Our Daily Bread
Do ever think that some Christians think of being a Christian is like being in a frequent flier program? You so many points for doing stuff at church, being nice to people, raising a good family. have a great job, blah, blah, blah. They can redeem the points for favors from God like getting that big promotion or helping little Jimmy get out some trouble at school. Or, for that really big flight to heaven, first class of course! ;-)
God knows our hearts. Yes, God made us some promises about the kind of life a person would have if we did the best we could to follow him. He promised he would be with us always. He promised he would make us whole. Hmmmmmm. I don't see little Jimmy getting out of trouble any time soon! Ha! God does not owe us that. God bestows his blessings on those who walk humbly with him and do their best to serve others. Pretty amazing stuff.
Lord, thank you for being with me and in me always. I thank you for the privilege of serving you.
Psalm Sunday
The psalm for this week is Psalm 19. Several of these verses were set to music in one way or another. The language is so beautiful. Each verse glorifies God in some way. It is a beautiful psalm! May favorite verses is 10. There is a meaningful chorus from that verse that I loved as a youth and in college.
Psalm 19
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
Other Stuff
I had a good day yesterday. My Emmaus team meeting was great again. God is moving in this group of men! Praise God! I know they mean a lot to me.
I went to the gym for a decent workout. I am slowly increasing my time on the elliptical machine. Whew! I also walked a 1/2 mile.
I went to see a movie after that, then went to the grocery. I am making a grilled green recipe I came up with for my dinner group tonight. I hope they like it!
I had a nice talk with a close friend.
I finished laundry and did a few other things around the house.
I am looking forward to resting today. I may work some more on my devotional for next Saturday.
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Though art the potter, I am the clay
Our Daily Bread
Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way! Yes, God is the master potter than can take the broken down clay pot of my life and make is something beautiful. Something not ordinary! ;-)
I love that hymn! It reminds us that turning the clay of your life over to God takes total commitment! You can't hold back some extra pieces and stick them on later! Those pieces won't hold up under the pottery furnace used to bake the clay pot into its hardened form. The potter can then paint the pot and add a glaze to finish the work of art. God wants to do that with our lives. He wants to make us over if we will give him the clay of our life. Total commitment. We can trust God. He has done this process with millions of people over the centuries!
Lord, help me turn over all the clay of my life to you. Please make it into something beautiful in your sight.
Simply Saturday
I had a nice evening last night. I renewed my drivers license. I came home to do some cleaning and then watched a favorite DVD. I also looked at the leaders guide for the class I am working on.
I have dinner group tomorrow night. I am looking forward to that! I have a new recipe to try!
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do....
Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way! Yes, God is the master potter than can take the broken down clay pot of my life and make is something beautiful. Something not ordinary! ;-)
I love that hymn! It reminds us that turning the clay of your life over to God takes total commitment! You can't hold back some extra pieces and stick them on later! Those pieces won't hold up under the pottery furnace used to bake the clay pot into its hardened form. The potter can then paint the pot and add a glaze to finish the work of art. God wants to do that with our lives. He wants to make us over if we will give him the clay of our life. Total commitment. We can trust God. He has done this process with millions of people over the centuries!
Lord, help me turn over all the clay of my life to you. Please make it into something beautiful in your sight.
Simply Saturday
I had a nice evening last night. I renewed my drivers license. I came home to do some cleaning and then watched a favorite DVD. I also looked at the leaders guide for the class I am working on.
I have dinner group tomorrow night. I am looking forward to that! I have a new recipe to try!
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do....
Friday, August 12, 2011
Open my eyes that I may see...
Our Daily Bread
The Biblical stories mentioned in the devotional today are some of my favorite life changing stories. It is so amazing how God can take anyone and make him or her a vessel for God's love. Yes, we may feel inadequate. Yes, we may feel that we cannot do it alone. We don't have to do it alone. We have God and his Holy Spirit to help us along the way!
I have been trying to rely more on this strength of which I write all week. I feel confused and alone sometimes. God keeps sending his messages through many different sources reassuring me of what I need to do. I have not always obeyed. I am only human. God is teaching me that while I want and try to be perfect, I can do nothing on my own. I can do all things through him. Sometimes that promise makes me feel worse when I fail God and fail myself. If I can really do all things through Christ, then why can't I do A or B?
