Our Daily Bread
I work in the insurance industry. I don't know that much about it really, but I understand the general concept -- you have someone to rely on when things go bad. Unfortunately, many folks view their relationship with God the same way. They only pray or pay attention to him when things go bad!
The scripture passage covers several major topics in my opinion. Here are the ones I liked the most:
1. We should be full of God's works if we are his children
2. The Word of God should be alive and active in our lives
3. We can approach the throne of grace with confidence if we are his children
Wow! How amazing! It is like a little daily checklist for "Am I being a good Christian today?" hehehe For those of us who like checklists, it works! hehehe
Lord, help us to read and live the passage from Hebrews. We want to serve you.
Technology Thursday
So the rumors are flying about the iPad3, if that is what Apple is going to call it. A friend shared an internal work memo talking about how his company was going to offer the 4G iPad3 at the first part of March. We will see about that. There is still a lot of discussion about what the other features will be. Apple will tell us in due time. I told my friend "I want hardware!". hehehe
I have also been watching an amazing industry trend -- instead of desktop/laptop OS design driving mobile devices, it is now the other way around! Apple and Microsoft are adding features from their mobile OS's to their desktop/laptop OS's. That is pretty amazing in my opinion. We will see how Microsoft does with Windows 8.
The other things to check out sometime are the new port standards: Thunderbolt and USB 3.0. MUCH faster interfaces for all kinds of devices that can hook up to your computers. We will see if one standard wins out or if we will still have multiple standards. They both have their advantages.
Other Stuff
I didn't go to church last night. I wasn't raised with an Ash Wednesday tradition, so it wasn't a big deal to me. I got my oil changed and tires rotated, went to Costco and went to Target. I made a deposit at the bank. I was very happy with my self-discipline -- I didn't put any charges on my credit cards last night. I paid cash for everything. I am working on keeping my monthly credit card balances down or zero and paying off the remaining card with a balance. I can do this. I have plan for the next year that will leave me in very good shape financially after I can carry it out. ;-) Confidence. It is a good thing! I have a similar "fitness" plan for my big ol' bear body. I will reduce it as well. Finally.
I will probably read after work tonight, then go to choir practice. Not sure I will drive home. I will figure that out later.
I have a couple of Groupons that I need to use up. I will check those out as well this weekend.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Legacy
Our Daily Bread
I had a discussion with some friends recently about legacy -- how will people remember you after you are gone? I thought of that discussion when reading today's devotional. Folks looked back on the life of John and remembered not only what he didn't do, but what he did!
I think we have all known folks like that in our lives. The "behind the scenes" kind of person that you never really notice until the stuff they do is not getting done any longer! Let's all make an effort to notice and thank those folks the next time we see them!
Lord, help us all do our part. Help us all seek only your kingdom.
Witness Wednesday
After the devotional on Monday, I have been thinking and praying a lot about fear. What am I really afraid of? How is that fear affecting me in my health, my relationships and my walk with God?
I have also been praying a lot about "releasing" things to God. There are some things I may never be able to release to God completely. I am trying to overcome those things. To let go is a wonderful thing. To let go of the pride of "I can do this on my own" is a huge deal for me. God is healing me and making me whole and helping me to love better as I let these things go. Not being driven by fear is a wonderful thing!
Read the devotional again. Think and pray about it I know I will. Here is my last thought about fear (from an old devotional):
"Have confidence in your relationships, and avoid suffocating people out of fear."
Other Stuff
I had a great evening with my hero last night! We had dinner at El Vaqueo and then attended the Ohio State - Illinois boys basketball game! Woohoooo! We had a blast. The guys played well. They won by 17 points. We were hoping that Michigan would lose to Northwestern, but they pulled out the game in overtime. The other result that disappointed me was Missouri's loss to K-State. Mi tigre will be disappointed with that!
Going to run some errands tonight and take it easy.
