I found a few more things to be thankful for as the day progressed......
.....a good workout at the gym (some is better than none) (24)
.....running into a friend who needed encouragement and being able to give it (25)
.....sitting in the sauna, relaxing, and listening to a friend share childhood memories (26)
.....finding a coupon in my purse to use at lunch (27)
....listening to my daughter play and the piano and seeing her smile when she surprised herself by playing it right the first time :) (28)
....watching the twin's eyes light up when the lady at the bank gave them TWO suckers each (29)
....coming home! (30)
I do have a thankful heart today....hopefully it will spur me on to accomplish many things! :)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Today is a new day!
I sat down to list more things I am grateful for last night, but could not muster up the energy to do it....that's pitiful, I know. Not that I'm not grateful for anything, just almost too tired and weary to focus in on it. But things always look better in the morning, right? That has been my motto the past couple of weeks! :) I see things more clearly today.......
.....much, much laughter last night at a bridal shower (10)
.....watching the excitement on the 'bride to be's' face (and remembering my own) (11)
.....coming home to find my twins snuggled together in the same bed (12)
.....sitting with my oldest and looking through the latest horses she colored in her favorite Amish horse book (13)
.....saying good night to hubby, even if it was through a chat box (14)
......having leftover pineapple upside down cake to bring home from the shower...one of my favorites! (15)
......a few minutes of quiet reading before going to bed (16)
......listening to the twins 'help' each other make their beds (17)
.....my Bible, opened to the exact passage I needed to read this morning (18)
.....the sun shining through a small opening in the shade in the girls room, and me opening it all the way and watching the room flood with the bright light (19)
......no snow this morning!!!! (20)
......the basket of already folded laundry by the washing machine, compliments of my mother in law (21)
......the sweet hymn that is stuck in my head, playing over and over, making me smile (22)
......the few quiet moments I had to even write this, although they are over now as my little ones begin to quarrel :) (23)
Hopefully I will have many more to share soon, as my loving God continues to bless me in the sweetest and sometimes smallest ways.
Look for the blessings today.....they are there....He promises!
.....much, much laughter last night at a bridal shower (10)
.....watching the excitement on the 'bride to be's' face (and remembering my own) (11)
.....coming home to find my twins snuggled together in the same bed (12)
.....sitting with my oldest and looking through the latest horses she colored in her favorite Amish horse book (13)
.....saying good night to hubby, even if it was through a chat box (14)
......having leftover pineapple upside down cake to bring home from the shower...one of my favorites! (15)
......a few minutes of quiet reading before going to bed (16)
......listening to the twins 'help' each other make their beds (17)
.....my Bible, opened to the exact passage I needed to read this morning (18)
.....the sun shining through a small opening in the shade in the girls room, and me opening it all the way and watching the room flood with the bright light (19)
......no snow this morning!!!! (20)
......the basket of already folded laundry by the washing machine, compliments of my mother in law (21)
......the sweet hymn that is stuck in my head, playing over and over, making me smile (22)
......the few quiet moments I had to even write this, although they are over now as my little ones begin to quarrel :) (23)
Hopefully I will have many more to share soon, as my loving God continues to bless me in the sweetest and sometimes smallest ways.
Look for the blessings today.....they are there....He promises!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
The Gratitude Community
A friend of a friend seems to have started the "gratitude community" on her blog.....a group of people who are listing 1000 things they are thankful for. I have really enjoyed reading the different things people are grateful for.....it's been an encouragement. I thought about doing it too, but I feel like I can't even start one more thing.....I am feeling so completely overwhelmed that I am almost in shut down mode (where you have SO much to do that you end up doing nothing!). So even the smallest thing, with the best intentions, seem like too much.....but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I am never too busy to be thankful. It's not just about being thankful though, because I feel pretty grateful for many things...... but it is not always my first reaction to share them with others (sharing is not my strong point in general, as has been lovingly pointed out) :) So, I thought this would be good for me, and worth the time. So here is the beginning of many.......
a great time of learning at church today/tonight (1)
a sweet baby dedication of a dear friend (2)
watching my twins eat blue cotton candy ice cream and the messy faces that came with it (3)
laughter with friends (and friend's sister!) (4)
playing Scrabble with a friend who makes me laugh (5)
I Love Lucy (6)
good night hugs from my kids (7)
a hardworking husband (8)
the living Word of God that shows me my many shortcomings, but also promises hope that I will continue to grow and find sweeter fellowship with my Savior (9)
....i don't want to do all 1000 tonight, although i feel like I could......hopefully you will be encouraged to join in on this project....it's good for the soul!! :) and for the souls of others!