Let's pray for each other that we can all let Christ strengthen us to do all things through him!
Lord, thank you for being there for us. Help me let go and let God!
Foodie Friday
Here is the recipe that my hero and I made earlier this week. It is called Chicken Roulades with Chorizo and Manchego It was quite good matched up with grilled asparagus and salt potatoes. The chef on the web site paired it with kale. Yuck! hehehe
Chicken Roulades with Chorizo and Manchego
Ingredients
Stuffing:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
Kosher salt
Pinch crushed red pepper
1 clove garlic, smashed and finely chopped
1/2 pound Mexican chorizo, casing removed
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated aged Manchego cheese
1/2 bunch fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted and roughly chopped
1 egg
Breading:
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Sauce:
Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
1 shallot, finely chopped
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
2 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
Directions
For the stuffing: Carefully slice through the chicken breasts to open the thickest part like a book. Place the chicken breasts in between plastic wrap and pound lightly with the flat side of a meat mallet to flatten and even out the chicken. Reserve.
Coat a large saute pan with olive oil, add the onions and sprinkle with salt and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to a medium-high heat and cook the onions until they are soft and very aromatic but have no color, 7 to 8 minutes. Toss in the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
Crumble the chorizo and add to the pan. Cook the chorizo until it is cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool slightly.
Transfer the chorizo mixture to a mixing bowl and stir in the breadcrumbs, Manchego, parsley, almonds and egg. Taste to make sure the stuffing is delicious. It is a good idea to run this mixture gently through a food processor!
Divide the filling among the 4 chicken breasts. Make a log of stuffing across the widest part of the chicken breast. Fold the ends over the stuffing and roll the chicken up to enclose the stuffing. Secure the rolls shut with a toothpick.
For the breading: Set up a standard breading procedure with 3 bowls: 1 with flour, 1 with 2 eggs beaten together with 2 tablespoons water and 1 with the panko breadcrumbs.
Dust each chicken roll lightly with flour, then dip in the egg wash and then roll in the panko. Once all the chicken rolls have been breaded, let them hang out in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Add olive oil to a large, straight-sided saute pan until it reaches a depth of 1/2-inch and bring the pan to a medium-high heat.
Brown the chicken rolls on all sides. When the chicken is brown, remove from the pan and blot on paper towels. Transfer the rolls to a sheet tray and place in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
For the sauce: Add a few drops of oil to a saute pan and add the shallots. Sprinkle with salt and bring the pan to a medium heat. Cook the shallots for 3 to 4 minutes and then add the sherry vinegar. Reduce the vinegar by half. Add half the chicken stock, season with salt and bring it to a boil. When the stock has reduced by half, add the remaining stock and reduce by half again. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed (it probably will).
Turn the heat to medium and swirl in 1 pat of butter at a time.
Remove the chicken from the oven, slice each roll into 4 or 5 slices, plate and spoon the sauce over.
Wine Pairing Suggestion: Albarino (Spanish wine goes with the Spanish ingredients).
Other stuff
I picked up my glass from Walmart last night. I received the pair I ordered online on Wednesday. Here are pics of my wearing each pair.
I don't have to wear the glasses all the time. I have adequate vision to drive and function without them. I bought them so I could feel more comfortable driving in strange places and to see better at the movies. The odd thing that I noticed is that having my right eye at 20/20 vision while wearing the glasses only emphasizes how the cataract is growing in my left eye! I have approximately 20/30 vision in the left eye right now.
I finished the first draft of the leaders guide last night. I want to review the questions and the purpose of each question. I want to pray over the booklet to determine what God wants me to change. I will work on it some more tonight.
Going to take it easy this weekend. I need to do some stuff around the house. Not much else planned.
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
The Biblical stories mentioned in the devotional today are some of my favorite life changing stories. It is so amazing how God can take anyone and make him or her a vessel for God's love. Yes, we may feel inadequate. Yes, we may feel that we cannot do it alone. We don't have to do it alone. We have God and his Holy Spirit to help us along the way!
