Our Daily Bread
Have you looked at all fancy-smancy brands of water at the grocery? Evian and Fiji are two the most expensive my local grocery store. They come from a special, especially pure source. They are worth the premium price, right?
We have the most special brand of water available to man -- the Living Water known as Jesus Christ. Of the many things Jesus was called in the New Testament, I like Living Water the best. There imagery of thirst and life are so vivid to me. Living Water quenches a spiritual thirst that no earthly water can satisfy, not even Evian! Living Water also provides life to those who are spiritually dead. Thirsty? Ask Christ for a drink of Living Water today!
Lord, we thank you for giving us Living Water. We will never thirst again!
Movie Monday
I got to see three movies at the theater this week. I guess I am making up for the past few weeks!
Enough Said
I won preview passes to see this movie before it actually arrives in theaters. I enjoyed it very much! It is the story of two middle aged adults who meet and fall in love. The story line is very clever and well written. It seems to ask "What would I do in that situation?" ha! It is the last movie before the death of James Gandolfini (formerly Tony Soprano). The acting was very good as well.
I give this movie three bear paws. See it when it is released to theaters!
Prisoners
This is a very, very suspenseful movie that also seems to ask the question "What would I do in that situation?" While having Thanksgiving dinner, two young girls walk across the street to play at the other's home. They never make it. They are abducted. The rest of the movie has a lot of twists and turns and suspense. LOTS of suspense! It has a great cast.
I give this movie three stars as well. You can see this one in the theaters or wait for Netflix.
Battle of the Year
So the guy from the TV show Lost finally got a movie! I think he has been in others, but this is the first one I have seen. He plays a coach that takes over the B-Boy dance team for the USA before they go to the world championships in France. There is lots of "team" drama and the coach dealing with his own demons. The hip hop music is hot. The dancing is hotter.
I give this movie two bear paws for the dancing. The rest of fluff and disposable! Wait to rent this one.
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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
Monday, September 30, 2013
Saturday, September 28, 2013
The sincerest form of flattery
Our Daily Bread
I am not a father, so I don't see this very often. While visiting my young nephew, I knelt down next to his small frame so I could hear him better and relate to him. After pointing to something and looking down to make sure he was paying attention, I noticed that he was kneeling down the exact same way I was. I understood the saying "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" in a new way!
Our Lord doesn't need flattery, but he does want us to imitate the example he gave us when he was here on earth. He loved. He forgave. He served. He spoke out in ways that no other man ever did. Shouldn't we imitate the God of all creation as best we can? Yes!
It is not easy in our world. We often think our lives are so much more complicated than in Jesus' time. How could a God who lived over 2000 years ago understand our lives? The God of all time and being understands. He is there. He gives us his strength to imitate him to the best of our abilities!
Lord, thank you for being our great example. Please help us live for you!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 113 is a "typical" praise hymn. It has several cultural references from Old Testament times that muddles the message in my opinion, but it is still a great psalm!
Psalm 113
1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, you his servants;
praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised,
both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
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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.
I am not a father, so I don't see this very often. While visiting my young nephew, I knelt down next to his small frame so I could hear him better and relate to him. After pointing to something and looking down to make sure he was paying attention, I noticed that he was kneeling down the exact same way I was. I understood the saying "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" in a new way!
Our Lord doesn't need flattery, but he does want us to imitate the example he gave us when he was here on earth. He loved. He forgave. He served. He spoke out in ways that no other man ever did. Shouldn't we imitate the God of all creation as best we can? Yes!
It is not easy in our world. We often think our lives are so much more complicated than in Jesus' time. How could a God who lived over 2000 years ago understand our lives? The God of all time and being understands. He is there. He gives us his strength to imitate him to the best of our abilities!
Lord, thank you for being our great example. Please help us live for you!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 113 is a "typical" praise hymn. It has several cultural references from Old Testament times that muddles the message in my opinion, but it is still a great psalm!
Psalm 113
1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, you his servants;
praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised,
both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
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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.
Are you sure you have the right guy?
Our Daily Bread
I like to wear red shirts. I am a winter, what can I say? ha! I forget when I am wearing sometimes and wander into Target with my red shirt on. Well, fun and hijinx usually follows! When someone asks me help them find something, I ask "Are you sure you have the right guy?" or "I am sorry, I don't work here". I don't blame them. I have done the same thing several times!
When reading stories in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, we notice over and over how the person being called objects to God's calling because of their feelings of inadequacy. Moses told God that he stammered and didn't speak well like is brother Aaron. Many prophets protested because they were from small villages and not from families of high standings.
What is the point? God can use anyone who is willing to be used! Praise God! We also see this over and over in the Bible! God used shepherds. carpenters, fishermen, farmers, etc. to accomplish his plan. Don't you think he can use us, too?
Lord, thank you for using the least of us. We are not worthy except by your grace and strength!
Simply Saturday
Gentleness
Gentleness is never self-important but is considerate, courteous, and modest, yet willing to try when a job needs to be done. from The Enrichment Journal
I found the Enrichment Journal site today while researching the definition of gentleness. I am not sure what they believe about issues important to me, but I loved their series on the fruits of the Spirit. The article on gentleness is very cool. I used their definition for gentleness since I think they captured the essence of the Biblical meaning (IMHO).
As I am writing more about each fruit, it strikes me over and over how different the nature of God is than the nature and customs of the world we live in. We have been raised to think of gentle people as doormats. We have been taught to "toot our own horn". God teaches us to be different through the fruits of his Holy Spirit. Praise God!
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22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.- Galatians 5:22-23
I like to wear red shirts. I am a winter, what can I say? ha! I forget when I am wearing sometimes and wander into Target with my red shirt on. Well, fun and hijinx usually follows! When someone asks me help them find something, I ask "Are you sure you have the right guy?" or "I am sorry, I don't work here". I don't blame them. I have done the same thing several times!
When reading stories in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, we notice over and over how the person being called objects to God's calling because of their feelings of inadequacy. Moses told God that he stammered and didn't speak well like is brother Aaron. Many prophets protested because they were from small villages and not from families of high standings.
What is the point? God can use anyone who is willing to be used! Praise God! We also see this over and over in the Bible! God used shepherds. carpenters, fishermen, farmers, etc. to accomplish his plan. Don't you think he can use us, too?
Lord, thank you for using the least of us. We are not worthy except by your grace and strength!
Simply Saturday
Gentleness
Gentleness is never self-important but is considerate, courteous, and modest, yet willing to try when a job needs to be done. from The Enrichment Journal
I found the Enrichment Journal site today while researching the definition of gentleness. I am not sure what they believe about issues important to me, but I loved their series on the fruits of the Spirit. The article on gentleness is very cool. I used their definition for gentleness since I think they captured the essence of the Biblical meaning (IMHO).
As I am writing more about each fruit, it strikes me over and over how different the nature of God is than the nature and customs of the world we live in. We have been raised to think of gentle people as doormats. We have been taught to "toot our own horn". God teaches us to be different through the fruits of his Holy Spirit. Praise God!
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22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.- Galatians 5:22-23
Friday, September 27, 2013
Too much of a good thing
Our Daily Bread
I have seen the effects of too much of a good thing several times in my life -- fire, water and food. I often eat too much good food and it shows on my waist line. I see the effects of a forest fire or a home burning to the ground. I see the effects of too much water pooled or flowing that damaged everything in its path. Fire, water and food are good things, aren't they? Too much of even a good thing can seem bad!
The Bible talks about God's love for mercy and justice. He demonstrates it over and over again throughout both Testaments, culminating in the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. While there is much debate on the exact meaning and purpose of Jesus' life, the message of mercy and justice cannot be denied in my opinion. Jesus demonstrated them over and over again in his words and deeds. Praise God! He was an example then, and his life serves as an example to us today.
Lord, thank you for your message of mercy and justice. Oh, and for love, too! Praise God!
Foodie Friday
Here is my last entry for tailgating recipes for this year. The first is a chowder that I had in Orlando earlier this year. I could have eaten a gallon of it! The second one is a new recipe for chocolate no bake bars. Always a favorite! Enjoy!
CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER
Printed from COOKS.COM
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 large sweet onion, chopped
3 or 4 medium red potatoes, 1/2" cubes
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
4 tablespoons flour
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch cayenne pepper
pinch thyme and sage
1 14-15oz can cream style corn
1/2 cup heavy cream
substituted for the cream, if desired.
Serves 4.
Worlds Best Chocolate No Bake Bars
Looks so good, I bet you didn't guess they are GOOD FOR YOU!
Made with coconut oil & honey instead of sugar!
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
... 1/2 cup unrefined coconut oil (be sure to use unrefined for the coconut flavor)
2 cups dry oats (not instant)
1 C shredded coconut
1/2 C chopped walnuts (optional)
1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips
1 t vanilla extract
Melt peanut butter, honey and coconut oil over medium-low heat. Once melted, remove from heat and add oats, shredded coconut, chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir until chocolate is entirely melted. Pour into a 9x13 pan and cool in the fridge. When it's set, cut into bars and enjoy. Store in the fridge. If they last that long!
**Feel free to send me a FRIEND REQUEST or FOLLOW ME. I am always posting awesome stuff!**
For more recipes, tips, support and more cone join us Get Fit With Jen
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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 have seen the effects of too much of a good thing several times in my life -- fire, water and food. I often eat too much good food and it shows on my waist line. I see the effects of a forest fire or a home burning to the ground. I see the effects of too much water pooled or flowing that damaged everything in its path. Fire, water and food are good things, aren't they? Too much of even a good thing can seem bad!
The Bible talks about God's love for mercy and justice. He demonstrates it over and over again throughout both Testaments, culminating in the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. While there is much debate on the exact meaning and purpose of Jesus' life, the message of mercy and justice cannot be denied in my opinion. Jesus demonstrated them over and over again in his words and deeds. Praise God! He was an example then, and his life serves as an example to us today.
Lord, thank you for your message of mercy and justice. Oh, and for love, too! Praise God!
Foodie Friday
Here is my last entry for tailgating recipes for this year. The first is a chowder that I had in Orlando earlier this year. I could have eaten a gallon of it! The second one is a new recipe for chocolate no bake bars. Always a favorite! Enjoy!
CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER
Printed from COOKS.COM
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 large sweet onion, chopped
3 or 4 medium red potatoes, 1/2" cubes
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
4 tablespoons flour
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch cayenne pepper
pinch thyme and sage
1 14-15oz can cream style corn
1/2 cup heavy cream
- In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, heat oil and butter. Sauté onions, pepper, and potatoes for 5 minutes, adding garlic last.
- Stir in flour, broth, seasonings. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook over low heat until potatoes are tender.
- Stir in cream style corn, chunks of chicken, and cream. Cook on low heat only until heated through and steaming hot (about 5 minutes); do not allow to boil. If the chowder is not the desired consistency, add a few tablespoons of milk (if too thick) or a tablespoon flour (if too thick). Cook for another 10 minutes after adding flour to prevent a raw flour taste.
- When chowder is ready, taste and adjust seasonings. Serve in chowder bowls with milk lunch crackers.
substituted for the cream, if desired.
Serves 4.
Worlds Best Chocolate No Bake Bars
Looks so good, I bet you didn't guess they are GOOD FOR YOU!
Made with coconut oil & honey instead of sugar!
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
... 1/2 cup unrefined coconut oil (be sure to use unrefined for the coconut flavor)
2 cups dry oats (not instant)
1 C shredded coconut
1/2 C chopped walnuts (optional)
1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips
1 t vanilla extract
Melt peanut butter, honey and coconut oil over medium-low heat. Once melted, remove from heat and add oats, shredded coconut, chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir until chocolate is entirely melted. Pour into a 9x13 pan and cool in the fridge. When it's set, cut into bars and enjoy. Store in the fridge. If they last that long!
**Feel free to send me a FRIEND REQUEST or FOLLOW ME. I am always posting awesome stuff!**
For more recipes, tips, support and more cone join us Get Fit With Jen
**********************************************
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
Thursday, September 26, 2013
The beginning
Our Daily Bread
In our culture, we expect to be captivated by the beginning of books, movies, shows, etc. A common comment might be "it started slow, but I got into it" or "it grabbed my attention from the first page". We want to be pulled into the story or action as soon as possible.
We have that option with God whenever we ask for it! The beginning of wisdom is the humbly seeking it from God. He will pull you in from the start. The Holy Spirit will open your eyes to things you never realized before. You will not become immediately all wise and knowing, but you will realize more than ever before. Keeping perspective is the most important part of that journey. God is all knowing and wise. He will share with us what we can handle if we are open to it! Praise God!
Lord, we know that knowing you is the beginning of wisdom. Please help us humbly seek it from you alone.
Technology Thursday
I am tired of writing about iOS7 and iPhones, so here is a collection of articles about other stuff!
The Best Budget Laptops For Your Money: September 2013
Amazon.com announced new Kindle Fire tablets. Check them out here (scroll to the bottom of the page for the comparison.
Apple announced hardware updates to their iMac computers
I am hoping for an Apple new conference in early October to announce new iPads. We will see! I would like an iPad Mini with Retina display under my tree for Christmas! ha!
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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
In our culture, we expect to be captivated by the beginning of books, movies, shows, etc. A common comment might be "it started slow, but I got into it" or "it grabbed my attention from the first page". We want to be pulled into the story or action as soon as possible.
We have that option with God whenever we ask for it! The beginning of wisdom is the humbly seeking it from God. He will pull you in from the start. The Holy Spirit will open your eyes to things you never realized before. You will not become immediately all wise and knowing, but you will realize more than ever before. Keeping perspective is the most important part of that journey. God is all knowing and wise. He will share with us what we can handle if we are open to it! Praise God!
Lord, we know that knowing you is the beginning of wisdom. Please help us humbly seek it from you alone.