If you notice the time on the posting, I got up early this morning to work out. ;-p Mi tigre and I are trying this approach for a while. The only downside I see so far is that taking the pre-workoiut stuff needs to get into my system at least 30 minutes before the workout. I will try writing my blog and doing an chore or two before I workout to allow that to happen. I will let you know how it works out. I want to get through this plateau. NEED to get through this plateau!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
I had a discussion with some friends recently about legacy -- how will people remember you after you are gone? I thought of that discussion when reading today's devotional. Folks looked back on the life of John and remembered not only what he didn't do, but what he did!
I think we have all known folks like that in our lives. The "behind the scenes" kind of person that you never really notice until the stuff they do is not getting done any longer! Let's all make an effort to notice and thank those folks the next time we see them!
Lord, help us all do our part. Help us all seek only your kingdom.
Witness Wednesday
After the devotional on Monday, I have been thinking and praying a lot about fear. What am I really afraid of? How is that fear affecting me in my health, my relationships and my walk with God?
I have also been praying a lot about "releasing" things to God. There are some things I may never be able to release to God completely. I am trying to overcome those things. To let go is a wonderful thing. To let go of the pride of "I can do this on my own" is a huge deal for me. God is healing me and making me whole and helping me to love better as I let these things go. Not being driven by fear is a wonderful thing!
Read the devotional again. Think and pray about it I know I will. Here is my last thought about fear (from an old devotional):
"Have confidence in your relationships, and avoid suffocating people out of fear."
Other Stuff
I had a great evening with my hero last night! We had dinner at El Vaqueo and then attended the Ohio State - Illinois boys basketball game! Woohoooo! We had a blast. The guys played well. They won by 17 points. We were hoping that Michigan would lose to Northwestern, but they pulled out the game in overtime. The other result that disappointed me was Missouri's loss to K-State. Mi tigre will be disappointed with that!
Going to run some errands tonight and take it easy.
If you notice the time on the posting, I got up early this morning to work out. ;-p Mi tigre and I are trying this approach for a while. The only downside I see so far is that taking the pre-workoiut stuff needs to get into my system at least 30 minutes before the workout. I will try writing my blog and doing an chore or two before I workout to allow that to happen. I will let you know how it works out. I want to get through this plateau. NEED to get through this plateau!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Sluggard = Slacker
Our Daily Bread
Today's devotional reminded me that Biblical language can be overlooked because the language can seem outdated. The author did a great job of "translating" the old word "sluggard" into today's language -- "slacker". We all know slackers! hehehe
I liked the way the devotional talked about each of us having specific areas of our life that we are each slackers! I never thought of it that way. I have been an overachiever for most of my life. Slacking is not common for me in general, but I see how I sometimes slack off with specific areas of my life. I am not always loving enough to the unlovable. I don't always pray enough. I don't always have enough faith. I am not always trusting enough of God's love and deliverance.
In what areas of your life are you slacking today?
Lord, I don't want my life to be a reality TV show called "Slackers"! Help me discipline myself with your help!
Teaching Tuesday
One of the most common areas of "slacking" is in the area of Bible study. "Oh, the Bible is so hard to understand". "Oh, I just can't connect to what is being said". "I don't understand". For me, if I really want to read something, I work through those issues. I remember the first time I tried to read the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I was lost after the first few pages! I was only able to read it after seeing the first movie where I could get a framework for the characters, the scenery and the basic story.
The point is that we should find whatever way we can to start our understanding and build our understanding of God through God's Word. I know it is confusing and contradictory at times. God's Word teaches us about the nature of God. It cannot possibly hold every detail about God or every detail about human history. One passages says that even the skies above cannot hold all the things that could be written about our Almighty God! Wow!
Whatever it takes for you to start -- start today!
Other Stuff
I had a busy evening. I had a conversation with mi tigre after I got off work. I rested a few minutes before driving to Easton to run an errand for my hero. I also stopped by Target to pick up a few things. My last small group class was enjoyable. We will see where we want to go from here.
I fell into bed when I got home.
I didn't make it up to work out this morning. Heavy sigh.... I will try harder. I used to do this almost every day. I will do some exercise during the day and do some upper body exercises when I get home tonight.