a great time of learning at church today/tonight (1)
a sweet baby dedication of a dear friend (2)
watching my twins eat blue cotton candy ice cream and the messy faces that came with it (3)
laughter with friends (and friend's sister!) (4)
playing Scrabble with a friend who makes me laugh (5)
I Love Lucy (6)
good night hugs from my kids (7)
a hardworking husband (8)
the living Word of God that shows me my many shortcomings, but also promises hope that I will continue to grow and find sweeter fellowship with my Savior (9)
....i don't want to do all 1000 tonight, although i feel like I could......hopefully you will be encouraged to join in on this project....it's good for the soul!! :) and for the souls of others!
John 1:24-34
Here are my sermon notes for this morning....something that spoke to me personally....
We were first challenged with the thought of having to describe a good friend of mine to a group of people who don't know her.....THEN, asking that group of people to pick her out of a crowd of 1000! That would cause me to really think about which characteristics, features, or attributes I would use to describe this friend, right?
Well, we looked at someone who had the opportunity to describe Christ to a group who really didn't know Him...a once in a lifetime chance in some aspects.....John the Baptist....he selected 3 distinguishing features of Christ to describe Him to a group of onlookers who "knew him not" {the pharisees} (1:26):
1. The Sovereign Lord....vs 26-27.."John answered them, saying, I baptize with water; but there standeth one among you, whom you know not. He it is who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to loose."
Why is this important?
*so we can expose Him to a people who don't know Him
*so we can exalt Him...John the Baptist lived a life that showed Christ in the place of utmost honor (first place!!)
*so we can extol praise to Him....John 3:30 (one of my favorites), "He must increase, but i must decrease"
"Is Christ really clearly visible in my life, after almost 20 years of salvation?" (bold questions mine)
2. The Sacrificial Lamb....vs 29...."The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world"
*"BEHOLD"...(word means first look upon, then consider, then compare, then make a decision....that is a lot for one word!!)...but John is bringing attention to the person of Christ
"How many people 'behold' Christ because of me?"
*"LAMB OF GOD"....draws attention to the price He paid....ref: the Levitical system/passover Lamb (Ex 12)....I Peter 1:18-19)
*"WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD"....the pardon He provided
3. The Savior longed for....vs 30-34..."This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is preferred before me; for he was before me. And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bore witness saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And i knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me. upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizeth with the Holy Spirit. And I saw, and bore witness that this is the Son of God."
what proof do we have that He is the Savior?
* the proclamation of JOHN himself; it's backed up by the inspired Word of God
*the identification of the HOLY SPIRIT (vs 32)
*the sanction of GOD THE FATHER (vs 33)...."he that sent me"...1:6 "man sent from God, whose name was John"
"What should I tell others about Jesus Christ?"
I think i get so comfortable sometimes, focusing on my own personal walk with the Lord and helping others with theirs, I am not always focused on those that don't even know Him.....which is not good for a missionary!!! But here, in my little Christian bubble, I am not often exposed (or so I tell myself) to those who don't know Him...but really, there are many, many opportunities each day to tell others about Him...so with that task before me, what will I tell them about Christ?
We were first challenged with the thought of having to describe a good friend of mine to a group of people who don't know her.....THEN, asking that group of people to pick her out of a crowd of 1000! That would cause me to really think about which characteristics, features, or attributes I would use to describe this friend, right?
Well, we looked at someone who had the opportunity to describe Christ to a group who really didn't know Him...a once in a lifetime chance in some aspects.....John the Baptist....he selected 3 distinguishing features of Christ to describe Him to a group of onlookers who "knew him not" {the pharisees} (1:26):
1. The Sovereign Lord....vs 26-27.."John answered them, saying, I baptize with water; but there standeth one among you, whom you know not. He it is who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to loose."
Why is this important?
*so we can expose Him to a people who don't know Him
*so we can exalt Him...John the Baptist lived a life that showed Christ in the place of utmost honor (first place!!)