Technology Thursday
I am tired of writing about iOS7 and iPhones, so here is a collection of articles about other stuff!
The Best Budget Laptops For Your Money: September 2013
Amazon.com announced new Kindle Fire tablets. Check them out here (scroll to the bottom of the page for the comparison.
Apple announced hardware updates to their iMac computers
I am hoping for an Apple new conference in early October to announce new iPads. We will see! I would like an iPad Mini with Retina display under my tree for Christmas! ha!
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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, September 25, 2013
Power brokers
Our Daily Bread
You have seen them on the news and on other TV shows. They are the power brokers of our society and culture. There are leading congressman and senators. There are TV personalities and movie stars. They are businessmen who have amassed huge fortunes. They are the power brokers of our era.
The devotional talked about the power brokers of Jesus' time. Yes, they sounded very much like the ones we have today, only the names have changed! And there wasn't any TV or iTunes back then either! Oh horror! Then a man named John the Baptist (or Baptizer) came into the picture. This back woods kind of guy that looked funny and ate funny and said things they hadn't heard before. How could this man be a power broker? He was because he let God work through him! We have that option today. We probably won't be famous or in a powerful political position, but we have a power that is so much more important. It is the power of God's love and mercy shining through our lives. We have the power in us to affect the lives of others. Praise God!
Lord, please help us realize the source of our power and let it flow through us to others!
Wellness Wednesday
10 Ways to Ditch Your Cravings for Sugar, Salt, and Fats
Here is a summary of the article. Click on the title above the read the full article.
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You are a success in God’s kingdom if you are faithful where He has placed you. - Our Daily Bread
You have seen them on the news and on other TV shows. They are the power brokers of our society and culture. There are leading congressman and senators. There are TV personalities and movie stars. They are businessmen who have amassed huge fortunes. They are the power brokers of our era.
The devotional talked about the power brokers of Jesus' time. Yes, they sounded very much like the ones we have today, only the names have changed! And there wasn't any TV or iTunes back then either! Oh horror! Then a man named John the Baptist (or Baptizer) came into the picture. This back woods kind of guy that looked funny and ate funny and said things they hadn't heard before. How could this man be a power broker? He was because he let God work through him! We have that option today. We probably won't be famous or in a powerful political position, but we have a power that is so much more important. It is the power of God's love and mercy shining through our lives. We have the power in us to affect the lives of others. Praise God!
Lord, please help us realize the source of our power and let it flow through us to others!
Wellness Wednesday
10 Ways to Ditch Your Cravings for Sugar, Salt, and Fats
Here is a summary of the article. Click on the title above the read the full article.
- Sauté or roast your veggies to bring out their natural sweetness. Properly searing your chicken or meat brings out the inherent sweetness by way of the Maillard reaction. This is a fancy name for what happens when you create that nice, brown crust on your meat.
- Play with herbs like cilantro, parsley, dill, basil, and oregano to add flavor and phytonutrients! Finish a meal by adding fresh herbs before plating or serving. This last-minute addition kicks the flavor up a notch!
- Healthy fats found in avocado, coconut, and tahini not only increase the flavor of your meal, they also add that creamy, luscious texture found in many rich foods.
- Try creating a savory, umami (Japanese for "delicious") flavor. Add moderate amounts of tamari, umeboshi plum paste, balsamic vinegar, tomato paste, dried mushroom, or sea vegetables to your next stew, soup, sauce, or stir-fry.
- Cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and even cayenne or chipotle pepper powder are all extremely flavorful additions to a meal. Spices like these excite your taste buds and grab your attention. This is helpful, because, as studies show, when we are focused on actually tasting our food rather than mindlessly gobbling it up, we actually need less food to feel satisfied.
- Befriend some kitchen must-haves like real vanilla extract or vanilla bean or coconut butter. Or use common, every-day foods like lemons in some creative ways. For example, use lemon zest to add real zing to any meal!
- For the most flavor, eat seasonally and locally. Canned or packaged foods or foods that have traveled great distances in the back of a truck just can't compare to the succulence of a fresh piece of locally grown fruit.
- Check your hydration. Digestion starts in your mouth with your saliva, which helps us taste all the magnificent flavor in food. If you are dehydrated and not producing enough saliva, you won't really be able to enjoy your food.
- Check your medications. Believe it or not, most medications interfere with the body's ability to taste and smell. Some of them can even create an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth. Wondering how you might decrease the number of pills you take? Learn more about functional medicine.
- Got nutrition? Nutrient deficiency is an important cause of improper taste perception. A lack of certain vitamins and minerals can markedly impair your ability to smell and taste food. Most Americans have several nutrient deficiencies, but there is one in particular that can especially keep you from enjoying your next meal: zinc. Try adding foods like oysters, pecans, sunflower seeds, and lentils to increase your daily intake of this important mineral.
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You are a success in God’s kingdom if you are faithful where He has placed you. - Our Daily Bread
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Got friends?
Our Daily Bread
One of the most successful advertising campaigns in the past few decades is the simple question "Got Milk?" There is usually a picture of a famous person with a "milk mustache". Simple. Direct. Effective. It makes you think everybody needs milk!
I thought of this campaign while reading the devotional, substituting the phrase "Got friends?" Having friends usually means that you are being a friend, too! We sometimes forget that. We also forget that we need to allow our friends to give to us like we give to them. OK, maybe that is just me! ha! The most special friends to me are the Christian ones. I am very thankful for my roommate who is a close Christian friend in addition to being my helpful roommate. God brings new folks into our lives when we least expect it, especially when we lose someone else. Be open. Be a friend. Got friends?
Lord, thank you for being our most special friend, a friend who will never leave us alone.
Teaching Tuesday
I am so excited about the "big book" for EFM this year! It is Introduction to the New Testament by Mark Allan Powell. Click on the link to find the book on Amazon.com. We read the Preface and Chapters 1 and 2 for this week.
Chapter 1 gave us an introduction to the New Testament world, meaning a brief history of the period. It was very interesting having that history in one concise chapter. It explained the people, places, things and culture of that era. Very interesting.
Chapter 2 talked about the New Testament writings. Who wrote what? What is the structure of the Old Testament? How were the books chosen and arranged in the traditional Bible? It explained how the "canonical" version of the Bible came about. The canonical version is the generally accepted list of the books that should be included in the Bible. There were many other writings that may or may not have been authentic. This chapter also talked about the many different methods to study the Bible. Some examples are text criticism, archaeology, sociological criticism, cultural anthropology, and historical criticism to name a few. The author encouraged us to use several methods of study while reading passages so we learn a more accurate interpretation of the scriptures.
I am very excited! If you feel so lead, buy the book and read along with me!
I hope to finish the Mere Christianity book this week. I am not as busy this week as I was last week.
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You are a success in God’s kingdom if you are faithful where He has placed you. - Our Daily Bread
One of the most successful advertising campaigns in the past few decades is the simple question "Got Milk?" There is usually a picture of a famous person with a "milk mustache". Simple. Direct. Effective. It makes you think everybody needs milk!
I thought of this campaign while reading the devotional, substituting the phrase "Got friends?" Having friends usually means that you are being a friend, too! We sometimes forget that. We also forget that we need to allow our friends to give to us like we give to them. OK, maybe that is just me! ha! The most special friends to me are the Christian ones. I am very thankful for my roommate who is a close Christian friend in addition to being my helpful roommate. God brings new folks into our lives when we least expect it, especially when we lose someone else. Be open. Be a friend. Got friends?
Lord, thank you for being our most special friend, a friend who will never leave us alone.
Teaching Tuesday
I am so excited about the "big book" for EFM this year! It is Introduction to the New Testament by Mark Allan Powell. Click on the link to find the book on Amazon.com. We read the Preface and Chapters 1 and 2 for this week.
Chapter 1 gave us an introduction to the New Testament world, meaning a brief history of the period. It was very interesting having that history in one concise chapter. It explained the people, places, things and culture of that era. Very interesting.
Chapter 2 talked about the New Testament writings. Who wrote what? What is the structure of the Old Testament? How were the books chosen and arranged in the traditional Bible? It explained how the "canonical" version of the Bible came about. The canonical version is the generally accepted list of the books that should be included in the Bible. There were many other writings that may or may not have been authentic. This chapter also talked about the many different methods to study the Bible. Some examples are text criticism, archaeology, sociological criticism, cultural anthropology, and historical criticism to name a few. The author encouraged us to use several methods of study while reading passages so we learn a more accurate interpretation of the scriptures.
I am very excited! If you feel so lead, buy the book and read along with me!
I hope to finish the Mere Christianity book this week. I am not as busy this week as I was last week.
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You are a success in God’s kingdom if you are faithful where He has placed you. - Our Daily Bread
Monday, September 23, 2013
More than enough
Our Daily Bread
"The Worlds Strongest Man" competitions used to draw my attention when flipping TV channels. The amazing feats of strength always amazed me! They competed several times to reach the finals, risking injury during each competition, to earn the title.
Our God has a title: Almighty God. If you read the Old Testament, the God of Israel was tested in the "The World's Strongest god" competition over and over again. My favorite story is that of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The Almighty God showed he was THE Almighty God!
It is humbling to think that we can have a personal relationship with the Almighty God. His strength and power are greater than our biggest, most stressful problem. Let us not get caught up in our own pity parties and remember whose children we are!
Lord, you are the Almighty God, our Father, our Savior. We love you, we trust you, we thank you, we praise you.
Movie Monday
I didn't get to see a new movie this week. Too busy. I managed to see Riddick again because my roommate hadn't seen it yet. We had fun watching it together. As we were leaving the theater, my roommate asked "How did he survive all of that?" I said one word: "Badass!" ha! It is just a movie. They can do whatever they want!
I am not sure what movie is next on my horizon. I will see what time allows this week.
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Revivals greatest enemy is Pride, and the only bride Revival will walk down the isle with is Humility. Humility will deny herself the right of self gratification rather than turn away from God to fulfill her own pleasures, and she will not allow herself to receive the praise that should go to another (especially the Lord). Finally, she will rush to renounce herself, rather than sitting quietly when her Lord is robed of His glory. Oh, Father, we are so unlike her, but may we meet her so that we may walk down the isle to Revival and true Christlikeness? from Jonathan Edwards on Humility in Religious Affections
"The Worlds Strongest Man" competitions used to draw my attention when flipping TV channels. The amazing feats of strength always amazed me! They competed several times to reach the finals, risking injury during each competition, to earn the title.
Our God has a title: Almighty God. If you read the Old Testament, the God of Israel was tested in the "The World's Strongest god" competition over and over again. My favorite story is that of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The Almighty God showed he was THE Almighty God!
It is humbling to think that we can have a personal relationship with the Almighty God. His strength and power are greater than our biggest, most stressful problem. Let us not get caught up in our own pity parties and remember whose children we are!
Lord, you are the Almighty God, our Father, our Savior. We love you, we trust you, we thank you, we praise you.
Movie Monday
I didn't get to see a new movie this week. Too busy. I managed to see Riddick again because my roommate hadn't seen it yet. We had fun watching it together. As we were leaving the theater, my roommate asked "How did he survive all of that?" I said one word: "Badass!" ha! It is just a movie. They can do whatever they want!
I am not sure what movie is next on my horizon. I will see what time allows this week.
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Revivals greatest enemy is Pride, and the only bride Revival will walk down the isle with is Humility. Humility will deny herself the right of self gratification rather than turn away from God to fulfill her own pleasures, and she will not allow herself to receive the praise that should go to another (especially the Lord). Finally, she will rush to renounce herself, rather than sitting quietly when her Lord is robed of His glory. Oh, Father, we are so unlike her, but may we meet her so that we may walk down the isle to Revival and true Christlikeness? from Jonathan Edwards on Humility in Religious Affections
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Remember who you are representing
Our Daily Bread
I like a lot of sports. As I talk with friends about things that happen in sports, especially in college sports, I hear something like this a lot "He shouldn't act like that. He should realize who he is representing with that uniform on or off".
I thought of this when reading the devotional. Do we remember who we are representing when we interact with others? Do we remember to be a light in this dark world? Do we realize we have the honor to represent our Lord and Savior? How are we doing with that? ;-p I know I am not very good at it all the time.
Funny story. A coworker saw me struggling to type in a long password on my laptop. He asked "What kind of password is that?" I told him it was a Bible verse reminder. He said "Really? YOU are religious?" in an incredulous tone. Somewhat embarrassed, I replied "Imagine what I would be if I wasn't!" Oh boy. Lord have mercy. What kind of light am I being? How about you?
Lord, thank you for the honor and privilege of being a light for you. Please help us shine bright and true!
Psalm Sunday
We are reading Psalm 112 today. It is a collection of lessons about how to live and how God is faithful. I love verse 4:
"Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous."
Read it out loud. See what verses speak to you!
Psalm 112
1 Praise the Lord.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
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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 like a lot of sports. As I talk with friends about things that happen in sports, especially in college sports, I hear something like this a lot "He shouldn't act like that. He should realize who he is representing with that uniform on or off".
I thought of this when reading the devotional. Do we remember who we are representing when we interact with others? Do we remember to be a light in this dark world? Do we realize we have the honor to represent our Lord and Savior? How are we doing with that? ;-p I know I am not very good at it all the time.
Funny story. A coworker saw me struggling to type in a long password on my laptop. He asked "What kind of password is that?" I told him it was a Bible verse reminder. He said "Really? YOU are religious?" in an incredulous tone. Somewhat embarrassed, I replied "Imagine what I would be if I wasn't!" Oh boy. Lord have mercy. What kind of light am I being? How about you?
Lord, thank you for the honor and privilege of being a light for you. Please help us shine bright and true!
Psalm Sunday
We are reading Psalm 112 today. It is a collection of lessons about how to live and how God is faithful. I love verse 4:
"Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous."