I am going to the OSU-Illinois game with my hero tonight I haven't been to a basketball game yet. I am very excited!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Today's devotional reminded me that Biblical language can be overlooked because the language can seem outdated. The author did a great job of "translating" the old word "sluggard" into today's language -- "slacker". We all know slackers! hehehe
I liked the way the devotional talked about each of us having specific areas of our life that we are each slackers! I never thought of it that way. I have been an overachiever for most of my life. Slacking is not common for me in general, but I see how I sometimes slack off with specific areas of my life. I am not always loving enough to the unlovable. I don't always pray enough. I don't always have enough faith. I am not always trusting enough of God's love and deliverance.
In what areas of your life are you slacking today?
Lord, I don't want my life to be a reality TV show called "Slackers"! Help me discipline myself with your help!
Teaching Tuesday
One of the most common areas of "slacking" is in the area of Bible study. "Oh, the Bible is so hard to understand". "Oh, I just can't connect to what is being said". "I don't understand". For me, if I really want to read something, I work through those issues. I remember the first time I tried to read the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I was lost after the first few pages! I was only able to read it after seeing the first movie where I could get a framework for the characters, the scenery and the basic story.
The point is that we should find whatever way we can to start our understanding and build our understanding of God through God's Word. I know it is confusing and contradictory at times. God's Word teaches us about the nature of God. It cannot possibly hold every detail about God or every detail about human history. One passages says that even the skies above cannot hold all the things that could be written about our Almighty God! Wow!
Whatever it takes for you to start -- start today!
Other Stuff
I had a busy evening. I had a conversation with mi tigre after I got off work. I rested a few minutes before driving to Easton to run an errand for my hero. I also stopped by Target to pick up a few things. My last small group class was enjoyable. We will see where we want to go from here.
I fell into bed when I got home.
I didn't make it up to work out this morning. Heavy sigh.... I will try harder. I used to do this almost every day. I will do some exercise during the day and do some upper body exercises when I get home tonight.
I am going to the OSU-Illinois game with my hero tonight I haven't been to a basketball game yet. I am very excited!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Fearless?
Our Daily Bread
I often describe myself as "fearless". I have to admit that it is not always true in every part of my life. Am I fearless when talking in front of people? Usually. Am I fearless when being myself? Usually. Am I fearless in my relationships? Uhhh, let me get back to you on that one! hehehe
God brought this devotional into my life today for a good reason. I am struggling with fear in two relationships right now. The first is my relationship with mi tigre. If I am honest with myself, I am afraid of making the wrong choice, afraid of looking like an idiot because I made the wrong choice, and afraid that I will get hurt by a man again. Hmmm.... The second relationship is with Yang. Yes, he is still around, but in a much different role in my life. I even told him that I didn't want to be friends any more. I am not sure why this relationship has been so odd for me. God is using today's devotional to open up the secret to that mystery. I have no idea what the fear is here. I have already been rejected and looked like an idiot! hehehe Oh well. I think I am afraid that I haven't done everything I am supposed to do with this relationship. I have no idea what that means at this point. I am afraid I am letting God down by letting go of this friendship and moving on to focus on ones that are healthier for me. Every friend I told about this decision supported me and asked why I didn't do it years ago! God only knows.
So what do we do to overcome fear? Whew... I know the words to say here, but I don't always do them. The secret is trusting in God completely. What does "completely" mean? A professor in seminary said "trust God for every breath"! His wife and I didn't really understand that at the time. It wasn't until I trusted an oxygen mask for my next breath that I started to understand the concept. "Releasing" things to God is a concept I learned a few months ago. It seems to help me make a conscious effort to truly release things to God on a daily basis. I say things like "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, please help me release Yang over to you". Releasing is not a "cop out"mechanism. It is a way to acknowledge and turn things over to God to trust him more and drive out fear! Try it today.
Lord, thank you for being there for us. Please help us to release our cares upon you because you care for us!
Movie Monday
I rented a movie on Amazon Instant Video yesterday. I never saw the latest Twilight movie in the theaters. ;-P Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 was OK. I like vampire and werewolf movies. I am not interested in either of the mail lead actors, thought I would stalk the chubby, furry older brother of Taylor Lautner if he existed! hehehe Just being a silly bear here. Just kidding!
