Jesus paid it all

Our Daily Bread
As I mentioned once or a hundred times in my blog, music speaks to me whether it be classical music, contemporary songs or hymns.  One of my favorite hymns is Jesus Paid it All.  Check out the lyrics here.

One of the reasons this hymn is a favorite is the inherent truth -- Jesus did pay it all for us. We owe all to him!  There is nothing we can do to earn this salvation.  There is nothing we can do on our own to reconcile our relationship with God.  Please remember this when you fall into the trap of doing too much or being a certain way to EARN your salvation.  Ain't gonna happen!  We are to do and live our lives to thank him, priase him and bring others to him!

Lord, thank you for paying it all and for being the perfect example of humanity!

Movie Monday
I saw a couple of movies this week: Sabotage and The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Sabotage
This the latest action movie from Arnold Schwarzenegger.  It wasn't too bad.  Arnold stayed within himself and his limited acting abilities throughout the movie.  There were lots of twists and turns in the plot. There was also a lot of blod and guts so avoid this movie if you are squeamish.

I give this movie two bear paws.  Probably better as a rental.  No real need to see it on the big screen.

The Grand Budapest Hotel
This was a very odd movie with lots of stars in it.  Very odd, did I mention that?  hahaha  It was about a hotel concierge that was very widely known, mostly with the older ladies.  It had a lot of twists and turns.  Some very cute parts.  Some very odd parts.  There were also some quick sexual scenes.  Very odd movie.
I give this two bear paws.  There is some beautiful scenery.  That is probably the only reason to see it on the big screen.  I think it is better served as a rental!

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God has two dwellings, one in heaven and the other in a meek and thankful heart. —Walton

Not exactly "meek"

Our Daily Bread
While reading for my EFM class last week, I finally figured out what my "condition" is called.  I say "condition" because I often think of my outspoken personality as a bad thing.  The word for it is "parrhesia" which means "a tendency to boldness and frankness of speech; freedom of expression, as in much modern literature." - Free Online Dictionary  I joked in class that for all of these years my friends (and enemies) just thought I was an a$$hole!  Nooooooo!

I thought parrhesia was a bad thing until the book said that Jesus also had this personality trait.  Wow!  I have never been so happy to have something in common with Our Lord!  ha!  The difference between us is that he spoke God's Love with boldness and frankness.  My boldness is not always inspired by God's love.  Sometimes I am just an a$$hole!  Nooooooooo!  hahaha  I mention this because Jesus was also our example for meekness.  The Biblical meaning of meekness, not what the world calls meekness today.  How can someone have a personality that is described as both parrhesia and meekness?  It finally hit me that someone who is so filled with God and his Love that he lives his life as the image of God.  Oh to be a man like that.

Lord, the world thinks that meek means weak.  We know that meek means in sync with you!

Psalm Sunday
Psalm 137 is our psalm for this week.  Talk about a ride on the Betty Bitterbus!  This psalm was obviously written after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonian empire.  Talk about dark and scary!  I think what scares me the most is that I have very dark feelings sometimes.  God already knows about these things in each of us.  The psalmist gives us the message "that is OK" by his example!  Take them to the Lord in prayer!

Psalm 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
    when we remembered Zion.
2 There on the poplars
    we hung our harps,
3 for there our captors asked us for songs,
    our tormentors demanded songs of joy;
    they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord
    while in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, Jerusalem,
    may my right hand forget its skill.
6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
    if I do not remember you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem
    my highest joy.
7 Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did
    on the day Jerusalem fell.
“Tear it down,” they cried,
    “tear it down to its foundations!”
8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,
    happy is the one who repays you
    according to what you have done to us.
9 Happy is the one who seizes your infants
    and dashes them against the rocks.

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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.

How would others describe you?

Our Daily Bread
I am afraid to ask how others would describe me at times.  When talking to my boss yesterday, he joked that he went "Duane" on some folks in a meeting. He explained in an annoyed fashion in the meeting the same stuff over and over and no one would take notes or try to understand.  Lord have mercy.  I joked back "You are young.  Save yourself..."  hahaha  Oh well.  I am working on it.  Dealing with frustrating situations is probably my worst thing.  ;-(

So how would people describe you?  There have been studies done to help people understand the discrepancy between how they see themselves and how others see them.  Very interesting.  Very scary to me!  ha!  The discrepancy we should really concern ourselves with is the one between how we act and how God wants us to act!  He gave us a very specific way to treat each other -- like we would treat ourselves!  Wow!

Lord, please help us be the folks you want us to be!

Simply Saturday
The song for this week is Love take me over by Steven Curtis Chapman. It is another one of my morning songs!  I hope and pray I can live this song!

"Love Take Me Over"

I hear the clock beep, pull me out of my sleep
Tell me there's a day ahead of me
Trying to wake up, sipping on a hot cup
With the little lady in green

And I'm praying 'bout the man I wanna be
Saying, God, please take all of me
And fill me up with Your love

Love, take these words that I'm speaking
Love, take these thoughts that I'm thinking
Love, take me over
Love, fill up all of my space and
Love, stand right here in my place
Love, hear this prayer that I'm praying
Love, take me, love, take me over
Love, take me over

This is what I'm sure of, I can only show love
When I really know how loved I am
When it overtakes me, then it animates me
Flowing from my heart into my hands

So I'm praying, Father, help my heart believe
That right now You're singing over me
And fill me up with Your love

Love, take these words that I'm speaking
Love, take these thoughts that I'm thinking
Love, take me over
Love, fill up all of my space and
Love, come stand right here in my place
Love, hear this prayer that I'm praying
Love, take me, love, take me over
Love, take me over

(Take me over, take me over)
Let Your never-ending, never-failing, all-consuming love
Take over me

So I am praying, Father, help my heart believe
That right now You're singing over me
And fill me up with Your love

Love, take these words that I'm speaking
Love, take these thoughts that I'm thinking
Love, take me over
Love, fill up all of my space and
Love, stand right here in my place
Love, hear this prayer that I'm praying
Love, take everything that I'm doing
Love, like a river, flow through me
Love, take me over

Love, fill up all of my space and
Love, stand right here in my place
Love, hear this prayer that I'm praying
Love, take me, love, take me over
Love, take me, love, take me over
Love, take me, love, take me over
Love, take me over

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Living out of love for God and pleasing Him should be our heart’s desire. - Our Daily Bread

If I could turn back time

Our Daily Bread

Oh my, I am quoting a Cher song in my blog!  Lord have mercy upon me!  hahaha  What would you do if you could turn back time?  How about going forward in time?

"I just don't undestand God's timing"  I think we have all said that at one point or another in our lives.  It took me a while to figure out that God invented time and that he is not held to its rules like we are!  He transcends time!  It is often difficult to understand why we should pray to God at all when we think about God's timing.  I think the devotional expresses it best: 

Author Samuel Enyia wrote about God’s timing: “God does not depend on our time. Our time is chronological and linear but God . . . is timeless. He will act at the fullness of His time. Our prayer . . . may not necessarily rush God into action, but . . . places us before Him in fellowship.”

Keep praying.  Keep having fellowship with God.  God changes us and the Holy Spirit teaches us what to pray!

Lord, we know your ways are not our ways and your timing is not our timing.  Please help us wait patiently!

Foodie Friday

My mother reminded me of the series of articles I wrote for a church newsletter about cooking for one.  I think I was just out of college when I wrote those!  The articles ranged from simple tips for cooking healthy meals for one or for easy ways to make pre-packaged meals taste more homemade.  Mom said she still has some of those articles and uses the tips!  Aren't Moms great!  Here are a couple of those tips for my Foodie Friday entry.

Frozen veggies vs canned veggies

It is very tempting and often cheaper to buy canned veggies to prepare for a quick meal.  The number of portions for a normal size can are usually more than one.  There is also a LOT of sodium in canned veggies.  I recommend buying bags of frozen veggies instead.  You can extract a single portion from the bag and close it back.  I would avoid the single serving frozen packs because they are way more expensive and usually have calorie-laden sauces or lots of sodium.

