Wednesday, June 30
Tuesday, June 29
Saturday, June 26
one can't make another come to faith...how dissapointing/sad/frustrating
this is kind of a tough one.
as I related in the post before, I am pretty invested in the idea that we can't know what is in our friends/family's hearts and that they may be meeting us in heaven in spite of showing no outward signs of belief.
but the opposite may be just as true! I understand that we have to look forward to death with all the hope of seeing those loved ones but shoot; I don't know what's in my husband's heart. the best I can do is try and engage him in conversations in hopes of God working his magic. and I'm trying to drill into my head that I need to be doing that with everyone I can possable affect.
affect:
-to bring about a change in
-influence
-to move emotionally
-to infect
-a strong feeling having active consequences
as I related in the post before, I am pretty invested in the idea that we can't know what is in our friends/family's hearts and that they may be meeting us in heaven in spite of showing no outward signs of belief.
but the opposite may be just as true! I understand that we have to look forward to death with all the hope of seeing those loved ones but shoot; I don't know what's in my husband's heart. the best I can do is try and engage him in conversations in hopes of God working his magic. and I'm trying to drill into my head that I need to be doing that with everyone I can possable affect.
affect:
-to bring about a change in
-influence
-to move emotionally
-to infect
-a strong feeling having active consequences
Friday, June 25
how do people get through life without god?
-I attended a visitation/prayer service just recently and couldn't help but wonder how people get through life without looking toward a comforting end.
and now I understand that this isn't a new concept. I have heard from the pulpit that fearing death is common when people don't believe or trust in a greater being or another life. but wow. how freaking sad would it be to think that your mother is lost from you forever. I don't think I'd be able to stop sobbing if I didn't think that I would meet my loved ones again. I even dismiss the stresses of having people in my life who don't go to church by thinking that I can never know what's in their hearts and hoping that the holy spirit has worked in a different way. in an invisible way. or perhaps even in a last minute sort of way. although that thought process brings me around to evangelism...I'm not a pushy person but I kinda wonder if I should be. I wish there was a meter on my bible :) cause I don't want to turn people off to God but by doing that I wonder if I'm doing enough? or if my reasoning is just a convenient excuse.
and now I understand that this isn't a new concept. I have heard from the pulpit that fearing death is common when people don't believe or trust in a greater being or another life. but wow. how freaking sad would it be to think that your mother is lost from you forever. I don't think I'd be able to stop sobbing if I didn't think that I would meet my loved ones again. I even dismiss the stresses of having people in my life who don't go to church by thinking that I can never know what's in their hearts and hoping that the holy spirit has worked in a different way. in an invisible way. or perhaps even in a last minute sort of way. although that thought process brings me around to evangelism...I'm not a pushy person but I kinda wonder if I should be. I wish there was a meter on my bible :) cause I don't want to turn people off to God but by doing that I wonder if I'm doing enough? or if my reasoning is just a convenient excuse.
Thursday, June 24
proverbial
I
am
loving
proverbs.
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
chapter 31 verses 10-31
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
am
loving
proverbs.
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
chapter 31 verses 10-31
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Wednesday, June 23
Tuesday, June 22
proverbs rocks
-I was trying to find a passage or verse about how we see others...I was trying to find some biblical reference to not judging people by their outsides but by their insides...
-my bible summerizes proverbs as advice on many areas of life.
-while I was reading proverbs I came accross something SO similar to a lyric my husband wrote:
proverbs 16:18 pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
disaster march song they say that pride comes before the fall, so say we all. so say we all.
-I pointed this out to my partner and he suggested I google similar things since that theme is so prevelant in sci-fi and that's where his inspiration came.
-the best item I came up with is a line from a cookingish blog and I loved the post... pride. its complicated.
-my bible summerizes proverbs as advice on many areas of life.
-while I was reading proverbs I came accross something SO similar to a lyric my husband wrote:
proverbs 16:18 pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
disaster march song they say that pride comes before the fall, so say we all. so say we all.