The movie is about the spectacular wedding of Bela and Edward. And it was spectacular! There was lots of drama and angst. Lots of plot twists. It was interesting, but not riveting. Part 2 will be interesting when it comes out this year.
I give this movie one bear paw. It was OK.
Other Stuff
I worked out before church, but misjudged the time. I missed early church! Yikes! I made it in time for the choir rehearsal. I had a good workout on my recumbent bike and my Bowflex. I plan to take today off and workout again tomorrow. I plan to get up early and workout before work (since I can just walk down to my basement now!).
Sunday afternoon was exciting -- I shredded old financial records! woohoooo! This big gay lifestyle just wears me out sometimes! ha! I have a few more years to go and some other boxes to go through. I am trying to clean up the junk I have in my basement. I have too much stuff on the shelves. I am making room for my ideal exercise area and will make it happen! ;-)
I watched a little TV and finished my Sunday chores. The interesting thing on TV was the show Sanctuary. I used to watch it two years ago and DVRd it when I got cable again recently. The episode ended with a big ol' Lesbian kiss! Who knew? hehehe I thought I would like the show Being Human, but it was disappointing. Oh well.
I had some nice conversations with mi tigre. We celebrated our three month anniversary yesterday. We are both sappy about stuff like that. I care about him very much. We will see where this relationship will go. We were able to talk about fun stuff and serious stuff. Doing the workout stuff together is a lot of fun for both of us!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
I often describe myself as "fearless". I have to admit that it is not always true in every part of my life. Am I fearless when talking in front of people? Usually. Am I fearless when being myself? Usually. Am I fearless in my relationships? Uhhh, let me get back to you on that one! hehehe
God brought this devotional into my life today for a good reason. I am struggling with fear in two relationships right now. The first is my relationship with mi tigre. If I am honest with myself, I am afraid of making the wrong choice, afraid of looking like an idiot because I made the wrong choice, and afraid that I will get hurt by a man again. Hmmm.... The second relationship is with Yang. Yes, he is still around, but in a much different role in my life. I even told him that I didn't want to be friends any more. I am not sure why this relationship has been so odd for me. God is using today's devotional to open up the secret to that mystery. I have no idea what the fear is here. I have already been rejected and looked like an idiot! hehehe Oh well. I think I am afraid that I haven't done everything I am supposed to do with this relationship. I have no idea what that means at this point. I am afraid I am letting God down by letting go of this friendship and moving on to focus on ones that are healthier for me. Every friend I told about this decision supported me and asked why I didn't do it years ago! God only knows.
So what do we do to overcome fear? Whew... I know the words to say here, but I don't always do them. The secret is trusting in God completely. What does "completely" mean? A professor in seminary said "trust God for every breath"! His wife and I didn't really understand that at the time. It wasn't until I trusted an oxygen mask for my next breath that I started to understand the concept. "Releasing" things to God is a concept I learned a few months ago. It seems to help me make a conscious effort to truly release things to God on a daily basis. I say things like "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, please help me release Yang over to you". Releasing is not a "cop out"mechanism. It is a way to acknowledge and turn things over to God to trust him more and drive out fear! Try it today.
Lord, thank you for being there for us. Please help us to release our cares upon you because you care for us!
Movie Monday
I rented a movie on Amazon Instant Video yesterday. I never saw the latest Twilight movie in the theaters. ;-P Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 was OK. I like vampire and werewolf movies. I am not interested in either of the mail lead actors, thought I would stalk the chubby, furry older brother of Taylor Lautner if he existed! hehehe Just being a silly bear here. Just kidding!
The movie is about the spectacular wedding of Bela and Edward. And it was spectacular! There was lots of drama and angst. Lots of plot twists. It was interesting, but not riveting. Part 2 will be interesting when it comes out this year.
I give this movie one bear paw. It was OK.