Cooking in bulk

My Mom and I both like cooking in bulk then having leftovers a couple of times during the week or freezing part of the batch of soup, etc for another time.  Soups work well for this.  So do some crock pot classics like pot roast.  Crock pot recipes are easy to cook and easy to clearn up if you use the crock pot liner bags you can get at the grocery!  

BOGO deals

I often buy buy one get one deals at local restaurants with coupons or my Entertainment book.  Eat one now and save the other one for later!  Be sure to get side dishes that microwave or reheat easily.  For example, I find that broccoli doesn't always reheat very well.  Ewwwwww...

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Excavating your heart will unearth the beautiful things God has planted in you. - R. Howerton

A whole new world

Our Daily Bread
Yes. the love affair between a princess and a poor beggar in the Disney movie Alladin warms your heart.  I love the song A Whole New World that is sung when they explore the world together on the magic carpet.  Awwwwwww....

While there is not the romantic component, we can experience a "whole new world" with the Holy Spirit leading during our walk with God!  Woohooooo!  A holy new world!  ha!  I consider this part of the "may your will be done on earth as in heaven" in the Lord's prayer.  Let's see what the Holy Spirit has in store for us in the holy new world!

Lord, you give us strength and power to be holy in an unholy world.  We want to worship and serve you!

Technology Thursday
Moov
Check out this new device here to preorder.

The Moov fitness device acts like your personal trainer.  Since it doesn't have its own display, it works with your smart phone to display and track your workout and activity information.  The first batch of devices due out early summer will be compatible with Apple devices like iPhones and iPads.  They anticipate Android compatibility later this year.

Moov is designed to provide real-time coaching feedback via a mobile app, so that you can see and listen to instructions to improve your form during a workout. This is especially so for running, cycling, cardio boxing and body weight training.

Also, the running and cycling apps track your distance, pace and speed via the GPS on your mobile device and these data is integrated into the Moov app. Because of that, you will have to have your mobile device with you when you workout.

However, for swimming, it is not possible to bring your mobile device with you into the water.

Only for swimming, we have designed Moov to operate on a stand alone mode.

Our plan is to enable Moov to operate on a stand alone mode for other sports and activities in future. This will take time to develop and we will update our customers when these upgrades are made.

I have a pre-order for the summer batch of devices.  I will let you know what I think.

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You are a success in God’s kingdom if you are faithful where He has placed you. - Our Daily Bread

Clean heart

Our Daily Bread
Have you ever been around someone who has a cleaning "thing"?  Whether it be OCD or something else, those folks can be difficult to be around!

Even if we are OCD or anal retentive or ADHD or whatever a current designation is for someone "over the top", these folks can only bring order to the physical things around them.  They can never bring order to the emotional and spiritual lives of themselves or others (even though they may try!).  Only God can do that!

So no matter what our state of mind and heart or how clean our home is, let us all give these things over to God!

Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me!  

Wellness Wednesday
I think I failed this test...  hahaha

How Emotionally Intelligent Are You? Here's How To Tell
The Huffington Post  |  By Carolyn Gregoire

What makes some people more successful in work and life than others? IQ and work ethic are important, but they don't tell the whole story. Our emotional intelligence -- the way we manage emotions, both our own and those of others -- can play a critical role in determining our happiness and success.

Plato said that all learning has some emotional basis, and he may be right. The way we interact with and regulate our emotions has repercussions in nearly every aspect of our lives. To put it in colloquial terms, emotional intelligence (EQ) is like "street smarts," as opposed to "book smarts," and it's what accounts for a great deal of one's ability to navigate life effectively.

"What having emotional intelligence looks like is that you're confident, good at working towards your goals, adaptable and flexible. You recover quickly from stress and you're resilient," Daniel Goleman, psychologist and author of Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence, tells The Huffington Post. "Life goes much more smoothly if you have good emotional intelligence."

The five components of emotional intelligence, as defined by Goleman, are self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, social skills and empathy. We can be strong in some of these areas and deficient in others, but we all have the power to improve any of them.

Not sure how emotionally intelligent you are? Here are 14 signs you have a high EQ.

1. You're curious about people you don't know.

Do you love meeting new people, and naturally tend to ask lots of questions after you've been introduced to someone? If so, you have a certain degree of empathy, one of the main components of emotional intelligence. Highly Empathetic People (HEPs) -- those who are extremely attuned to the needs and feelings of others, and act in a way that is sensitive to those needs -- have one important thing in common: They're very curious about strangers and genuinely interested in learning more about others.

Being curious about others is also a way to cultivate empathy. "Curiosity expands our empathy when we talk to people outside our usual social circle, encountering lives and worldviews very different from our own," Roman Krznaric, author of the forthcoming Empathy: A Handbook For Revolution, wrote in a Greater Good blog post.

2. You're a great leader.

Exceptional leaders often have one thing in common, according to Goleman. In addition to the traditional requirements for success -- talent, a strong work ethic and ambition, for instance -- they possess a high degree of emotional intelligence. In his research comparing those who excelled in senior leadership roles with those who were merely average, he found that close to 90 percent of the difference in their profiles was due to emotional intelligence, rather than cognitive ability.

"The higher the rank of a person considered to be a star performer, the more emotional intelligence capabilities showed up as the reason for his or her effectiveness," Goleman wrote in Harvard Business Review.

3. You know your strengths and weaknesses.

A big part of having self-awareness is being honest with yourself about who you are -- knowing where you excel, and where you struggle, and accepting these things about yourself. An emotionally intelligent person learns to identify their areas of strength and weakness, and analyze how to work most effectively within this framework. This awareness breeds the strong self-confidence that's a main factor of emotional intelligence, according to Goleman.

"If you know what you're truly effective at, then you can operate from that with confidence," he says.

4. You know how to pay attention.

Do you get distracted by every tweet, text and passing thought? If so, it could be keeping you from functioning on your most emotionally intelligent level. But the ability to withstand distractions and focus on the task at hand is a great secret to emotional intelligence, Goleman says. Without being present with ourselves and others, it's difficult to develop self-awareness and strong relationships.

"Your ability to concentrate on the work you're doing or your schoolwork, and to put off looking at that text or playing that video game until after you're done ... how good you are at that in childhood turns out to be a stronger predictor of your financial success in adulthood than either your IQ or the wealth of the family you grew up in," Goleman says. "And we can teach kids how to do that."

5. When you're upset, you know exactly why.

We all experience a number of emotional fluctuations throughout the day, and often we don't even understand what's causing a wave of anger or sadness. But an important aspect of self-awareness is the ability to recognize where your emotions are coming from and to know why you feel upset.

Self-awareness is also about recognizing emotions when they arise, rather than misidentifying or ignoring them. Emotionally intelligent people take a step back from their emotions, look at what they're feeling, and examine the effect that the emotion has on them.

6. You can get along with most people.

"Having fulfilling, effective relationships -- that's a sign [of emotional intelligence]," says Goleman.

7. You care deeply about being a good, moral person.

One aspect of emotional intelligence is our "moral identity," which has to do with the extent to which we want to see ourselves as ethical, caring people. If you're someone who cares about building up this side of yourself (regardless of how you've acted in past moral situations), you might have a high EQ.

8. You take time to slow down and help others.

If you make a habit of slowing down to pay attention to others, whether by going slightly out your way to say hello to someone or helping an older woman onto the subway, you're exhibiting emotional intelligence. Many of us, a good portion of the time, are completely focused on ourselves. And it's often because we're so busy running around in a stressed-out state trying to get things done that we simply don't take the time to notice (much less help) others.

"[There's a] spectrum that goes from complete self-absorption to noticing to empathy and to compassion," Goleman said in a TED talk on compassion. "The simple fact is that if we are focused on ourselves, if we're preoccupied -- which we so often are throughout the day -- we don't really fully notice the other."

Being more mindful, in contrast to being absorbed in your own little world, plants the seeds of compassion -- a crucial component of EQ.

9. You're good at reading people's facial expressions.

Being able to sense how others are feeling is an important part of having a good EQ. Take this quiz from UC Berkeley to find out just how skilled you are at reading others' emotions.

10. After you fall, you get right back up.

How you deal with mistakes and setbacks says a lot about who you are. High EQ individuals know that if there's one thing we all must do in life, it's to keep on going. When an emotionally intelligent person experiences a failure or setback, he or she is able to bounce back quickly. This is in part because of the ability to mindfully experience negative emotions without letting them get out of control, which provides a higher degree of resilience.