-I pointed this out to my partner and he suggested I google similar things since that theme is so prevelant in sci-fi and that's where his inspiration came.
-the best item I came up with is a line from a cookingish blog and I loved the post... pride. its complicated.
Monday, June 21
a new reason not to let life overwhelm me
luke chapter 21 is really interesting I think...well...all of luke was sounding pretty interesting actually :) it reads like a novel almost. what spoke to me today though was Jesus telling of the coming of the end of the world. and when he gets to the end of his little schtick he warns us to be carful or our hearts will be weighed down so much with the anxieties of life that we won't be ready for his coming! and we will be snapped up and unable to escape. unable to be stand before Him.
that is a worser fate then not paying a traffic ticket on time or forgetting to pick up orange juice.
that is a worser fate then not paying a traffic ticket on time or forgetting to pick up orange juice.
Sunday, June 20
dad's day
I'm really coming to realize that no matter how amazing the message/sermon/text...a thought can only be 100% realized when its your own. and I think this is what I was missing from high school- ya know? this blog is like an assignment but I'm finally in a place to take it seriously. it wasn't that way so many years ago.
my mom opened up and relayed thoughts about her father who we lost in the spring of '96 (if I'm remembering correctly). and her contemplation of the term "lost" lead me to contemplate that grampa lost us in just the same way! so as we Christians are waiting down here on earth for the chance to reunite in heaven with our loved ones // they are just as eagerly awaiting our arrival!
I’m but a stranger here,
Heaven is my home;
Earth is a desert drear,
Heaven is my home;
Danger and sorrow stand
Round me on every hand;
Heaven is my fatherland,
Heaven is my home.
my mom opened up and relayed thoughts about her father who we lost in the spring of '96 (if I'm remembering correctly). and her contemplation of the term "lost" lead me to contemplate that grampa lost us in just the same way! so as we Christians are waiting down here on earth for the chance to reunite in heaven with our loved ones // they are just as eagerly awaiting our arrival!
I’m but a stranger here,
Heaven is my home;
Earth is a desert drear,
Heaven is my home;
Danger and sorrow stand
Round me on every hand;
Heaven is my fatherland,
Heaven is my home.
Saturday, June 19
remembering the sabbath day and keeping it holy
it's been a while since I've talked about organized religion but I haven't forgotten about it.
in exodus 31:12&13 the Lord talks about observing the sabbaths as a reminder of the relationship between God and man.
in verse 14 God commands moses to tell the israelistes to observe that day becuase it is holy. He goes as far as to say whoeve doesn't observe it should be put to death!!
I'm not sure what this all means to me but I guess I have a new-found-reminder of what sunday morning services mean to God??
in exodus 31:12&13 the Lord talks about observing the sabbaths as a reminder of the relationship between God and man.
in verse 14 God commands moses to tell the israelistes to observe that day becuase it is holy. He goes as far as to say whoeve doesn't observe it should be put to death!!
I'm not sure what this all means to me but I guess I have a new-found-reminder of what sunday morning services mean to God??
Friday, June 18
it's hard to take risks
lets see if I can wrangle all my thoughts into a cohesive post
. . . . .
so I want to have a drawing of my daughter's funny little "lemon" face.
I asked my friend who was a drawing major in college to help me.
by making this desire known to other people I kind of committed myself.
and once I committed myself and my friend brought over his papers and charcoals I got totally scared!
making art is really putting yourself out there!!
and then I thought about moses because I've been reading his story these past few days and HOLY COW HE REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO BE A LEADER :) he basically argues with God that he doesn't belong in such a position.
and I'm not sure why I connected the two but I really understand his concern about being able to handle that task but when God is literally commanding you in person. I suppose that's the point where you have to listen...ha.
. . . . .
so I want to have a drawing of my daughter's funny little "lemon" face.
