:
1. Whisk together buttermilk, mustard, salt and pepper, and cayenne in a bowl, and pour into a resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken pieces, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours.
2. When you are ready to cook the chicken, combine the flour, baking powder, garlic powder, and onion powder in the other plastic bag. Shake to mix thoroughly. Transfer one marinated chicken piece at a time into the dry ingredient bag, and shake well to ensure complete coverage. After all chicken pieces are coated, repeat the process by dipping them in the buttermilk marinade and shaking in the dry coating again.
3. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, making sure not to burn the oil. When oil is hot, fry chicken in batches until golden brown and juices run clear, turning chicken to brown evenly.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 4/5/2013
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We too can know this God and be assured of His presence. He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His Word. As we ask Him to make Himself known to us, we’ll learn that He is even more than the owner and creator of everything! - Our Daily Bread web site
I remember the first time that I required reading glasses to read something. It was trying to read the small print of a user agreement booklet that came with one of my electronic gadgets. I was embarrassed by that then, but I didn't want to miss any details. It is commonplace for me now!
I still require reading glasses today to read God's word. I don't want to miss any details, though for different reasons. When reading the gadget agreement, I wanted to learn what I shouldn't do if I didn't want to break the agreement and invalidate my warranty. While reading God's Word, I want to learn what to do to better serve God! Can you see the difference? I know some folks seem to read God's Word the same wayi they read a warranty or a contract!
Lord, thank you for teaching us how to live. Please help us focus on what we should be doing instead of what we can get away with!
Foodie Friday
I am hosting my church's Saturday dinner tomorrow night. Similar to my dinner group, the host is responsible for making the entree. Since it is April, I decided to call the entree "Spring Chicken". ha! I am such a silly bear sometimes! Here is the recipe from allrecipes.com for Southern-style buttermilk friend chicken. I plan to make it with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I plan to add a little garlic and some sliced onion to the marinade as well (something I saw in some other recipes).
Southern-Style Buttermilk Fried Chicken
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups buttermilk
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 whole chicken, cut into pieces
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
5 cups vegetable oil for frying
DIRECTIONS:
1. Whisk together buttermilk, mustard, salt and pepper, and cayenne in a bowl, and pour into a resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken pieces, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours.
2. When you are ready to cook the chicken, combine the flour, baking powder, garlic powder, and onion powder in the other plastic bag. Shake to mix thoroughly. Transfer one marinated chicken piece at a time into the dry ingredient bag, and shake well to ensure complete coverage. After all chicken pieces are coated, repeat the process by dipping them in the buttermilk marinade and shaking in the dry coating again.
3. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, making sure not to burn the oil. When oil is hot, fry chicken in batches until golden brown and juices run clear, turning chicken to brown evenly.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 4/5/2013
*******************************
We too can know this God and be assured of His presence. He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His Word. As we ask Him to make Himself known to us, we’ll learn that He is even more than the owner and creator of everything! - Our Daily Bread web site
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Naughty or nice
Our Daily Bread
Remember when you were a child and you heard how Santa Claus keeps a list of who's been naughty and who's been nice? I was a little paranoid for a while about who was watching me! It is funny to me that many folks think God is the same way. The "nice" list will get to go to heaven. The "naughty" list will not!
The devotional does a great job of clarifying God's role in this world when it comes to our behavior. He is not watching us with the intent of "nailing us" when we sin or putting us on a naughty list. He instructs how to live. He gives us the freedom to live that way or suffer the consequences of our sins. He is there to listen to our prayers and to guide us when we ask for his help through the Holy Spirit. Praise God!
Lord, thank you for always being with us. Please help us to always live the right way and do our best for you!
Technology Thursday
Once again, not much going on in the technology world as far as I am concerned. Here are a few articles that I noticed this week.
Appitude: John Paul 2.0? Pius XP? The pope, of course, has an app
Tweet about 'Daily Show' boomerangs on US Embassy
Be careful what you tweet!
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Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Remember when you were a child and you heard how Santa Claus keeps a list of who's been naughty and who's been nice? I was a little paranoid for a while about who was watching me! It is funny to me that many folks think God is the same way. The "nice" list will get to go to heaven. The "naughty" list will not!
The devotional does a great job of clarifying God's role in this world when it comes to our behavior. He is not watching us with the intent of "nailing us" when we sin or putting us on a naughty list. He instructs how to live. He gives us the freedom to live that way or suffer the consequences of our sins. He is there to listen to our prayers and to guide us when we ask for his help through the Holy Spirit. Praise God!
Lord, thank you for always being with us. Please help us to always live the right way and do our best for you!
Technology Thursday
Once again, not much going on in the technology world as far as I am concerned. Here are a few articles that I noticed this week.
Live Coverage: Facebook Android Phone Software to Be Announced Today
It is interesting to me that Facebook is getting into the cell phone market?
Physicists Nudge Electrons, Move Toward Crazy-Fast Computers
Physicists have nudged electrons to change their spin in just quadrillionths of a second, the fastest ever achieved and a basic-science feat that could lead …Appitude: John Paul 2.0? Pius XP? The pope, of course, has an app
Tweet about 'Daily Show' boomerangs on US Embassy
Be careful what you tweet!