Other Stuff
I worked out before church, but misjudged the time. I missed early church! Yikes! I made it in time for the choir rehearsal. I had a good workout on my recumbent bike and my Bowflex. I plan to take today off and workout again tomorrow. I plan to get up early and workout before work (since I can just walk down to my basement now!).
Sunday afternoon was exciting -- I shredded old financial records! woohoooo! This big gay lifestyle just wears me out sometimes! ha! I have a few more years to go and some other boxes to go through. I am trying to clean up the junk I have in my basement. I have too much stuff on the shelves. I am making room for my ideal exercise area and will make it happen! ;-)
I watched a little TV and finished my Sunday chores. The interesting thing on TV was the show Sanctuary. I used to watch it two years ago and DVRd it when I got cable again recently. The episode ended with a big ol' Lesbian kiss! Who knew? hehehe I thought I would like the show Being Human, but it was disappointing. Oh well.
I had some nice conversations with mi tigre. We celebrated our three month anniversary yesterday. We are both sappy about stuff like that. I care about him very much. We will see where this relationship will go. We were able to talk about fun stuff and serious stuff. Doing the workout stuff together is a lot of fun for both of us!
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
I am listening!
Our Daily Bread
We recently had a sermon on today's scripture passage. A few folks acted out the passage which was very cool! I was imagining was it was like for a young boy to be called by God!
How are we responding today? Are we listening for God's voice at every turn? Do we seek his will and to do the things that will bring his kingdom to earth? I liked the the suggestion at the end of the devotional where it says we should read God's Word often and start each study session with something like Samuel's response "Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening". Wow!
Lord, there are so many voices and images forced into our minds each day. Please help us identity yours and listen as your servants!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 36 is the psalm for this week. I think it is a typical one of this type: talk about the fate of the wicked, talk about the faithfulness of the Lord, talk about the confidence in his love and care. Very cool!
Psalm 36
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD.
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.
3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
they fail to act wisely or do good.
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;
they commit themselves to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong.
5 Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
10 Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!
Other Stuff
I had a nice day on Saturday. I ran some errands early in the morning (spent too much money at Walmart). I came home and used my new-to-me workout equipment. I will enjoy this for years to come! I ate a healthy lunch. I tried to take a nap, but I was still hyper from the workout. ;-p I rented a movie on Amazon Instant Video. The service seems to work great on my Bluray player! I will review the movie tomorrow. hehehe I took some cardboard to the recycling center on my way to my walking buddy's house for dinner. We had a great time at dinner. They made my favorite: pot roast! Woohooo! Her husband felt well enough to come downstairs for a little while. I didn't want to overstay my welcome so I left about 8:00. I came home and finished making my phone calls for the day. I had a couple of nice conversations with mi tigre during the day. I really like him. ;-)
Not sure what today will bring besides church. I got up early to workout before church. I might work on clearing crap out of my basement to make a better space for my workout equipment. I realized I had about 15 years worth of financial records stored. I need to dispose of some of that stuff. I also have some other stuff down there I don't need/use.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
We recently had a sermon on today's scripture passage. A few folks acted out the passage which was very cool! I was imagining was it was like for a young boy to be called by God!
How are we responding today? Are we listening for God's voice at every turn? Do we seek his will and to do the things that will bring his kingdom to earth? I liked the the suggestion at the end of the devotional where it says we should read God's Word often and start each study session with something like Samuel's response "Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening". Wow!
Lord, there are so many voices and images forced into our minds each day. Please help us identity yours and listen as your servants!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 36 is the psalm for this week. I think it is a typical one of this type: talk about the fate of the wicked, talk about the faithfulness of the Lord, talk about the confidence in his love and care. Very cool!
Psalm 36
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD.
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.
3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
they fail to act wisely or do good.
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;
they commit themselves to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong.
5 Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, LORD, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
10 Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!
