Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Time is an important commodity that is often underrated and overspent. Looking back, I have wasted time that I'm sorry I spent the way I did. If I had known how fast time would go now, I would (at least I'd like to THINK I would) have used my time more wisely.
The verses above show that God knows we will need different things during different seasons of our lives. If our activity under heaven right now is parenting or being in the life of a child, take the time to enjoy it. It really will be gone before we know it.
I had heard and cried along with the song, Cinderella, on the radio. I did some searching and found out it is by Steven Curtis Chapman. I'm sure this will become a hit for the father/daughter dance at weddings! I looked for a video of it. The one I found isn't the highest quality, but pay attention to the shadows dancing. It illustrates how fast our kids grow. Get the tissues!
PS Mom and Dad, I love you! :) Thanks for ALL you do for all of us.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
How's Your Flashlight and a reading suggestion
John 8:12 (NIV) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
God provides an awesome light to help guide us through the pitfalls of this life. However, it is up to us if we will walk in light or darkness. It's almost like we are given a flashlight. It doesn't matter how powerful the beam would be. If we don't put the batteries in the flashlight, it doesn't matter what we do....no light.
So, how do we get those batteries and keep them in place and charged? Jesus is the battery. Believe in him and accept him as your savior and you're on your way. Keep it charged by surrounding yourself with other Christians, reading the Bible and praying. Then our light can help others get their own flashlight.
I've heard numerous people ask lately, "Where do I start reading the Bible?" I picked up an excellent Bible quite a few years ago called the Journey Bible. They suggest a 5 alive plan by reading through these books: Genesis, Deuteronomy, John, Acts, and Romans for a general overview of the Bible. I have also heard of reading through Proverbs in a month as there are 31 chapters and 30-31 days in a month (Usually!). There are many versions of the Bible. Find the one easiest to read. There are even chronological Bibles that put the Bible in historical order without some of the repetition.
No matter what you choose, the important part is just do it. A little quiet time in the AM (or whenever you can take some time) goes a L-O-N-G way.
God provides an awesome light to help guide us through the pitfalls of this life. However, it is up to us if we will walk in light or darkness. It's almost like we are given a flashlight. It doesn't matter how powerful the beam would be. If we don't put the batteries in the flashlight, it doesn't matter what we do....no light.
So, how do we get those batteries and keep them in place and charged? Jesus is the battery. Believe in him and accept him as your savior and you're on your way. Keep it charged by surrounding yourself with other Christians, reading the Bible and praying. Then our light can help others get their own flashlight.
I've heard numerous people ask lately, "Where do I start reading the Bible?" I picked up an excellent Bible quite a few years ago called the Journey Bible. They suggest a 5 alive plan by reading through these books: Genesis, Deuteronomy, John, Acts, and Romans for a general overview of the Bible. I have also heard of reading through Proverbs in a month as there are 31 chapters and 30-31 days in a month (Usually!). There are many versions of the Bible. Find the one easiest to read. There are even chronological Bibles that put the Bible in historical order without some of the repetition.
No matter what you choose, the important part is just do it. A little quiet time in the AM (or whenever you can take some time) goes a L-O-N-G way.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Martha and Mary & Faith and Works
Luke 10: 38-42 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (NIV)
Wow! A complete story and contrast of two women in 5 verses. I had the privilege of attending a women's retreat this past weekend (who can't use one of those?) where these verses were the main discussion. As a side note, thanks to my husband for taking care of the kids Fri night and Sat AND cleaning up too! Guess this weekend, I got the faith and he got the works.... ;)
I haven't completely read through all the info, but I've been doing some other reading and had some thoughts.
Martha and Mary are sisters. They lived in a time when it was expected that women would serve and not spend time learning. Martha showed her gift of hospitality by opening up her home to Jesus and the disciples. She had guests and details to take care of. Her sister, Mary, sat at the feet of Jesus listening to what he said. Martha started getting ticked off. Here she was doing all the work while her sister just sat.
But is that all Mary was doing? By sitting and listening to Jesus, she was refilling her spiritual tank and enjoying the time with Jesus. Martha was
"distracted by all the preparations" and running on empty. Martha was bound to break down. She sounds a little whiny as she comes in and asks Jesus to tell her sister to help. She was probably surprised when he told her that Mary was doing the right thing. Jesus answers Martha, "you are worried and upset about many things". This makes it sound like this is not a one time thing with Martha. It sounds like she needed a reminder of why she worked so hard.
BUT if all we do is sit and listen and don't go out and share the love that we've learned about? Then it stops with us and others will not know what they are missing.
Later, Martha is serving again and Mary serves Jesus by pouring expensive perfume on his feet and wiping it with her hair. (John 12:2-3) She was ridiculed that she had wasted a year's wages.
How many times do we get caught up in the details at the expense of spending some time at Jesus' feet? Mary had the right idea. First things first. May God give us a Mary heart with Martha's hands.
Love Jesus first so we can work more effectively and bring glory to God.
I've heard this song before called Screen Door by Rich Mullins. It talks about faith without works being as useless as a screen door on a submarine. I think this song sums up both sisters. See what you think.....
41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (NIV)
Wow! A complete story and contrast of two women in 5 verses. I had the privilege of attending a women's retreat this past weekend (who can't use one of those?) where these verses were the main discussion. As a side note, thanks to my husband for taking care of the kids Fri night and Sat AND cleaning up too! Guess this weekend, I got the faith and he got the works.... ;)
I haven't completely read through all the info, but I've been doing some other reading and had some thoughts.