I have been trying to rely more on this strength of which I write all week. I feel confused and alone sometimes. God keeps sending his messages through many different sources reassuring me of what I need to do. I have not always obeyed. I am only human. God is teaching me that while I want and try to be perfect, I can do nothing on my own. I can do all things through him. Sometimes that promise makes me feel worse when I fail God and fail myself. If I can really do all things through Christ, then why can't I do A or B?
Let's pray for each other that we can all let Christ strengthen us to do all things through him!
Lord, thank you for being there for us. Help me let go and let God!
Foodie Friday
Here is the recipe that my hero and I made earlier this week. It is called Chicken Roulades with Chorizo and Manchego It was quite good matched up with grilled asparagus and salt potatoes. The chef on the web site paired it with kale. Yuck! hehehe
Chicken Roulades with Chorizo and Manchego
Ingredients
Stuffing:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
Kosher salt
Pinch crushed red pepper
1 clove garlic, smashed and finely chopped
1/2 pound Mexican chorizo, casing removed
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated aged Manchego cheese
1/2 bunch fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted and roughly chopped
1 egg
Breading:
1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Sauce:
Extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
1 shallot, finely chopped
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
2 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
Directions
For the stuffing: Carefully slice through the chicken breasts to open the thickest part like a book. Place the chicken breasts in between plastic wrap and pound lightly with the flat side of a meat mallet to flatten and even out the chicken. Reserve.
Coat a large saute pan with olive oil, add the onions and sprinkle with salt and a pinch of crushed red pepper. Bring the pan to a medium-high heat and cook the onions until they are soft and very aromatic but have no color, 7 to 8 minutes. Toss in the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
Crumble the chorizo and add to the pan. Cook the chorizo until it is cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool slightly.
Transfer the chorizo mixture to a mixing bowl and stir in the breadcrumbs, Manchego, parsley, almonds and egg. Taste to make sure the stuffing is delicious. It is a good idea to run this mixture gently through a food processor!
Divide the filling among the 4 chicken breasts. Make a log of stuffing across the widest part of the chicken breast. Fold the ends over the stuffing and roll the chicken up to enclose the stuffing. Secure the rolls shut with a toothpick.
For the breading: Set up a standard breading procedure with 3 bowls: 1 with flour, 1 with 2 eggs beaten together with 2 tablespoons water and 1 with the panko breadcrumbs.
Dust each chicken roll lightly with flour, then dip in the egg wash and then roll in the panko. Once all the chicken rolls have been breaded, let them hang out in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Add olive oil to a large, straight-sided saute pan until it reaches a depth of 1/2-inch and bring the pan to a medium-high heat.
Brown the chicken rolls on all sides. When the chicken is brown, remove from the pan and blot on paper towels. Transfer the rolls to a sheet tray and place in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
For the sauce: Add a few drops of oil to a saute pan and add the shallots. Sprinkle with salt and bring the pan to a medium heat. Cook the shallots for 3 to 4 minutes and then add the sherry vinegar. Reduce the vinegar by half. Add half the chicken stock, season with salt and bring it to a boil. When the stock has reduced by half, add the remaining stock and reduce by half again. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed (it probably will).
Turn the heat to medium and swirl in 1 pat of butter at a time.
Remove the chicken from the oven, slice each roll into 4 or 5 slices, plate and spoon the sauce over.
Wine Pairing Suggestion: Albarino (Spanish wine goes with the Spanish ingredients).
Other stuff
I picked up my glass from Walmart last night. I received the pair I ordered online on Wednesday. Here are pics of my wearing each pair.
I don't have to wear the glasses all the time. I have adequate vision to drive and function without them. I bought them so I could feel more comfortable driving in strange places and to see better at the movies. The odd thing that I noticed is that having my right eye at 20/20 vision while wearing the glasses only emphasizes how the cataract is growing in my left eye! I have approximately 20/30 vision in the left eye right now.
I finished the first draft of the leaders guide last night. I want to review the questions and the purpose of each question. I want to pray over the booklet to determine what God wants me to change. I will work on it some more tonight.
Going to take it easy this weekend. I need to do some stuff around the house. Not much else planned.
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
Thursday, August 11, 2011
It never ceases to amaze me...
