Our Daily Bread
We have this recurring theme at work called "Users love" where the IT folks strive to give our users applications and hardware they love because they help them do their jobs better. When I first learned about this theme, I said "But love is fickle! How are we measuring this?" Still waiting on an answer for that question!
Christians can be fickle as well. It is only natural for human beings to be that way. It is part of our nature. As Christians, we strive to subdue our human nature through the grace and power of God! The Holy Spirit strengthens us to live consistently Godly lives.
Consistency is my weakness. I am pretty good under fire or under duress. I totally believe in the power of God to deliver me or my friends and family. It is the day to day discipline that I need help with!
Lord, thank you for loving us so we can be loving followers and lead others to you!
Foodie Friday
A friend posted this recipe on Facebook recently. I did not see a web site reference for it. It sounds yummy!
Cheesecake Crescent Rolls
2 cans of Pillsbury Crescent rolls
2 (8oz each) package cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup butter, melted
cinnamon
sugar
Unroll and spread 1 of the cans of crescent rolls on the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish (or 8 x 8 if you want to cut the recipe in half). Combine softened cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, and vanilla. Spread over crescent roll layer. Unroll and layer remaining crescent rolls over cream cheese layer. Melt your butter and spread over top of crescent rolls. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon and sugar.
Bake for 20-30 minutes in 350 degree oven until bubbly and slightly browned. Drizzle with a little honey if you like. Let cool a bit, slice and eat.
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I am far from perfect, but despite my mistakes and my sins, I will never abandon the Lord and he will never abandon me - adapted from a statement about Abraham from the EfM Training Guide
Friday, May 31, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Full of himself
Our Daily Bread
My grandparents didn't like people that were too self-confident or self-absorbed. I don't know too many people that do! They would say "He is so full of himself!". They also said he was full of something else at times as well! ha!
It is so easy to read our own bylines, meaning letting the nice things that people say about us go to our heads. We swell up with pride. Pride comes before the fall. We don't think we need God any longer. We can handle it all by ourselves. NOT! Maintaining a humble heart and walking humbly with our Lord can be a struggle for some folks that are good looking or talented or skilled or rich. They sometimes get full of themselves instead of full of God's love and grace!
Lord, please help us fill our minds and hearts with your love and grace to truly be your humble servants!
Technology Thursday
Windows 8
Have you seen the current version of Microsoft Windows yet? It is Windows 8. Some folks call it the Windows Vista or Windows ME of the 2010s and others call it brilliant. It is primarily designed for touch interface devices such as tablets, smart phones and touch screen PCs (both of them...). The new interface works pretty well for these devices, though it still takes some getting used to. For the rest of us who still use a PC and a mouse, the interface is a nightmare. You can't find stuff at all. The familiar Start button is gone. Here is some advice if you have to purchase a Windows 8 PC or laptop.
First, know that Microsoft is releasing Windows 8.1, a free upgrade, sometime this Fall. The Start button will return. The interface will be more familiar for those that prefer the Windows 7 style workspace. Whew... The new OS is supposed to load and shut down much faster. It has a smaller memory footprint (uses less computer memory). It is faster than Windows 7.
Once you get past the interface issues, there are still some other problems. Like Windows 7, there is a lot of hardware and software that is left in the dust, meaning that they are supported on Windows 8. Be sure to run the Windows 8 Upgrade Analyzer before upgrading so you understand what may; not work after you upgrade. About half the hardware and software on my six year old home built desktop isn't supported. ;-(
Check it out. You may not have a choice of what you get when you buy a new computer. Make the most of it.
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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13
My grandparents didn't like people that were too self-confident or self-absorbed. I don't know too many people that do! They would say "He is so full of himself!". They also said he was full of something else at times as well! ha!
It is so easy to read our own bylines, meaning letting the nice things that people say about us go to our heads. We swell up with pride. Pride comes before the fall. We don't think we need God any longer. We can handle it all by ourselves. NOT! Maintaining a humble heart and walking humbly with our Lord can be a struggle for some folks that are good looking or talented or skilled or rich. They sometimes get full of themselves instead of full of God's love and grace!
Lord, please help us fill our minds and hearts with your love and grace to truly be your humble servants!
Technology Thursday
Windows 8
Have you seen the current version of Microsoft Windows yet? It is Windows 8. Some folks call it the Windows Vista or Windows ME of the 2010s and others call it brilliant. It is primarily designed for touch interface devices such as tablets, smart phones and touch screen PCs (both of them...). The new interface works pretty well for these devices, though it still takes some getting used to. For the rest of us who still use a PC and a mouse, the interface is a nightmare. You can't find stuff at all. The familiar Start button is gone. Here is some advice if you have to purchase a Windows 8 PC or laptop.