Martha and Mary are sisters. They lived in a time when it was expected that women would serve and not spend time learning. Martha showed her gift of hospitality by opening up her home to Jesus and the disciples. She had guests and details to take care of. Her sister, Mary, sat at the feet of Jesus listening to what he said. Martha started getting ticked off. Here she was doing all the work while her sister just sat.
But is that all Mary was doing? By sitting and listening to Jesus, she was refilling her spiritual tank and enjoying the time with Jesus. Martha was
"distracted by all the preparations" and running on empty. Martha was bound to break down. She sounds a little whiny as she comes in and asks Jesus to tell her sister to help. She was probably surprised when he told her that Mary was doing the right thing. Jesus answers Martha, "you are worried and upset about many things". This makes it sound like this is not a one time thing with Martha. It sounds like she needed a reminder of why she worked so hard.
BUT if all we do is sit and listen and don't go out and share the love that we've learned about? Then it stops with us and others will not know what they are missing.
Later, Martha is serving again and Mary serves Jesus by pouring expensive perfume on his feet and wiping it with her hair. (John 12:2-3) She was ridiculed that she had wasted a year's wages.
How many times do we get caught up in the details at the expense of spending some time at Jesus' feet? Mary had the right idea. First things first. May God give us a Mary heart with Martha's hands.
Love Jesus first so we can work more effectively and bring glory to God.
I've heard this song before called Screen Door by Rich Mullins. It talks about faith without works being as useless as a screen door on a submarine. I think this song sums up both sisters. See what you think.....
Monday, February 18, 2008
More Than Wishy Washy Separation Anxiety
Romans 8: 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
Part of the above was the verse of the day on BibleGateway. It started with just 38 and 39. I read back a few verses. The title for verses 28-39 was More Than Conquerors.
So, the first part I read was "For I am convinced"....I started thinking, when was the last time I've been convinced of something? By nature, I am pretty indecisive. If it comes to making a choice, I usually let others around me make it. I kind of "go with the flow". I can usually see both sides of an issue.
Am I convinced about what theses verses state? I looked up convince on www.webster.com and found: to bring (as by argument) to belief, consent, or a course of action. Maybe my course of action needs to be allowing myself to be convinced that there is NOTHING (no thing) that can get God away from me.
There are times I have let some of those things mentioned get in the way of feeling God's love. I need to remember though...during those times I've started having some separation anxiety? I'm the one who has moved away. God has stayed there waiting for me to be convinced again. Good thing He's patient! I've been learning....and relearning....this lesson for awhile now!
I am "more than" what I have allowed myself to become. So are you! We can be convinced that God is there for us. The wishy washy indecision can be taken away when we become convinced that Jesus is the bridge that covers the separation from God to us.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
Part of the above was the verse of the day on BibleGateway. It started with just 38 and 39. I read back a few verses. The title for verses 28-39 was More Than Conquerors.
So, the first part I read was "For I am convinced"....I started thinking, when was the last time I've been convinced of something? By nature, I am pretty indecisive. If it comes to making a choice, I usually let others around me make it. I kind of "go with the flow". I can usually see both sides of an issue.
Am I convinced about what theses verses state? I looked up convince on www.webster.com and found: to bring (as by argument) to belief, consent, or a course of action. Maybe my course of action needs to be allowing myself to be convinced that there is NOTHING (no thing) that can get God away from me.
There are times I have let some of those things mentioned get in the way of feeling God's love. I need to remember though...during those times I've started having some separation anxiety? I'm the one who has moved away. God has stayed there waiting for me to be convinced again. Good thing He's patient! I've been learning....and relearning....this lesson for awhile now!
I am "more than" what I have allowed myself to become. So are you! We can be convinced that God is there for us. The wishy washy indecision can be taken away when we become convinced that Jesus is the bridge that covers the separation from God to us.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
:) LOVE day!
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
The verses above are some of the most well known verses in the Bible. They are often used in weddings. Read back over them s-l-o-w-l-y. There is a lot of wisdom in those 3 little verses. One thing I noticed while reviewing is that the list for what love is NOT is almost equal to what love is!
To review:
Love is: patient, kind, keeps no record of wrongs, rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love does not: envy, boast, proud, rude, self-seeking, anger easily, delight in evil
I don't know about you, but I have some work to do! I do not always love like this. In fact, many times I'm doing what love is not supposed to be. Let today be a reminder of how we want others to love us and how we should be loving them.
I received this in an e-mail and it is a great reminder of the ultimate love:
For God so loVed the world,
That He gAve
His onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whosoever
Believeth In Him
Should Not perish,
But have Everlasting life.
John 3:16
The verses above are some of the most well known verses in the Bible. They are often used in weddings. Read back over them s-l-o-w-l-y. There is a lot of wisdom in those 3 little verses. One thing I noticed while reviewing is that the list for what love is NOT is almost equal to what love is!
To review:
Love is: patient, kind, keeps no record of wrongs, rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love does not: envy, boast, proud, rude, self-seeking, anger easily, delight in evil
I don't know about you, but I have some work to do! I do not always love like this. In fact, many times I'm doing what love is not supposed to be. Let today be a reminder of how we want others to love us and how we should be loving them.
I received this in an e-mail and it is a great reminder of the ultimate love:
For God so loVed the world,
That He gAve
His onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whosoever
Believeth In Him
Should Not perish,
But have Everlasting life.
John 3:16
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