Well after reading today's scripture in my quiet time, God really put some things into perspective for me. You see, like many, I have a hard time holding my tongue. I can remember the days in my life when I didn't care what anyone else thought of me and so I spoke my opinions freely. Not that I don't share my opinions now, but I'm a little more cautious in certain circumstances. My goal is to never lead someone astray, but to direct them toward the Lord.
Ps 39 puts it all into perspective - v1 "I said, ' I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence."
Why is it that we get so opinionated and think we have to always argue when "the wicked" are near. That's when I find myself always shooting myself in the foot because I say too much when confronted by someone who is a non-believer. I've learned through the years, to put that muzzle on and make sure that what I have to say is from the Lord and not my own "opinions."
v6 says: "Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro; He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, no knowing who will get it." Our lives are but a breath here on earth. We get so wrapped up in all that we think we need to do and forget to focus on what's important - Loving God and loving people. Our time here on earth is short compared to eternity in heaven. Why not take as many with us when we go? Maybe it's time we muzzle our mouths, stop all the arguing and start loving people the way Christ did in order to bring more to Him!
vs 14-16 kind of made me realize how lucky I really am to be a citizen of the United States. I don't have anyone trying to kill me (at least not within my knowledge), but I realize the enemy is lurking behind every corner trying to bring a slow death to me whether it's a physical one or spiritual death. What I've realized is that I have to give up focusing on all the bad stuff around us and actually turn my faith to the only ONE who can do anything - God. He is where I place my trust. With all the Presidential stuff going on right now (most of you know that I'm not into politics) people are throwing their opinions around like it's water. God ordained that office and whoever is in that place, we as believers need to support him in prayer not continue to criticize his every move. Yes, I believe the end times are near, but so has every generation before us. Every day brings us closer to the final day here on earth.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Breathe
A friend of mine, Melissa, shared with me not too long ago a word that God had given her: Breathe. It keeps coming up all around me; in scripture I'm reading, sermons, and the fact that I have to breathe in order to be alive. We watched a Rob Bell Nooma video about it last night even. Let me share some thoughts with you:
In Hebrew, God's name is Y,H,V,H (in English we'd pronounce this as "Yod, Heh, Vav, Heh."
Rob Bell - "Some pronounce the name 'Yahweh' or 'Yahveh', although in many traditions the name isn't even pronounced, because it's considered so sacred, so mysterious, so holy. In fact, the ancient rabbis believed that these letters actually functioned kind of as vowels in the Hebrew language. They believed that they were kind of breathing sounds and that ultimately the name is simply unpronounceable because the letters together are essentially the sound of breathing. Yod, Heh, Vav, Heh. Is the name of God the sound of breathing?"
He then talks about how the first and last things you do in life are to take a breath.
The very first and last thing we do in life is speak our creator's name. Isn't He amazing?
In Hebrew, God's name is Y,H,V,H (in English we'd pronounce this as "Yod, Heh, Vav, Heh."
Rob Bell - "Some pronounce the name 'Yahweh' or 'Yahveh', although in many traditions the name isn't even pronounced, because it's considered so sacred, so mysterious, so holy. In fact, the ancient rabbis believed that these letters actually functioned kind of as vowels in the Hebrew language. They believed that they were kind of breathing sounds and that ultimately the name is simply unpronounceable because the letters together are essentially the sound of breathing. Yod, Heh, Vav, Heh. Is the name of God the sound of breathing?"
He then talks about how the first and last things you do in life are to take a breath.
The very first and last thing we do in life is speak our creator's name. Isn't He amazing?
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Things I love in life
Some of these are very random.....others are very much not random!
1. The freedom to worship my God & Father
2. Jeremy
3. Jenna & Jaden
4. My extended family
5. something Jaden said this morning when I told him we needed to be praying for President Obama all the time and he said "even in the night!" Very true
6. Jenna, who is not a snuggler, crawled up in my lap yesterday and slept because she felt so crappy.
7. friends the Lord has brought across my path - both old and new
8. facebook - (it's brought some of the old friends back across my path)
9. my new juicer - it's so much healthier when you think about all the sugar and artificial additives you cut out
10. my new mandarin garnet ring :)
11. late 80's/early 90s rap music - you remember them....Funky cold medina, Baby got Back, etc. I heard both of those the other day and it brought back a kazillion memories.