First, know that Microsoft is releasing Windows 8.1, a free upgrade, sometime this Fall. The Start button will return. The interface will be more familiar for those that prefer the Windows 7 style workspace. Whew... The new OS is supposed to load and shut down much faster. It has a smaller memory footprint (uses less computer memory). It is faster than Windows 7.
Once you get past the interface issues, there are still some other problems. Like Windows 7, there is a lot of hardware and software that is left in the dust, meaning that they are supported on Windows 8. Be sure to run the Windows 8 Upgrade Analyzer before upgrading so you understand what may; not work after you upgrade. About half the hardware and software on my six year old home built desktop isn't supported. ;-(
Check it out. You may not have a choice of what you get when you buy a new computer. Make the most of it.
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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Storm watch
Our Daily Bread
I grew up in a family of farmers. They were constantly monitoring the weather so they could plan their outdoor work. Since I am a computer guy, I joked that I had to do what I had to do in good weather or bad! Just give me some electricity and an Internet connection! ha!
Many of us "weather watch" as part of our Christian lives. We only seem to call on Jesus to "wake him up" as it stated in the devotional. The disciples woke Jesus when the storm arose on the seas to save them from the storm. Too often we only wake Jesus to save us. We rarely wake him to thank him or praise him! Praise God that he is always with us!
Lord, thank you for always being with us in good weather and bad!
Wellness Wednesday
Summer coffee drinks
As a person that goes to Starbucks a few times per week, I don't drink the iced coffee drinks. I usually get my cafe mocha with skim milk and no whipped cream (boring!). ha! That reduces the number of calories of my morning treat to about 280 for a venti. Not too bad. There are other iced coffee drinks there check in at 500 - 700 calories! Yikes! Some have more sugar than two or three candy bars combined!
Read this article to get some healthier options for your iced coffee cravings this summer. Enjoy!
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Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
I grew up in a family of farmers. They were constantly monitoring the weather so they could plan their outdoor work. Since I am a computer guy, I joked that I had to do what I had to do in good weather or bad! Just give me some electricity and an Internet connection! ha!
Many of us "weather watch" as part of our Christian lives. We only seem to call on Jesus to "wake him up" as it stated in the devotional. The disciples woke Jesus when the storm arose on the seas to save them from the storm. Too often we only wake Jesus to save us. We rarely wake him to thank him or praise him! Praise God that he is always with us!
Lord, thank you for always being with us in good weather and bad!
Wellness Wednesday
Summer coffee drinks
As a person that goes to Starbucks a few times per week, I don't drink the iced coffee drinks. I usually get my cafe mocha with skim milk and no whipped cream (boring!). ha! That reduces the number of calories of my morning treat to about 280 for a venti. Not too bad. There are other iced coffee drinks there check in at 500 - 700 calories! Yikes! Some have more sugar than two or three candy bars combined!
Read this article to get some healthier options for your iced coffee cravings this summer. Enjoy!
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Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch you and hold you in his loving arms!
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Moderation
Our Daily Bread
I have never been that good at moderation. I usually go full guns at something until I get tired of it and then move on. I also have a tendency to get too busy and not be the person I should be because I get too tired or frustrated. Moderation.
The devotional talks about moderation as well. Finding moderation in our lives so that we don't let anything come between us and God. It is easy to play tennis too much, or sing too much, or exercise too much or work too much or whatever you like to do best. None of these things are necessarily bad in themselves. Whenever anything comes between us and doing what we need to do for God, then it is a major problem!
Does anything come to mind for you?
Lord, thank you for giving us abilities and guidance on how to use them for you. Please let us do things in moderation so we can keep nothing between us!
Teaching Tuesday
Teachable
I haven't started my first summer book yet, but I have something today. An important lesson I have learned and am still learning is to be teachable. Did you go to school with someone that just didn't want to be taught anything by anyone? He or she thought they knew it all? After studying God's Word for the better part of a lifetime, Christians can be like that. We think we know all we need to know about the Bible and our God. Silly humans!
Please consider praying before each time you read the Bible "Lord, please open my eyes and heart to your Word". Please consider praying during your daily prayers "Lord, please teach me your ways. I am listening." Being teachable is the first step.,
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Trusting God’s faithfulness dispels our fearfulness. - Our Daily Bread web site
I have never been that good at moderation. I usually go full guns at something until I get tired of it and then move on. I also have a tendency to get too busy and not be the person I should be because I get too tired or frustrated. Moderation.