Read it out loud. See what verses speak to you!
Psalm 112
1 Praise the Lord.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
*****************************************************
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
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Still, still, still
Our Daily Bread
There is a lovely arrangement of a song called Still, Still, Still for SATB choir that is just lovely. I fall into a heavenly funk of peace every time I hear it! It is a traditional Austrian lullaby. Here is a youtube video of a the Trinity Choir from Boston singing it.
Yes, a peaceful feeling is a great feeling, especially when it relates to our relationship with God! We all know when we feel out of sorts with our lives, usually because we are out of sorts with our relationship with God. What is the cure? Prayer and Bible study! The same formula that helped us get closer to God is the way back to him. It is too easy to let ourselves get complacent with our relationship to God. Satan tries to trick us with pride into believing we are "close enough to God". Yikes! Stay close to God. He will stay close to you!
Lord, thank you for your peace that passes all understanding!
Simply Saturday
Meekness
I looked at several definitions of meekness. The first few I found said it meant "submissiveness". That didn't see right to me in the context of the Holy Scriptures. I finally found this one on the Mirriiam-Webster web site. I think it says it best:
having or showing a quiet and gentle nature : not wanting to fight or argue with other people
Doesn't that sound more "biblical" than submissive or deficient in spirit or courage? I think so. We have all met people, and I am one of them, that is sort of a loud extrovert. That is putting it nicely. There is no mention of a "quiet and gentle nature". There can be frequent disagreements because they (I am) are always putting their opinions out there. As the song says, I am looking at the man in the mirror on this one. We may never have a quiet and gentle nature, but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can show a quiet and gentle nature. We all know folks with this kind of nature. I met one two weeks ago that I would characterize as the meekness poster child. She is brilliant and meek. Wow! Praise God!
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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
There is a lovely arrangement of a song called Still, Still, Still for SATB choir that is just lovely. I fall into a heavenly funk of peace every time I hear it! It is a traditional Austrian lullaby. Here is a youtube video of a the Trinity Choir from Boston singing it.
Yes, a peaceful feeling is a great feeling, especially when it relates to our relationship with God! We all know when we feel out of sorts with our lives, usually because we are out of sorts with our relationship with God. What is the cure? Prayer and Bible study! The same formula that helped us get closer to God is the way back to him. It is too easy to let ourselves get complacent with our relationship to God. Satan tries to trick us with pride into believing we are "close enough to God". Yikes! Stay close to God. He will stay close to you!
Lord, thank you for your peace that passes all understanding!
Simply Saturday
Meekness
I looked at several definitions of meekness. The first few I found said it meant "submissiveness". That didn't see right to me in the context of the Holy Scriptures. I finally found this one on the Mirriiam-Webster web site. I think it says it best:
having or showing a quiet and gentle nature : not wanting to fight or argue with other people
Doesn't that sound more "biblical" than submissive or deficient in spirit or courage? I think so. We have all met people, and I am one of them, that is sort of a loud extrovert. That is putting it nicely. There is no mention of a "quiet and gentle nature". There can be frequent disagreements because they (I am) are always putting their opinions out there. As the song says, I am looking at the man in the mirror on this one. We may never have a quiet and gentle nature, but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can show a quiet and gentle nature. We all know folks with this kind of nature. I met one two weeks ago that I would characterize as the meekness poster child. She is brilliant and meek. Wow! Praise God!
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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, September 19, 2013
I just need a minute of your time...
Our Daily Bread
How many times have you heard a telemarketer or salesman at your door say this "I just need a moment of your time..." They want to tell us the wonderful benefits of their product and service. We may discover something that we didn't know we needed!
God won't try to knock our door down with a "hard sell" like some sales folks. He will send his Holy Spirit to touch our hearts to remind us that he wants a relationship with us. Can't we make time for the Almighty God? The devotional suggests starting with five minutes in Bible study and prayer. Reading a devotional such as Our Daily Bread or The Upper Room is a good place to start. Some friends in the Episcopal church look up the prayers for the daily office and say some of them each day. I annoy friends when I suggest they consider giving up some TV to spend more time in prayer and Bible study! AND, I tell myself that I need to spend more time in prayer and Bible study than I do at the movie theater watching movies! Yes, I started with the man in the mirror! ha!
Lord, thank you for allowing us to have a personal relationship with you. You should be our priority so we can be the kind of person we need to be for others!
Technology Thursday
Apple released iOS7 yesterday. Woohooo! It is a major overhaul of the operating system used by hundreds of millions mobile devices. I was one of the fortunate ones that got through all the busy servers to download and install the new OS on my iPhone 5 and my iPad 3. Here are my observations so far.
Visual: The new version is stunning visually, different but the same. The icons are simpler and crisp on the retina display screen. I found the text to be a little hard to read on the icons, so I increased the size of the font in the Settings app. That seemed to work. I need to use a darker background so I can see the text easily. Not a big deal.
Updates galore: With the new OS came updates for most of my apps on both devices. Lots of updates! Did I mention lots? ha! Some take advantage of the new visual interface. Some do not.
Swipe up: I found it interesting that the swipe feature is thought revolutionary on the iPhone, but a pain in the patootey on the BlackBerry 10 devices! The swipe up from the bottom of the device running iOS7 displays a screen of common settings and features. Apple even built in a flashlight app!
iRadio: A new feature of iOS7 is iRadio. It is similar to Pandora or Songsta or Slacker, but it is integrated with iTunes. You can easily purchase a favorite song from iTunes after you hear it. Very cool. There are audio ads if you are not an iTunes Match customer.
Faster: I think the animations and loading are faster. Maybe it is my imagination.
Battery life: The backend processing is supposedly improved. I know I have seen a nice improvement in battery life so far. I will see how well it works after a few days of regular use.
If you have an iPad 2 or above, an iPhone 4 or above or a later model iPod Touch, I definitely recommend getting this update!
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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
How many times have you heard a telemarketer or salesman at your door say this "I just need a moment of your time..." They want to tell us the wonderful benefits of their product and service. We may discover something that we didn't know we needed!
God won't try to knock our door down with a "hard sell" like some sales folks. He will send his Holy Spirit to touch our hearts to remind us that he wants a relationship with us. Can't we make time for the Almighty God? The devotional suggests starting with five minutes in Bible study and prayer. Reading a devotional such as Our Daily Bread or The Upper Room is a good place to start. Some friends in the Episcopal church look up the prayers for the daily office and say some of them each day. I annoy friends when I suggest they consider giving up some TV to spend more time in prayer and Bible study! AND, I tell myself that I need to spend more time in prayer and Bible study than I do at the movie theater watching movies! Yes, I started with the man in the mirror! ha!
Lord, thank you for allowing us to have a personal relationship with you. You should be our priority so we can be the kind of person we need to be for others!
Technology Thursday
Apple released iOS7 yesterday. Woohooo! It is a major overhaul of the operating system used by hundreds of millions mobile devices. I was one of the fortunate ones that got through all the busy servers to download and install the new OS on my iPhone 5 and my iPad 3. Here are my observations so far.
Visual: The new version is stunning visually, different but the same. The icons are simpler and crisp on the retina display screen. I found the text to be a little hard to read on the icons, so I increased the size of the font in the Settings app. That seemed to work. I need to use a darker background so I can see the text easily. Not a big deal.
Updates galore: With the new OS came updates for most of my apps on both devices. Lots of updates! Did I mention lots? ha! Some take advantage of the new visual interface. Some do not.
Swipe up: I found it interesting that the swipe feature is thought revolutionary on the iPhone, but a pain in the patootey on the BlackBerry 10 devices! The swipe up from the bottom of the device running iOS7 displays a screen of common settings and features. Apple even built in a flashlight app!
iRadio: A new feature of iOS7 is iRadio. It is similar to Pandora or Songsta or Slacker, but it is integrated with iTunes. You can easily purchase a favorite song from iTunes after you hear it. Very cool. There are audio ads if you are not an iTunes Match customer.
Faster: I think the animations and loading are faster. Maybe it is my imagination.
Battery life: The backend processing is supposedly improved. I know I have seen a nice improvement in battery life so far. I will see how well it works after a few days of regular use.
If you have an iPad 2 or above, an iPhone 4 or above or a later model iPod Touch, I definitely recommend getting this update!
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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, September 18, 2013
Pencil it in
Our Daily Bread
If you read my blog entry yesterday, I posted the spiritual autobiography that I plan to share in my EFM class. One section talks about the plans I made when I was a teenager. NONE of them worked out! ha! I should have learned then that I need to be more flexible with my planning. I am finally learning that in my 50s! Yikes!
Yes, it is not always easy for Christians to plan, at least the way that I usually plan. It is good to plan, but being flexible in exactly how God plans to execute those plans can be key. I could relate to the story in the devotional after having malady after malady in my life. I loved the way she radiated God's love no matter what situation she was in, whether sickness or health. That is the main point for all of us. Our plans can change for several reasons -- we didn't consult with God before we made them, the timing is not right in His Eyes, or some things just aren't meant to happen. So what should we do? I suggest the title of this entry: "pencil it in". I say things like "OK, God, what will have me today? Please speak for your servant is listening." I then go on with the things I planned like housework, spending time with friends. reading my EFM lessons, etc. I try to be flexible to switch things up if God has something else for me to do. He knows best. It is not always easy to understand!
Lord, please help us pencil in our human plans so we can make room for your Heavenly plans!
Wellness Wednesday
I have been finding several useful articles each week, so I am going to share two with you this week. I hope they help us with our wellness!
Break Your Anger Habit
In summary, here is what the article says:
TRAP IT
When you feel anger coming on, flag that emotion. Notice the symptoms, such as clenched jaw or tight shoulders.
MAP IT
Identify the ticker tape thought that's going through your head that's causing the emotion.
ZAP IT
Challenge the thought. Is it true? Can you be sure that your boss is out to make you miserable, or is she also under a lot of pressure? Do you really think your husband doesn't care about what you have to say? Don't let that anger-fueled thought get off so easily.
10 Ways to Ditch Your Cravings for Sugar, Salt, and Fats
Here is the summary. Click on the title of this section to read the full article.
Here are 10 more tips to get you excited about ditching the sugar, salt, and fats:
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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
If you read my blog entry yesterday, I posted the spiritual autobiography that I plan to share in my EFM class. One section talks about the plans I made when I was a teenager. NONE of them worked out! ha! I should have learned then that I need to be more flexible with my planning. I am finally learning that in my 50s! Yikes!
Yes, it is not always easy for Christians to plan, at least the way that I usually plan. It is good to plan, but being flexible in exactly how God plans to execute those plans can be key. I could relate to the story in the devotional after having malady after malady in my life. I loved the way she radiated God's love no matter what situation she was in, whether sickness or health. That is the main point for all of us. Our plans can change for several reasons -- we didn't consult with God before we made them, the timing is not right in His Eyes, or some things just aren't meant to happen. So what should we do? I suggest the title of this entry: "pencil it in". I say things like "OK, God, what will have me today? Please speak for your servant is listening." I then go on with the things I planned like housework, spending time with friends. reading my EFM lessons, etc. I try to be flexible to switch things up if God has something else for me to do. He knows best. It is not always easy to understand!
Lord, please help us pencil in our human plans so we can make room for your Heavenly plans!
Wellness Wednesday
I have been finding several useful articles each week, so I am going to share two with you this week. I hope they help us with our wellness!
Break Your Anger Habit
In summary, here is what the article says:
TRAP IT
When you feel anger coming on, flag that emotion. Notice the symptoms, such as clenched jaw or tight shoulders.
MAP IT
Identify the ticker tape thought that's going through your head that's causing the emotion.
ZAP IT
Challenge the thought. Is it true? Can you be sure that your boss is out to make you miserable, or is she also under a lot of pressure? Do you really think your husband doesn't care about what you have to say? Don't let that anger-fueled thought get off so easily.
10 Ways to Ditch Your Cravings for Sugar, Salt, and Fats
Here is the summary. Click on the title of this section to read the full article.
Here are 10 more tips to get you excited about ditching the sugar, salt, and fats:
- Sauté or roast your veggies to bring out their natural sweetness. Properly searing your chicken or meat brings out the inherent sweetness by way of the Maillard reaction. This is a fancy name for what happens when you create that nice, brown crust on your meat.
- Play with herbs like cilantro, parsley, dill, basil, and oregano to add flavor and phytonutrients! Finish a meal by adding fresh herbs before plating or serving. This last-minute addition kicks the flavor up a notch!
- Healthy fats found in avocado, coconut, and tahini not only increase the flavor of your meal, they also add that creamy, luscious texture found in many rich foods.
- Try creating a savory, umami (Japanese for "delicious") flavor. Add moderate amounts of tamari, umeboshi plum paste, balsamic vinegar, tomato paste, dried mushroom, or sea vegetables to your next stew, soup, sauce, or stir-fry.
- Cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, clove, ginger, and even cayenne or chipotle pepper powder are all extremely flavorful additions to a meal. Spices like these excite your taste buds and grab your attention. This is helpful, because, as studies show, when we are focused on actually tasting our food rather than mindlessly gobbling it up, we actually need less food to feel satisfied.
- Befriend some kitchen must-haves like real vanilla extract or vanilla bean or coconut butter. Or use common, every-day foods like lemons in some creative ways. For example, use lemon zest to add real zing to any meal!
- For the most flavor, eat seasonally and locally. Canned or packaged foods or foods that have traveled great distances in the back of a truck just can't compare to the succulence of a fresh piece of locally grown fruit.
- Check your hydration. Digestion starts in your mouth with your saliva, which helps us taste all the magnificent flavor in food. If you are dehydrated and not producing enough saliva, you won't really be able to enjoy your food.