12. having a brain that keeps memories
13. the memories I have of my parents that I can share with my kids even though my parents are now in heaven
14. my new church - Compass Christian
15. the hope for eternal life in heaven - especially the fact that there is more to life than this earth! Praise God for that!
16. my daughter's accepting Christ into her life and baptism this summer! Now, that's exciting!
17. country music and country dancing
18. my new home in Roanoke
19. mexican pottery!
20. the color ORANGE
21. knowing that I have a Savior who hears my prayers night and day and answers them
22. strawberry shortcake - both the food and the little girl :)
23. my daddy's nickname for me "Pooch" - I hated it back in the day, but just wish I could hear him call me that today
24. i can ask Jaden "do you know what I need?" and he'll say "I got what you need" and then he kisses me
25. Jenna trusts me enough to tell me things and ask some hard questions
26. my kids' lullabys are - Jenna, "Jesus, There's just something about that name" and Jaden, "Amazing Grace" it calms them every time and puts them to sleep every night
27. cowboy boots
28. Beef Taco Bake
29. Kari's roast
30. Romans 8:28 - my life verse...look it up!
31. snow skiing - although we never go anymore
32. my MacBook
33. Prison Break, 24, The Office
34. Dumb & Dumber
35. 13 Going on 30
36. Greese
37. hanging out on the beach with my husband
38. Saltgrass Steakhouse
39. chocolate milk
40. Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer
41. pumpkin pie
42. chocolate chip cookies
43. having a "backyard neighbor" who I can call to borrow a cup of milk from so I can make muffins for my kids
44. rodeos
45. fresh baked bread
46. having a husband who is my very best friend
47. fireplaces
48. grandparents
49. Chi hair straighteners
50. sweet tea
51. big bulky warm sweaters
52. sweat pants
53. iris flowers
54. honeysuckle bushes
55. friends
That's all for now....I'm sure I'll post a part 2 another day.
1. The freedom to worship my God & Father
2. Jeremy
3. Jenna & Jaden
4. My extended family
5. something Jaden said this morning when I told him we needed to be praying for President Obama all the time and he said "even in the night!" Very true
6. Jenna, who is not a snuggler, crawled up in my lap yesterday and slept because she felt so crappy.
7. friends the Lord has brought across my path - both old and new
8. facebook - (it's brought some of the old friends back across my path)
9. my new juicer - it's so much healthier when you think about all the sugar and artificial additives you cut out
10. my new mandarin garnet ring :)
11. late 80's/early 90s rap music - you remember them....Funky cold medina, Baby got Back, etc. I heard both of those the other day and it brought back a kazillion memories.
12. having a brain that keeps memories
13. the memories I have of my parents that I can share with my kids even though my parents are now in heaven
14. my new church - Compass Christian
15. the hope for eternal life in heaven - especially the fact that there is more to life than this earth! Praise God for that!
16. my daughter's accepting Christ into her life and baptism this summer! Now, that's exciting!
17. country music and country dancing
18. my new home in Roanoke
19. mexican pottery!
20. the color ORANGE
21. knowing that I have a Savior who hears my prayers night and day and answers them
22. strawberry shortcake - both the food and the little girl :)
23. my daddy's nickname for me "Pooch" - I hated it back in the day, but just wish I could hear him call me that today
24. i can ask Jaden "do you know what I need?" and he'll say "I got what you need" and then he kisses me
25. Jenna trusts me enough to tell me things and ask some hard questions
26. my kids' lullabys are - Jenna, "Jesus, There's just something about that name" and Jaden, "Amazing Grace" it calms them every time and puts them to sleep every night
27. cowboy boots
28. Beef Taco Bake
29. Kari's roast
30. Romans 8:28 - my life verse...look it up!
31. snow skiing - although we never go anymore
32. my MacBook
33. Prison Break, 24, The Office
34. Dumb & Dumber
35. 13 Going on 30
36. Greese
37. hanging out on the beach with my husband
38. Saltgrass Steakhouse
39. chocolate milk
40. Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer
41. pumpkin pie
42. chocolate chip cookies
43. having a "backyard neighbor" who I can call to borrow a cup of milk from so I can make muffins for my kids
44. rodeos
45. fresh baked bread
46. having a husband who is my very best friend
47. fireplaces
48. grandparents
49. Chi hair straighteners
50. sweet tea
51. big bulky warm sweaters
52. sweat pants
53. iris flowers
54. honeysuckle bushes
55. friends
That's all for now....I'm sure I'll post a part 2 another day.
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