Other Stuff
I had a nice day on Saturday. I ran some errands early in the morning (spent too much money at Walmart). I came home and used my new-to-me workout equipment. I will enjoy this for years to come! I ate a healthy lunch. I tried to take a nap, but I was still hyper from the workout. ;-p I rented a movie on Amazon Instant Video. The service seems to work great on my Bluray player! I will review the movie tomorrow. hehehe I took some cardboard to the recycling center on my way to my walking buddy's house for dinner. We had a great time at dinner. They made my favorite: pot roast! Woohooo! Her husband felt well enough to come downstairs for a little while. I didn't want to overstay my welcome so I left about 8:00. I came home and finished making my phone calls for the day. I had a couple of nice conversations with mi tigre during the day. I really like him. ;-)
Not sure what today will bring besides church. I got up early to workout before church. I might work on clearing crap out of my basement to make a better space for my workout equipment. I realized I had about 15 years worth of financial records stored. I need to dispose of some of that stuff. I also have some other stuff down there I don't need/use.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Teaching and learning...
Our Daily Bread
I had an unusual thought while reading the devotional this morning. It was about how students should ask questions and how teachers should be open to answering questions with the patience only God can give. It said that experts agree that students learn more as the result of answered questions than from imparted knowledge!
My thought was this: does this mean we learn more from God when we question him? For me, if I care enough to ask a question, I usually care enough to remember the answer! I know how God has taught me so much in the past few years because I was brave enough to ask questions. I tried to do it in a respective "He-is-my-God" kind of way, but I often questioned God and his methods! Yikes! I think it is healthy. Even Jesus asked God to let this cup pass from him. Wasn't he our example? The difference is that we usually keep passing the cup when we should be drinking!
I love this prayer from the devotional:
Lord, may I be approachable and open to listening
to others’ questions. May I not feel threatened but
instead have confidence that You will give me wisdom
to know how to reply or where to find an answer. Amen.
Lord, I want to answer and love the way you want me to!
Simply Saturday
Whew, I had an eventful week. I wrote about stuff each day, so I won't go into it this morning. I finally decided to make time for my fitness. This is the biggest commitment I have made to myself in many years. It is nice to have someone to do it with! I will see how it goes. I found a used Reebok step last night at Play it Again Sports for $30. Woohoo! I think my home gym is complete now. ;-p I need to use it several times per week! I will let you know how I am doing. I am stuck at the 20 pounds lost mark, but I have been firming up and losing inches since I started exercising again. That is a good start. The weight will drop off as well.
I am going to my walking buddy's house for supper tonight. That should be fun.
I had a nice dinner and talk with Yin last night. Please pray for him to take care of himself as much or more than he does others. He is not looking good.
Going to work out now! ;-)
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
I had an unusual thought while reading the devotional this morning. It was about how students should ask questions and how teachers should be open to answering questions with the patience only God can give. It said that experts agree that students learn more as the result of answered questions than from imparted knowledge!
My thought was this: does this mean we learn more from God when we question him? For me, if I care enough to ask a question, I usually care enough to remember the answer! I know how God has taught me so much in the past few years because I was brave enough to ask questions. I tried to do it in a respective "He-is-my-God" kind of way, but I often questioned God and his methods! Yikes! I think it is healthy. Even Jesus asked God to let this cup pass from him. Wasn't he our example? The difference is that we usually keep passing the cup when we should be drinking!
I love this prayer from the devotional:
Lord, may I be approachable and open to listening
to others’ questions. May I not feel threatened but
instead have confidence that You will give me wisdom
to know how to reply or where to find an answer. Amen.
Lord, I want to answer and love the way you want me to!
Simply Saturday
Whew, I had an eventful week. I wrote about stuff each day, so I won't go into it this morning. I finally decided to make time for my fitness. This is the biggest commitment I have made to myself in many years. It is nice to have someone to do it with! I will see how it goes. I found a used Reebok step last night at Play it Again Sports for $30. Woohoo! I think my home gym is complete now. ;-p I need to use it several times per week! I will let you know how I am doing. I am stuck at the 20 pounds lost mark, but I have been firming up and losing inches since I started exercising again. That is a good start. The weight will drop off as well.
I am going to my walking buddy's house for supper tonight. That should be fun.
I had a nice dinner and talk with Yin last night. Please pray for him to take care of himself as much or more than he does others. He is not looking good.