The devotional talks about moderation as well. Finding moderation in our lives so that we don't let anything come between us and God. It is easy to play tennis too much, or sing too much, or exercise too much or work too much or whatever you like to do best. None of these things are necessarily bad in themselves. Whenever anything comes between us and doing what we need to do for God, then it is a major problem!
Does anything come to mind for you?
Lord, thank you for giving us abilities and guidance on how to use them for you. Please let us do things in moderation so we can keep nothing between us!
Teaching Tuesday
Teachable
I haven't started my first summer book yet, but I have something today. An important lesson I have learned and am still learning is to be teachable. Did you go to school with someone that just didn't want to be taught anything by anyone? He or she thought they knew it all? After studying God's Word for the better part of a lifetime, Christians can be like that. We think we know all we need to know about the Bible and our God. Silly humans!
Please consider praying before each time you read the Bible "Lord, please open my eyes and heart to your Word". Please consider praying during your daily prayers "Lord, please teach me your ways. I am listening." Being teachable is the first step.,
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Trusting God’s faithfulness dispels our fearfulness. - Our Daily Bread web site
Monday, May 27, 2013
Sacrifice
Our Daily Bread
I thought a lot about our veterans today. So many gave their lives. Even more came home wounded beyond repair, either physically or mentally. Such a sacrifice so we all can exercise our freedoms! Thank you so much!
Christ also sacrificed himself so we could be free from sin. We can release the bonds of sin that would lead to our destruction, relieve us of our spiritual freedom to commune with God. What a sacrifice! Thank you so much!
Christ gave all for us, like many of our veterans. Thank you all!
Movie Monday
I saw two movies this weekend with my best friend. I saw Star Trek Into Darkness (again), but this time it was in 3D IMAX. I also saw Fast 6 (Fast and Furious 6).
Star Trek
I enjoyed this even more in 3D IMAX! I highly recommend. Go during a matinee to reduce the outrageous cost of 3D IMAX!
Fast 6
I gave up on the Fast and Furious series after number 3, but I find myself viewing every one at the theater. Oh well. I was very impressed with Fast 5. Very good. I thought Fast 6 was very good as well. Lots of action and fast cars. Lots of cool stunts. The whole idea of family was very cool. Let me know what you think of the end after you see it. I don't want to give any spoilers.
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Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40
I thought a lot about our veterans today. So many gave their lives. Even more came home wounded beyond repair, either physically or mentally. Such a sacrifice so we all can exercise our freedoms! Thank you so much!
Christ also sacrificed himself so we could be free from sin. We can release the bonds of sin that would lead to our destruction, relieve us of our spiritual freedom to commune with God. What a sacrifice! Thank you so much!
Christ gave all for us, like many of our veterans. Thank you all!
Movie Monday
I saw two movies this weekend with my best friend. I saw Star Trek Into Darkness (again), but this time it was in 3D IMAX. I also saw Fast 6 (Fast and Furious 6).
Star Trek
I enjoyed this even more in 3D IMAX! I highly recommend. Go during a matinee to reduce the outrageous cost of 3D IMAX!
Fast 6
I gave up on the Fast and Furious series after number 3, but I find myself viewing every one at the theater. Oh well. I was very impressed with Fast 5. Very good. I thought Fast 6 was very good as well. Lots of action and fast cars. Lots of cool stunts. The whole idea of family was very cool. Let me know what you think of the end after you see it. I don't want to give any spoilers.
****************************
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40
Sunday, May 26, 2013
I owe you
Our Daily Bread
There was a pop song (and also a country version) called I owe you. It was a love song saying how the man owed so many loving moments to the object of his love. It was the object of his love that caused all of these things to happen.
I think I could sing a praise song like that to God! "I owe you for the peace and joy and happiness I live in. I owe you for the strength in difficult times. I owe you for a life that is closer to heaven on earth than I could have imagined." Unlike a debtor that is under contract to pay back a debt, we get to dedicate our lives to God our of gratitude and praise. We have the honor and privilege of serving the God who created our universe (and maybe many more!). I owe you, my God!
Lord, thank you for the privilege of serving you. Please help us do a better job at it!
Psalm Sunday
Let's look at Psalm 96 today. My question to you is: What is a new song to the Lord? Doesn't the Bible say that there isn't anything new under the sun? IMHO, the "new song" is a song that is new for you as an individual. The song has words and meaning that you haven't been able to express before. The new song comes from a place deeper within than ever before. At least that has been my experience!
Psalm 96
1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
*************************
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch and hold you in his loving arms!
There was a pop song (and also a country version) called I owe you. It was a love song saying how the man owed so many loving moments to the object of his love. It was the object of his love that caused all of these things to happen.
