Our Daily Bread
Jordin Sparks sings a song called Tattoo. The very sweet, but sort of sad, lyrics talk about how a lost relationship is kind of "tattooed" on one's heart. Sometimes that is true. Sometimes we want to tattoo removed with lasers, if possible! LOL
If we follow the Risen Christ, our hearts can be seen as "tattooed" with the mark of his love. I like that image. Christ is not only in, around, before and behind us, but on us as well! Remember today that Christ has marked you as his own!
Funny thought for the day: I have a tattoo on my left arm that was inspired by the Pentecost experience. Some friends at church were horrified that I really had a tattoo. Some thought it was cool. LOL
Wellness Wednesday
Well, vacation time is upon us. I found this interesting article about protecting your health while on vacation:
10 diseases you don't want to bring home from vacation
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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Blue skies, shining at me....
Our Daily Bread
I love the song Blue Skies by Irving Berlin. It reminds me of good times with good friends at camp, on trips and on summer holidays.
Life isn't always blue skies for us. The joy of being a follower of Christ is knowing that we can still sing even when the skies aren't blue. We know that Christ is before us, with us, in us and behind us (familiar prayer from church!). Even when we can't lift our eyes to the heavens, God is with us. Praise God!
Teaching Tuesday
So what is your learning plan for this summer? LOL Yes, I realize that I plan WAY too much sometimes! For me, much of the summer will be working on my PMP (Project management professional) PDUs. Even though I renewed in 2014, I waited until the last few months to earn the PDUs I needed. That is unusual for me! I found a really good deal on some online training, so I will take advantage of it!
I also have a book called Mindless Eating arriving this week. I need to read it and implement the strategies in it so I can lose the weight I need to lose. I carried a heavy backpack for a little ways the other day and thought "Gosh, this extra weight is wearing me out". I then realized that I was carrying WAY more extra weight than that on my body! Yikes!
What is your learning plan for this summer? Your life in general? Think about that this week.
**********************************
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns
I love the song Blue Skies by Irving Berlin. It reminds me of good times with good friends at camp, on trips and on summer holidays.
Life isn't always blue skies for us. The joy of being a follower of Christ is knowing that we can still sing even when the skies aren't blue. We know that Christ is before us, with us, in us and behind us (familiar prayer from church!). Even when we can't lift our eyes to the heavens, God is with us. Praise God!
Teaching Tuesday
So what is your learning plan for this summer? LOL Yes, I realize that I plan WAY too much sometimes! For me, much of the summer will be working on my PMP (Project management professional) PDUs. Even though I renewed in 2014, I waited until the last few months to earn the PDUs I needed. That is unusual for me! I found a really good deal on some online training, so I will take advantage of it!
I also have a book called Mindless Eating arriving this week. I need to read it and implement the strategies in it so I can lose the weight I need to lose. I carried a heavy backpack for a little ways the other day and thought "Gosh, this extra weight is wearing me out". I then realized that I was carrying WAY more extra weight than that on my body! Yikes!
What is your learning plan for this summer? Your life in general? Think about that this week.
**********************************
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns
Monday, May 25, 2015
How can I keep from singing?
Our Daily Bread
After having a very difficult time with some friends at church, I showed up for choir practice much to the surprise of the choir director. When he asked me if I was OK, I held up one of our anthems "How can I keep from Singing" and smiled. No, I was not OK, but I still couldn't find ANY excuse for not singing the praises of God!
The Old Testament is filled with songs, most notably the book of Psalms. There are laments and victory songs in other books of the OT as well, as noted in the devotional today.
What are your "victory" songs? What are your "lamenting" songs? How about "God is going to get me through this" song? I have many in each category, but these stand out:
victory song: Trumpet of Jesus by The Imperials
lamenting song: Worn by Tenth Avenue North
God is going to get me through this song: Song of Deliverance by Debby Boone and My Deliverer by Mandisa
Movie Monday
I saw two movie this week: Mad Max: Fury Road and Pitch Perfect 2.
Mad Max: Fury Road
MM:FR was a testosterone-filled, blow stuff and atypical hero wins out in the end kind of movie. I don't remember the original Mad Max movie, but this one was amazing if you like action. The characters were bizarre. The "new world" after the atomic bomb holocaust was depressing, yet very vivid in its contrasts.