- Check your medications. Believe it or not, most medications interfere with the body's ability to taste and smell. Some of them can even create an unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth. Wondering how you might decrease the number of pills you take? Learn more about functional medicine.
- Got nutrition? Nutrient deficiency is an important cause of improper taste perception. A lack of certain vitamins and minerals can markedly impair your ability to smell and taste food. Most Americans have several nutrient deficiencies, but there is one in particular that can especially keep you from enjoying your next meal: zinc. Try adding foods like oysters, pecans, sunflower seeds, and lentils to increase your daily intake of this important mineral.
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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
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Nature's beauty
Our Daily Bread
I grew up in a family where my stepfather was an outdoorsman. He didn't like most sports, but he loved being outdoors to fish, hike and camp. I was taught from an early age to respect and appreciate nature. Frankly, I have been allergic to outdoors most of my life. I couldn't appreciate it as much as I wanted without sneezing and wheezing a lot!
Seeing God in nature is nothing to sneeze at! ha! I chuckled about that line ever since I thought of it! It is amazing to think of the wonders of nature that our Almighty God created with just his words, even the parts that make me sneeze! He spoke the world into reality and made mankind in his image. We have the freedom of will and responsibility to live in this world. It is beautiful even though we have perverted it from God's original plan. Let us pray that we can truly appreciate God's beautiful creation -- nature and us!
Lord, thank you for the incredible world you created for us! Please help us see your glory each and every day!
Teaching Tuesday
I didn't take time to finish Mere Christianity this week. I was taking advantage of the good weather and lots of motivation to get stuff done around the house before my roommate returned home from vacation. I made time to work on my spiritual autobiography for my EFM class. Here is the second draft. I have some more wordsmithing to do on it before I read it to the class.
My Spiritual Autobiography
I first attended church as a child at the Baptist church across from my Grandmother's house. I visited my grandparents a lot, so I attended there several times per year. My mom and dad did not attend church. I remember one special Sunday morning when we were talking about salvation. It all made sense to me as the Holy Spirit spoke to me. I accepted Christ as my savior at the tender age of 8. I started attending church wherever I could until my family caught on. ;-) A close friend at school was a PK (preacher's kid), so I managed to catch a ride to his church. My family started attending church when I was 10. It was nice going to church together and being an active family.
I was very involved at church. I sang in the childrens, youth and adult choirs. I visited folks to invite them to church and witness. I attended Sunday School, Church Training, Wednesday night services and special Bible studies. At the age of 14, I felt God calling me into full time Christian service. I was scared to death about what that really meant. Just after I accepted Christ as my Savior, I also realized I was different than the other kids. I liked men. I said men, not boys. I wasn't attracted to boys my age. I looked at men whenever I got the chance. I thought it was just a passing phase and that I would get married eventually.
I looked forward to my college days. I thought they were amazing even though I started a year later than my original plan. Yes, I usually have a plan! My plan for my life was to get my bachelor's degree in church music, then on to my masters and doctorate before the age of 30. I planned to be a PhD, married and at least one child by that age! Yikes, how plans change! What did I learn in college? Wow! I had friends from all over the world and the USA. I worked in churches all over the midwest. I sang and sang and sang. It was great. I also started talking about my sexuality. I remember writing about being a "bisexual who preferred women" in my Christian Love and Sexuality class. Whoa! The professor said I need to get those thoughts out of my head immediately!
I graduated from college when I was 22 years old. I spent a few years in what I call "the wilderness" working in a secular job and being a part-time minister of music in a Southern Baptist church. I worked in a nursing home for a few years. I even considered skipping seminary and being a nursing home administrator for a vocation. I finally packed up my car and moved to Louisville, Kentucky to attend the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was a horrible experience for me! God told me in my prayers that things would get worse before they would get better. I confided in a friend that God was going to allow something to happen to me, but not to worry. God said it would all work out. Shortly after that I found a lump in a place where there weren't supposed to be any lumps. ;-( I had cancer. The treatment required two surgeries and four months of chemotherapy. I was a scared, broke seminary student. I had no idea how I was going to handle all of this.
It is amazing the freedom that you can have when you place everything in God's hands. There were days that I would get four pieces of mail. The first three would be bills that I had no money to pay. The fourth envelope would contain a check for the amount I needed. God provided for me over and over again, including the faith to know that I was cured even when the doctors said I wasn't. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God cured me. BTW, I celebrated 27 years of being cancer free on April 1, 2013! Praise God!
After a second attempt at going to seminary, I looked in the mirror one evening asking God "What am I supposed to do? I have fought this gay thing for so many years. What am I supposed to do?" God gently told me "Why are you fighting me on this? I made you this way for a reason. Be the man I made you. There are others out there that need you to be the man I made you to be." That talk with God changed my life. I started using the phrase "God called me to be gay..." My conservative Southern Baptist friends LOVED that!
At age 36, my life changed again. I met a man. It was like a "Dreamweaver" moment when I saw him across the bar. Sparks flew when I touched his hand. They continued to fly for several years after that. My ex was the first man I ever loved. I am thankful for him. Our relationship lasted for 11.5 years. We were both recovering Southern Baptists, but never made going to church a priority in our relationship.
A few years after we moved to Columbus in 2003, I realized that I had doubts about my relationship. We had been together about nine years at that point. I am a stubborn man. I didn't want to give up easily. I tried to make it work. My ex tried to make it work. We broke up in July 2007. It was the most difficult period in my life. When you can't imagine spending one more day with someone, it is difficult to actually spend the rest of your life with him. ;-( My life changed again. I knew deep in my heart breaking up was the right thing. It was so very difficult to actually do it.
The last few years of my 40s left me tired and weary... yes, weary of pursuing another relationship. I had lots of challenges, but also had a major change in my life -- I started attending church again. I continued to carry through with that commitment to spiritual growth in my 50s. I started with taking the Walk to Emmaus, an intense church retreat weekend. I continued by being involved in small groups at church. God told me that year that I cannot remain a spectator. I need to contribute so I offered to create and lead some small groups. I am very excited about these things. God lead me to the Episcopal church in 2012. He reminds me over and over of the reasons why and continues to surprise me with new people and experiences (like EFM).
I see my life as a road. I am not sure where it is going. I still don't understand all the turns that it made over the years. All I know is that I need to keep walking. I need to keep focused. What does it matter where the road goes as long as God is leading?
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The Lord gives us His grace to live purposeful lives of faith as we await His coming.- Our Daily Bread
I grew up in a family where my stepfather was an outdoorsman. He didn't like most sports, but he loved being outdoors to fish, hike and camp. I was taught from an early age to respect and appreciate nature. Frankly, I have been allergic to outdoors most of my life. I couldn't appreciate it as much as I wanted without sneezing and wheezing a lot!
Seeing God in nature is nothing to sneeze at! ha! I chuckled about that line ever since I thought of it! It is amazing to think of the wonders of nature that our Almighty God created with just his words, even the parts that make me sneeze! He spoke the world into reality and made mankind in his image. We have the freedom of will and responsibility to live in this world. It is beautiful even though we have perverted it from God's original plan. Let us pray that we can truly appreciate God's beautiful creation -- nature and us!
Lord, thank you for the incredible world you created for us! Please help us see your glory each and every day!
Teaching Tuesday
I didn't take time to finish Mere Christianity this week. I was taking advantage of the good weather and lots of motivation to get stuff done around the house before my roommate returned home from vacation. I made time to work on my spiritual autobiography for my EFM class. Here is the second draft. I have some more wordsmithing to do on it before I read it to the class.
My Spiritual Autobiography
I first attended church as a child at the Baptist church across from my Grandmother's house. I visited my grandparents a lot, so I attended there several times per year. My mom and dad did not attend church. I remember one special Sunday morning when we were talking about salvation. It all made sense to me as the Holy Spirit spoke to me. I accepted Christ as my savior at the tender age of 8. I started attending church wherever I could until my family caught on. ;-) A close friend at school was a PK (preacher's kid), so I managed to catch a ride to his church. My family started attending church when I was 10. It was nice going to church together and being an active family.
I was very involved at church. I sang in the childrens, youth and adult choirs. I visited folks to invite them to church and witness. I attended Sunday School, Church Training, Wednesday night services and special Bible studies. At the age of 14, I felt God calling me into full time Christian service. I was scared to death about what that really meant. Just after I accepted Christ as my Savior, I also realized I was different than the other kids. I liked men. I said men, not boys. I wasn't attracted to boys my age. I looked at men whenever I got the chance. I thought it was just a passing phase and that I would get married eventually.
I looked forward to my college days. I thought they were amazing even though I started a year later than my original plan. Yes, I usually have a plan! My plan for my life was to get my bachelor's degree in church music, then on to my masters and doctorate before the age of 30. I planned to be a PhD, married and at least one child by that age! Yikes, how plans change! What did I learn in college? Wow! I had friends from all over the world and the USA. I worked in churches all over the midwest. I sang and sang and sang. It was great. I also started talking about my sexuality. I remember writing about being a "bisexual who preferred women" in my Christian Love and Sexuality class. Whoa! The professor said I need to get those thoughts out of my head immediately!
I graduated from college when I was 22 years old. I spent a few years in what I call "the wilderness" working in a secular job and being a part-time minister of music in a Southern Baptist church. I worked in a nursing home for a few years. I even considered skipping seminary and being a nursing home administrator for a vocation. I finally packed up my car and moved to Louisville, Kentucky to attend the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was a horrible experience for me! God told me in my prayers that things would get worse before they would get better. I confided in a friend that God was going to allow something to happen to me, but not to worry. God said it would all work out. Shortly after that I found a lump in a place where there weren't supposed to be any lumps. ;-( I had cancer. The treatment required two surgeries and four months of chemotherapy. I was a scared, broke seminary student. I had no idea how I was going to handle all of this.
It is amazing the freedom that you can have when you place everything in God's hands. There were days that I would get four pieces of mail. The first three would be bills that I had no money to pay. The fourth envelope would contain a check for the amount I needed. God provided for me over and over again, including the faith to know that I was cured even when the doctors said I wasn't. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God cured me. BTW, I celebrated 27 years of being cancer free on April 1, 2013! Praise God!
After a second attempt at going to seminary, I looked in the mirror one evening asking God "What am I supposed to do? I have fought this gay thing for so many years. What am I supposed to do?" God gently told me "Why are you fighting me on this? I made you this way for a reason. Be the man I made you. There are others out there that need you to be the man I made you to be." That talk with God changed my life. I started using the phrase "God called me to be gay..." My conservative Southern Baptist friends LOVED that!
At age 36, my life changed again. I met a man. It was like a "Dreamweaver" moment when I saw him across the bar. Sparks flew when I touched his hand. They continued to fly for several years after that. My ex was the first man I ever loved. I am thankful for him. Our relationship lasted for 11.5 years. We were both recovering Southern Baptists, but never made going to church a priority in our relationship.
A few years after we moved to Columbus in 2003, I realized that I had doubts about my relationship. We had been together about nine years at that point. I am a stubborn man. I didn't want to give up easily. I tried to make it work. My ex tried to make it work. We broke up in July 2007. It was the most difficult period in my life. When you can't imagine spending one more day with someone, it is difficult to actually spend the rest of your life with him. ;-( My life changed again. I knew deep in my heart breaking up was the right thing. It was so very difficult to actually do it.
The last few years of my 40s left me tired and weary... yes, weary of pursuing another relationship. I had lots of challenges, but also had a major change in my life -- I started attending church again. I continued to carry through with that commitment to spiritual growth in my 50s. I started with taking the Walk to Emmaus, an intense church retreat weekend. I continued by being involved in small groups at church. God told me that year that I cannot remain a spectator. I need to contribute so I offered to create and lead some small groups. I am very excited about these things. God lead me to the Episcopal church in 2012. He reminds me over and over of the reasons why and continues to surprise me with new people and experiences (like EFM).
I see my life as a road. I am not sure where it is going. I still don't understand all the turns that it made over the years. All I know is that I need to keep walking. I need to keep focused. What does it matter where the road goes as long as God is leading?
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The Lord gives us His grace to live purposeful lives of faith as we await His coming.- Our Daily Bread
Monday, September 16, 2013
Put one foot in front of the other
Our Daily Bread
The song Put One Foot in Front of the Other is one of my favorite holiday songs since it is from a cute Christmas season cartoon. Here are the lyrics. I thought of the song again while reading today's devotional.
When trying to follow God's Will, I feel there are two things to remember: put one foot in front of the other and move AND only be concerned with today. The first one I have no problem with. I am a doer. I put one foot in front of the other when walking or riding my recumbent bike or moving forward in my life. I can usually do this, but there have been exceptions (like getting my eating habits under control for the rest of my life). The second one is not so easy for me. I am a planner. How can I only be concerned about today when I want to buy Elton John tickets for November? God gave me an example of that last week. I bought tickets to see Totem by Cirque du Soleil. I hoped to take a date, so I prayed about who to ask. None of the names of guys I am interested in came to mind. Then God put the name of a close friend in my head that I hadn't spend time with this summer. He was thrilled when I asked him to go with me. When I told him about the prayer, he said hanging out with me that evening was also an answer to his prayers as well! Praise God
We never know what God is going to do with our lives from day to day. As a famous saying goes: What does it matter where the road goes as long as God is leading?
Lord, thank you for leading us to new and exciting adventures each day even when it seems like our normal life. Please help us follow you!
Movie Monday
I didn't get to the theater this week. There was only one movie that I considered seeing. It is the new Robert DiNiro film called The Family. It looked funny. I might have time to see it this week. I watched the Bluray of Star Trek - Into Darkness on Friday night in my home theater. It was pretty cool the second time!
The early Summer blockbusters are starting to come out on DVD and Bluray now. Keep your eyes open for Iron Man 3 and your other favorites! Christmas is a comin'!