“The resilient person isn’t papering over the negative emotions, but instead letting them sit side by side with other feelings," Positivity author Barbara Fredrickson told Experience Life. "So at the same time they’re feeling ‘I’m sad about that,’ they’re also prone to thinking, ‘but I’m grateful about this.’”

11. You're a good judge of character.

You've always been able to get a sense for who someone is pretty much right off the bat -- and your intuitions are rarely wrong.

12. You trust your gut.

An emotionally intelligent person is someone who feels comfortable following their intuition, says Goleman. If you're able to trust in yourself and your emotions, there's no reason not to listen to that quiet voice inside (or that feeling in your stomach) telling you which way to go.

13. You've always been self-motivated.

Were you always ambitious and hard-working as a kid, even when you weren't rewarded for it? If you're a motivated self-starter -- and you can focus your attention and energy towards the pursuit of your goals -- you likely have a high EQ.

14. You know when to say "no."

Self-regulation, one of the five components of emotional intelligence, means being able to discipline yourself and avoid unhealthy habits. Emotionally intelligent people are generally well equipped to tolerate stress (a bad-habit trigger for many of us) and to control their impulses, according to Goleman.

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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

ME!

Our Daily Bread
A friend had a tshirt with this graphic. ha!


The point of today's devotion is that God should be the center!  He already is even if we don't put it on a tshirt!  We all should strive each day to make him the center of our lives.  It is pretty simple!

Lord, we are to love you and love others.  We ask that your Holy Spirit lead us and guide us with the details!

Teaching  Tuesday
Countryman: Living on the Border of the Holy
We are taking a two week break from our usual studies to read the book Living on the Border of Holy by Countryman.  I think we all agreed that this is not an easy book to read. It took me at least 2-3 hours to get into this book and another few hours to finish reading the first half (78 pages).  Wow!  While it was difficult to read with all the unusual imagery and language, I found several parts very meaningful.

The section talking about Jesus's priesthood was very moving.

The section about Jesus having the gift of parrhesia was very cool to me.  I have had that gift since I can remember.  I didn't know what it was called!

The imagery of the spiritual realm as a border country that feels both foreign and like our natural home was interesting as well.

Pick up the book on Amazon.com or your local Christian bookstore.

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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).

Witnesses

Our Daily Bread
During a electicity outage in my little apartment, I teased a friend that this whole situation was biblical.  He was like "What"?  Of course.  "Ye shall receive power".  DOH!  hahaha  Talk about prooftexting!

Seriously, the Holy Spirit will descend on us and give us power to be God'w witnesses in this world.  Whether it be in our little corner of the world or wherever He chooses to send us.  He will give us power. The power that caught the attention of hundreds when the apostles received the Holy Spirit.  God doesn't call each of us to work these great miracles and signs.  He calls us to do the best we can wherever we are!

Lord, thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit to be bold for you!

Movie Monday
I saw three movies last week.  I am enjoying the $5 after work specials at AMC and the Groupon deals at Gateway Film Center!

Veronica Mars
This was a movie version continuation of the cult hit TV show.  Kristin Bell did a great job of recreating the role on the big screen.  The story line had its twists and turns.  The characters were interesting though I couldn't understand why she wanted to be with the old boyfriend. The new one was so much cuter! ha!  Oh well.  That is one mystery she will have to figure out!

I give this two bear paws.  A nice rental movie.  No pressing need to see it on the big screen.

Non Stop
This movie was sort of formulaic like so many of Liam Neeson's action movies.  It was enjoyable and suspenseful.  In short, Neeson plays a federal air marshall that is framed for a terrorist hijacking of a flight from NYC to London.  The frame up is classic.  He finally figures it all out and saves the day.

I give this one two bear paws.   A nice rental movie. No pressing need to see it on the big screen.

Divergent
I had a personal connection to this movie about a society that "weeds out" those who don't fit into their societal pigeonholes.  The main characters is someone who is "divergent" meaning someone who won't fit into just one category.  She is a free thinker; someone who can't be controlled.  Can you see how I related to this movie on a personal level?  ha!  I don't want to give too much of the story line away.  There are some surprises, but you have to be patient for them all to show themselves! BTW, the male lead is a total hottie!

I also give this movie two bear paws. A nice rental movie. No pressing need to see it on the big screen.

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The only remedy for hearts that “want it all” is the contentment found in the presence of the living God. He is sufficient for our needs and longings, and He alone can bring us the peace and contentment we’ll never find in the pursuits of this life. - Our Daily Bread

We are faimly

Our Daily Bread
Sister Sledge sang a song called We are Family that has become a standard for family reunions and many other special occasions.  It is a still a cool song to me!

For the church, we can sing We are Family or We are Community. Like an family or community, we always have some kind of challenge to keep unity.  We are only human with all our faults and fears.  The key is to put those things aside as best we can as we interact with our "family" so we can keep Christ in the center of it all.  Like the sermon this morning, we need to focus!

Lord, we thank you for the Family of God.  Please help us keep you as our focus!

Psalm Sunday
I should have known on of my favorite prayer time passages is from the Psalms - Psalm 136.  This a great one to read every day!  His love truly endures forever!

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
17 to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

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When?

Our Daily Bread
I grew up differently than a lot of my friends.  When someone says "Let's get together for coffee", I get out my phone (or calendar book back in the day) and say "OK, what day looks good for you?"  ha!  I am not sure if they said that just to be nice and didn't mean it or if they are not the high-performing, organized man I am!  hahaha  Oh well.

Folks like me might be tempted to use the same approach with the coming of Jesus.  We get out our phone and ask "OK, Lord Jesus, what day and time looks for you?"  Oh boy...  Or even better, ask our Heavenly Father because Jesus told us that he doesn't even know the date and time!  I still don't understand that whole thing, but I don't need to!

He is coming.  The point is to live like he is coming today.  Praise God!

Come, Lord Jesus, come.  We will love you and serve you til that amazing day!

Simply Saturday
I heard this song on the Wow Christian Hits 2014 CD.  Wow!  I really speaks to me and lifts me up when I feeling worth less than gold!  The speaking section in the middle is very very cool

"Gold"

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh

You were walking on the moon, now you're feeling low
What they said wasn't true, you're beautiful
Sticks and stones break your bones, I know what you're feeling
Words like those won't steal your glow, you're one in a million

This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world
Whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold
So hold your head up high, it's your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you're worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you're gold)
You're worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you're gold)

Well everybody keeps score, afraid you're gonna lose
Just ignore they don't know the real you
All the rain in the sky can't put out your fire
Of all the stars out tonight, you shine brighter

This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world
Whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold
So hold your head up high, it's your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you're worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you're gold)
You're worth more than gold
(Gold gold, you're gold)

So don't let anybody tell you that you're not loved
And don't let anybody tell you that you're not enough
Yeah there are days that we all feel like we're messed up
But the truth is that we're all diamonds in the rough
So don't be ashamed to wear your crown
You're a king you're a queen inside and out
You glow like the moon, you shine like the stars
This is for you, wherever you are

Oh, oh, yeah, yeah, oh, oh,
You're gold

This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world
Whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold
(So hold your head) So hold your head up high,
It's your time to shine
From the inside out it shows, you're worth more than gold
(gold gold, you're gold)
You're worth more than gold
(gold gold you're gold)

So don't be ashamed to wear your crown
You're a king you're a queen inside and out

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The only remedy for hearts that “want it all” is the contentment found in the presence of the living God. He is sufficient for our needs and longings, and He alone can bring us the peace and contentment we’ll never find in the pursuits of this life. - Our Daily Bread

What can I do for you

Our Daily Bread
Yes, the devotional reminded me of another Imperials song -- What can I do for you.  I couldn't find the lyrics on the Internet (weird!).  The song talks about all that God has done for us and asks "What can I do for you?"

The devotional answers that question:  serve Him in whatever way we can throughout our entire life!  I loved the story of the couple in their 90s still serving the Lord by being prayer warriors for their church! Praise God! I heard a 94 year old speak at a conference I went to in January. She had the sweetest look on her face when talking about her relationship with God had grown closer and more meaningful throughout her life!  We, too, can live this kind of life!