I give this one three bear paws. Definitely see it on the big screen, maybe even spring for the 3D version.
Pitch Perfect 2
If you liked the original Pitch Perfect movie, you will love this one. It is much of the same, but much more campy, often making fun of itself (you have to see the We Belong duet...OMG). After winning the national title three years in a row, the Bellas face their biggest challenge yet. Like the first film, the last scenes are worth the price of admission!
I give this one three bear paws. See it at the theater for the great sound on the songs.
**********************************
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns
After having a very difficult time with some friends at church, I showed up for choir practice much to the surprise of the choir director. When he asked me if I was OK, I held up one of our anthems "How can I keep from Singing" and smiled. No, I was not OK, but I still couldn't find ANY excuse for not singing the praises of God!
The Old Testament is filled with songs, most notably the book of Psalms. There are laments and victory songs in other books of the OT as well, as noted in the devotional today.
What are your "victory" songs? What are your "lamenting" songs? How about "God is going to get me through this" song? I have many in each category, but these stand out:
victory song: Trumpet of Jesus by The Imperials
lamenting song: Worn by Tenth Avenue North
God is going to get me through this song: Song of Deliverance by Debby Boone and My Deliverer by Mandisa
Movie Monday
I saw two movie this week: Mad Max: Fury Road and Pitch Perfect 2.
Mad Max: Fury Road
MM:FR was a testosterone-filled, blow stuff and atypical hero wins out in the end kind of movie. I don't remember the original Mad Max movie, but this one was amazing if you like action. The characters were bizarre. The "new world" after the atomic bomb holocaust was depressing, yet very vivid in its contrasts.
I give this one three bear paws. Definitely see it on the big screen, maybe even spring for the 3D version.
Pitch Perfect 2
If you liked the original Pitch Perfect movie, you will love this one. It is much of the same, but much more campy, often making fun of itself (you have to see the We Belong duet...OMG). After winning the national title three years in a row, the Bellas face their biggest challenge yet. Like the first film, the last scenes are worth the price of admission!
I give this one three bear paws. See it at the theater for the great sound on the songs.
**********************************
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Proverbs 7
Proverbs 7
New International Version (NIV)Warning Against the Adulterous Woman
My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
6 At the window of my house
I looked down through the lattice.
7 I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who had no sense.
8 He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
9 at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.
10 Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 (She is unruly and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)
13 She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:
14 “Today I fulfilled my vows,
and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon.”
21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer[a] stepping into a noose[b]
23 till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.
24 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Not a care in the world
Our Utmost for His Highest [link]
Besides the two great commandments in the New Testament, I believe the passage in Matthew 6:25 is the least adopted by the followers of Christ:
…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. —Matthew 6:25
Why is that? I think it is partly because of the world around us and partly because of human nature. We get a lot of pressure to buy stuff and to "succeed" in the world's eyes. While those things are not bad in themselves, they can be when we put those things ahead of our relationship with God.
Just exactly how do we rely on God for what will drink, eat or wear? All I can say is "faith". That is a scary proposition as we usually look at these kinds of things according to the old adage "one in the hand is worth two in the bush". We sometimes settle for the things in hand instead of trusting God for the better things we can't see when we want to see them. Let us pray for each other to trust God!
Quote to think about:
There is nothing, naturally speaking, that makes us lose heart quicker than decay—the decay of bodily beauty, of natural life, of friendship, of associations, all these things make a man lose heart; but Paul says when we are trusting in Jesus Christ these things do not find us discouraged, light comes through them.
The Place of Help by Oswald Chambers
**********************************
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns
Besides the two great commandments in the New Testament, I believe the passage in Matthew 6:25 is the least adopted by the followers of Christ:
…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. —Matthew 6:25
Why is that? I think it is partly because of the world around us and partly because of human nature. We get a lot of pressure to buy stuff and to "succeed" in the world's eyes. While those things are not bad in themselves, they can be when we put those things ahead of our relationship with God.
Just exactly how do we rely on God for what will drink, eat or wear? All I can say is "faith". That is a scary proposition as we usually look at these kinds of things according to the old adage "one in the hand is worth two in the bush". We sometimes settle for the things in hand instead of trusting God for the better things we can't see when we want to see them. Let us pray for each other to trust God!