*so we can extol praise to Him....John 3:30 (one of my favorites), "He must increase, but i must decrease"
"Is Christ really clearly visible in my life, after almost 20 years of salvation?" (bold questions mine)
2. The Sacrificial Lamb....vs 29...."The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world"
*"BEHOLD"...(word means first look upon, then consider, then compare, then make a decision....that is a lot for one word!!)...but John is bringing attention to the person of Christ
"How many people 'behold' Christ because of me?"
*"LAMB OF GOD"....draws attention to the price He paid....ref: the Levitical system/passover Lamb (Ex 12)....I Peter 1:18-19)
*"WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD"....the pardon He provided
3. The Savior longed for....vs 30-34..."This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is preferred before me; for he was before me. And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bore witness saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And i knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me. upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizeth with the Holy Spirit. And I saw, and bore witness that this is the Son of God."
what proof do we have that He is the Savior?
* the proclamation of JOHN himself; it's backed up by the inspired Word of God
*the identification of the HOLY SPIRIT (vs 32)
*the sanction of GOD THE FATHER (vs 33)...."he that sent me"...1:6 "man sent from God, whose name was John"
"What should I tell others about Jesus Christ?"
I think i get so comfortable sometimes, focusing on my own personal walk with the Lord and helping others with theirs, I am not always focused on those that don't even know Him.....which is not good for a missionary!!! But here, in my little Christian bubble, I am not often exposed (or so I tell myself) to those who don't know Him...but really, there are many, many opportunities each day to tell others about Him...so with that task before me, what will I tell them about Christ?
Friday, April 4, 2008
"For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13
"God has made provision for our holiness and he has also given us a responsibility for it.....God's provision for us consists in delivering us from the reign of sin, uniting us with Christ, and giving us the indwelling Holy Spirit to reveal sin, to create a desire for holiness, and to strengthen us in our pursuit of holiness...........{it's obvious the Holy Spirit has a crucial part in our pursuit toward holiness, but it is also clear, from the above passage, that} God puts the responsibility for living a holy life squarely on us. We are to do something. We are not to "stop trying and start trusting": we are to put to death the misdeeds of the body. Over and over again in the epistles - not only Paul's but the other apostles' as well - we are commanded to assume our responsibility for a holy walk......(Colossians 3;5, Hebrews 12:1, James 4:7, II Peter 3:14)
During a certain part of my Christian life I thought that any effort on my part to live a holy life was "of the flesh" and that "the flesh profits for nothing." I thought God would not bless any effort on my part to live the Christian life, just as He would not bless any effort on my part to become a Christian by good works........
How foolish I was. I misconstrued dependence on the Holy Spirit to mean I was to make no effort, that I had no responsibility. I mistakenly thought if I turned it all over to the Lord, He would make my choices for me and would choose obedience over disobedience. All I needed was to look to Him for holiness. But this is not God's way. He makes provision for our holiness, but He gives us the responsibility of using those provisions. The Holy Spirit has been given to all Christians. Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones says, "The Holy Spirit is in us; He is working in us, and empowering us, giving us the ability....This is the NT teaching - work our your own salvation with fear and trembling. We have to do so. But note the accompaniment - Because it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure! The Holy Spirit is working in us 'both to will and to do'. It is because I am not left to myself, it is because I am not 'absolutely hopeless' since the Spirit is in me, that I am exhorted to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling".
We must rely on the Spirit in our putting to death the deeds of the body......But our reliance on the Spirit is not intended to foster an attitude of "I cant do it," but one of "I can do it through Him who strengthens me." The Christian should never complain of want of ability and power. If we sin, it is because we choose to sin, not because we lack the ability to say no to the temptation.
It is time for us Christians to face up to our responsibility of holiness. Too often we say we are defeated by this or that sin. No, we are not defeated, we are simply disobedient! It might be well if we stop using the terms 'victory' and 'defeat' to describe our progress in holiness. Rather we should use the terms 'obedience' and 'disobedience'. When I say I am defeated by sin, I am unconsciously slipping out from under my responsibility. I am saying something outside of me has defeated me. But when I say I am disobedient, that places the responsibility for my sin squarely on me. We may, in fact, be defeated, but the reason we are defeated is because we have chosen to disobey. We have chosen to entertain lustful thoughts, or to harbor resentment, or to shade the truth a little.