Lord, if heaven is being with you, then please help us practice while we are here on this earth!

Foodie Friday
I have been craving this all week after having a so-so bowl of it from the cafeteria at work.  Maybe I will make it this weekend.

White Bean Chicken Chili Recipe
Check out the web page here.

6 ServingsPrep: 35 min. Cook: 3 hours

Ingredients
3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cans (15 ounces each) white kidney or cannellini beans, rinsed and drained, divided
3 cups chicken broth, divided
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream and minced fresh cilantro, optional

Directions
Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet over medium
heat, brown chicken in oil.
Stir in the onion, garlic and jalapeno; cook 2 minutes longer.
Sprinkle with oregano and cumin; cook 1 minute longer or until
chicken is browned and vegetables are tender. Transfer to a 3-qt.
slow cooker.
In a small bowl, mash 1 cup of beans; add 1/2 cup broth and stir
until blended. Add to the slow cooker with the remaining beans and
broth.
Cover and cook on low for 3 to 3-1/2 hours or until chicken is
tender. Stir before serving. Sprinkle with cheese. Garnish with sour
cream and cilantro if desired. Yield: 6 servings.

Nutritional Facts: 1 cup equals 334 calories, 15 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 64 mg cholesterol, 1,063 mg sodium, 25 g carbohydrate, 6 g fiber, 24 g protein.
© Taste of Home 2014
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Tolstoy once said; “Where there is faith, there is love;
Where there is love, there is peace;
Where there is peace, there is God;
And where there is God; there is no need.”  Can your faith in God move you beyond your own needs and seek a way to live in this broken world and serve the children of God?  - J. Perez

Not gonna bow

Our Daily Bread
One of my favorite Imperials songs when I was in college was Not Gonna Bow. The lyrics talked about the ways the world tries to get God's believers to bow down to worldly idols.  Not gonna bow, oh no! NO!  ;-)

We may not have golden statues or other idols like the Old Testament in today's world.  We do have lots and lots of idols and things that will distract our affections from God.  Job, homes, cars, mobile phones, electronic gadgets, expensive clothes, jewelry, etc, etc.  The list goes on and on and varies for each of us.  The Bible says (paraphrased) -- where you put your time and resources, that is where your heart is.  Where are our hearts?

Lord, your blessed Son was offered the world and more and reisted temptation.  Please help us resist the temptations of this world as well!

Technology Thursday
What the Heck Is a Smartwatch, and Why Might I Want One?
Daniel Bean


You might have seen that Google announced some big news involving smartwatches on Tuesday. Google created a tweaked version of its Android operating system that will make it easy and cheap for other tech companies, including Samsung, HTC, and LG, to create smartwatches that run Google’s software.

The upshot here is that there are going to be way, way more smartwatches in electronics stores in the coming months.

But wait a second. Let’s take a step back. You might have never seen a smartwatch. You might not know what one is. We’re here to answer all your questions about this new category of tech products, which could join the smartphone and the tablet as the new must-have gadgets.

Here goes.

What is a smartwatch?
Our columnist David Pogue recently tackled the topic of what makes a device “smart.” Throwing “smart” in front of something usually means that the device is connected to the Internet in some way or another.

So “smartwatch” generally refers to a watch that connects to the Internet, and also to other devices like smartphones or tablets, in order to deliver real-time information to your wrist. You can think of it as a watch that does more than just keep time, with some basic functions similar to those you might find on a smartphone.

As smart as these new watches may be, they still require a connection to a smartphone or tablet to be fully-functional. They’re basically companions or add-ons to the smarter device in your pocket.

Who makes them?
The first “big name” gadget maker to hit us with a full-effort smartwatch launch has been Samsung. The company now offers two versions of its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, which can retrieve text messages, control your television, and track your activity. (See? It’s smart.)

Samsung’s Gear 2

Probably the closest thing to Samsung’s Galaxy Gear is Sony’s SmartWatch 2, which also performs several of the more basic smartphone functions right on your wrist.

The Pebble smartwatch, meanwhile, was introduced in early 2013, a Kickstarter project turned hit. Cheaper than both the Gear 2 and the SmartWatch 2, the Pebble is notable for having a screen made from E Ink (like you’d find on Amazon’s Kindle e-reader) to conserve its battery. Though the Pebble can last longer, it lacks some of the more sophisticated features of either Sony’s or Samsung’s offerings.

Samsung’s Gear smartwatches are currently only compatible with Galaxy smartphones and tablets, while Sony’s can connect to any Android device. The Pebble works with Android or iPhone.

On the heels of Google’s Android Wear announcement Tuesday, Motorola and LG have confirmed that they will be offering smartwatch products later this year as well. Rumors also have Apple pinned to a gadget named the iWatch. There’s no solid information as to when or if Apple will spill the beans on that, though an announcement could come this summer.

What can smartwatches do?
Smartwatches that have hit shelves in the past calendar year can do all kinds of things, from taking pictures to giving you real-time driving directions. Most all of the devices connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth and act as a means to access and control some functions on that smartphone.

Reading texts and emails and controlling media from your wrist seem like the most useful applications yet. But the Gear and Pebble can also run scaled-down versions of some popular smartphone apps like Evernote, Yelp, and Runtastic.

A still from Google’s Android Wear video

Google’s concept video shows Android Wear smartwatches with different voice control commands, similar to Android’s Google Now search and assistant functions. It can also run several Google-specific apps, like Hangouts (aka Gchat) and Google Maps.

How do they work?
Most smartwatches connect to other smart devices via Bluetooth (and, in some cases, low-power Bluetooth for battery-saving purposes). Through the Bluetooth connection, a smartwatch can not only see things like texts and incoming calls on your phone, relaying those notifications to your wrist, but it also allows a shared Internet connection for smartphone apps and other functions like navigation or search.

What are the downsides?
For what you get from current smartwatch models, it’s not a stretch to say that the prices are a drag. Samsung’s Galaxy Gear 2, which packs a camera and motion sensors, is not available in the United States yet, but speculation is that the price will be somewhere in the $300 range, similar to Samsung’s original offering. The elegant-looking but feature-lacking Pebble Steel is on sale now for $249, with the original, bulkier plastic Pebble smartwatch running $150.

For the price, you’d hope to get a bit more support from big-name apps and services, but that’s not exactly the case yet. Google hopes to raise awareness and change the landscape with its Android Wear project. An Apple smartwatch device would no doubt change the perception of the device market as well, and hopefully get more companies making their services smartwatch-friendly.

The Pebble Steel

The feature-packed Gear watches also don’t offer much in terms of battery life. Early reviews of the first Gear claimed that the device would last about a day on a charge. The lower-powered Pebble had five to seven days of battery life. The Gear 2 was built with an even smaller battery to compress the size of the watch itself, but the company is claiming that hardware and software advancements should allow, with normal usage, up to three days of life per charge.

Smartwatches have also been knocked for being overly bulky and unattractive. Though as parts are shrinking and designers are thinking, smartwatch design has improved.

Why is Android Wear so exciting?
The particularly exciting part of what Google announced Tuesday is this: Android Wear is fit to be the Android of the smartwatch market. Just as Google and Android gathered manufacturing partners for the world of smartphones, many brands and companies have already committed to Wear, including Asus, HTC, LG, Intel, Motorola, Samsung, and Fossil.

What’s next?
If Google is as committed to Wear as it leads us to believe, we may finally have the platform necessary to get real progress in the device category. The rumblings that an iWatch may soon come to shelves should mean great things for the advancement of the device as well.

Whether smartwatches actually become popular depends on consumers. If we buy smartwatches, we’ll see more; if not, they’ll disappear. With the Android Wear announcement, one thing is for sure: You’ll have no shortage of smartwatch options in 2014.

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Let go, my friends!  God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!

Ain't a that good news!

Our Daily Bread
There is a spiritual called Ain't a that good news.  I love that song!  It talks about the good news of our salvation and our home on high.