Our Daily Bread
It NEVER ceases to amaze me how God uses the Our Daily Bread devotional site to speak to me (and I am sure many, many others). The timing of each devotional seems like they are customized for my life! Thank you, Lord!
I have been struggling with temptation... DOH! We all struggle with that! I am not special when it comes to that, I know! There is a very specific situation that I am dealing that almost constantly swirls in my head. I know I need to put on the whole armor of God to resist the temptation of these thoughts and not dwell on them. Dwelling on the impure and inappropriate thoughts is not healthy for me. I cannot prevent thoughts from popping in my head. I can prevent the dwelling on the thoughts that may cause me to sin or to draw me away from God's will.
We all struggle with this in one way or another. Hang in there! The devotional talks about learning and using scripture to rebuke the temptations just like Jesus did during his temptation. Oh to be tempted like our Lord! What an honor! Oh, to resist the temptations like he did! I am only human. I will try to do the best I can.
Lord, thank you for the power of your scripture and prayer to overcome temptation.
Technology Thursday
There are a few interesting things going on this week.
Apple was the largest company in the world for a few hours this week based on market capitalization, beating out Exxon for a short time. That is pretty amazing! Apple was also in the news for cracking down on copy cats. There are copy cat iPads out there. There are copy cat Apple stores out there. There are copy cat iPhones out there. Wow!
Intel announced that they are working with hardware makers to create ultrabooks, lightweight notebooks that pack a ton of power. Apparently, they are copying the Apple model for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro! Go figure!
Hackers are hacking away at the Black Hat conference in Vegas. Very interesting stuff. These folks are not just geeks locked away in the basement of their mothers' houses!
Other Stuff
I started working on the leader's guide for the small group that I want to teach at church this Fall. I am praying about what should be in the guide each week of the five week small group. What an adventure!
I received my new eyeglasses last night. They aren't too bad. I will try them driving on the way home tonight. I was running late this morning and forgot to put them on. They look nice too. I will post a picture in the next day or two. I also have a pair coming from Walmart as well.
I paired some leftovers with some Jack Daniels beef brisket for supper last night. I have enough for supper tonight, too. mmmMmmmm
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
It NEVER ceases to amaze me how God uses the Our Daily Bread devotional site to speak to me (and I am sure many, many others). The timing of each devotional seems like they are customized for my life! Thank you, Lord!
I have been struggling with temptation... DOH! We all struggle with that! I am not special when it comes to that, I know! There is a very specific situation that I am dealing that almost constantly swirls in my head. I know I need to put on the whole armor of God to resist the temptation of these thoughts and not dwell on them. Dwelling on the impure and inappropriate thoughts is not healthy for me. I cannot prevent thoughts from popping in my head. I can prevent the dwelling on the thoughts that may cause me to sin or to draw me away from God's will.
We all struggle with this in one way or another. Hang in there! The devotional talks about learning and using scripture to rebuke the temptations just like Jesus did during his temptation. Oh to be tempted like our Lord! What an honor! Oh, to resist the temptations like he did! I am only human. I will try to do the best I can.
Lord, thank you for the power of your scripture and prayer to overcome temptation.
Technology Thursday
There are a few interesting things going on this week.
Apple was the largest company in the world for a few hours this week based on market capitalization, beating out Exxon for a short time. That is pretty amazing! Apple was also in the news for cracking down on copy cats. There are copy cat iPads out there. There are copy cat Apple stores out there. There are copy cat iPhones out there. Wow!
Intel announced that they are working with hardware makers to create ultrabooks, lightweight notebooks that pack a ton of power. Apparently, they are copying the Apple model for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro! Go figure!
Hackers are hacking away at the Black Hat conference in Vegas. Very interesting stuff. These folks are not just geeks locked away in the basement of their mothers' houses!
Other Stuff
I started working on the leader's guide for the small group that I want to teach at church this Fall. I am praying about what should be in the guide each week of the five week small group. What an adventure!
I received my new eyeglasses last night. They aren't too bad. I will try them driving on the way home tonight. I was running late this morning and forgot to put them on. They look nice too. I will post a picture in the next day or two. I also have a pair coming from Walmart as well.
I paired some leftovers with some Jack Daniels beef brisket for supper last night. I have enough for supper tonight, too. mmmMmmmm
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Doing too much?