We need to brace ourselves up, and to realize that we are responsible for our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. We need to reckon on the fact that we died to sin's reign, that it no longer has any dominion over us, that God has unitied us with the risen Christ in all His power, and has given us the Holy Spirit to work in us. Only as we accept our responsibility and appropriate God's provisions will we make any progress in our pursuit of holiness."
I know these aren't my thoughts, but those of Bridges, but it was a good reminder of our responsibility in seeking the life of holiness, which we are called to. Many times we (I) can convince myself that we have a harder struggle because of this or that, but really, we are all called to a life that completely and wholly honors the Lord....and we all have the same resources. That should be a daily reminder for me!!!
"God has made provision for our holiness and he has also given us a responsibility for it.....God's provision for us consists in delivering us from the reign of sin, uniting us with Christ, and giving us the indwelling Holy Spirit to reveal sin, to create a desire for holiness, and to strengthen us in our pursuit of holiness...........{it's obvious the Holy Spirit has a crucial part in our pursuit toward holiness, but it is also clear, from the above passage, that} God puts the responsibility for living a holy life squarely on us. We are to do something. We are not to "stop trying and start trusting": we are to put to death the misdeeds of the body. Over and over again in the epistles - not only Paul's but the other apostles' as well - we are commanded to assume our responsibility for a holy walk......(Colossians 3;5, Hebrews 12:1, James 4:7, II Peter 3:14)
During a certain part of my Christian life I thought that any effort on my part to live a holy life was "of the flesh" and that "the flesh profits for nothing." I thought God would not bless any effort on my part to live the Christian life, just as He would not bless any effort on my part to become a Christian by good works........
How foolish I was. I misconstrued dependence on the Holy Spirit to mean I was to make no effort, that I had no responsibility. I mistakenly thought if I turned it all over to the Lord, He would make my choices for me and would choose obedience over disobedience. All I needed was to look to Him for holiness. But this is not God's way. He makes provision for our holiness, but He gives us the responsibility of using those provisions. The Holy Spirit has been given to all Christians. Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones says, "The Holy Spirit is in us; He is working in us, and empowering us, giving us the ability....This is the NT teaching - work our your own salvation with fear and trembling. We have to do so. But note the accompaniment - Because it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure! The Holy Spirit is working in us 'both to will and to do'. It is because I am not left to myself, it is because I am not 'absolutely hopeless' since the Spirit is in me, that I am exhorted to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling".
We must rely on the Spirit in our putting to death the deeds of the body......But our reliance on the Spirit is not intended to foster an attitude of "I cant do it," but one of "I can do it through Him who strengthens me." The Christian should never complain of want of ability and power. If we sin, it is because we choose to sin, not because we lack the ability to say no to the temptation.
It is time for us Christians to face up to our responsibility of holiness. Too often we say we are defeated by this or that sin. No, we are not defeated, we are simply disobedient! It might be well if we stop using the terms 'victory' and 'defeat' to describe our progress in holiness. Rather we should use the terms 'obedience' and 'disobedience'. When I say I am defeated by sin, I am unconsciously slipping out from under my responsibility. I am saying something outside of me has defeated me. But when I say I am disobedient, that places the responsibility for my sin squarely on me. We may, in fact, be defeated, but the reason we are defeated is because we have chosen to disobey. We have chosen to entertain lustful thoughts, or to harbor resentment, or to shade the truth a little.
We need to brace ourselves up, and to realize that we are responsible for our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. We need to reckon on the fact that we died to sin's reign, that it no longer has any dominion over us, that God has unitied us with the risen Christ in all His power, and has given us the Holy Spirit to work in us. Only as we accept our responsibility and appropriate God's provisions will we make any progress in our pursuit of holiness."
I know these aren't my thoughts, but those of Bridges, but it was a good reminder of our responsibility in seeking the life of holiness, which we are called to. Many times we (I) can convince myself that we have a harder struggle because of this or that, but really, we are all called to a life that completely and wholly honors the Lord....and we all have the same resources. That should be a daily reminder for me!!!
Home again....