Google to sell second-gen Nexus 7 tablet from July: sources
By
Clare Jim TAIPEI (Reuters) - Google Inc will launch a new version of
its Nexus 7 tablet powered by Qualcomm Inc's Snapdragon processor around
July, two sources told …
************************
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
I am loved, you are loved
Our Daily Bread
The Gaither Vocal Band recorded a song called I am Loved many years ago. The meaning of those lyrics have meant more and more to me over the years. The lyrics fit so well with today's devotional! Here is the chorus:
I am loved, I am loved
I can risk loving you
For the One who knows me best
Loves me most
I am loved you are loved
Won't you please take my hand
We are free to love each other
We are loved
Wow! We can love others because God first loved us! Who knew? ha! I guess we all know this but how often do we really think about it? Let's think about the passage in 1 John 4:7-21. Let's think about how much we re loved and how that spills out to others!
Once again, God reminds me of my whining. Lord, please help me look around, acknowledge my feelings and turn the over to you!
Lord, thank you for your love. Please help us show it to others!
Wellness Wednesday
Seven ways to prepare for Spring allergies
I thought this article was appropriate for many of us who suffer from seasonal allergies. I hope the seven ways make your Spring nothing to sneeze at!
See an Allergist Before Spring Allergies Start.
Don't wait for allergy symptoms to make you miserable before seeing your allergist. Start your drugs early, if needed.
Stay on the 'Outs' With Pollen
Enjoy a respite from spring allergies inside your home by shutting out pollen. As tempting as it may be to let the spring breeze in, keep doors and windows closed to minimize allergy symptoms.
Mold-Proof Your Home
Pollen isn't the only spring allergy culprit. Mold can also kick your allergy symptoms into overdrive.
Plan Your Schedule to Dodge Peak Allergy Hours
As frustrating as it may be, try to plan your schedule so that you can avoid outdoor activities when the pollen count is highest, typically 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Track Allergen Levels
Check the Web sites of your favorite weather stations during allergy season to see if they offer daily pollen and mold count reports. If your allergist has a site, chances are you can find the information listed there as well.
Consider Nasal Irrigation
Talk with your doctor about nasal irrigation options, like a low-tech yet effective neti pot.
Try Acupuncture for Spring Allergies
A study published in the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found significant reduction of allergy symptoms for study participants who received acupuncture treatments 3 times per week for 4 weeks, as compared to participants who did not receive it. I tried acupuncture last year for some other symptoms, which it seemed to help. Getting it three times per week for four weeks would be expensive!
I hope these help us get through Spring!
*********************
We too can know this God and be assured of His presence. He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His Word. As we ask Him to make Himself known to us, we’ll learn that He is even more than the owner and creator of everything! - Our Daily Bread web site
The Gaither Vocal Band recorded a song called I am Loved many years ago. The meaning of those lyrics have meant more and more to me over the years. The lyrics fit so well with today's devotional! Here is the chorus:
I am loved, I am loved
I can risk loving you
For the One who knows me best
Loves me most
I am loved you are loved
Won't you please take my hand
We are free to love each other
We are loved
Wow! We can love others because God first loved us! Who knew? ha! I guess we all know this but how often do we really think about it? Let's think about the passage in 1 John 4:7-21. Let's think about how much we re loved and how that spills out to others!
Once again, God reminds me of my whining. Lord, please help me look around, acknowledge my feelings and turn the over to you!
Lord, thank you for your love. Please help us show it to others!
Wellness Wednesday
Seven ways to prepare for Spring allergies
I thought this article was appropriate for many of us who suffer from seasonal allergies. I hope the seven ways make your Spring nothing to sneeze at!
See an Allergist Before Spring Allergies Start.
Don't wait for allergy symptoms to make you miserable before seeing your allergist. Start your drugs early, if needed.
Stay on the 'Outs' With Pollen
Enjoy a respite from spring allergies inside your home by shutting out pollen. As tempting as it may be to let the spring breeze in, keep doors and windows closed to minimize allergy symptoms.
Mold-Proof Your Home
Pollen isn't the only spring allergy culprit. Mold can also kick your allergy symptoms into overdrive.
Plan Your Schedule to Dodge Peak Allergy Hours
As frustrating as it may be, try to plan your schedule so that you can avoid outdoor activities when the pollen count is highest, typically 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Track Allergen Levels
Check the Web sites of your favorite weather stations during allergy season to see if they offer daily pollen and mold count reports. If your allergist has a site, chances are you can find the information listed there as well.
Consider Nasal Irrigation
Talk with your doctor about nasal irrigation options, like a low-tech yet effective neti pot.
Try Acupuncture for Spring Allergies
A study published in the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found significant reduction of allergy symptoms for study participants who received acupuncture treatments 3 times per week for 4 weeks, as compared to participants who did not receive it. I tried acupuncture last year for some other symptoms, which it seemed to help. Getting it three times per week for four weeks would be expensive!
I hope these help us get through Spring!
*********************
We too can know this God and be assured of His presence. He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His Word. As we ask Him to make Himself known to us, we’ll learn that He is even more than the owner and creator of everything! - Our Daily Bread web site
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