I think I could sing a praise song like that to God! "I owe you for the peace and joy and happiness I live in. I owe you for the strength in difficult times. I owe you for a life that is closer to heaven on earth than I could have imagined." Unlike a debtor that is under contract to pay back a debt, we get to dedicate our lives to God our of gratitude and praise. We have the honor and privilege of serving the God who created our universe (and maybe many more!). I owe you, my God!
Lord, thank you for the privilege of serving you. Please help us do a better job at it!
Psalm Sunday
Let's look at Psalm 96 today. My question to you is: What is a new song to the Lord? Doesn't the Bible say that there isn't anything new under the sun? IMHO, the "new song" is a song that is new for you as an individual. The song has words and meaning that you haven't been able to express before. The new song comes from a place deeper within than ever before. At least that has been my experience!
Psalm 96
1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
*************************
Let go, my friends! God will be there to catch and hold you in his loving arms!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
A storms a-comin'
Our Daily Bread
I am not quite to the age yet, but I remember her predicting the weather with the way her body felt. When Grandma was moving slowly or seemed in pain, we joked "A storms a-comin'!" I think those days will arrive for me sooner than I want!
The devotional is about not only surviving the storms, but using them to your advantage. The example was the people of Axum who used the high winds of monsoon season to speed their boats across the sea. I love that analogy of that vision -- using the conditions of the storm to move forward.
Frankly, I have had so many storms in my life, that I am half way decent at this ,with God's help of course. My problem is the day-to-day doldrums of every day life. Being consistent with things in my life like eating right, exercising, and treating people the right way. I finally figured out that I need to apply the things I learned in the storms to my every day life. DOH! Praise God!d
Lord, thank you for the storms in our lives. Please help us apply what we learn to the sunny times!
Simply Saturday
Prayers answered Part 1
I wrote about "no big thoughts" last week. I was in a holding pattern waiting sort of patiently for God to lead me in some areas of my life. This should not be a surprise, but he did! I had several answered prayers. Some things are clearer now. I am still patiently waiting for some answers for other questions. Why am I sharing this?
I know I don't have enough faith and trust. How about you? We sometimes question God and then sit with our arms crossed like little children pouting until we get an answer. Well, at least I do that sometimes! ha! We lack trust that God will answer. We lack faith and trust that God knows what is best for us. He will lead us if we listen.
I messaged a friend this week that the Holy Spirit finally got through to me this week. My faith was misdirected. I would pray and then say "OK, God, I told you WHAT I want and WHEN I want it. Get to it!" YIkes! After reviewing some psalms and the end of the Book of Job. I was embarrassed about that and apologized to God. I asked for forgiveness once again.
I pray for you that you will get some tidbit of spiritual insight for your life. Have faith. Trust in God. Praise God!a
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Excavating your heart will unearth the beautiful things God has planted in you. - R. Howerton
I am not quite to the age yet, but I remember her predicting the weather with the way her body felt. When Grandma was moving slowly or seemed in pain, we joked "A storms a-comin'!" I think those days will arrive for me sooner than I want!
The devotional is about not only surviving the storms, but using them to your advantage. The example was the people of Axum who used the high winds of monsoon season to speed their boats across the sea. I love that analogy of that vision -- using the conditions of the storm to move forward.
Frankly, I have had so many storms in my life, that I am half way decent at this ,with God's help of course. My problem is the day-to-day doldrums of every day life. Being consistent with things in my life like eating right, exercising, and treating people the right way. I finally figured out that I need to apply the things I learned in the storms to my every day life. DOH! Praise God!d
Lord, thank you for the storms in our lives. Please help us apply what we learn to the sunny times!
Simply Saturday
Prayers answered Part 1
I wrote about "no big thoughts" last week. I was in a holding pattern waiting sort of patiently for God to lead me in some areas of my life. This should not be a surprise, but he did! I had several answered prayers. Some things are clearer now. I am still patiently waiting for some answers for other questions. Why am I sharing this?
I know I don't have enough faith and trust. How about you? We sometimes question God and then sit with our arms crossed like little children pouting until we get an answer. Well, at least I do that sometimes! ha! We lack trust that God will answer. We lack faith and trust that God knows what is best for us. He will lead us if we listen.
I messaged a friend this week that the Holy Spirit finally got through to me this week. My faith was misdirected. I would pray and then say "OK, God, I told you WHAT I want and WHEN I want it. Get to it!" YIkes! After reviewing some psalms and the end of the Book of Job. I was embarrassed about that and apologized to God. I asked for forgiveness once again.
I pray for you that you will get some tidbit of spiritual insight for your life. Have faith. Trust in God. Praise God!a
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Excavating your heart will unearth the beautiful things God has planted in you. - R. Howerton
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