Going to work out now! ;-)
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Friday, February 17, 2012
I don't know nothin'
Our Daily Bread
The emphasis of today's devotional is about learning how to be an example of God's love to your children. My first thought was a silly quote from Gone with the Wind "I don't know nothin' bout birthin' no babies!" ;-p
I then thought about how the scripture passage in Deuteronomy applied to me. One of my favorite verses, a "KISS" principle verse for me and my friends, is Deut. 6:5. Even when you don't understand much of the Bible, so this one thing first! It is the key to the rest of your life!
The other thing I thought about was how we should know God's love so we can show it to all people, not just children! Being an example to each other of how God loves is a perfect way to be a friend or significant other. Wow! I learned about that the last few years, but sort of forgot about it. ;-/
Lord, help us know your love so we can share it with each other!
Foodie Friday
Here is the recipe for Bran Cereal muffins that are great for breakfast. Very healthy...
Six Week Bran Cereal Muffins
Author: Rebecca Lindamood
Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 30 mins Serves: 32
Muffin batter that throws together in minutes and is usable for six weeks?!? You bet! Have fresh muffins whenever the urge strikes when you have this on hand!
Ingredients
5 1/3 cups all-natural bran cereal (I recommend Nature’s Path Organic Smart Bran)
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup wheat germ
2 1/4 cups raw sugar (can substitute white granulated sugar if necessary)
5 teaspoons baking soda
1 pinch salt
4 cups buttermilk (You’re culturing your own right? No? Try this dead-simple method.)
1 cup neutral oil (like canola or vegetable oil)
4 large eggs, beaten
Optional additional ingredients for baking:
frozen berries, small pieces of frozen stone fruits such as peaches or plums, or small diced apples or pears
chocolate chips
raw sugar for the muffin tops (You can use granulated white sugar if necessary.)
Instructions
To prepare muffin mix:
In a large bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir just until evenly moist. Scrape the muffin mix into a large container (of about 1 gallon capacity or larger) with a tight fitting lid. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours before using. Label the container with the date the batter was mixed. You can store and use the batter for up to 6 weeks.
To bake Plain Bran Muffins:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line muffin tins with paper sleeves or spray the muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray. Fill the prepared muffin wells 2/3 full. If desired, sprinkle lightly with raw sugar.
Bake for 15-20 minutes for standard sized muffins or 10-12 minutes for mini-muffins. Muffins are done when a straw, skewer or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow muffins to rest in the tins for 5 minutes then gently turn out onto a cooling rack.
To bake Bran and Fruit Muffins or Chocolate Chip Bran Muffins:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line muffin tins with paper sleeves or spray the muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray.
Scoop the desired amount of muffin batter into a bowl and gently fold in your chosen fruit or chocolate chips.
Fill the prepared muffin wells 2/3 full. If desired, sprinkle lightly with raw sugar.
Bake for 15-20 minutes for standard sized muffins or 10-12 minutes for mini-muffins. Muffins are done when a straw, skewer or toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. There may be some fruit juice on the skewer, but there shouldn’t be any sticky batter.
Allow muffins to rest in the tins for 5 minutes then gently turn out onto a cooling rack.
Other Stuff
I wasn't feeling well last night. I skipped my workout and choir practice to rest. Whew! I feel better today, though I need to rest this weekend.
My used Bowflex machine was delivered yesterday. Woohooo! I will workout with it this weekend. Very cool.
My walking buddy's husband came home from the hospital last night. His emergency gall bladder surgery went very well. He is recovering nicely. I am going to their house for supper tomorrow night.a
I am supposed to meet Yin for supper tonight. We haven't talked much for a while due to our busy schedules. We will catch up.
I found an Oreck vacuum cleaner in the garbage the other day. My buddy fixed it up for $20. I got some bags for it off Amazon.com. I am not sure if I will use it or sell it.