I asked my friend who was a drawing major in college to help me.
by making this desire known to other people I kind of committed myself.
and once I committed myself and my friend brought over his papers and charcoals I got totally scared!
making art is really putting yourself out there!!
and then I thought about moses because I've been reading his story these past few days and HOLY COW HE REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO BE A LEADER :) he basically argues with God that he doesn't belong in such a position.
and I'm not sure why I connected the two but I really understand his concern about being able to handle that task but when God is literally commanding you in person. I suppose that's the point where you have to listen...ha.
Thursday, June 17
testing = fear = being good
so when there are long rows to hoe, it seems like the typical response might be to say that "the Lord is leading you to a destination unknow but far better". or that "God is strengthening you for a purpose that remains to be seen". BUT I don't know if I recall earthly trials being equated to fearing the Lord so that you might stop being a jerk-head.
exodus 20:20
moses said to the people, "do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."
exodus 20:20
moses said to the people, "do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."
Wednesday, June 16
half of exodus and then into judges
so I opened up and read from the beginning of exodus (as the mother of a young child the early years of moses strike such a chord) through when moses' father-in-law comes to visits and suggests that he do a little delegating (thus the judges) and then I fast forwarded to judges for a few chapters.
what I've found is this thread of faith is WOVEN back and forth throughout all the stories.
and what I mean is:
-pharaoh gets scared (dare I say he almost fears the Lord / as we all should) as the plagues drag on and concedes to letting the israelites go and as soon as the frogs retreat or the flies disappear or the winds change and the locusts are carried away; he's changed his mind and refuses to release them.
-the israelites are finally freed after years of groaning loudly (so loud that God heard / that just cracks me up the way it's stated). and yet (dramatic pause) when they see the egyptians approaching camp they immediately turn sassy and cry that they would have been better off still enslaved. how quickly they were to blame God for the exodus they'd been asking for!
-then when the parting of the red sea saves them :) they stop their b!tching and sing praises.
-and then they grumble about the water :( and then God fixes it but the they get hungry and complain some more. and then God fixes it. and on and on and on.
so I turned to judges kind of expecting some stories about problems and the judges/leaders/priests/pastors suggested resolutions and what do I get? more of this back and forth thing! and I understand because a lot of time I feel like the moment is all I have. like, whatever is going on now must be the truth. so whether that's spreading a gossip/like story about my friend's ex-boyfriend OR feeling the elated glory of a hymn sung next to my favorite uncle who belts those verses like his last! I guess I need to keep doing this blog. keep trying to keep God at the front of my mind in order to include more of the very very good and less of the bad.
what I've found is this thread of faith is WOVEN back and forth throughout all the stories.
and what I mean is:
-pharaoh gets scared (dare I say he almost fears the Lord / as we all should) as the plagues drag on and concedes to letting the israelites go and as soon as the frogs retreat or the flies disappear or the winds change and the locusts are carried away; he's changed his mind and refuses to release them.
-the israelites are finally freed after years of groaning loudly (so loud that God heard / that just cracks me up the way it's stated). and yet (dramatic pause) when they see the egyptians approaching camp they immediately turn sassy and cry that they would have been better off still enslaved. how quickly they were to blame God for the exodus they'd been asking for!
-then when the parting of the red sea saves them :) they stop their b!tching and sing praises.
-and then they grumble about the water :( and then God fixes it but the they get hungry and complain some more. and then God fixes it. and on and on and on.
so I turned to judges kind of expecting some stories about problems and the judges/leaders/priests/pastors suggested resolutions and what do I get? more of this back and forth thing! and I understand because a lot of time I feel like the moment is all I have. like, whatever is going on now must be the truth. so whether that's spreading a gossip/like story about my friend's ex-boyfriend OR feeling the elated glory of a hymn sung next to my favorite uncle who belts those verses like his last! I guess I need to keep doing this blog. keep trying to keep God at the front of my mind in order to include more of the very very good and less of the bad.