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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
The song Put One Foot in Front of the Other is one of my favorite holiday songs since it is from a cute Christmas season cartoon. Here are the lyrics. I thought of the song again while reading today's devotional.
When trying to follow God's Will, I feel there are two things to remember: put one foot in front of the other and move AND only be concerned with today. The first one I have no problem with. I am a doer. I put one foot in front of the other when walking or riding my recumbent bike or moving forward in my life. I can usually do this, but there have been exceptions (like getting my eating habits under control for the rest of my life). The second one is not so easy for me. I am a planner. How can I only be concerned about today when I want to buy Elton John tickets for November? God gave me an example of that last week. I bought tickets to see Totem by Cirque du Soleil. I hoped to take a date, so I prayed about who to ask. None of the names of guys I am interested in came to mind. Then God put the name of a close friend in my head that I hadn't spend time with this summer. He was thrilled when I asked him to go with me. When I told him about the prayer, he said hanging out with me that evening was also an answer to his prayers as well! Praise God
We never know what God is going to do with our lives from day to day. As a famous saying goes: What does it matter where the road goes as long as God is leading?
Lord, thank you for leading us to new and exciting adventures each day even when it seems like our normal life. Please help us follow you!
Movie Monday
I didn't get to the theater this week. There was only one movie that I considered seeing. It is the new Robert DiNiro film called The Family. It looked funny. I might have time to see it this week. I watched the Bluray of Star Trek - Into Darkness on Friday night in my home theater. It was pretty cool the second time!
The early Summer blockbusters are starting to come out on DVD and Bluray now. Keep your eyes open for Iron Man 3 and your other favorites! Christmas is a comin'!
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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
Sunday, September 15, 2013
The Ultimate
Our Daily Bread
As you might notice from my Monday blog entries, I like movies. I often look forward to a new movie and think "this will be the best movie EVER!" The ultimate movie experience! Do you have things in your life that you consider the "ultimate" experience, whether it be knitting that garment with the impossible pattern, your son's big game, or successfully recreating a difficult recipe?
The devotional talked about John Wooden, the long-time coach of the UCLA Bruins basketball team. I still remember watching the game where Notre Dame ended UCLA's long winning streak. Even in a devastating loss, Coach Wooden was gracious and complemented his opponents. I didn't realize that he was a Christian and spoke openly of his faith. I loved the comment "basketball is not the ultimate". Just try saying football is not the ultimate to Ohio State fans! Heresy, I say! ha! Whatever your ultimate life experience, let us always remember that God is our ultimate experience!
Lord, thank you for being our ultimate life experience! We thank you and praise you!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 111 is one of those "praise God!" psalms that we usually think of when we think of the psalms. Read it out loud (really loud)!
Psalm 111
1 Praise the Lord.
I will extol the Lord with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the Lord;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
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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
As you might notice from my Monday blog entries, I like movies. I often look forward to a new movie and think "this will be the best movie EVER!" The ultimate movie experience! Do you have things in your life that you consider the "ultimate" experience, whether it be knitting that garment with the impossible pattern, your son's big game, or successfully recreating a difficult recipe?
The devotional talked about John Wooden, the long-time coach of the UCLA Bruins basketball team. I still remember watching the game where Notre Dame ended UCLA's long winning streak. Even in a devastating loss, Coach Wooden was gracious and complemented his opponents. I didn't realize that he was a Christian and spoke openly of his faith. I loved the comment "basketball is not the ultimate". Just try saying football is not the ultimate to Ohio State fans! Heresy, I say! ha! Whatever your ultimate life experience, let us always remember that God is our ultimate experience!
Lord, thank you for being our ultimate life experience! We thank you and praise you!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 111 is one of those "praise God!" psalms that we usually think of when we think of the psalms. Read it out loud (really loud)!
Psalm 111
1 Praise the Lord.
I will extol the Lord with all my heart
in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
2 Great are the works of the Lord;
they are pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established for ever and ever,
enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
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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, September 14, 2013
Rooster
Our Daily Bread
While studying the New Testament, I read the story about Peter denying Christ three times the night he was betrayed. I have always wondered how Christ's most faithful disciple could do this. The description of his bitter tears when the rooster crowed made me realize -- he was human! I decided that I probably need a rooster following me around all the time. He would probably get hoarse from crowing after all the times I deny Christ in my life! Yikes!
How the life of Peter changed when he met Jesus! How his life changed when Christ died and was resurrected! How his life changed when the Holy Spirit came down! Peter and most of the disciples did the best they could to cope with all these things. I don't know about you, but that encourages me to be faithful to God through all the changes in my life! It is comforting to know that God's mercies and love are never withdrawn from us during these times. He is there for us if we just call on him!
Lord, thank you for your love and mercies even when we deny you. Please use each denial to strengthen our call to love and serve you!
Simply Saturday
Joy
noun - a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. - Google dictionary
Is joy just another way of saying "happiness"? I found this interesting article about joy when I was researching this entry. I am not familiar with the background of this site, but I liked the posting about joy. Check it out. It talks about how joy is much more than happiness.
If you read my Tuesday entries, I read Surprised by Joy by CS Lewis over the summer. His realization of what true joy was in the Lord was an extraordinary story! Check it out sometime!
As I understand it, joy is more than just happiness for Christians. It is less fleeting with happiness. Joy is a deeper feeling, a deeper knowledge of the certainty of God's presence. We develop joy by loving and trusting God more and more. It is a spring the wells up from within and can't help springing forth from you!
Realizing joy is a process for many, like the writings of CS Lewis discussed. For me, the joy is down deep. I know it is there. I don't always tap that spring and let it out day by day. I think that is a prayer for all of us!
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Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
While studying the New Testament, I read the story about Peter denying Christ three times the night he was betrayed. I have always wondered how Christ's most faithful disciple could do this. The description of his bitter tears when the rooster crowed made me realize -- he was human! I decided that I probably need a rooster following me around all the time. He would probably get hoarse from crowing after all the times I deny Christ in my life! Yikes!
How the life of Peter changed when he met Jesus! How his life changed when Christ died and was resurrected! How his life changed when the Holy Spirit came down! Peter and most of the disciples did the best they could to cope with all these things. I don't know about you, but that encourages me to be faithful to God through all the changes in my life! It is comforting to know that God's mercies and love are never withdrawn from us during these times. He is there for us if we just call on him!
Lord, thank you for your love and mercies even when we deny you. Please use each denial to strengthen our call to love and serve you!
Simply Saturday
Joy
noun - a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. - Google dictionary
Is joy just another way of saying "happiness"? I found this interesting article about joy when I was researching this entry. I am not familiar with the background of this site, but I liked the posting about joy. Check it out. It talks about how joy is much more than happiness.
If you read my Tuesday entries, I read Surprised by Joy by CS Lewis over the summer. His realization of what true joy was in the Lord was an extraordinary story! Check it out sometime!
As I understand it, joy is more than just happiness for Christians. It is less fleeting with happiness. Joy is a deeper feeling, a deeper knowledge of the certainty of God's presence. We develop joy by loving and trusting God more and more. It is a spring the wells up from within and can't help springing forth from you!
Realizing joy is a process for many, like the writings of CS Lewis discussed. For me, the joy is down deep. I know it is there. I don't always tap that spring and let it out day by day. I think that is a prayer for all of us!
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Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
Friday, September 13, 2013
Father figure
Our Daily Bread
I have been fortunate to have several father figures in my life - my stepfather, a close family friend, and my ex-partner's father. There were all church going men who did their best to live their lives for God. I remember watching them...
The devotional gave same examples of how a father influenced his children by living their lives for God. The writer's father was one example. King Asa from the Old Testament was just one example from the Bible. His example influenced his son, the next king, to lead Israel even closer to the ways of JHWH. Amazing!
If you are a father, please consider following God to be an example to your children. If you aren't a father, consider being a positive influence on the young ones around you. You never know who is looking up to you! This goes for mothers, too!
Lord, thank you for being our Heavenly Father. Please help us follow you and your example.
Foodie Friday
Here are a few more tailgating recipes. One is my chili recipe since Fall weather returned today! Enjoy! Go Bucks!
Duane's Chili Recipe
I like my chili like I like my men -- thick and spicy! hehehe
Ingredients:
2 large bottles of salsa (mild, medium or hot according to your preference)
2 pounds of ground round (or chuck or ground turkey or small chunks of steak)
1 can of tomato soup (this adds thickness to the chili)
1 can light red kidney beans
1 can dark red kidney bearns
1 can chili beans (can use spicy ones to add some more heat)
1 teaspoon red pepper (more or less to your taste)
4 tablespoons chili powder (more or less to taste)
1 can of chicken broth
dash of sugar (to break down the acidity a little)
Brown the meat in a large pot that will hold all the ingredients. I have a special crock for my chili! Sprinkle one teaspoon of chili powder on the meat as it browns. This adds flavor to the meat and the chili. After browning the meat, add the contents of all the canned goods, including the sauce that is in each can. Add the salsa. Stir well and cook for a few minutes on medium heat until is boils. Stir often. After bringing the mixture to a boil, turn down the heat and then slowly stir in the red pepper, sugar and the rest of the chili powder. Let simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring often since the spices will tend to sink to the bottom of the pot. Season to taste with additional spices if you desire.
You can serve this right away or even better, let it sit overnight so the spices blend better with the other ingredients. Serve with your favorite chili sides like cheese, Fritos Dippers, onions, Tabasco sauce, etc. I don't usually put pasta in my chili, but you can add macaroni to it or pour the chili over some spaghetti (Cincy style). I like making a big pot of chili on the weekend, then eat on it all week long! Enjoy!
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Trusting God’s faithfulness dispels our fearfulness. - Our Daily Bread web site
I have been fortunate to have several father figures in my life - my stepfather, a close family friend, and my ex-partner's father. There were all church going men who did their best to live their lives for God. I remember watching them...
The devotional gave same examples of how a father influenced his children by living their lives for God. The writer's father was one example. King Asa from the Old Testament was just one example from the Bible. His example influenced his son, the next king, to lead Israel even closer to the ways of JHWH. Amazing!
If you are a father, please consider following God to be an example to your children. If you aren't a father, consider being a positive influence on the young ones around you. You never know who is looking up to you! This goes for mothers, too!
Lord, thank you for being our Heavenly Father. Please help us follow you and your example.
Foodie Friday
Here are a few more tailgating recipes. One is my chili recipe since Fall weather returned today! Enjoy! Go Bucks!
Duane's Chili Recipe
I like my chili like I like my men -- thick and spicy! hehehe
Ingredients:
2 large bottles of salsa (mild, medium or hot according to your preference)
2 pounds of ground round (or chuck or ground turkey or small chunks of steak)
1 can of tomato soup (this adds thickness to the chili)
1 can light red kidney beans
1 can dark red kidney bearns
1 can chili beans (can use spicy ones to add some more heat)
1 teaspoon red pepper (more or less to your taste)
4 tablespoons chili powder (more or less to taste)
1 can of chicken broth
dash of sugar (to break down the acidity a little)
Brown the meat in a large pot that will hold all the ingredients. I have a special crock for my chili! Sprinkle one teaspoon of chili powder on the meat as it browns. This adds flavor to the meat and the chili. After browning the meat, add the contents of all the canned goods, including the sauce that is in each can. Add the salsa. Stir well and cook for a few minutes on medium heat until is boils. Stir often. After bringing the mixture to a boil, turn down the heat and then slowly stir in the red pepper, sugar and the rest of the chili powder. Let simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring often since the spices will tend to sink to the bottom of the pot. Season to taste with additional spices if you desire.
You can serve this right away or even better, let it sit overnight so the spices blend better with the other ingredients. Serve with your favorite chili sides like cheese, Fritos Dippers, onions, Tabasco sauce, etc. I don't usually put pasta in my chili, but you can add macaroni to it or pour the chili over some spaghetti (Cincy style). I like making a big pot of chili on the weekend, then eat on it all week long! Enjoy!
Buffalo Chicken Cheese Balls
Recipe courtesy Aaron McCargo Jr.
Prep Time: 20 min
Inactive Prep Time: --
Cook Time:10 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 15 to 20 balls
Ingredients
1 store-bought rotisserie chicken
1/4 cup hot sauce (recommended: Frank's Red Hot)
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 3/4 cups sharp Cheddar
1/4 cup freshly sliced scallions
1 cups all-purpose flour
3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups panko bread crumbs
Vegetable oil, for frying
Blue Cheese Dip:
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1/2 cup packed blue cheese, broken up
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
Directions
Have oil heated to 350 degrees F.
Pick the meat from the chicken and discard the skin. Place the chicken in a large bowl and add the hot sauce, pepper, cheese, and scallions, and toss to combine. Roll the chicken into 2-ounce balls, about the size of a golf ball.
Place the flour, eggs, and bread crumbs in 3 separate bowls. Roll each ball in the flour, then the egg and then the bread crumbs. Set aside.
When the oil is hot fry the chicken balls in batches. Cook for about 2 minutes per batch. Remove the chicken to paper towel lined plate to drain the excess oil.
To make the sauce, combine all ingredients in a large bowl and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve the chicken alongside the dipping sauce.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/recipe_print/0,1946,FOOD_9936_326363_RECIPE-PRINT-FULL-PAGE-FORMATTER,00.html?oc=linkback
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Trusting God’s faithfulness dispels our fearfulness. - Our Daily Bread web site
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Showing strength
Our Daily Bread
Yes, I am up early in the morning to workout. I haven't been as motivated the past couple of weeks since I started some new meds and allergy season kicked in. Whew. Why do I do it? I tell myself that I workout for my health. I am not so sure it is to look more attractive and to feel stronger. Flexing my arms and chest feels good. Stronger seems more important to me as I get older! Yikes!