The friendship that I ended last week had a turn this week. The person needed my helped for something and reached out to a mutual friend. It is funny how he didn't seem to care until he needed my help for something. Nice. I know I made the right decision here, though I would visit the man in the hospital or listen to him if he needed to talk.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
The emphasis of today's devotional is about learning how to be an example of God's love to your children. My first thought was a silly quote from Gone with the Wind "I don't know nothin' bout birthin' no babies!" ;-p
I then thought about how the scripture passage in Deuteronomy applied to me. One of my favorite verses, a "KISS" principle verse for me and my friends, is Deut. 6:5. Even when you don't understand much of the Bible, so this one thing first! It is the key to the rest of your life!
The other thing I thought about was how we should know God's love so we can show it to all people, not just children! Being an example to each other of how God loves is a perfect way to be a friend or significant other. Wow! I learned about that the last few years, but sort of forgot about it. ;-/
Lord, help us know your love so we can share it with each other!
Foodie Friday
Here is the recipe for Bran Cereal muffins that are great for breakfast. Very healthy...
Six Week Bran Cereal Muffins
Author: Rebecca Lindamood
Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 30 mins Serves: 32
Muffin batter that throws together in minutes and is usable for six weeks?!? You bet! Have fresh muffins whenever the urge strikes when you have this on hand!
Ingredients
5 1/3 cups all-natural bran cereal (I recommend Nature’s Path Organic Smart Bran)
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup wheat germ
2 1/4 cups raw sugar (can substitute white granulated sugar if necessary)
5 teaspoons baking soda
1 pinch salt
4 cups buttermilk (You’re culturing your own right? No? Try this dead-simple method.)
1 cup neutral oil (like canola or vegetable oil)
4 large eggs, beaten
Optional additional ingredients for baking:
frozen berries, small pieces of frozen stone fruits such as peaches or plums, or small diced apples or pears
chocolate chips
raw sugar for the muffin tops (You can use granulated white sugar if necessary.)
Instructions
To prepare muffin mix:
In a large bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir just until evenly moist. Scrape the muffin mix into a large container (of about 1 gallon capacity or larger) with a tight fitting lid. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours before using. Label the container with the date the batter was mixed. You can store and use the batter for up to 6 weeks.
To bake Plain Bran Muffins:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line muffin tins with paper sleeves or spray the muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray. Fill the prepared muffin wells 2/3 full. If desired, sprinkle lightly with raw sugar.
Bake for 15-20 minutes for standard sized muffins or 10-12 minutes for mini-muffins. Muffins are done when a straw, skewer or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow muffins to rest in the tins for 5 minutes then gently turn out onto a cooling rack.
To bake Bran and Fruit Muffins or Chocolate Chip Bran Muffins:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line muffin tins with paper sleeves or spray the muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray.
Scoop the desired amount of muffin batter into a bowl and gently fold in your chosen fruit or chocolate chips.
Fill the prepared muffin wells 2/3 full. If desired, sprinkle lightly with raw sugar.
Bake for 15-20 minutes for standard sized muffins or 10-12 minutes for mini-muffins. Muffins are done when a straw, skewer or toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. There may be some fruit juice on the skewer, but there shouldn’t be any sticky batter.
Allow muffins to rest in the tins for 5 minutes then gently turn out onto a cooling rack.
Other Stuff
I wasn't feeling well last night. I skipped my workout and choir practice to rest. Whew! I feel better today, though I need to rest this weekend.
My used Bowflex machine was delivered yesterday. Woohooo! I will workout with it this weekend. Very cool.
My walking buddy's husband came home from the hospital last night. His emergency gall bladder surgery went very well. He is recovering nicely. I am going to their house for supper tomorrow night.a
I am supposed to meet Yin for supper tonight. We haven't talked much for a while due to our busy schedules. We will catch up.
I found an Oreck vacuum cleaner in the garbage the other day. My buddy fixed it up for $20. I got some bags for it off Amazon.com. I am not sure if I will use it or sell it.
The friendship that I ended last week had a turn this week. The person needed my helped for something and reached out to a mutual friend. It is funny how he didn't seem to care until he needed my help for something. Nice. I know I made the right decision here, though I would visit the man in the hospital or listen to him if he needed to talk.
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
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