Tuesday, June 15
I know I've done too many links lately...but JUST one more plz
helping vs. enabling
this is an entry written by a friend at work who I KNEW was Christian but with whom I didn't honestly expect this much insight from!! the passage was familiar / her take on it was not...
this is an entry written by a friend at work who I KNEW was Christian but with whom I didn't honestly expect this much insight from!! the passage was familiar / her take on it was not...
Monday, June 14
consider the lilies of the field
pic by my mom of peonies from her front garden :)
luke 12:27-31
consider how the lilies grow. they do not labor or spin (that is a genius word!!). yet I tell you, not even solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
if that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, o you of little faith!
and do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.
for the pagan world runs after all such things, and your father knows that you need them (duh nell?).
but seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Sunday, June 13
more colorful shades of doing...
(I love that line from the home depot commercials)
so... back to how lovely of an earth God created for us to live on... hubby and I are falling more and more in love with the earth- like the real earth- like dirt and everything you can grow with it- and simple things like walking around the neighborhood provides me with hours of entertainment! especially now because I have a captive audience that I'm pushing in front of me. we saw some amazing roses and peonies (my fave) and alium and astilbe and all sorts of other plants that I don't even begin know the names of.
and now that I'm starting to understand the pace of this raising a kid thing; I think our family is finding balance.
Saturday, June 12
another mother that wants balance!
http://chrisdowns.wordpress.com/2007/05/22/from-bible-contradiction-to-life-balance-learning-to-live-a-simply-balanced-life/
AND MOM! she talks about the teeter totters right off the bat :)
AND MOM! she talks about the teeter totters right off the bat :)
Friday, June 11
~balance~
I was helping train a co-worker today and it really seemed like he was struggling with his new responsibilities.
I got the sense that he wasn't even enjoying the time spent with his son because he couldn't forget the tasks he'd left back at his desk.
I told him about the absolutely breakdown I had had sssoooooo many years ago and how he had to try and learn to let go.
and before I left for the day I snuck back to his desk and wrote on his task pad "BALANCE!".
I hope he gets something out of that :) I also put a sticky note at the bottom saying that he was doing a good job and to keep up the good work but it got me to thinking about what the bible might say about balance. cause the eat, pray, love book I read just a couple months ago really had a lot of that concept to it. elizabeth gilbert studied a lot about meditation and eastern religion and while I think that some of their teachings are about transcendance from the human relm I took away that balance is another key factor.
my quick google of "balance God" came back with this article:
The Perfect Balance of God's Truth
1. inability does not rule out responsibility
2. certainty does not rule out necessity
3. limited purpose does not rule out indiscriminate preaching
4. preservation does not rule out perseverance
5. love does not rule out law
this isn't exactly what I was looking for but I like it none the less / especially his last paragraph.
I got the sense that he wasn't even enjoying the time spent with his son because he couldn't forget the tasks he'd left back at his desk.
I told him about the absolutely breakdown I had had sssoooooo many years ago and how he had to try and learn to let go.
and before I left for the day I snuck back to his desk and wrote on his task pad "BALANCE!".
I hope he gets something out of that :) I also put a sticky note at the bottom saying that he was doing a good job and to keep up the good work but it got me to thinking about what the bible might say about balance. cause the eat, pray, love book I read just a couple months ago really had a lot of that concept to it. elizabeth gilbert studied a lot about meditation and eastern religion and while I think that some of their teachings are about transcendance from the human relm I took away that balance is another key factor.
my quick google of "balance God" came back with this article:
The Perfect Balance of God's Truth
1. inability does not rule out responsibility
2. certainty does not rule out necessity
3. limited purpose does not rule out indiscriminate preaching
4. preservation does not rule out perseverance
5. love does not rule out law
this isn't exactly what I was looking for but I like it none the less / especially his last paragraph.
Wednesday, June 9
Be blessed today! God is so big and awesome!!