Quote to think about:
There is nothing, naturally speaking, that makes us lose heart quicker than decay—the decay of bodily beauty, of natural life, of friendship, of associations, all these things make a man lose heart; but Paul says when we are trusting in Jesus Christ these things do not find us discouraged, light comes through them.
The Place of Help by Oswald Chambers
**********************************
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns
Friday, May 22, 2015
Yoda says...
Our Daily Bread
I found a very cute graduation card last week. It had Yoda (from Star Wars) on the front of it saying "Study hard, you have"... Open it up and it says "Party hard, you must!" How fun is that!
The search of knowledge, which we usually celebrate this time of year during high school and college graduations, seems crucial to function in the world today. Yet, we don't stress the most important thing we should seek other than knowledge -- wisdom! I have been sharing the chapters from Proverbs in my Sunday blog entries. This is more for me than for you! Yes, I have lots of "book learnin'" as my grandfather used to say. I still seek God's wisdom so I can live the best life I can live for Him!
Foodie Friday
I found some new recipes this week. I haven't tried any of them yet, but I thought I would share some of them. I have a couple of cans of artichokes in the cupboard. That's why I have two artichoke recipes below!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/skillet-brownies-recipe.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/337905/chicken-with-artichokes-and-angel-hair
http://www.marthastewart.com/343478/artichoke-dip-with-fontina
**********************************
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns
I found a very cute graduation card last week. It had Yoda (from Star Wars) on the front of it saying "Study hard, you have"... Open it up and it says "Party hard, you must!" How fun is that!
The search of knowledge, which we usually celebrate this time of year during high school and college graduations, seems crucial to function in the world today. Yet, we don't stress the most important thing we should seek other than knowledge -- wisdom! I have been sharing the chapters from Proverbs in my Sunday blog entries. This is more for me than for you! Yes, I have lots of "book learnin'" as my grandfather used to say. I still seek God's wisdom so I can live the best life I can live for Him!
Foodie Friday
I found some new recipes this week. I haven't tried any of them yet, but I thought I would share some of them. I have a couple of cans of artichokes in the cupboard. That's why I have two artichoke recipes below!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/skillet-brownies-recipe.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/337905/chicken-with-artichokes-and-angel-hair
http://www.marthastewart.com/343478/artichoke-dip-with-fontina
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Phoenix
Our Daily Bread
I have had a lot of health issues in my life. One friend teases me that I am a "freakin' phoenix"! LOL I was reminded of that statement each time I watched a Harry Potter movie with the phoenix in it!
If you read the prophet Isaiah, you will see some of that same "rising out of the ashes" renewal kind of story. I like it! There are some times in our lives that we seem like we will never find out way back to God. God will help us with his refining fire to remove the impurities in our lives and help us rise from the ashes more pure than before. We can do this! Praise God!
Technology Thursday
Technology can be a scary thing. It can also be a wonderful thing. Here are a few articles about both.
Finding parking
KFC Turned Its Placemats Into Bluetooth Keyboards to Save Your Phone Screen From Finger Grease
For the Love of God, You Do Not Need a Case for Your Apple Watch
The NSA’s Bulk Surveillance is Nearing its Expiration Date
**********************************
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns
I have had a lot of health issues in my life. One friend teases me that I am a "freakin' phoenix"! LOL I was reminded of that statement each time I watched a Harry Potter movie with the phoenix in it!
If you read the prophet Isaiah, you will see some of that same "rising out of the ashes" renewal kind of story. I like it! There are some times in our lives that we seem like we will never find out way back to God. God will help us with his refining fire to remove the impurities in our lives and help us rise from the ashes more pure than before. We can do this! Praise God!
Technology Thursday
Technology can be a scary thing. It can also be a wonderful thing. Here are a few articles about both.
Finding parking
KFC Turned Its Placemats Into Bluetooth Keyboards to Save Your Phone Screen From Finger Grease
For the Love of God, You Do Not Need a Case for Your Apple Watch
The NSA’s Bulk Surveillance is Nearing its Expiration Date
**********************************
We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns
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