There is another good news even more amazing -- when folks give their lives to Christ!  Ain't a THAT great news! Remember the joy of your salvation when you first believed? Remember how you love to tell others when a friend or family member believes?  These events emphasize the Good News we have to believe and share!  Praise God!

Lord, we thank you and praise you for the good news of Jesus Christ!

Wellness Wednesday
This Ancient Martial Art Can Fight Disease, Calm The Mind And Slow Aging [article]
Americans have no difficulty adopting ancient practices into their health regimens. Take yoga, the ancient mind-body practice and contemporary fitness craze (and $27 billion industry), which continues its prominence in the mainstream -- even after decades of increasing popularity. Many forms of meditation, likewise, have been touted for stress-relieving, health-promoting benefits by prominent leaders in business, media and the arts. And then there's tai chi.

Like yoga, tai chi is a type of moving meditation -- a gentle exercise that focuses on the breath and prioritizes ease of movement-- that comes with a host of health benefits. And, like yoga, there are distinct styles and lineages of tai chi along with more modern and hybrid incarnations.

Many of the tai chi moves tell stories and involve mimicking animals -- featuring names like "Embrace the tiger and return to mountain" and "White crane spreads its wings" -- all performed with relaxed muscles and ease of movement. Through maintaining focus on the breath and physical movements, the practitioner is thought to be able to help to direct the flow of Qi, or life force, in the body.

The practice originated over 2,000 years ago in China as a martial art called T'ai chi ch'uan. It is said to have been created in the Wu Dong Mountains by a Taoist priest, who observed a white crane preying on a snake and then mimicked its actions. Today, tai chi is known as a low-impact exercise popular with older adults and practiced by over 2 million Americans each year. Harvard University has even devoted a research program to studying the health benefits of the ancient Chinese art.

"In this high-tech world that's all about speed, greed and instant gratification, tai chi is the antidote to bring us back to balanced health," Arthur Rosenfeld, tai chi master and author of Tai Chi: The Perfect Exercise, told Reuters.

Here are five reasons why tai chi could very well be the "new" yoga.

It helps prevent and fight disease.

Studies have found that when used to supplement traditional forms of treatment, tai chi can help maintain bone density, reduce pain among arthritis patients, promote heart health, reduce hypertension, and improve quality of life and reduce stress for breast cancer patients, among other health benefits.

"A growing body of carefully conducted research is building a compelling case for tai chi as an adjunct to standard medical treatment for the prevention and rehabilitation of many conditions commonly associated with age," Peter M. Wayne, Harvard Medical School professor and director of the Tai Chi and Mind-Body Research Program, told Harvard Health Publications.

It's as beneficial for the mind as it is for the body.

In addition to relieving stress, tai chi is also scientifically proven to help fight depression among the elderly.

In tai chi, the focus of the mind is on the breath and the physical sensations in the body, which can help to still racing thoughts and increase body awareness. These meditative aspects of the practice help to bring the practitioner many of the same cognitive benefits of traditional seated meditation, including an increased sense of awareness, calm and well-being.

Tai chi may also help to boost well-being by improving both the length and quality of practitioner's sleep. A 2008 UCLA study found that practicing tai chi chih, one particular variation of the practice, was effective in improving moderate sleep complaints among older adults. It also reduced drowisness and inability to concentrate during the day.

It can help you age gracefully.

Tai chi can help improve flexibility and promote a health range of motion in older adults, while also building muscle strength. What's more, women at risk for or suffering from osteoporosis should take note that research has found tai chi to be effective in increasing mineral bone density.

Tai chi could also be one of the most effective methods of promoting good balance and preventing falls in older adults, according to WebMD. Research from the National Institute on Aging found that tai chi reduced fear of falls and risk of falling among older adults.

It can teach you how to slow down -- and how to let go.

The term tai chi itself indicates the harmonious union of opposing forces -- and it's all about going with the flow and moving fluidly within your own physical limitations.

In tai chi, "the objective is not to over-exert or strain one's natural state, but to achieve unity with one's essential nature, thereby releasing the body's intrinsic energies," writes Simmone Kuo in Long Life, Good Health Through Tai-Chi Chuan.

It's accessible to almost anyone.

Tai chi isn't just for older folks. Yes, it's low impact, but anyone can enjoy the numerous health benefits of the practice. Even those who are in poor health can begin a tai chi practice and potentially improve their physical condition.

The practice can even be adapted for those in wheelchairs or recovering from surgery, according to Harvard Medical School experts, and it has been shown to improve balance and motor control among individuals with Parkinson's Disease.

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For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.- Psalm 117:2

Smell goods

Our Daily Bread
Each family has some funny sayings that hang around for decades.  My family used to call after shave or cologne "smell goods".  You got some "smell goods' on! Smells nice!  It didn't make any difference if it came out of a small, expensive bottle or the quart plastic bottle!

Smells affect us in many different ways.  Good smells remind us of the baking our grandmothers used to do or the smell of the house after making a pot roast in the crock pot all day.  MmmMmmmmm!  If you are like me, your mouth may be watering right now just thinking about those smells!  Smells can also turn us off, like the smell of burnt popcorn at work or the smell of rotten garbage.  So what kind of fragrance do we exude when we live for Christ?  Is it a sweet smelling fragrance that draws others to Christ or burnt popcorn that grosses people out?!?

Lord, please help us live a life that exudes the sweet smell of Christ's love!

Teaching Tuesday
James
We studied the book of James this week.  Generally thought to be written by a brother of Jesus, the author seems to have written this as a general letter to the church.  Most of the New Testament letters were written to a specific group of people like the Ephesians, Collosians , etc.

IMHO, the overriding theme in James is the "your faith manifests itself in works".  Much discussion was had over the years if James was contradicting Paul's statements about "we are justified by faith".  Actually there is no conflict.  The two reinforce each other.  Faith without works is dead.  Works without faith is dead.  Having faith compels us to do the works that God has for us.  Yes, there will always be debates about this.  Can we all just focus on loving God and loving others?  ;-)

James is a short book.  Read it over.  Check out some of the Bible commentaries available online.  Very interesting stuff.

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The Bible is a like a "tweet" about God.  We don't have enough characters available to tell of His glory! - Fitzpatrick

Bluuuuuueeee Skiiiieeesssss.......

Our Daily Bread
There is a beautiful song called Blue Skies.  Ella Fitzgerald crooned it many years ago and made the song famous.  It talks about blue days being over and blue skies being all we see.

Hmmmmm.  I think our harsh winter taught me about blue (or gray) days and how much to appreciate both blue days and blue skies.  The devotional does a great job of explaining that we need to clouds (or blue days) to keep our perspective.  The writer confirms what I have learned in my life -- clouds and blue days help us submuit to the sovereignty of God so restoration can begin!

Lord, you taught us to be content during blue days and blue skies.  Please help us remember that!

Movie Monday
I saw the movie Mr Peabody and Sherman last week.  Very cute movie that reminded me of the cartoon from my childhood.  If you aren't familiar with it. Mr Peabody is a super smart dog that can talk.  In the movie, he adopted Sherman as his son.  That was odd to me, but it played an important part in the story line.  The story line was like an extended episode of the cartoon only better!  I recommend it for a rental.  No real need to see it at the theater.

I give this two bear paws for cleverness and the touching father(dog)-son interactions.

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 “The highest pinnacle of the spiritual life is not happy joy in unbroken sunshine, but absolute and undoubting trust in the love of God.” = A. W. Thorold

I can't believe I ate the whole thing...

Our Daily Bread
There was an Alka Selzer commercial when I was growing up where a miserable looking man would express "I can't believe I ate the whole thing..."  He would take two Alka Selzer tablets for relief.  This was LONG before the days of Zantac and Pepcid!

Fortunately, God's Word won't make us feel physically miserable like eating too much pizza or tacos or pasta or whatever.  Ingesting God's Word, as the writer explains, talks about immersing yourself in God's Word and making it part of your being.  Much like we eat healthy food to build a healthy body, we ingest God's Word to grow a strong, healthy relationship with God.  Praise God!

Lord, we thank you for your Word.  Please help us ingest it and let the Holy Spirit work in us!