So, I am home again from a week + trip out of town to visit a dear friend.....it is good to be home, although not so good to face the 'to do' pile waiting on me here! Makes me miss the lazy days of last week already!! But there is a time for everything....a time to work, and a time to rest....now is the day of work. But it is a good work....one that signifies change and a new beginning. We are only a month away from making the move to the 'wild west' and begin our full time ministry among the Navajo people. I am very excited as it has been desire of mine for almost 15 years now! I can't believe it's within reach now....the Lord is good to order our steps, even if we dont' always understand the timing or the reason. That was very evident even this past week: I was supposed to come back home on Tuesday, but my flight was canceled due to weather....at least that's what it said up on the board above the flight check-in desk. I soon came to realize that was not the real reason....God had more for me...but I guess it would have been weird for the sign to say "flight canceled because Christy was a goober and didn't quite get everything I wanted her to see during this week of stretching and learning!".....He's good like that!
So, I stayed an extra day, finally got a better glimpse into His plan for me, and was allowed to return home the next day! I'm a slow learner!
But sometimes the reason for delays or obstacles are not always so easy to see. My flight being canceled was pretty obvious after the rest of the day unfolded.....but things like 'having to wait so long to get to the mission field that God has laid on my heart' are not so easy to see....I'm not really confident I know why I was to remain here in "Wild Wonderful" West Virginia for so long, all the while, the ministry out west went shorthanded and in great need. God hasn't chosen to give such a clear reason as to why we had to go the 'slow' route, so to say. But I am confident that it was for a reason....one I am not able to articulate, but one that I know was designed by Him specifically.....so in that I can have peace. In some ways it makes me all the more excited to go, knowing that NOW is the appointed time for us to be there.....I am looking forward to what He brings before us in the way of ministry.
So, with all that said, although I miss the days of veggin' in front of Biggest Loser and American Idol.....of laying in bed and reading.....of sitting on porch swings....and moments of true refreshing....I am eager to get back to the busyness.....especially the busyness that will bring me closer to my heart's desire.....missions!
ps....I did end up finishing that book on friendships before I left to come home......I need to finish my thoughts on it.....don't want all the thoughts to slowly slip away!!! it happens all too often!! :)
So, I stayed an extra day, finally got a better glimpse into His plan for me, and was allowed to return home the next day! I'm a slow learner!
But sometimes the reason for delays or obstacles are not always so easy to see. My flight being canceled was pretty obvious after the rest of the day unfolded.....but things like 'having to wait so long to get to the mission field that God has laid on my heart' are not so easy to see....I'm not really confident I know why I was to remain here in "Wild Wonderful" West Virginia for so long, all the while, the ministry out west went shorthanded and in great need. God hasn't chosen to give such a clear reason as to why we had to go the 'slow' route, so to say. But I am confident that it was for a reason....one I am not able to articulate, but one that I know was designed by Him specifically.....so in that I can have peace. In some ways it makes me all the more excited to go, knowing that NOW is the appointed time for us to be there.....I am looking forward to what He brings before us in the way of ministry.
So, with all that said, although I miss the days of veggin' in front of Biggest Loser and American Idol.....of laying in bed and reading.....of sitting on porch swings....and moments of true refreshing....I am eager to get back to the busyness.....especially the busyness that will bring me closer to my heart's desire.....missions!
ps....I did end up finishing that book on friendships before I left to come home......I need to finish my thoughts on it.....don't want all the thoughts to slowly slip away!!! it happens all too often!! :)
Thursday, April 3, 2008
the 5k journey continues....
Well, here we are at the beginning of April, a month away from the race. At this point I am supposed to be running the 3 miles, which can be discouraging since I haven't run in almost 2 weeks and the last time I DID run, I was barely squeezing out 2 miles! But I got up this morning and headed to the gym, determined to get back on track. I thought I would just run on the actual track this time (as opposed to the treadmill) and just try and run 3 miles and see how far I could get........and lo and behold, I did it!! I ran 3 miles! Who would have thought???!!! Now how QUICK (or should I say slow) I ran it was pretty pitiful, but at least now I know I can do it.....I could at least finish the race if it were tomorrow. And even though I am slightly competitive, I really am not at all trying to win this race.....I realize how impossible that is.....but I just want to finish. So, hopefully I will be able to do that now!
And when I went upstairs and tried to do the rest of my work out, I was good for nothing! But that's ok....to be expected when I havent' hardly moved in the last week!!! I'll get back to the gym tomorrow and try to make a little more progress.....30 days til the race!!!
And when I went upstairs and tried to do the rest of my work out, I was good for nothing! But that's ok....to be expected when I havent' hardly moved in the last week!!! I'll get back to the gym tomorrow and try to make a little more progress.....30 days til the race!!!
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