I hadn't thought about how vain we humans can be when it comes to strength and power. There are entire classes and studies about dealing with feelings of power and powerlessness. It is comforting to know that our God is the most powerful being in existence. He transcends our understanding.of strength and power. There is evidence of him using his power to “show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chron. 16:9). Wow! I choose to read the Bible to see that pattern all through history. He will be our strength if we let him. Talk to God today and every day. Can we show his strength by loving and helping others?
Lord, we cannot comprehend your strength and power. Please help us thank you and praise you!
Technology Thursday
Yes, I am an Apple geek I am a little afraid that the shiny is wearing off a little for me, especially after Tuesday's announcements. Here is a summary:
iOS7: The new version of the operating system used by the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch will be available for download for free starting around September 18. Be sure to check if your device is eligible for the upgrade. Check out the new design and features here to see if you will like it!
iPhone 5C: Apple came up with a cheaper world phone to help them compete with the inexpensive Android devices out there. The iPhone 5C is that phone. It has a different body design, very colorful to say the least, and is a little bit heavier that the iPhone 5. The back is made of colorful plastic (five colors will e available) with a metal infused frame. It is essentially an iPhone 5 with a plastic case. It will run $99 for the 16gig version and $199 for the 32gig version with a new contract. The iPhone 4S is now free with a new contract. Still a great phone too!
iPhone 5S: The new flagship phone is called the iPhone 5S. It is the same size and weight as the iPhone 5, but the colors changed. It is available is silver, gold and space grey. It has a new A7 processor that is twice as fast as the A6 in the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C. It also has a new M7 chip used for motion detection, which seems to be quite a breakthrough. We will see how it is used, probably by health and exercise apps and games. As far as I am concerned, the most impressive feature is that the new phone is built on a 64bit architecture, the first phone to make that leap. It is a big deal to me. It took the PC industry a long time to get to 64bit. Apple forced the phone industry into it sooner than what folks thought. There is also a better camera on the phone with some cool new features. There is also a better LTE antenna for better phone performance. The iPhone 5S costs $199 for the 16gig, $299 for the 32 gig and $399 for the 64gig version with a new contract. Check it out!
Has Apple trumped the Android world with these announcements? We will see. I was disappointed that the battery technology was not improved. Apple states the battery life in the 5S is the same as the 5. hmmph... I don't think the 5 battery life is that good, at least the way I use the phone. Oh well. I will probably use my 5 until the next phone comes out!
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Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God - William Carey
Yes, I am up early in the morning to workout. I haven't been as motivated the past couple of weeks since I started some new meds and allergy season kicked in. Whew. Why do I do it? I tell myself that I workout for my health. I am not so sure it is to look more attractive and to feel stronger. Flexing my arms and chest feels good. Stronger seems more important to me as I get older! Yikes!
I hadn't thought about how vain we humans can be when it comes to strength and power. There are entire classes and studies about dealing with feelings of power and powerlessness. It is comforting to know that our God is the most powerful being in existence. He transcends our understanding.of strength and power. There is evidence of him using his power to “show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chron. 16:9). Wow! I choose to read the Bible to see that pattern all through history. He will be our strength if we let him. Talk to God today and every day. Can we show his strength by loving and helping others?
Lord, we cannot comprehend your strength and power. Please help us thank you and praise you!
Technology Thursday
Yes, I am an Apple geek I am a little afraid that the shiny is wearing off a little for me, especially after Tuesday's announcements. Here is a summary:
iOS7: The new version of the operating system used by the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch will be available for download for free starting around September 18. Be sure to check if your device is eligible for the upgrade. Check out the new design and features here to see if you will like it!
iPhone 5C: Apple came up with a cheaper world phone to help them compete with the inexpensive Android devices out there. The iPhone 5C is that phone. It has a different body design, very colorful to say the least, and is a little bit heavier that the iPhone 5. The back is made of colorful plastic (five colors will e available) with a metal infused frame. It is essentially an iPhone 5 with a plastic case. It will run $99 for the 16gig version and $199 for the 32gig version with a new contract. The iPhone 4S is now free with a new contract. Still a great phone too!
iPhone 5S: The new flagship phone is called the iPhone 5S. It is the same size and weight as the iPhone 5, but the colors changed. It is available is silver, gold and space grey. It has a new A7 processor that is twice as fast as the A6 in the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C. It also has a new M7 chip used for motion detection, which seems to be quite a breakthrough. We will see how it is used, probably by health and exercise apps and games. As far as I am concerned, the most impressive feature is that the new phone is built on a 64bit architecture, the first phone to make that leap. It is a big deal to me. It took the PC industry a long time to get to 64bit. Apple forced the phone industry into it sooner than what folks thought. There is also a better camera on the phone with some cool new features. There is also a better LTE antenna for better phone performance. The iPhone 5S costs $199 for the 16gig, $299 for the 32 gig and $399 for the 64gig version with a new contract. Check it out!
Has Apple trumped the Android world with these announcements? We will see. I was disappointed that the battery technology was not improved. Apple states the battery life in the 5S is the same as the 5. hmmph... I don't think the 5 battery life is that good, at least the way I use the phone. Oh well. I will probably use my 5 until the next phone comes out!
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Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God - William Carey
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
L-I-L-O
Our Daily Bread
There is an unofficial axiom, GIGO, which means "garbage in, garbage out". It means that you if you poor quality materials, then the result will usually be a product of poor quality! Yikes!
While reading the devotional, I thought of LILO, which means "love in, love out". How cool is that? The "love in" is the love of God that he offers all folks. The "love out" is the natural extension of the love we receive. We have to share it! There is a challenge for Christians -- we should always show "Love out" even if we receive from others "Garbage in" or "Sarcasm in" or "Meanness in". The last two letters should always be "LO"!
Lord, thank you for giving us more love than we could ever show to others. Please help us do the best we can.
Wellness Wednesday
We can all lose our sense of focus and direction at different times in our lives even if we are doing our best to stay close to God. I found this secular article that I thought was helpful to me. Click here to read the full article.
5 Essential Questions to Lead You to Your Calling
What am I here to learn?
What am I here to teach?
What am I here to overcome?
What am I here to complete?
What am I here to express?
How about you?
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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.
There is an unofficial axiom, GIGO, which means "garbage in, garbage out". It means that you if you poor quality materials, then the result will usually be a product of poor quality! Yikes!
While reading the devotional, I thought of LILO, which means "love in, love out". How cool is that? The "love in" is the love of God that he offers all folks. The "love out" is the natural extension of the love we receive. We have to share it! There is a challenge for Christians -- we should always show "Love out" even if we receive from others "Garbage in" or "Sarcasm in" or "Meanness in". The last two letters should always be "LO"!
Lord, thank you for giving us more love than we could ever show to others. Please help us do the best we can.
Wellness Wednesday
We can all lose our sense of focus and direction at different times in our lives even if we are doing our best to stay close to God. I found this secular article that I thought was helpful to me. Click here to read the full article.
5 Essential Questions to Lead You to Your Calling
What am I here to learn?
What am I here to teach?
What am I here to overcome?
What am I here to complete?
What am I here to express?
How about you?
****************************************
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.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Good before the bad
Our Daily Bread
A family motto is "If you can't say something nice about someone, then you shouldn't say anything at all." There are a lot of folks over the years that kept me very silent! ha! Or, a joke with some friends is "If you can't say something nice about someone, then come sit by me!" Bad, very bad!
The devotional talks about how to encourage and correct folks. It makes sense. Do unto others and that sort of thing! ha! It talks about how Paul gave honest compliments to folks in different cities, encouraging their journey in Christ. He then gently, or sometimes not so gently, gave them correction from a man of God to help them move forward in their lives. The author indicates that it is usually easier for other folks to hear the "correction" stuff if they have been encouraged first.
While I can be good at encouraging and gentle correction, I often get impatient and stress the correction more and more. It is out of genuine concern for folks to move forward in their lives. I am not being a spiritual jerk. I will do better about loving people where they are and being patient for the Holy Spirit to act!
Lord, thank you for giving us friends and mentors that will lovingly correct us when we need it! Please help us be more like Paul in that aspect.
Teaching Tuesday
I read a little more in the book Mere Christianity by CS Lewis this week. I planned to finish it this week, but that didn't happen. I hope to finish it this week before my EFM reading starts up.
I started into the chapters on the great virtues. They seem like the Fruits of the Spirit to me, so I was familiar with the concepts. The CS Lewis great virtues don't line up exactly, however, I found the explanations of them very interesting. Faith, hope, temperance, charity and self-control are some of his.
The most interesting chapter in the book so far has been the called The Great Sin. It is about Pride. Wow! The "a-ha" moment was realizing that Satan can lead us to think that we are mastering some other sins, like dishonesty and sexual immorality, to "hook" us into the worst sin of all -- Pride. We read over and over in the Bible about Pride being the root of separation from God, including the fall of angels from heaven and the fall of man. I am much more cautions about this now. The week before I read this I bragged to a friend about how I had conquered a pet sin for a month. Pride was busting out at the seams of my gym shorts. So now I am praying for self-control AND humility about it!
Pick up this book when you get a chance. Re-read it if you haven't read it in a while!
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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
A family motto is "If you can't say something nice about someone, then you shouldn't say anything at all." There are a lot of folks over the years that kept me very silent! ha! Or, a joke with some friends is "If you can't say something nice about someone, then come sit by me!" Bad, very bad!
The devotional talks about how to encourage and correct folks. It makes sense. Do unto others and that sort of thing! ha! It talks about how Paul gave honest compliments to folks in different cities, encouraging their journey in Christ. He then gently, or sometimes not so gently, gave them correction from a man of God to help them move forward in their lives. The author indicates that it is usually easier for other folks to hear the "correction" stuff if they have been encouraged first.
While I can be good at encouraging and gentle correction, I often get impatient and stress the correction more and more. It is out of genuine concern for folks to move forward in their lives. I am not being a spiritual jerk. I will do better about loving people where they are and being patient for the Holy Spirit to act!
Lord, thank you for giving us friends and mentors that will lovingly correct us when we need it! Please help us be more like Paul in that aspect.
Teaching Tuesday
I read a little more in the book Mere Christianity by CS Lewis this week. I planned to finish it this week, but that didn't happen. I hope to finish it this week before my EFM reading starts up.
I started into the chapters on the great virtues. They seem like the Fruits of the Spirit to me, so I was familiar with the concepts. The CS Lewis great virtues don't line up exactly, however, I found the explanations of them very interesting. Faith, hope, temperance, charity and self-control are some of his.
The most interesting chapter in the book so far has been the called The Great Sin. It is about Pride. Wow! The "a-ha" moment was realizing that Satan can lead us to think that we are mastering some other sins, like dishonesty and sexual immorality, to "hook" us into the worst sin of all -- Pride. We read over and over in the Bible about Pride being the root of separation from God, including the fall of angels from heaven and the fall of man. I am much more cautions about this now. The week before I read this I bragged to a friend about how I had conquered a pet sin for a month. Pride was busting out at the seams of my gym shorts. So now I am praying for self-control AND humility about it!
Pick up this book when you get a chance. Re-read it if you haven't read it in a while!
******************************************
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
Monday, September 9, 2013
Shiny, Part 2
Our Daily Bread
If you haven't figured it out, I love to joke around with my family, friends and often complete strangers! ha! One joke involves the title of today's entry. A few friends (and me sometimes) will stop in mid-sentence and change topics. We all laugh and say "Shiny!", which means we stay on topic until something shiny and new catches our attention! ha! The shiny object always wins!
I entitled this blog entry Shiny, Part 2. Yesterday, I wrote about the Children of God being "shiny" for God. You might notice that the first paragraph is copied from that entry! Maybe not! I want to re-purpose that intro for today's devotional. Too many times an earthly shiny object comes along and distracts us from the things that God has for us to do. Shiny! What?!? The earthly shiny object could be a job. It could be a sport or two. It could be TV. It could be some other thing that you enjoy, but shouldn't spend that much time or money doing. They are distractions that keep us from pursuing our relationship with God. I am continuously adjusting my schedule to make time for the things I need to do. I need to do a better job of it to be sure! More time to pray and meditate is my next goal!
Lord, please help us stay focused on you and not be distracted by the shiny object of the moment!
Movie Monday
I saw the movie Riddick: Rule the Night on Friday after work. I have been waiting for this movie for several months. I watched the two previous Riddick movies at home in preparation. Did I build it up too much in my silly bear head? Maybe. Maybe not. The story is very similar to the first movie, except it happens after the second movie in chronological order (I wondered about that). He is marooned on a desolate planet with lots of perils and monsters. Lots. He is pursued by bounty hunters. You will have to see the movie to get the ending! In general, I thought the movie was too slow, however the action scenes made up for it. They were pretty awesome.
I give this movie two bear paws. I saw it on IMAX. It was awesome.
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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
If you haven't figured it out, I love to joke around with my family, friends and often complete strangers! ha! One joke involves the title of today's entry. A few friends (and me sometimes) will stop in mid-sentence and change topics. We all laugh and say "Shiny!", which means we stay on topic until something shiny and new catches our attention! ha! The shiny object always wins!
I entitled this blog entry Shiny, Part 2. Yesterday, I wrote about the Children of God being "shiny" for God. You might notice that the first paragraph is copied from that entry! Maybe not! I want to re-purpose that intro for today's devotional. Too many times an earthly shiny object comes along and distracts us from the things that God has for us to do. Shiny! What?!? The earthly shiny object could be a job. It could be a sport or two. It could be TV. It could be some other thing that you enjoy, but shouldn't spend that much time or money doing. They are distractions that keep us from pursuing our relationship with God. I am continuously adjusting my schedule to make time for the things I need to do. I need to do a better job of it to be sure! More time to pray and meditate is my next goal!
Lord, please help us stay focused on you and not be distracted by the shiny object of the moment!