Be blessed today! God is so big and awesome!!
-this is a direct quote from an actual line of text on an email from one of our clients to the sales rep I work with. I WAS FLOORED! I should explain that I work for a commercial design firm as a project manager and our clients are fast food restaurant owners. this franchise owner felt so happy and confident about her God that she brought him up in seemingly casual daily conversation :) as if it was something like, "thanks for all your help!" or "that presentation was right on the money!!".
I have to say. I'm a little jealous.
but I have to be thrilled that there are people who lean the opposite way of being politically correct. and I'm very happy that I get to work in an environment where people like this exist * which reminds me...I need to get a package out to a wonderful friend of mine who introduced me to her religion while we were chatting in the workplace...since I haven't ever been the one to broach the subject may I just say that I'm so thankful for those who have...perhaps more people are open to talking about their spirituality than I assume?
back to the quote. "be blessed today"
my handy dandy dictionary says that in this context she would essentially be saying "you enjoy the eternal happiness of heaven at the present time!"
well how nice is that?
how about "God is so big and awesome"
now this dictionary thing gets interesting... the definition of God is a) a being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe, the principal object of faith in monotheistic religions b) the force, effect, or a manifestation or aspect of this being c) Christian science (I assume they mean the study of being a Christian?)
I'm going to say that big means of great force or exercising considerable authority or influence or prominent or momentous or resounding or bountiful.
what's this? there are books of the bible listed out in my dictionary. hhmmmmmm. there is a listing of hebrew scriptures that isn't exactly the old testament books of the bible that I know. and then there's the jerusalem version and the king james version which are different. weird. I should look into that sometime.
anyway- I'm going to say that awesome means, inspiring reverence (and may I interject that this silly dictionary uses the same words to describe other words? what's up with that? awe means to inspire reverence and reverence means profound awe...)
I'm going to go with "our all-knowing creator resounds with bounty and inspires reverence" :)
-this is a direct quote from an actual line of text on an email from one of our clients to the sales rep I work with. I WAS FLOORED! I should explain that I work for a commercial design firm as a project manager and our clients are fast food restaurant owners. this franchise owner felt so happy and confident about her God that she brought him up in seemingly casual daily conversation :) as if it was something like, "thanks for all your help!" or "that presentation was right on the money!!".
I have to say. I'm a little jealous.
but I have to be thrilled that there are people who lean the opposite way of being politically correct. and I'm very happy that I get to work in an environment where people like this exist * which reminds me...I need to get a package out to a wonderful friend of mine who introduced me to her religion while we were chatting in the workplace...since I haven't ever been the one to broach the subject may I just say that I'm so thankful for those who have...perhaps more people are open to talking about their spirituality than I assume?
back to the quote. "be blessed today"
my handy dandy dictionary says that in this context she would essentially be saying "you enjoy the eternal happiness of heaven at the present time!"
well how nice is that?
how about "God is so big and awesome"
now this dictionary thing gets interesting... the definition of God is a) a being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe, the principal object of faith in monotheistic religions b) the force, effect, or a manifestation or aspect of this being c) Christian science (I assume they mean the study of being a Christian?)
I'm going to say that big means of great force or exercising considerable authority or influence or prominent or momentous or resounding or bountiful.
what's this? there are books of the bible listed out in my dictionary. hhmmmmmm. there is a listing of hebrew scriptures that isn't exactly the old testament books of the bible that I know. and then there's the jerusalem version and the king james version which are different. weird. I should look into that sometime.
anyway- I'm going to say that awesome means, inspiring reverence (and may I interject that this silly dictionary uses the same words to describe other words? what's up with that? awe means to inspire reverence and reverence means profound awe...)