Psalm Sunday
We are reading Psalm 135 this week.  This is a typical praise and our-God-is-great psalm that many of us like.  I love verses 15-17 that express how silent and deaf the idols of other nations are!  Very cool!  Our God reigns, then and today!

Psalm 135

1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord;
    praise him, you servants of the Lord,
2 you who minister in the house of the Lord,
    in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
    sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own,
    Israel to be his treasured possession.
5 I know that the Lord is great,
    that our Lord is greater than all gods.
6 The Lord does whatever pleases him,
    in the heavens and on the earth,
    in the seas and all their depths.
7 He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
    he sends lightning with the rain
    and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
8 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
    the firstborn of people and animals.
9 He sent his signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt,
    against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 He struck down many nations
    and killed mighty kings—
11 Sihon king of the Amorites,
    Og king of Bashan,
    and all the kings of Canaan—
12 and he gave their land as an inheritance,
    an inheritance to his people Israel.
13 Your name, Lord, endures forever,
    your renown, Lord, through all generations.
14 For the Lord will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants.
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
    made by human hands.
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
    eyes, but cannot see.
17 They have ears, but cannot hear,
    nor is there breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them will be like them,
    and so will all who trust in them.
19 All you Israelites, praise the Lord;
    house of Aaron, praise the Lord;
20 house of Levi, praise the Lord;
    you who fear him, praise the Lord.
21 Praise be to the Lord from Zion,
    to him who dwells in Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord.

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We can thank the Lord that through His grace and power, our past is forgiven, our present is changed, and our future is bright with hope for all He has prepared for us - Our Daily Bread, 10/13/13

What am I?

Our Daily Bread
Did you ever play the game "What am I?" as a child or teenager?  One person describes the characteristics of a person, place or thing.  The others try to guess what it is or who it is in as few guesses as possible.

We sometimes play that game with ourselves and God.  We ask God "What am I?" except we are the ones trying to provide the answers!  Instead of listening to the Holy Spirit for the answers, we try to answer the question ourselves based on our environment and the way we were raised.  For example, I have a dear friend who has the gift of helping.  He is an amazing helper.  The problem is that he longs to be a singer or a missionary or something other than what he is.  I have been praying for him and encouraging him to recognize that gift, use it for God and build on that gift to discover amazing ways to help others that he never imagined.
I won't mention some of the body parts that some folks have suggested for me over the years.  I fully realize I need some new friends.  ;-p

Lord, you have work for each of us to do.  You have gifted us to do it.  Please help us discover it and do the best we can for your glory!

Simply Saturday
Since music speaks to me (us), I decided to post the lyrics of a song and the link to the Youtube video each week.  Most songs will be contemporary Christian songs.  The song of the Week: Worn by Tenth Avenue North.  Check out the lyrics below.  Click here to watch the video.  The song expresses how I have been feeling the past week or two.  I am working on it with God.  ;-)

"Worn"

I’m Tired I’m worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes
To keep on breathing
I’ve made mistakes
I’ve let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed
By the weight of this world

And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn

I know I need to lift my eyes up
But I'm too weak
Life just won’t let up
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn

My prayers are wearing thin
Yeah, I’m worn
Even before the day begins
Yeah, I’m worn
I’ve lost my will to fight
I’m worn
So, heaven come and flood my eyes

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart
That’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause all that’s dead inside will be reborn

Though I’m worn
Yeah I’m worn

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Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

Shiny!

Our Daily Bread
Have you ever seen the memes about folks with ADHD?  The main character starts talking about focusing and gets quickly distracted by a shiny object and he proclaims "Shiny!".  An old movie has a similar scene where a character gets distracted by a rabbit!  hahaha

Unfortunately, we can be like that in our spiritual lives!  We can be totally focused on living for God and SHINY! we get distracted by the shiny objects of this world.  DOH!  To be frank, it happened to me again this week.  I lost focus and lost control of my tongue.  That is soooooooooo not good!  The best we can do is our best.  The insight section of the devotional gives some tips to keep focus.  Check them out by clicking on the Our Daily Bread title above.

Lord, your love should be the focus of our lives.  Please help us not be distracted!

Foodie Friday
Figlios
I FINALY used my Figllios gift card today. I read about the place several times, but never made going there a priority.  I realized that one of their locations was next door to the training center I went to this week (last night and today).  I ordered carry out though I realized that I need to eat in the Grandview location sometime.  The people were nice.  The environment cool looking and inviting.  What did I order?

I had the honey wheat fire oven pizza with red sauce (you have a choice of sauces), pepperoni, Italian sausage and mushrooms. I also had a Caesar salad and a piece of red velvet cake.  The pizza was very tasty!  The sauce was great.  The toppings in nice quantities.  Very tasty!  The salad was just OK.  Not sure what happened there.  The red velvet cake had a nice twist with ganache chocolate frosting on the outside and cream cheese frosting between the layers.  Very tasty indeed!

I will try to go back again sometime or try the Upper Arlington location.

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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

Amazing Race

Our Daily Bread
Have you ever been on a scavenger hunt or played your own version of Amazing Race?  You get a list of silly things to collect or clues that lead you from place to place until you reach your destination.  The latter is often confusing and frustrating til you find your way.  It is also exciting to figure out where you are supposed to be and move on!

Do you see where I am going with this example?  Too many Christians live there lives like a spiritual scavenger hunt.  They seek to collect some fairly impossible things like many good works, service projects, serving at church, etc.  There may or may not be a point.  It is the way they live.  It seems exciting but what happens when you complete your list?  I suggest living our lives like an Amazing Spiritual Race!  Sounds sort of like a Paul letter, doesn't it?  The excitement of following God's leadership sounds MUCH more exciting that that TV show!  Praise God!

Lord, we love you.  Please help us live our lives like an Amazing Spiritual Race!  Praise God!

Technology Thursday
Miscellaneous Stuff

Apple released iOS 7.1 this week.  It has mostly bug fixes. I haven't read about any new features.  Please be careful doing the upgrade.  I upgraded my iPad with it attached to my computer.  I had no issues.  A friend upgraded hers over the air.  She had issues that required the techs to reset her iPad.  She lost a lot of pics.  ;-(

There have been some leaks of the new Windows code.  I am not sure if it is a fix pack for Windows 8 or 8.1.  Keep an eye out for it if you use Windows 8.x

New phones are coming out.  Yawn.  hahaha  We will see who comes up with the next great thing.  Frankly, putting bigger and better cameras on phones may not be the must-have feature want (though it is handy).

If it hasn't been obvious the past few months, be careful online.  If your credit card company offers special "online credit card" numbers to help protest your account, consider checking it out if you shop online a lot.  I have one credit card with a relatively low credit limit that I use for online shopping.  That is another strategy.

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Waiting for God is never a waste of time. - Our Daily Bread Jan 26 2014

Keep on knocking

Our Daily Bread
As you know, there are many cultural icons that have come and gone over the years.  One was "Keep on truckin'" during the CB radio period a few decades ago.  I nicknamed today's devotional "Keep on knocking!".  woohoooo!

Yes, I have been taught two sides of prayer - ask once and ask many.  Ask once and have faith that God will answer your prayer.  Or, ask many times like the story of the widow and the judge.  For me, the point is keep on knocking.  Keep on talking to God.  If you asked once and the prayer wasn't answered, then talk to God about it.  Is it a timing thing and you need to be patient?  Is it something that you shouldn't have asked for?  Does God have something better in mind?  He doesn't want us to have lesser things!  Keep on knocking!

Lord, we know you are always there.  We don't always keep on knocking or talking so please help us to do so!

Wellness Wednesday
The 12 Days Of Fitness
If you are like me, the exercise goals and New Years resolutions passed well over a month ago!  Yikes.  Here is what I plan to do to start Spring.  Check it out.  Click on the title for the full article!



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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

Oh boy...

Our Daily Bread
I wish I would have read the devotional earlier today.  Oh boy... I had a disagreement with my boss when I got to work. I should have just a walked away. I should have kept my mouth shut. Oh boy. When will I learn?

Being a passionate person can be a challenge.  Seeing things that others cannot see can be a challenge.  Put those two things together and you have my personality!  Talk about a challenge!  As I tease my friends: I yam what I yam!