Movie Monday
I saw the movie Riddick: Rule the Night on Friday after work. I have been waiting for this movie for several months. I watched the two previous Riddick movies at home in preparation. Did I build it up too much in my silly bear head? Maybe. Maybe not. The story is very similar to the first movie, except it happens after the second movie in chronological order (I wondered about that). He is marooned on a desolate planet with lots of perils and monsters. Lots. He is pursued by bounty hunters. You will have to see the movie to get the ending! In general, I thought the movie was too slow, however the action scenes made up for it. They were pretty awesome.
I give this movie two bear paws. I saw it on IMAX. It was awesome.
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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
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Shiny!
Our Daily Bread
If you haven't figured it out, I love to joke around with my family, friends and often complete strangers! ha! One joke involves the title of today's entry. A few friends (and me sometimes) will stop in mid-sentence and change topics. We all laugh and say "Shiny!", which means we stay on topic until something shiny and new catches our attention! ha! The shiny object always wins!
Back to the devotional, I thought about the word "shiny" when referring to the Children of God. We should be stopping conversations and averting eyes as we are shiny for God! Have you ever been stopped in mid-sentence by witnessing a kind act of someone? Changed subjects instantly when you saw someone act unselfishly? Changed the plan for your whole day when you read a moving post on Facebook? People are naturally attracted to shiny. Let us all be shiny for him!
Lord, thank you for being our Light. Please help us radiate that Light to others!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 110 is one the few psalms that I just don't get in the context of today's world. I can read so many other psalms and get soooo very much out of them. I understand the context of this one, but it is not one that I would read for encouragement or insight. See you what you think.
Psalm 110
Of David. A psalm.
1 The Lord says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”
2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of your enemies!”
3 Your troops will be willing
on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendor,
your young men will come to you
like dew from the morning’s womb.
4 The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord is at your right hand;
he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
7 He will drink from a brook along the way,
and so he will lift his head high.
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Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
If you haven't figured it out, I love to joke around with my family, friends and often complete strangers! ha! One joke involves the title of today's entry. A few friends (and me sometimes) will stop in mid-sentence and change topics. We all laugh and say "Shiny!", which means we stay on topic until something shiny and new catches our attention! ha! The shiny object always wins!
Back to the devotional, I thought about the word "shiny" when referring to the Children of God. We should be stopping conversations and averting eyes as we are shiny for God! Have you ever been stopped in mid-sentence by witnessing a kind act of someone? Changed subjects instantly when you saw someone act unselfishly? Changed the plan for your whole day when you read a moving post on Facebook? People are naturally attracted to shiny. Let us all be shiny for him!
Lord, thank you for being our Light. Please help us radiate that Light to others!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 110 is one the few psalms that I just don't get in the context of today's world. I can read so many other psalms and get soooo very much out of them. I understand the context of this one, but it is not one that I would read for encouragement or insight. See you what you think.
Psalm 110
Of David. A psalm.
1 The Lord says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”
2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of your enemies!”
3 Your troops will be willing
on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendor,
your young men will come to you
like dew from the morning’s womb.
4 The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord is at your right hand;
he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
7 He will drink from a brook along the way,
and so he will lift his head high.
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Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
Saturday, September 7, 2013
God's GPS
Our Daily Bread
There has been a lot of privacy concerns expressed as technology becomes more and more advanced. Your location and movement can sometimes be tracked via your smart phone. There are cameras everywhere in large and medium sized cities. There are even cameras on highways that can track you! Do we have any privacy left?
As ominous as all that sounds, we have an omnipotent God who knows everything about us. Who we are now. Where we came from. What we do in the light. What we do in the dark. Everything. Talk about GPS - God invented the globe! ha! The coolest thing is that God not only knows where we are now, he will lead us to where need to be if we just let him. Following the gentle leadership of the Holy Spirit becomes more natural to us as we learn and practice. God will never lead us astray!
Lord, thank you for leading us to peaceful places if we just let you!
Simply Saturday
Peace
pēs
noun
freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility.
"you can while away an hour or two in peace and seclusion"
synonyms: tranquility, calm, restfulness, peace and quiet, peacefulness, quiet, quietness; (from Google dictionary)
The fruit of the week (I love that phrase) is peace. I love the definition from Google dictionary above. With all the things the world throws at us, we can proceed with "freedom from disturbance" when we walk through life with God's peace! Praise God! I thought about the 23rd Psalm while reading this definition as well!
What is your "peace"? A quiet morning alone in your home? A weekend away in a nature retreat or cabin in the woods? Whenever life gets rough, think about your peaceful places and peaceful times. Think on these things!
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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 has been a lot of privacy concerns expressed as technology becomes more and more advanced. Your location and movement can sometimes be tracked via your smart phone. There are cameras everywhere in large and medium sized cities. There are even cameras on highways that can track you! Do we have any privacy left?
As ominous as all that sounds, we have an omnipotent God who knows everything about us. Who we are now. Where we came from. What we do in the light. What we do in the dark. Everything. Talk about GPS - God invented the globe! ha! The coolest thing is that God not only knows where we are now, he will lead us to where need to be if we just let him. Following the gentle leadership of the Holy Spirit becomes more natural to us as we learn and practice. God will never lead us astray!
Lord, thank you for leading us to peaceful places if we just let you!
Simply Saturday
Peace
pēs
noun
freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility.
"you can while away an hour or two in peace and seclusion"
synonyms: tranquility, calm, restfulness, peace and quiet, peacefulness, quiet, quietness; (from Google dictionary)
The fruit of the week (I love that phrase) is peace. I love the definition from Google dictionary above. With all the things the world throws at us, we can proceed with "freedom from disturbance" when we walk through life with God's peace! Praise God! I thought about the 23rd Psalm while reading this definition as well!
What is your "peace"? A quiet morning alone in your home? A weekend away in a nature retreat or cabin in the woods? Whenever life gets rough, think about your peaceful places and peaceful times. Think on these things!
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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
Friday, September 6, 2013
Steroids
Our Daily Bread
If you read the sports pages, you have many articles about athletes cheating by using banned substances to improve their athletic performance. Many athletes have been shamed and/or banned from their sport because of it. Some others got away with it before their sport banned the substances. The substances drastically improved what they can do!
As Christians, we have a "steroid" that can enable us to do more than we are usually capable of doing -- The Bible! The best part is that it is legal for use! ha! Like regular exercise, we start slow and build up strength and endurance as we run the race of our Christian life. God is our great coach, Jesus our teammate who has already run the human race, and the Holy Spirit who motivates us each step of the way. Read today. Bulk up!
Lord, thank you for Your Word. It is an important spiritual muscle builder!
Foodie Friday
Here are a couple more tailgating recipes. We will do maybe one more week of these. The season is just getting started!
Touchdown Cookies Recipe
With some simple sweet touches, you can transform regular sugar cookies into a special treat for football fans at your pigskin party. —Sister Judith LaBrozzi, Canton, Ohio
Prep: 25 min. Bake: 10 min. + cooling Yield: 27 Servings
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
GLAZE:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
4 to 5 tablespoons hot water
3 to 4 teaspoons baking cocoa
Directions
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cream of tartar and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or until easy to handle.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a football-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
In a large bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and enough hot water to achieve spreading consistency; beat until smooth. Place 3 tablespoons glaze in a small bowl; set aside.
Add cocoa to remaining glaze; stir until smooth. Spread brown glaze over cookies. Pipe white glaze onto cookies to form football laces. Yield: 4-1/2 dozen.
Nutritional Facts
1 serving (2 each) equals 180 calories, 7 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 34 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, 27 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 2 g protein.
Crunchy Cool Coleslaw
This recipe is a version of the Honey Roasted Peanut Slaw at Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ, which I love. I think it’s a pretty close match! —Elaine Hoffmann, Santa Ana, California
Prep/Total Time: 30 min. Yield: 16 Servings
Ingredients
2 packages (16 ounces each) coleslaw mix
2 medium Honey Crisp apples, julienned
1 large carrot, shredded
3/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup canola oil
1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coarsely chopped dry roasted peanuts or cashews
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar, oil, sugar, celery seed and salt.
Just before serving, pour dressing over salad; toss to coat. Sprinkle with peanuts. Yield: 16 servings.
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As wise King Solomon said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).
If you read the sports pages, you have many articles about athletes cheating by using banned substances to improve their athletic performance. Many athletes have been shamed and/or banned from their sport because of it. Some others got away with it before their sport banned the substances. The substances drastically improved what they can do!
As Christians, we have a "steroid" that can enable us to do more than we are usually capable of doing -- The Bible! The best part is that it is legal for use! ha! Like regular exercise, we start slow and build up strength and endurance as we run the race of our Christian life. God is our great coach, Jesus our teammate who has already run the human race, and the Holy Spirit who motivates us each step of the way. Read today. Bulk up!
Lord, thank you for Your Word. It is an important spiritual muscle builder!
Foodie Friday
Here are a couple more tailgating recipes. We will do maybe one more week of these. The season is just getting started!
Touchdown Cookies Recipe
With some simple sweet touches, you can transform regular sugar cookies into a special treat for football fans at your pigskin party. —Sister Judith LaBrozzi, Canton, Ohio
Prep: 25 min. Bake: 10 min. + cooling Yield: 27 Servings
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
GLAZE:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
4 to 5 tablespoons hot water
3 to 4 teaspoons baking cocoa
Directions
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cream of tartar and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or until easy to handle.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a football-shaped cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
In a large bowl, combine confectioners' sugar and enough hot water to achieve spreading consistency; beat until smooth. Place 3 tablespoons glaze in a small bowl; set aside.
Add cocoa to remaining glaze; stir until smooth. Spread brown glaze over cookies. Pipe white glaze onto cookies to form football laces. Yield: 4-1/2 dozen.
Nutritional Facts
1 serving (2 each) equals 180 calories, 7 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 34 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, 27 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 2 g protein.
Crunchy Cool Coleslaw
This recipe is a version of the Honey Roasted Peanut Slaw at Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ, which I love. I think it’s a pretty close match! —Elaine Hoffmann, Santa Ana, California
Prep/Total Time: 30 min. Yield: 16 Servings
Ingredients
2 packages (16 ounces each) coleslaw mix
2 medium Honey Crisp apples, julienned
1 large carrot, shredded
3/4 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup canola oil
1-1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coarsely chopped dry roasted peanuts or cashews
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar, oil, sugar, celery seed and salt.
Just before serving, pour dressing over salad; toss to coat. Sprinkle with peanuts. Yield: 16 servings.
*********************************************
As wise King Solomon said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Struggle with contentment
Our Daily Bread
If you can imagine this, I have a joke with some friends based on this line from Whatever happened to Baby Jane? "But you are Blanche, you are in that chair!" If a friend tries to deny he is a certain way, like too picky or OCD or whatever undesirable trait he is trying to deny, we say a shortened version: "But you are Blanche, you are" Ha! Yes, I know. It is amazing that I have any friends at all!
What does this have to do with the devotional? I thought about what it takes for me to be satisfied with what I have. Hmmmmmm. Does it take someone saying "But you are Duane, you are satisfied!" or do I need to slow down and look around me. I struggles with what does "satisfied" mean? Does it mean my life is over and I shouldn't strive to do more until the day I die? I think not. You might as well kill me now if that is the case. I figured out that being satisfied means "not striving too much" for stuff. You know what I mean. Stuff. I like gadgets, I like to travel, I like, I like, I want... The striving should be to serve others, not obtain more stuff. I am so blessed. How about you? Are you satisfied? Are you content?
Lord, all I need is you. Please help me to realize this when I feel I am missing something in my life.
Technology Thursday
Samsung Announcement
Samsung had their first Fall announcement session yesterday. They announced their new smart watch called the Galaxy Gear smart watch.
The watch can link to a Galaxy smart phone to make calls, 1.9 megapixel camera and other functions. It can also track your physical activity and transfer it to your phone or tablet or computer. It comes in several colors and costs $299. I will not be buying one...
Samsung also announced their Galaxy Note III. As the article says "it is huge and comes with a pen!" ha!
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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
If you can imagine this, I have a joke with some friends based on this line from Whatever happened to Baby Jane? "But you are Blanche, you are in that chair!" If a friend tries to deny he is a certain way, like too picky or OCD or whatever undesirable trait he is trying to deny, we say a shortened version: "But you are Blanche, you are
What does this have to do with the devotional? I thought about what it takes for me to be satisfied with what I have. Hmmmmmm. Does it take someone saying "But you are Duane, you are satisfied!" or do I need to slow down and look around me. I struggles with what does "satisfied" mean? Does it mean my life is over and I shouldn't strive to do more until the day I die? I think not. You might as well kill me now if that is the case. I figured out that being satisfied means "not striving too much" for stuff. You know what I mean. Stuff. I like gadgets, I like to travel, I like, I like, I want... The striving should be to serve others, not obtain more stuff. I am so blessed. How about you? Are you satisfied? Are you content?
Lord, all I need is you. Please help me to realize this when I feel I am missing something in my life.
Technology Thursday
Samsung Announcement
Samsung had their first Fall announcement session yesterday. They announced their new smart watch called the Galaxy Gear smart watch.
The watch can link to a Galaxy smart phone to make calls, 1.9 megapixel camera and other functions. It can also track your physical activity and transfer it to your phone or tablet or computer. It comes in several colors and costs $299. I will not be buying one...
Samsung also announced their Galaxy Note III. As the article says "it is huge and comes with a pen!" ha!
****************************************
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
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Each new day
Our Daily Bread
OK, I don't want to hear a "Oh, no he did-unt!" from anyone when I quote a Broadway musical. Yes, I am! I thought of the lyrics to A Brand New Day when I read the devotional this morning. Check out the lyrics here. Is it OK if I apply a Christian overtone to those lyrics? Please?