Our Daily Bread
Are you doing too much? Are you stressing yourself (and maybe the folks around you)? Should you be taking more time for yourself?
I heard professors in college say that ministers have to be especially careful of this. They called it "trying to minister out of an empty well". This is a great visualization of the problem. Have you ever been a seen a well that ran dry? You can't dip any more ladles of cool water from an empty well! You can't server others the cool water of God's love when you are trying to minister or serve from an empty well inside you.
We all need time to recharge. That is why God wants us to take a Sabbath!
Lord I want to take time to charge up so I can serve others better!
Witness Wednesday
I have to give a devotional at my weekly Emmaus walk team meeting on August 20. I am praying about what to do. My first thought was to sing something (still a possibility). My second thought was to read the devotional I wrote for the D2 class earlier this year (it might be too personal for a group of guys that I don't know well). My last thought was to pray about coming up with something new. I am leaning towards this option. I will pray about it some more and ask God for his leadership.
I have been trying to flee to God this week as I move on from a relationship that is not meant to be. God has been with me in a very strong way the past few days, as I wrote in other entries. I want God's will to be done. He knows what is best for me. I sure as heck don't! hehehe
Other Stuff
I had a great time last night! My hero and I made dinner for my walking buddy and her husband. I saw the recipe on the Food Network a few weeks ago. It was a little beyond my cooking skills so I asked my hero to help me with it. We figured it out between the two of us! It turned out great! My only disappointment was the sauce. I couldn't get it to thicken the way it was supposed to. I will have to work on that for next time. My hero also made a good call when she suggested to put the stuffing in the food processor to make it more stuffing like instead of chunkier. I feel comfortable making this recipe for a dinner party or a romantic dinner sometime (if and when I ever have one of those again!). hehehe
I plan to focus on creating the leader guide for a small group I suggested for church the rest of the week. I plan to have a draft done by Sunday. If I get very, very motivated, I may work on a second leader guide as well. ;-p
Hang in there my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
Are you doing too much? Are you stressing yourself (and maybe the folks around you)? Should you be taking more time for yourself?
I heard professors in college say that ministers have to be especially careful of this. They called it "trying to minister out of an empty well". This is a great visualization of the problem. Have you ever been a seen a well that ran dry? You can't dip any more ladles of cool water from an empty well! You can't server others the cool water of God's love when you are trying to minister or serve from an empty well inside you.
We all need time to recharge. That is why God wants us to take a Sabbath!
Lord I want to take time to charge up so I can serve others better!
Witness Wednesday
I have to give a devotional at my weekly Emmaus walk team meeting on August 20. I am praying about what to do. My first thought was to sing something (still a possibility). My second thought was to read the devotional I wrote for the D2 class earlier this year (it might be too personal for a group of guys that I don't know well). My last thought was to pray about coming up with something new. I am leaning towards this option. I will pray about it some more and ask God for his leadership.
I have been trying to flee to God this week as I move on from a relationship that is not meant to be. God has been with me in a very strong way the past few days, as I wrote in other entries. I want God's will to be done. He knows what is best for me. I sure as heck don't! hehehe
Other Stuff
I had a great time last night! My hero and I made dinner for my walking buddy and her husband. I saw the recipe on the Food Network a few weeks ago. It was a little beyond my cooking skills so I asked my hero to help me with it. We figured it out between the two of us! It turned out great! My only disappointment was the sauce. I couldn't get it to thicken the way it was supposed to. I will have to work on that for next time. My hero also made a good call when she suggested to put the stuffing in the food processor to make it more stuffing like instead of chunkier. I feel comfortable making this recipe for a dinner party or a romantic dinner sometime (if and when I ever have one of those again!). hehehe
I plan to focus on creating the leader guide for a small group I suggested for church the rest of the week. I plan to have a draft done by Sunday. If I get very, very motivated, I may work on a second leader guide as well. ;-p
Hang in there my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Do I really need a shepherd? Seriously?
Our Daily Bread
YES! I do need a shepherd! We all need one! hehehe Yes, there are times that I need to be alone so God can talk to me uninterrupted. Even during those times, I know that a close friend is only a call or text message away if I need someone.