The Holy Spirit will help us get better about conrolling our minds and tongues.  I will be the first to admit that I still have a LOT to learn in that area.  Lord have mercy on me!  How about you?

Lord, please help us to remember to consult you before we open our mouths!

Teaching Tuesday
1 and 2 Thessalonians
We studied 1 and 2 Thessalonians this week. Theologians are pretty sure that Paul wrote the first book.  They are not positive he wrote the second book even though the prologue is very similar.  These books are thought to be some of the earliest New Testament writings!

What I liked:

• The encouragement of the folks in that chirch to encourage and support each other in faith. They were doing it.  They were encouraged to keep it up and grow in faith together.
• The positive way Paul talked about living in faith and constant prayer.
• The firm language to folks that were able who weren't working to move the community forward.
• The clarification about the coming of Christ.  
• Warnings again to beware of folks spreading false information about the faith
• the explanation of how Paul ministered and preached out of his shop where he earned a living.  The first bi-vocational preacher!

What I was challenged by:

• There has been so many misunderstandings about the "rapture" or what is going to happen when Jesus returns based on the limited writings here (and in Revelation).  It is my understanding that the Bible shouldn't be read as an eschatological guide book.  We just don't know what is going to happen. That is also part of our faith journey!
• The harsher language in the second book indicates that Paul may not have been the author, but rather someone who followed him.

Short books.  Interesting read.  I recommend focusing on the positive things we can adapt to our lives!

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Living out of love for God and pleasing Him should be our heart’s desire. - Our Daily Bread

Mentoring

Our Daily Bread
Mentoring is an exciting and scary proposition.  I have done it several times in the technology field over the years.  I have also done it at church.  I have also been fortunate to have had several mentors over the years!

There are two types of mentoring discussed in the devotional -- a parent's mentoring and spiritial mentoring.
We have all read many articles about being good parents and being a Godly example.  The spiritual mentorng mentioned by Paul was about "imitating" him as he imitated Christ.  Talk about pressure!  ha!  We don't have Paul today, but we do have his example and the example of Christ our Lord.  Imitation is the best form of flattery!

Lord, please help us imitate you in our words and deeds!

Movie Monday
I had some time this week so I saw three movies. woohoooo!

Nebraska
This is one of the Oscar nominees that I hadn't seen yet.  I am glad I did.  Bruce Dern portrays an aging man with the beginning of dementia.  He receives a magazine prize letter and believes that he won $1 million dollargs. The interactions with friends and family and especially his youngest son are priceless.

I give this movie four bear paws!  Rare indeed!  It should be available for rental now.

300: Rise of an Empire
This movie came out on Friday.  It is both a prequel and a sequel to the original 300 movie.  If you really limked the first movie, you may or may not like the second one.  Lots of action.  Lots of scantily clad men.  Lots of blood and guts. It was interesting, but not outstanding.

I give this movie two bear paws.  See it on the big screen for the full cinematic effect.

The Lego Movie
What an adorable movie!  Some friends teased me about seeing a childrens' movie, but this had a lot of adult themes as well.  Emmett finds something accidentally and is deemed "the Special".  The movie sort of had The Matrix overtones but on a childrens movie/cartoonish kind of way.  It was very cool and very funny and I learned some life lessons!

I give this movie three bear paws. See it even if your friends make fun of you!

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The only remedy for hearts that “want it all” is the contentment found in the presence of the living God. He is sufficient for our needs and longings, and He alone can bring us the peace and contentment we’ll never find in the pursuits of this life. - Our Daily Bread

False teachers

Our Daily Bread
While working on my last master's degree, I was often mistaken for a professor since I was older than most of the students and the same age as the professors!  It often cause some humorous scenarios!  To be clear, I was not a false teacher.  I was just mistaken for a professor!  ha!

I have been reading a lot about watching out for false teachers the past two months.  What is up with that?  The readings from several of the New Testament books in EFM gave the warning.  This morning the devotional talked about it.  Let us all pray for discernment regarding false teachings and false teachers!

It must have difficult back then to figure out what this Christianity thing was all about!  It was brand new.  It seemed to fly in the face of society as well as traditional Jewish practices.  That wasn't easy to do!  ha!  Over and over there were folks who tried preaching something different than the true Gospel of Christ.

We can see the same thing today.  It seems to be easier to proclaim false teachings.  Get a little money and buy yourself some TV time.  Hire some actors to be your congregation and other ministers.  Wow.  Is it any wonder so many folks have been mislead!  Let us all pray for each other to find our way to God!

Lord, we thank you for truth.  Please help us discern the truth about you!

Psalm Sunday
We have been looking at songs of ascents for several weeks now. Psalm 134 is the last one!  This is another short one that also has lots of meaning.  Read it out loud a few times.  Try memorizing it and saying it throughout your day!

Psalm 134

A song of ascents.

1 Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
    who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
    and praise the Lord.
3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
    he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.

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Living out of love for God and pleasing Him should be our heart’s desire. - Our Daily Bread

Strangely dim

Our Daily Bread
I have a nice theme going today.  That is sooooo important!  ha!

The devotional had two main points for me: dwelling in God's Word and spiritual pride.  It never ceases to amaze me how the Holy Spirit can speak to us while reading God's Word!  Dwelling in His word means more than casual reading.  Studying.  Writing down questions and praying about them.  Reading the background of the books and history.  Wow!

The second point is developing spiritual pride after you start your journey.  Yikes!  I find myself going down this path way to often!  ;-(  I sometimes say things like "If you actually read the Bible, it doesn't say that" or "I wish I could debate with that person.  I would show them!"  Yeah.  Don't do that any more, duanebear!

My prayers for us: study more.  Less Pride.  The more we do these things, the more other things grow strangely dim in our lives!

Lord, we thank you and praise for opening your Word to us.  Please help us to grow in love and humility!

Simply Saturday
Strangely dim
I heard a new song this week.  For a "planner" kind of person like me, it hit a nerve (in a good spiritual way).  Believe me when I say that I am looking at things differently now.  The song lyrics verified in my silly bear brain something that God has been talking to me about.  Does this song apply to your life?

"Strangely Dim"

I've got all these plans piled up sky high
A thousand dreams on hold
And I don't know why,
I got a front row seat
To the longest wait
And I just can't see
Past the things I pray
Today

But when I fix my eyes on all that You are
Then every doubt I feel
Deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
All my worries fade
And fall to the ground
Cause when I seek Your face
And don't look around
Any place I'm in
Grows strangely dim

Sometimes where I stand
On this narrow road
Is in a raging storm
Or a valley low
But oh oh oh oh oh oh

When I fix my eyes on all that You are
Then every doubt I feel
Deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
All my worries fade
And fall to the ground
Cause when I seek Your face
And don't look around
Any place I'm in
Grows strangely dim

I don't know, I don't know
What tomorrow may hold
But I know, but I know
That You're holding it all
So no matter what may come

I'm gonna fix my eyes on all that You are
'Til every doubt I feel
Deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
Let all my worries fade
And fall to the ground
I'm gonna seek Your face
And not look around
Til the place I'm in
Grows strangely, strangely, strangely dim.

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Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God - William Carey

An app for that?

Our Daily Bread

I found a free app (it was temporarily free) called SayHi that translates English into other languages and vice versa.  Wow!  It works pretty well!  While reading the devotional today, I mused if there was a Holy Spirit app that I could access whenver I need it!

Fortunately we don't need an app or a smart phone to gain access to the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit before he ascended into heaven.  As usual with God, we got a lot more than we ever expected or imagined!  Praise God!  How often do we really call on the Holy Spirit when we pray or as we go along our daily lives?  Let's think about that during Lent and all throughout the year!

Lord, we thank you for direct access to the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit!

Foodie Friday

Bravo

I felt like I was visiting an old friend last night when I ate supper at Bravo cucina Italiano. Very good food as usual.  Nice ambience even if I was eating alone.  I had one of my favorites -- Romano Crusted Chicken Salad.  It had a nice balance of chicken, romaine lettuce, bacon, cheese and Parmesan dressing.  Two people could share this huge salad and walk away full!  

As usual the foccacia bread was delicious even though it was different than the last time I was there.  The new tear-apart loaf was easier to tear apart and eat.  Mmmmmm!