The point of the devotional is that we have a choice each new day, if we are fortunate enough to see a new day! Here are the things we have the freedom to choose:
Today God gives you a new opportunity to praise Him. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Today God provides for you and wants your trust. “Give us day by day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3).
Today God wants to speak to you through His Word. The believers at Berea “searched the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11).
Today God desires to renew your inner person. “The inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16).
It is A Brand New Day, my friends. What will we choose?
Lord, please help us choose you in each new day!
Wellness Wednesday
How To Train Your Brain To See What Others Don't
Click on the link above to read the full article. It is pretty interesting. Here are the main points:
Here are five things you should know about insight -- and ways to bring more "aha!" moments into your life.
Be curious.
Let your mind wander.
Pay attention to coincidences.
Look closely at contradictions.
Act on your insights.
*******************************************
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40
OK, I don't want to hear a "Oh, no he did-unt!" from anyone when I quote a Broadway musical. Yes, I am! I thought of the lyrics to A Brand New Day when I read the devotional this morning. Check out the lyrics here. Is it OK if I apply a Christian overtone to those lyrics? Please?
The point of the devotional is that we have a choice each new day, if we are fortunate enough to see a new day! Here are the things we have the freedom to choose:
Today God gives you a new opportunity to praise Him. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Today God provides for you and wants your trust. “Give us day by day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3).
Today God wants to speak to you through His Word. The believers at Berea “searched the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11).
Today God desires to renew your inner person. “The inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16).
It is A Brand New Day, my friends. What will we choose?
Lord, please help us choose you in each new day!
Wellness Wednesday
How To Train Your Brain To See What Others Don't
Click on the link above to read the full article. It is pretty interesting. Here are the main points:
Here are five things you should know about insight -- and ways to bring more "aha!" moments into your life.
Be curious.
Let your mind wander.
Pay attention to coincidences.
Look closely at contradictions.
Act on your insights.
*******************************************
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Ain't nobody got time for that...
Our Daily Bread
Sweet Brown had no idea how her image would be used and how her life would change on that fateful day. Her unique voice and heart felt expression of concern during a fire at her apartment was transformed into a dance mix that went viral on the Internet. I have to admit that the phrase "Ain't nobody got time for that" is part of my vocabulary now, especially when joking around with my roommate!
The song came to mind when reading the devotional. "If being “religious” means following a set of rules so we can look good—instead of enjoying a relationship with the Savior—" then Jesus ain't got time for that! ha! No, Jesus "offers forgiveness and love to all who want an intimate relationship with Him." Wow! Our God is so amazing!
Lord, thank you for offering a personal relationship with you! Please help us do our best to live for you!
Teaching Tuesday
I read half of CS Lewis' book Mere Christianity this week. Wow! Here is my favorite quote from the book so far:
Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. CS Lewis from Mere Christianity
The book starts out with a logical approach to the human condition and how humans work. I was taken off guard at first. The more I read, the more I was hooked! His insights spoke to his generation and are speaking to me now!
*********************************************
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
Sweet Brown had no idea how her image would be used and how her life would change on that fateful day. Her unique voice and heart felt expression of concern during a fire at her apartment was transformed into a dance mix that went viral on the Internet. I have to admit that the phrase "Ain't nobody got time for that" is part of my vocabulary now, especially when joking around with my roommate!
The song came to mind when reading the devotional. "If being “religious” means following a set of rules so we can look good—instead of enjoying a relationship with the Savior—" then Jesus ain't got time for that! ha! No, Jesus "offers forgiveness and love to all who want an intimate relationship with Him." Wow! Our God is so amazing!
Lord, thank you for offering a personal relationship with you! Please help us do our best to live for you!
Teaching Tuesday
I read half of CS Lewis' book Mere Christianity this week. Wow! Here is my favorite quote from the book so far:
Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having. CS Lewis from Mere Christianity
The book starts out with a logical approach to the human condition and how humans work. I was taken off guard at first. The more I read, the more I was hooked! His insights spoke to his generation and are speaking to me now!
*********************************************
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
Monday, September 2, 2013
Well, if I HAVE to work...
Our Daily Bread
I consider myself a hard worker. My coworkers notice that I have different standards than most folks. One said recently "Not everyone is as driven as you to get things done" or something like that. It is true. I wish I could honestly say I was following the point of today's devotional. ;-(
The devotional talks about working for the glory of God. Hmmmmm. I usually think about impressing my management or coworkers or others. I don't always represent God well at work, I am ashamed to say. When I mentioned to a coworker that I used Bible verses as my passwords, he looked at my incredulously. I said "Imagine what I would be like if I didn't?" Yikes! Yes, I am duly reminded that all I do should be for the glory of God including my job and the way I interact with my coworkers (especially when they don't do their jobs...).
Lord, you give us strength and skills and knowledge to do our jobs. Please help us do them to glorify you!
Movie Monday
Yes, the days of summer are winding down. I got to see three movies last week (one of them twice).
The Grandmaster
This is a movie about the grandmaster that eventually brought his style of Kung Fu to the West. He taught Bruce Lee all he knew! It was a very interesting story with great fight scenes. My only problem with the movie is the love story subplot. It was odd to me and overwrought. I might be overly critical, I admit!
I give this one two bear paws. Nice movie. You can rent this one unless you want to see the awesome fight scenes on the big screen.
Lee Daniel's The Butler
OK, I have to say this is the best movie I have seen in 2013. I was very impressed with the writing (an "inspired by" story), the acting and the recreation of the periods. The story is about a black man who eventually becomes a long-time butler in the White House. He served seven presidents during his tenure. It is an amazing story, so watch it and see. I don't want to ruin it for you with more details.
I give this movie four bear paws. See it. Now.
The World's End
This is the third movie in a trilogy: Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. The World's End has the same core actors with some interesting twists like the first two. It has some horrendously funny and surprising spots, but is a little slow at times. A friend that saw the first two said "this one is better than Hot Fuzz, but not as good as Shaun of the Dead". I agree.
I give this one two bear paws. You can rent this one.
**********************************************
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 consider myself a hard worker. My coworkers notice that I have different standards than most folks. One said recently "Not everyone is as driven as you to get things done" or something like that. It is true. I wish I could honestly say I was following the point of today's devotional. ;-(
The devotional talks about working for the glory of God. Hmmmmm. I usually think about impressing my management or coworkers or others. I don't always represent God well at work, I am ashamed to say. When I mentioned to a coworker that I used Bible verses as my passwords, he looked at my incredulously. I said "Imagine what I would be like if I didn't?" Yikes! Yes, I am duly reminded that all I do should be for the glory of God including my job and the way I interact with my coworkers (especially when they don't do their jobs...).
Lord, you give us strength and skills and knowledge to do our jobs. Please help us do them to glorify you!
Movie Monday
Yes, the days of summer are winding down. I got to see three movies last week (one of them twice).
The Grandmaster
This is a movie about the grandmaster that eventually brought his style of Kung Fu to the West. He taught Bruce Lee all he knew! It was a very interesting story with great fight scenes. My only problem with the movie is the love story subplot. It was odd to me and overwrought. I might be overly critical, I admit!
I give this one two bear paws. Nice movie. You can rent this one unless you want to see the awesome fight scenes on the big screen.
Lee Daniel's The Butler
OK, I have to say this is the best movie I have seen in 2013. I was very impressed with the writing (an "inspired by" story), the acting and the recreation of the periods. The story is about a black man who eventually becomes a long-time butler in the White House. He served seven presidents during his tenure. It is an amazing story, so watch it and see. I don't want to ruin it for you with more details.
I give this movie four bear paws. See it. Now.
The World's End
This is the third movie in a trilogy: Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. The World's End has the same core actors with some interesting twists like the first two. It has some horrendously funny and surprising spots, but is a little slow at times. A friend that saw the first two said "this one is better than Hot Fuzz, but not as good as Shaun of the Dead". I agree.
I give this one two bear paws. You can rent this one.
**********************************************
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
Sunday, September 1, 2013
I can't drive 55
Our Daily Bread
Yes, I am old. I remember the Sammy Hagar song I can't drive 55. It was the theme for folks after the government made 55 mph the national speed limit (unless your state wanted to forfeit federal funds). I know LOTS of my friends sang this song while driving! ha!
The devotional speaks to me like the song -- sloooowwww down! ha! And like driving, I have a hard time slowing down my life! How about you? Frankly, I am not sure parents with busy kids do this! Can you teach your kids to slow down as well? How do you make time to "rest in the Lord"? I finally learned my lessons about this and am working on it. For example, I haven't scheduled myself every night of the week this Fall. I leave time open to study and pray. How about you? Maybe cut down on the TV time for prayer and Bible study? Uh oh, getting personal now! ha!
Lord, please help us use the time you gave us wisely, like to spend it with you!
Psalm Sunday
Let's read Psalm 109 today. It is an interesting prayer about the psalmist's accusers and about his prayers. While the prayer is so humanly honest it is almost uncomfortable, I am sure that Jesus would want us to bless our enemies instead of curse them.
Psalm 109
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 My God, whom I praise,
do not remain silent,
2 for people who are wicked and deceitful
have opened their mouths against me;
they have spoken against me with lying tongues.
3 With words of hatred they surround me;
they attack me without cause.
4 In return for my friendship they accuse me,
but I am a man of prayer.
5 They repay me evil for good,
and hatred for my friendship.
6 Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy;
let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty,
and may his prayers condemn him.
8 May his days be few;
may another take his place of leadership.
9 May his children be fatherless
and his wife a widow.
10 May his children be wandering beggars;
may they be driven from their ruined homes.
11 May a creditor seize all he has;
may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.
12 May no one extend kindness to him
or take pity on his fatherless children.
13 May his descendants be cut off,
their names blotted out from the next generation.
14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord;
may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
15 May their sins always remain before the Lord,
that he may blot out their name from the earth.
16 For he never thought of doing a kindness,
but hounded to death the poor
and the needy and the brokenhearted.
17 He loved to pronounce a curse—
may it come back on him.
He found no pleasure in blessing—
may it be far from him.
18 He wore cursing as his garment;
it entered into his body like water,
into his bones like oil.
19 May it be like a cloak wrapped about him,
like a belt tied forever around him.
20 May this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers,
to those who speak evil of me.
21 But you, Sovereign Lord,
help me for your name’s sake;
out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.
22 For I am poor and needy,
and my heart is wounded within me.
23 I fade away like an evening shadow;
I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees give way from fasting;
my body is thin and gaunt.
25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
when they see me, they shake their heads.
26 Help me, Lord my God;
save me according to your unfailing love.
27 Let them know that it is your hand,
that you, Lord, have done it.
28 While they curse, may you bless;
may those who attack me be put to shame,
but may your servant rejoice.
29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace
and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.
30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;
in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy,
to save their lives from those who would condemn them.
*********************************
The Lord gives us His grace to live purposeful lives of faith as we await His coming.- Our Daily Bread
Yes, I am old. I remember the Sammy Hagar song I can't drive 55. It was the theme for folks after the government made 55 mph the national speed limit (unless your state wanted to forfeit federal funds). I know LOTS of my friends sang this song while driving! ha!
The devotional speaks to me like the song -- sloooowwww down! ha! And like driving, I have a hard time slowing down my life! How about you? Frankly, I am not sure parents with busy kids do this! Can you teach your kids to slow down as well? How do you make time to "rest in the Lord"? I finally learned my lessons about this and am working on it. For example, I haven't scheduled myself every night of the week this Fall. I leave time open to study and pray. How about you? Maybe cut down on the TV time for prayer and Bible study? Uh oh, getting personal now! ha!
Lord, please help us use the time you gave us wisely, like to spend it with you!
Psalm Sunday
Let's read Psalm 109 today. It is an interesting prayer about the psalmist's accusers and about his prayers. While the prayer is so humanly honest it is almost uncomfortable, I am sure that Jesus would want us to bless our enemies instead of curse them.
Psalm 109
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 My God, whom I praise,
do not remain silent,
2 for people who are wicked and deceitful
have opened their mouths against me;
they have spoken against me with lying tongues.
3 With words of hatred they surround me;
they attack me without cause.
4 In return for my friendship they accuse me,
but I am a man of prayer.
5 They repay me evil for good,
and hatred for my friendship.
6 Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy;
let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty,
and may his prayers condemn him.
8 May his days be few;
may another take his place of leadership.
9 May his children be fatherless
and his wife a widow.
10 May his children be wandering beggars;
may they be driven from their ruined homes.
11 May a creditor seize all he has;
may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.
12 May no one extend kindness to him
or take pity on his fatherless children.
13 May his descendants be cut off,
their names blotted out from the next generation.
14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord;
may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
15 May their sins always remain before the Lord,
that he may blot out their name from the earth.
16 For he never thought of doing a kindness,
but hounded to death the poor
and the needy and the brokenhearted.
17 He loved to pronounce a curse—
may it come back on him.
He found no pleasure in blessing—
may it be far from him.
18 He wore cursing as his garment;
it entered into his body like water,
into his bones like oil.
19 May it be like a cloak wrapped about him,
like a belt tied forever around him.
20 May this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers,
to those who speak evil of me.
21 But you, Sovereign Lord,
help me for your name’s sake;
out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.
22 For I am poor and needy,
and my heart is wounded within me.
23 I fade away like an evening shadow;
I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees give way from fasting;
my body is thin and gaunt.
25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
when they see me, they shake their heads.
26 Help me, Lord my God;
save me according to your unfailing love.
27 Let them know that it is your hand,
that you, Lord, have done it.
28 While they curse, may you bless;
may those who attack me be put to shame,
but may your servant rejoice.
29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace
and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.
30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;
in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy,
to save their lives from those who would condemn them.
*********************************
The Lord gives us His grace to live purposeful lives of faith as we await His coming.- Our Daily Bread
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