God does not want us wandering the wilderness alone. We will get picked off by the wolves! Well, maybe not literally picked off by wolves, but there are many temptations and traps out there that we can avoid if we travel with the flock!
Many folks don't like this analogy because they think it means that we should follow like a stupid sheep. Even a sheep has a choice whether to follow or wander off. Isn't it good to know that there are folks who care about us to help us stay near the flock? It is our choice, regardless of the method we choose to do that. Find your own personal way to stay connected to the flock.
Lord, thank you for being our good shepherd. I want to follow!
Teaching Tuesday
How do you grow in your Christian life? I have a tendency to mull and think about things for a while, slowly bringing things to consciousness and being able to process the things that God wants me to learn. After a while, I usually have an epiphany (definition: a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.). There is no formula for having an epiphany. Here is how they work for me.
1. Start by having a basic understanding that there is something you need to learn or realize to deepen your relationship with God. This can come from a sermon, a devotional, a conversation with a friend or almost anywhere! It can sometimes take a while for this to form in your mind and heart. Be open to the feelings. Be open to God's leadership.
2. Be earnest and faithful in prayer and Bible study to deepen the formation of the learning experience. You never know what experience will trigger deeper understanding. Be sensitive and open to God's leadership. For example, God lead me to a movie the other day to help me understand what he had for me in my future. Amazing stuff!
3. You may experience deep and intense feelings as the realization grows. For me, I realized several months ago that God was not going to lead me to the man I am supposed to be with for a very specific reason. I had a problem with putting a romantic relationship before my relationship with God! Why would he lead me to someone only to be put into second place! That helped me form a deeper understanding that eventually lead to my epiphany.
4. Don't be afraid to talk to God about it in your prayers. I laugh, cry, try to demand (yikes!), try to negotiate, argue and everything in between to understand what God wants me to learn. You will probably have some partial revelations or a partial understanding as you work through this. Keep trusting God to help you move through it all and grow. Over the weekend, I had some intense prayers with God about my life, as unordinary as it is! hehehe
5. Listen! Listen when you are praying. Be sensitive to God working in your life. God filled my heart with such peace and assurance Sunday afternoon that I was overwhelmed. He reassured me all weekend with example after example of him working in my life, sending messages of his love and grace. Look for those!
6. Talk about your experience with a close friend (or two or three). I called a close friend that was familiar with my struggle. We talked about it and prayed together. It was so amazing sharing this with someone close to me.
7. Don't be fooled that the battle is over. It takes practice to put into effect the things that God taught you. It takes discipline to trust and obey God as you walk every day. I started learning more songs. Learning more scriptures. Thinking of the things that are good and pure and holy instead of the other lesser things of this world. It works!
You can do this. If I can do it, then anyone can! hehehe
Other Stuff
I had a great evening last night. I went to my hero's house to drop some stuff off for our dinner tonight. We were going to do some prep work, but talked for almost 80 minutes before we even thought about it. We went over the recipe and what we had between the two of us. We had everything we needed except for some olive oil. I brought some from home today. I am so excited about cooking this meal tonight!
We then went to see a preview showing of the movie The Help. I will be reviewing that movie on Monday. All I have to say is that you need to see it! It was amazing! My hero and I really enjoyed it!
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
YES! I do need a shepherd! We all need one! hehehe Yes, there are times that I need to be alone so God can talk to me uninterrupted. Even during those times, I know that a close friend is only a call or text message away if I need someone.
God does not want us wandering the wilderness alone. We will get picked off by the wolves! Well, maybe not literally picked off by wolves, but there are many temptations and traps out there that we can avoid if we travel with the flock!
Many folks don't like this analogy because they think it means that we should follow like a stupid sheep. Even a sheep has a choice whether to follow or wander off. Isn't it good to know that there are folks who care about us to help us stay near the flock? It is our choice, regardless of the method we choose to do that. Find your own personal way to stay connected to the flock.
Lord, thank you for being our good shepherd. I want to follow!
Teaching Tuesday
How do you grow in your Christian life? I have a tendency to mull and think about things for a while, slowly bringing things to consciousness and being able to process the things that God wants me to learn. After a while, I usually have an epiphany (definition: a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.). There is no formula for having an epiphany. Here is how they work for me.