I'm going to go with "our all-knowing creator resounds with bounty and inspires reverence" :)
Tuesday, June 8
I could make better use of my time on land...
sometimes, when sailors are sailing /
they think twice, about where theyre anchoring /
and i think, i could make better time of my time on land /
ill drink less /
cause lord knows i could use a warm kiss /
instead of a cold goodbye /
im writing the folks back home to tell them /
"hey im doing alright"
Monday, June 7
speaking of weddings...many are called but few are chosen
have I mentioned that I'm a free lance florist? not so much after getting pregnant but I've had my years of wedding experiences which makes the parable of the wedding banquet (matthew 22) all the more breathtaking.
PEOPLE WERE INVITED TO A KING'S SON'S WEDDING AND DIDN'T COME!
how crazy would we think any of our friends were if they snubbed their noses at being invited to the wedding of jenna bush just two years ago? how in-freak-ing-sane would we think someone was who murdered the postman who delivered the gilded invitation?!?!
and yet this is what Jesus uses to compare to his Father's open arms.
"the kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son."
yet even when the king has resorted to bringing in people off the streets to fill his halls because the original guests turned the invite down (hhhmmmmmm.....us gentiles perhaps?) those people have to be dressed properly in righteousness / that is / they have to wear the wedding garb provided by the Saviour who is narrating this tale.
few are chosen.
PEOPLE WERE INVITED TO A KING'S SON'S WEDDING AND DIDN'T COME!
how crazy would we think any of our friends were if they snubbed their noses at being invited to the wedding of jenna bush just two years ago? how in-freak-ing-sane would we think someone was who murdered the postman who delivered the gilded invitation?!?!
and yet this is what Jesus uses to compare to his Father's open arms.
"the kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son."
yet even when the king has resorted to bringing in people off the streets to fill his halls because the original guests turned the invite down (hhhmmmmmm.....us gentiles perhaps?) those people have to be dressed properly in righteousness / that is / they have to wear the wedding garb provided by the Saviour who is narrating this tale.
few are chosen.
Sunday, June 6
what's the greatest thing you've ever done?
as I was thinking more on promises, I realized that many of us have made one very life changing and public promise. many of us have gotten married :) I'm sure it would have been easier for God to ditch this whole "human race" thing (after all -who would call him out on it?) just as it often seems like it would be easier to only have to worry about myself. oh the joys of singledom seem so inviting sometimes! and yet I love it even more when someone asks me how long I've been married. I can proudly do the math and come up with eleven whole years. eleven whole years I haven't been perfect but eleven whole years we've both managed to keep trying.
I asked an amazing woman [entrepreneur, environmentalist, author, scholar, craftsman, artist] one time what the greatest thing she's ever done was. she said, "I stayed with my husband".
I asked an amazing woman [entrepreneur, environmentalist, author, scholar, craftsman, artist] one time what the greatest thing she's ever done was. she said, "I stayed with my husband".
Saturday, June 5
those who believe are children of abraham
the more I know about the jewish faith the more I like it but also envy it.
as I was reading more in exodus the more I was left to wonder what was left for us blond haired blue eyed peeps.
I came across this in my searching of the internets: http://www.focusongod.com/Genesis-12_1-3.htm
don't think I was able to completely digest everything (will have to revisit) but I really liked his galatians passage and will close with my own quote. very much comforting.
galatians 3:7-9
understand, then, that those who believe are children of abraham. the scripture foresaw that God would justify the gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to abraham; "all nations will be blessed through you." so those who have faith are blessed along with abraham, the man of faith.
as I was reading more in exodus the more I was left to wonder what was left for us blond haired blue eyed peeps.
I came across this in my searching of the internets: http://www.focusongod.com/Genesis-12_1-3.htm
don't think I was able to completely digest everything (will have to revisit) but I really liked his galatians passage and will close with my own quote. very much comforting.
galatians 3:7-9
understand, then, that those who believe are children of abraham. the scripture foresaw that God would justify the gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to abraham; "all nations will be blessed through you." so those who have faith are blessed along with abraham, the man of faith.
