Who do you follow?

Our Daily Bread
I like interfaith meetings and services. I think it is a good thing to learn how God works through many different paths to Him. 

Often we are like the folks of the Corinthian church. We identify ourselves with the church we attend or the minister at our church instead of the Head of the Church -- Jesus Christ! Focusing ourselves on lesser things prevents us from being effective at serving him. 

Let's ask God to help us focus on Him today and every day!

Wellness Wednesday
OK, I have to admit it (again). I overeat a lot. I don't always understand why -- I just do it. Binge eating while binge watching Netflix happens too often at my house. I could eat well during the week, then blow it by binge eating on the weekend. Whew... I did better last weekend, but still could use a LOT of work. Here are a few articles I found to help me out.  I also ordered the book Mindful Eating.

Six hidden reasons for overeating

Avoid portion distortion

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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 

The Great Healer

Our Daily Bread
I have been a sickly person for most of my life even though I look as healthy as a horse. At the bottom of my current medical history record, I have ALL the doctors I currently see for one thing or another.  ALL my doctors.  Whew...

I liked what the devotional said today about God being the Great Healer. I have relied on Him and his healing professionals as long as I can remember. It is miraculous at times how God uses these folks and how God is with us during sickness and health.

For today, please take a minute and think of times that God has been with you!

Teaching Tuesday
I am finishing up the last four chapters of the Fred Craddock book Preaching this week. I read the chapters last month, but one of them didn't "click" with me. We will talk about the chapters again at my preaching class on Saturday. Both of our mentors will also preach so we can understand more of the theory behind the book in real life!

This year has been interesting. I hope I remember it all when we start up again in September!

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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 

One step up...

Our Daily Bread
When I read the devotional today, I thought of an old song. I thought it was by Bruce Springsteen, but I wasn't sure. It is called One Step Up.  Here are some of the lyrics:
Woke up this morning my house was cold 
Checked out the furnace she wasn't burnin' 
Went out and hoped in my old Ford 
Hit the engine but she ain't turnin' 
We've given each other some hard lessons lately 
But we ain't learnin' 
We're the same sad story that's a fact 

One step up and two steps back 

Isn't that how it feels on our spiritual journey sometimes? We think we are making progress, then pride or sin causes us to slip back a few steps. I am eternally thankful for a Heavenly Father who loves us and forgives us when we fall. He gently picks us back up and helps us keep climbing. Praise God!

Movie Monday
I really wanted to see Pitch Perfect 2 and Mad Max: Fury Road this weekend, but didn't make it to the movie theater due to a busy schedule. I managed to watch some stuff on Netflix Sunday.

Odd Thomas
This movie is about a young man named "Odd Thomas". His name at birth was supposed to be "Todd", but something happened to the "T". Ha!  I hate it when that happens!  Like his mother, he has special abilities. He can talk to dead people. With this gift, he helps resolve the issues of the dead and helps solve their murders. I thought this flick was very well written. Very sweet. Very suspenseful in places. Nice plot twists.

I give it three bear paws. Available on Netflix.

The Vicar of Dibley (TV series)
I recently discovered that this series is no longer available on Amazon Prime. Noooooooo! Fortunately, I DVRd it before it was removed. I binge watched most of the series Sunday after and evening. It was worth it! Very sweet and inspiring story about a woman vicar (priest) going to a small parish in a very small town. My favorite episode was the Christmas one. Very funny and very moving. I think it was in season three.

This is a great series for Episcopalians and Anglicans to watch. It was filmed in Great Britain in the early 90s so there are a lot of references to cultural things at that time. The British accents and slang can bog you down a little at times. I had to look up a few words!

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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 

Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6 

New International Version (NIV)

Warnings Against Folly
    My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
    if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 you have been trapped by what you said,
    ensnared by the words of your mouth.
3 So do this, my son, to free yourself,
    since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—[a]
    and give your neighbor no rest!
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
    no slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
    like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
    consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
    and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
    When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.
12 A troublemaker and a villain,
    who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13     who winks maliciously with his eye,
    signals with his feet
    and motions with his fingers,
14     who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
    he always stirs up conflict.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
    he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
16 There are six things the Lord hates,
    seven that are detestable to him:
17         haughty eyes,
        a lying tongue,
        hands that shed innocent blood,
18         a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19         a false witness who pours out lies
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Warning Against Adultery
20 My son, keep your father’s command
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them always on your heart;
    fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
    when you sleep, they will watch over you;
    when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
    this teaching is a light,
and correction and instruction
    are the way to life,
24 keeping you from your neighbor’s wife,
    from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
    or let her captivate you with her eyes.
26 For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
    but another man’s wife preys on your very life.
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
    without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals
    without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife;
    no one who touches her will go unpunished.
30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
    to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
    though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery has no sense;
    whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,
    and his shame will never be wiped away.
34 For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury,
    and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will not accept any compensation;
    he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.

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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 

Self-pity

My Utmost for His Highest
Wow, what a devotional today. I am often smacked in the face (in a good way) when I read this devotional. Today was no different.  Here are a couple of great excerpts:

No sin is worse than the sin of self-pity, because it removes God from the throne of our lives, replacing Him with our own self-interests. 

“God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you…may have an abundance…” (2 Corinthians 9:8)— then learn to lavish the grace of God on others, generously giving of yourself. Be marked and identified with God’s nature, and His blessing will flow through you all the time.

These insights are amazing. I never thought about my habit of self-pity. This can take form in many ways and in many of our daily habits. Let us take a look at our lives and identify some areas where we tend to dwell in self-pity. A pity party is soooooo unpretty!  LOL

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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 

What's the magic word?

Our Daily Bread
Do you remember hearing this question when you were a child? "What's the magic word?" Our parents and grandparents were talking about the word "please", of course! Then the follow up question after we received what we asked for "What do you say?" Correct answer: thank you!

As we grew up, there weren't too many folks around to ask us those questions or to remind us. The Bible reminds us, however, to say thank you to our Heavenly Father. Not just when we get what we want, but when we get what we need and when we don't get what we don't need!  LOL  I remember asking for some things, even in the last eight years, that I am sooooooooooooooo veerrrryyyy thankful now that I did not receive!  Whew!

Be ye thankful. It is pretty simple. We often forget.

Foodie Friday
My friends and family who know my eating habits will be very surprised I tried this recipe. I kept thinking of the meatball/mini smokey recipe with chili sauce and grape jelly. Check this out. I made it Wednesday. It is very tasty.  Be sure to keep some of the sauce aside for serving. I need to make a small batch since I forgot to do that. DOH!

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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 

Not what I want to hear

Our Daily Bread
Internet memes are all the rage now. I see them on Facebook all the time. I also see them on the Christianity group in Yammer at work. I teased them that we should rename the group to Memeville!

Yes, just like we can tire of seeing memes, not matter how meaningful, we can tire of listening the way we should. We all have those friends that seem to suck the life out of you with their negativity. They seem to complain about every little thing. Yet, we can do the same thing and not give it a second thought. Listening with love starts with us. We should be the example, even when it is tiring or draining. We have the ultimate source of strength and love in our Awesome God! 

Technology Thursday
I found two interesting articles this week on the technology sites I visit. Check them out.

Internet acronyms every parent should know

On a less serious note, I think I need one of these:
Selfie drone that follows you wherever you go

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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