1. Start by having a basic understanding that there is something you need to learn or realize to deepen your relationship with God. This can come from a sermon, a devotional, a conversation with a friend or almost anywhere! It can sometimes take a while for this to form in your mind and heart. Be open to the feelings. Be open to God's leadership.
2. Be earnest and faithful in prayer and Bible study to deepen the formation of the learning experience. You never know what experience will trigger deeper understanding. Be sensitive and open to God's leadership. For example, God lead me to a movie the other day to help me understand what he had for me in my future. Amazing stuff!
3. You may experience deep and intense feelings as the realization grows. For me, I realized several months ago that God was not going to lead me to the man I am supposed to be with for a very specific reason. I had a problem with putting a romantic relationship before my relationship with God! Why would he lead me to someone only to be put into second place! That helped me form a deeper understanding that eventually lead to my epiphany.
4. Don't be afraid to talk to God about it in your prayers. I laugh, cry, try to demand (yikes!), try to negotiate, argue and everything in between to understand what God wants me to learn. You will probably have some partial revelations or a partial understanding as you work through this. Keep trusting God to help you move through it all and grow. Over the weekend, I had some intense prayers with God about my life, as unordinary as it is! hehehe
5. Listen! Listen when you are praying. Be sensitive to God working in your life. God filled my heart with such peace and assurance Sunday afternoon that I was overwhelmed. He reassured me all weekend with example after example of him working in my life, sending messages of his love and grace. Look for those!
6. Talk about your experience with a close friend (or two or three). I called a close friend that was familiar with my struggle. We talked about it and prayed together. It was so amazing sharing this with someone close to me.
7. Don't be fooled that the battle is over. It takes practice to put into effect the things that God taught you. It takes discipline to trust and obey God as you walk every day. I started learning more songs. Learning more scriptures. Thinking of the things that are good and pure and holy instead of the other lesser things of this world. It works!
You can do this. If I can do it, then anyone can! hehehe
Other Stuff
I had a great evening last night. I went to my hero's house to drop some stuff off for our dinner tonight. We were going to do some prep work, but talked for almost 80 minutes before we even thought about it. We went over the recipe and what we had between the two of us. We had everything we needed except for some olive oil. I brought some from home today. I am so excited about cooking this meal tonight!
We then went to see a preview showing of the movie The Help. I will be reviewing that movie on Monday. All I have to say is that you need to see it! It was amazing! My hero and I really enjoyed it!
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
Monday, August 8, 2011
Victory in Jesus!
Our Daily Bread
I love the story in today's devotional. The woman was so humble and willing to humiliate herself in front of many folks to anoint Jesus's feet. How many of us wouldn't do something like that for our life partner? ;-p Jesus recognized the brokenness. He recognized the opportunity to make it clear to all that only those folks who would humble themselves would enter the kingdom of heaven.
What are we willing to do to serve Jesus? What are we willing to do to tell others?
Lord, I want to be the humble servant that continuously shows gratitude for the debt you forgave in my life. I thank you and praise you!
Movie Monday
I got to see three movies this week. One of them was a repeat as a friend wanted to see Aliens and Cowboys. I didn't tell him I saw it the first day it was out! I actually liked it a little better the second time!
Crazy Stupid Love
OMG! This movie was interesting and odd and crazy and stupid! In short, the movie starts out with Julianne Moore asking Steve Carrell for a divorce after 25 years of marriage. Sooooo many things happen after that I don't want to tell you so I don't ruin the movie.
It is worth seeing, though I had my doubts at first. I really enjoyed it. I will write a little more about it below and how it affects my life.
I give the movie two bear paws (though close to a three). See it now! hehehe
Water for Elephants
I caught this movie at the discount movie theater before it went to video. It was very well done. The story was so beautiful. It also had some violent parts in it, so be prepared. I thought it depicted the life of circus folks in that era very well. A newcomer to the circus falls in love with the owner's wife. They eventually run off together. There is a LOT that goes on in between there!
I give this two stars (though close to three).