Friday, June 4
I promise . . .
we like crime dramas and sssooooo often a detective blurts out "I promise..." and the other day my husband and I were conversing about how neither of us ever use that phrase. you know why? because so often there are things beyond our control (and it just so happened that in this episode it was that very same case) that wouldn't allow us to keep those promises.
of course we do make statements of things that we will do. but for some reason / in my mind / the word promise holds a lot more weight.
the title of exodus chapter 5 verse 22-23 in my bible is God promises deliverance.
of course we do make statements of things that we will do. but for some reason / in my mind / the word promise holds a lot more weight.
the title of exodus chapter 5 verse 22-23 in my bible is God promises deliverance.
Wednesday, June 2
God sent me ahead of you ~
can't believe joseph's "all my suffering was for good" attitude. sheesh. I can only hope to have such a strong thankfulness for the Lord's plan.
joseph just has bad luck after bad luck. he was hated by his brothers to the point of them planning to kill him, he was sold into slavery, he was falsely accused of rape, he was sent to prison (literally, a dungeon), his help to officials in high positions was overlooked. when he finally got out of all those messes, he couldn't forget his trouble and his suffering (41:51&52) and he basically divorced the family who had abandon him.
what a surprise when his brothers showed up because they needed food for their families and didn't know that the ruler they were buying from was the brother they had almost killed so many years ago - and joseph ultimately showed mercy on them. he tried to punish the men but couldn't. he broke down. but in his confession that he was their brother he says, "do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you...to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (45:5&7) he reassures them again in chapter 50 verse 19-21 that he believes that God meant for their sins to happen in order to bring him to help so many people survive the famine.
actually, jacobs blessing pretty much sums it up in very poetic words :)
genesis 49:22-26
joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring,
whose branches climb over a wall.
with bitterness archers attacked hi; they shot at him with hostility.
but his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of israel,
because of your father's God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above,
blessings of the deep that lies below,
blessings of the breast and womb.
your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
than the bounty of the age-old hills.
let all these rest on the head of joseph,
on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
joseph just has bad luck after bad luck. he was hated by his brothers to the point of them planning to kill him, he was sold into slavery, he was falsely accused of rape, he was sent to prison (literally, a dungeon), his help to officials in high positions was overlooked. when he finally got out of all those messes, he couldn't forget his trouble and his suffering (41:51&52) and he basically divorced the family who had abandon him.
what a surprise when his brothers showed up because they needed food for their families and didn't know that the ruler they were buying from was the brother they had almost killed so many years ago - and joseph ultimately showed mercy on them. he tried to punish the men but couldn't. he broke down. but in his confession that he was their brother he says, "do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you...to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (45:5&7) he reassures them again in chapter 50 verse 19-21 that he believes that God meant for their sins to happen in order to bring him to help so many people survive the famine.
actually, jacobs blessing pretty much sums it up in very poetic words :)
genesis 49:22-26
joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring,
whose branches climb over a wall.
with bitterness archers attacked hi; they shot at him with hostility.
but his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of israel,
because of your father's God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above,
blessings of the deep that lies below,
blessings of the breast and womb.
your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
than the bounty of the age-old hills.
let all these rest on the head of joseph,
on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
Tuesday, June 1
children
in light of a friend's recent miscarriage and another friend's reminder of the years and years of grieving jacob went through over his son joseph...I skimmed right through genesis until I got to chapters 37&42-50.
42:38 if harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.
in light of the famine that was striking the rest of his descendants, jacob wasn't even going to consider letting his youngest leave his sight for fear that he would parish like his brother! and how many thoughts must have been going through all the brother's minds that sold joseph into slavery therefor literally ripping him away from the father who loved him so.
42:38 if harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.
in light of the famine that was striking the rest of his descendants, jacob wasn't even going to consider letting his youngest leave his sight for fear that he would parish like his brother! and how many thoughts must have been going through all the brother's minds that sold joseph into slavery therefor literally ripping him away from the father who loved him so.
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