I ate at Bravo a lot when I lived in Cincinnati.  Very good place.  Check it out!

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We can thank the Lord that through His grace and power, our past is forgiven, our present is changed, and our future is bright with hope for all He has prepared for us - Our Daily Bread, 10/13/13

What an example

Our Daily Bread
One of my favorite stories to tell my family is about one of our family trips in the large station wagon we used to own (before the days of minivans!).  We stopped to get gas and use the rest room, then headed down the road.  After a few miles I looked around and asked "Where's Karen?"  We inadvertently left one of my sisters behind at the gas station!  We turned around and went back for her.  We found a calm little girl with long red hair waiting patiently for us to return.  No crying.  No fear.  She seemed confident we would be back for her!

I like the images here.  Patience.  No fear.  Confidence in her father's return.  Doesn't that sound like the way a Christian should be?  Shouldn't we have patience for the good things God has for us?  No fear in what life throws at us because we have the Holy Spirit leading out way.  Confidence in our Savior's return.  Wow!  Let us think on these things during the Lenten season and all through the year!

Lord, we thank your for being with us and leading us!  

Technology Thursday
iPhone headphone tricks
The earbuds that came with your iPhone (and many third-party earphones) have a Volume Up button, a Volume Down button and an extra button in between. Of course you can use these to control the volume, but, oh, they can do so much more:

In iTunes:
• To play a song, press the center button.
• To pause a song, press the center button.
• To skip to the next song, double-click the center button.
• To go back to the start of a song, triple-click the center button.
• To go back to the previous song, triple-click the center button again.
• To fast-forward within a song, double-click the center button, holding down that second click. Release it when you’ve fast-forwarded enough.

When a phone call comes in:
• To answer, press the center button.
• To hang up, press the center button.
• To send the call straight to voicemail without answering, press and hold the center button for two full seconds.

To start Siri:
• Press the center button for two seconds.

To take a selfie:

• First, fire up the camera, and then tap the Volume Up button. And don’t forget to smile.

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Trusting God’s faithfulness helps dispel our fearfulness.

Did I do that?

Our Daily Bread
There was a corny TV show on a few decades ago where the lead character would cause some kind of funny calamity, then ask innocently "Did I do thaaaaaatttt?"  The audience would laugh at his voice and facial expression.  I think my grandparents said the same thing to each other at a family gathering with their six children, 27 grandchildren and countless great-grandchildren!

The devotional was nice.  God giving us dominion and responsibility over earth.  Yeah, I got that.  I really liked the Insight section today.  Christ saw, felt and did something.  Wow!  During this season of Lent (and all throughout the year), I challenge each of us to look around us for the folks we need to help.  Feel the compassion and love that God gave us, then do something about it!  Christ did!

Lord, we learned from your example.  Please help us be like you!

Wellness Wednesday
I try to explain to folks that living a life in Christ is not only the most happy and peaceful, but it is also the healthiest in many ways.  The article below is an example of how to use Lent as a way to give up unhealthy and unwelcome things in your life (and we are not talking about food!).  Give it a read.

http://gs4nj.org/20-things-to-give-up-for-lent/

As one friend suggested on Facebook, we could try to giving up two or three a year!  Praise God!

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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

Another reminder

Our Daily Bread
While praying over the weekend, I was reminded about my motivations and actions at times.  Was I praying for God to be with me during my concert so I wouldn't embarrass myself and so others would admire and praise me?  Or was I praying for God to be with me so I could glorify him with my singing?  What about in my daily life?

The devotional reminded me about it again today.  Do we look at others with the love Jesus gave us or do we look down at them because of their position in life, their ability (or inability) to sing, or any other reason to look down our nose?  As humans, we long for power and superiority.  There is nothing wrong with that as long as we focus on our mission from God.  The power from the Holy Spirit to live for God.  The superiority over Satan and the sins of our flesh to praise our Lord.  We can do this!

During the time of Lent that starts tomorrow, let's look at giving up our sinful selves instead of some earthly pleasure or treat!

Lord, we know you want us to love others.  Please help us put aside all the things that keep us from doing that!

Teaching Tuesday
We studied I and II Timothy and Titus this week in EFM.  Here is what I liked and didn't like.

All the books had great intentions in my opinion: encourage the church, warn against false teachings and help move the church forward by defining some structure.  All good things.  You should read these three books to get the entire picture.

While reading these books, especially the Timothys, I was reminded over and over about how these passages are abused over and over in our churches.  They are used to exclude people instead of include people and define the roles of leadership too narrowly for any age.  I knew a Godly man in my home church that everyone admired for his spirituality and good works.  We all loved him and looked to him for inspiration.  The kind of church leader any church would be happy to have, BUT he married and divorced early in his life before he accepted Christ.  The church deemed him ineligible to be a deacon or preacher because of that.  Seriously?  Restricting women from being leaders in the church?  Seriously?  I have had a problem with this interpretation for decades!

There are other passages that I have issues with as well.  I try to focus on the positive passages and the passages that warn us against false teachings.  I wish more folks looked at the false teachings passages and honestly evaluate if they are guilty or not!  We should focus on loving God and loving others!

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The Bible is a like a "tweet" about God.  We don't have enough characters available to tell of His glory! - Fitzpatrick

What time is it?

Our Daily Bread
I remember being warned when I started taking business trips about wearing a watch.  There were pickpockets that would walk up to unsuspecting strangers and ask the time.  When they saw how nice your watch was, they would decide whether to target you or not!  Yikes!  It was sort of like stealing time!

As children of God, we can also try to "steal time" from God by doing things our own way in our own time.  We aren't patient enough to wait for the good things that God has for us so we choose to accept lesser things.  I first heard this called "lesser things" in the song Blessings by Laura Story.  God loves us too much for us to accept things lesser than he intends for us!  Let's think about that today as we make our decisions!

Lord, you love us too much to give us lesser things.  Please help us wait on you!

Movie Monday
I didn't make it to the movies this week.  Busy week!  I managed to watch some movie in my home theater.  I watched two of the "direct to video" Stargate movies.  My baby sister and I love the Stargate series of TV shows and movies!  Both are available on Amazon Prime.

Stargate: Ark of Truth
The story line in this one was odd and the action spotty, but it was still fun to watch.  These "movies" appear to be more like extended episodes rather than full-blown movies.  I give this one one bear paw.  Fun to watch if you are a fan.

Stargate: Continuum
The story line in this one was more interesting than the first.  Lots of plot twists and interesting story lines.  I give this movie two bear paws.

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“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21 niv).

Love remains... and continues

Our Daily Bread
Tina Turner recorded a song decades ago called "What's Love got to do with it?"  She was asking about romantic relationships between men and women obviously.  I ask the question today as a follow up to my blog entry yesterday (a whiteout in our spiritual lives).

What does love have to do with it during these times?  Just like a snowy day doesn't seem to serve any purpose at all other than to annoy us with more wintry weather, we can often fail to realize that love is at the core of our spiritual whiteouts!  I don't know about you, but God made me pretty independent.  I would have trouble serving a God who smothers me with love and attention all the time just like I don't appreciate it in my human relationships.  You need time away (even though God never leaves us).  "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."  Is that the saying?

God's love for us in never ending.  He allows things to happen to us to help us grow in faith and closer to him!  Praise God!

Lord, we don't always appreciate the way you help us grow, allowing us to be pushed to our limits at times.  If we think back, we can see the pattern of growth that your love inspired in us!  Praise God!

Psalm Sunday
We are reading Psalm 133 today.  It is very short, but it has a lot of meaning just in the first verse!  I don't think we understand verse 2 very well unless we have had to use some kind of oil to keep our skin moist during the winter.  It is very soothing to bath or rub on oils.  That is what verse 2 talks about.  Verse 3 is a reference to the mystery of how dew falls from higher mountains to lower mountains, in this case from Hermon to Zion. Very interesting reference to this here.

Psalm 133

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 How good and pleasant it is
    when God’s people live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
    were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
    even life forevermore.

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 “The highest pinnacle of the spiritual life is not happy joy in unbroken sunshine, but absolute and undoubting trust in the love of God.” = A. W. Thorold