Other Stuff
God was moving soooo much in my life this weekend. After the things I wrote the past three days, I am sure you have an idea what was going on. I am thrilled to say that I finally figured out something that has been my thorn in the flesh for years now. I praise God for helping me finally get a clue and be able to walk more fully in trusting him. In short, the two relationships I pursued the most the past four years were extensions of my lack of faith and lack of trust in God to lead me to the final love of my life. He has promised me that he would. I have been acting as a rebellious child by trying to make things happen on my own with men that I wasn't supposed to be with. I was holding on to my own will tighter than a box of Hoho's on a Saturday night! hehehe Turning that over to God flushed so much crap out of my mind and heart that I was overwhelmed with it all. The first person I called was the friend that I talked with Thursday night. I explained what happened and asked him to pray with me that I would never forget God's promise each and every day. I know I can be a close friend to him now (when he needs one the most). I know he can be comfortable being my close friend without worrying about me trying to date him again.
I called two other friends to talk to them about it. I joked with them both "If I am not supposed to meet men on my own, then why did God make me so charming?" hehehe God reinforced twice over the weekend that I cannot do this on my own (before the epiphany Sunday afternoon).
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus! Freedom from the things that drag down our lives. Making our lives not so ordinary! Praise God!
Is there something in your life that is weighing you down? Trying to steal your joy? Making your life more ordinary than it should be? Turn it over to Jesus. If I can do it, anyone can! hehehe
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
I love the story in today's devotional. The woman was so humble and willing to humiliate herself in front of many folks to anoint Jesus's feet. How many of us wouldn't do something like that for our life partner? ;-p Jesus recognized the brokenness. He recognized the opportunity to make it clear to all that only those folks who would humble themselves would enter the kingdom of heaven.
What are we willing to do to serve Jesus? What are we willing to do to tell others?
Lord, I want to be the humble servant that continuously shows gratitude for the debt you forgave in my life. I thank you and praise you!
Movie Monday
I got to see three movies this week. One of them was a repeat as a friend wanted to see Aliens and Cowboys. I didn't tell him I saw it the first day it was out! I actually liked it a little better the second time!
Crazy Stupid Love
OMG! This movie was interesting and odd and crazy and stupid! In short, the movie starts out with Julianne Moore asking Steve Carrell for a divorce after 25 years of marriage. Sooooo many things happen after that I don't want to tell you so I don't ruin the movie.
It is worth seeing, though I had my doubts at first. I really enjoyed it. I will write a little more about it below and how it affects my life.
I give the movie two bear paws (though close to a three). See it now! hehehe
Water for Elephants
I caught this movie at the discount movie theater before it went to video. It was very well done. The story was so beautiful. It also had some violent parts in it, so be prepared. I thought it depicted the life of circus folks in that era very well. A newcomer to the circus falls in love with the owner's wife. They eventually run off together. There is a LOT that goes on in between there!
I give this two stars (though close to three).
Other Stuff
God was moving soooo much in my life this weekend. After the things I wrote the past three days, I am sure you have an idea what was going on. I am thrilled to say that I finally figured out something that has been my thorn in the flesh for years now. I praise God for helping me finally get a clue and be able to walk more fully in trusting him. In short, the two relationships I pursued the most the past four years were extensions of my lack of faith and lack of trust in God to lead me to the final love of my life. He has promised me that he would. I have been acting as a rebellious child by trying to make things happen on my own with men that I wasn't supposed to be with. I was holding on to my own will tighter than a box of Hoho's on a Saturday night! hehehe Turning that over to God flushed so much crap out of my mind and heart that I was overwhelmed with it all. The first person I called was the friend that I talked with Thursday night. I explained what happened and asked him to pray with me that I would never forget God's promise each and every day. I know I can be a close friend to him now (when he needs one the most). I know he can be comfortable being my close friend without worrying about me trying to date him again.
I called two other friends to talk to them about it. I joked with them both "If I am not supposed to meet men on my own, then why did God make me so charming?" hehehe God reinforced twice over the weekend that I cannot do this on my own (before the epiphany Sunday afternoon).
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus! Freedom from the things that drag down our lives. Making our lives not so ordinary! Praise God!
Is there something in your life that is weighing you down? Trying to steal your joy? Making your life more ordinary than it should be? Turn it over to Jesus. If I can do it, anyone can! hehehe
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
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