A goal for this year is to be more informed AND more organized AND procrastinate less. OK, I guess I mean goalS. So far, not so good. Today is the day to vote in the primary and I'm realizing I don't know much about anybody running. So in an effort to quickly educate myself, I ran across some of the following and thought I'd share.
Just in case you need to be more informed also:
(PLEASE NOTE: I have not thoroughly checked these out, so come to your own conclusions)
http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1633_8716_47645---,00.html (Information on Michigan primary from Secretary of State office)
http://www.vote-smart.org/election_president.php (supposed to be unbiased)
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/
http://www.citizenlink.org/Stoplight/A000006244.cfm (the show me the donuts one is very timely)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Vote....
Proverbs 16 : 32-33 (The Message)
Moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power. Make your motions and cast your votes, but God has the final say.
Tuesday, January 15 is the primary for Michigan. I don't even pretend to understand how the whole system works. However, I know women fought the battle for many years for the right to vote. There are countries where women are probably STILL not allowed to vote. I also know that our choice of a President is an important decision that will influence our world as we tread through dark times.
When you read to the end of Revelation (I LOVE the name of that book), you come to realize that the world will become much darker before it gets better. Thankfully, if you believe in Jesus and accept Him as your one and only Savior, we win!
I have truly struggled with knowing that the world is heading in the wrong direction. I struggle with thinking that what one person does will actually make a difference at this point....almost to the point of I don't do anything. However, that is just where the devil wants Christians. Feeling weak and helpless and that nothing I do will make a change for the better.
Jesus was one person. The effect He had on the world still ripples through history. He made a difference where He was.
Today, find one thing that you can do to make the world a brighter place. No one may notice, but that's not the point. It will make a difference in YOU!
Moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power. Make your motions and cast your votes, but God has the final say.
Tuesday, January 15 is the primary for Michigan. I don't even pretend to understand how the whole system works. However, I know women fought the battle for many years for the right to vote. There are countries where women are probably STILL not allowed to vote. I also know that our choice of a President is an important decision that will influence our world as we tread through dark times.
When you read to the end of Revelation (I LOVE the name of that book), you come to realize that the world will become much darker before it gets better. Thankfully, if you believe in Jesus and accept Him as your one and only Savior, we win!
I have truly struggled with knowing that the world is heading in the wrong direction. I struggle with thinking that what one person does will actually make a difference at this point....almost to the point of I don't do anything. However, that is just where the devil wants Christians. Feeling weak and helpless and that nothing I do will make a change for the better.
Jesus was one person. The effect He had on the world still ripples through history. He made a difference where He was.
Today, find one thing that you can do to make the world a brighter place. No one may notice, but that's not the point. It will make a difference in YOU!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
God With Us - Mercy Me
I've heard this a few times on the radio. Ties right in with the Immanuel post before Christmas so I thought I'd share.
3 powerful little words: God with us.
We do not travel this way on our own even when our emotions try and tell us nobody else has gone through this or you're on your own. NOTHING is beyond the reach of God. Ask him to prove it. He will.
3 powerful little words: God with us.
We do not travel this way on our own even when our emotions try and tell us nobody else has gone through this or you're on your own. NOTHING is beyond the reach of God. Ask him to prove it. He will.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Listen Up!
Last night, I went to bed grumpy and early. Both kind of unusual. Did you ever get the feeling God wants you to figure something out? I have been focusing on how I want things to turn out in some situations we're dealing with. I think God's been trying to get my attention to remind me that He's got it covered.....but it may not be the answer or timeline I want or expect. I'm still working on surrender.
I read a devotional before I went to bed about "What's right with this picture?" instead of focusing on the negative. Example, the daughter got in a car accident. The "what's right": it wasn't her fault and she learned to be a more careful, watchful driver.
A favorite line from Apollo 13 movie is: "What do we have on the spacecraft that's good?" as everything is going wrong. I know I need to look for the positive and listen and watch for the good things going on.
This morning my radio alarm went off with a song by Third Day with the chorus: "There's a light at the end of this tunnel for you". Yeah, right I thought as I turned it off after a few seconds. My response used to be: yup, a train! Still grumpy....AND not a morning person....AND not listening.
Shortly after, I heard the song "Hold Me Jesus" by Rich Mullins. The version I heard had kids singing softly in the background during part of it "I surrender all, I surrender all". I found the following video of it. The words were right on for the way things have been going.
I started getting the hint that God wants it all.....the good, the bad and the ugly. I have an OK time overall with the good. I struggle with taking His word for it that he wants the messy too.
Many times I forget that I want God to make it obvious that it's Him working things out. I forget, He doesn't work that way usually.
1 Kings 19:11-13 (NLT)
11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
SURRENDER = to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand; to give (oneself) up into the power of another; AND MY personal favorite....implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist
I'm beginning to realize maybe it's not such a small voice after all once I start to tune in to WGOD and listen! ;)
I read a devotional before I went to bed about "What's right with this picture?" instead of focusing on the negative. Example, the daughter got in a car accident. The "what's right": it wasn't her fault and she learned to be a more careful, watchful driver.
A favorite line from Apollo 13 movie is: "What do we have on the spacecraft that's good?" as everything is going wrong. I know I need to look for the positive and listen and watch for the good things going on.
This morning my radio alarm went off with a song by Third Day with the chorus: "There's a light at the end of this tunnel for you". Yeah, right I thought as I turned it off after a few seconds. My response used to be: yup, a train! Still grumpy....AND not a morning person....AND not listening.
Shortly after, I heard the song "Hold Me Jesus" by Rich Mullins. The version I heard had kids singing softly in the background during part of it "I surrender all, I surrender all". I found the following video of it. The words were right on for the way things have been going.
I started getting the hint that God wants it all.....the good, the bad and the ugly. I have an OK time overall with the good. I struggle with taking His word for it that he wants the messy too.
Many times I forget that I want God to make it obvious that it's Him working things out. I forget, He doesn't work that way usually.
1 Kings 19:11-13 (NLT)
11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
SURRENDER = to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand; to give (oneself) up into the power of another; AND MY personal favorite....implies a giving up after a struggle to retain or resist
I'm beginning to realize maybe it's not such a small voice after all once I start to tune in to WGOD and listen! ;)
Friday, January 04, 2008
Snowflakes - God's breath - Make your mark
I received an e-mail from imom (http://www.imom.com/) a few days ago. It mentioned if the kids have seen snowflakes....really, really up close. It referred to a website: http://www.snowflakebentley.com/snowflakes.htm about Wilson Bentley. He photographed individual snowflake crystals...in 1885! http://www.snowflakebentley.com/index.htm
Now, I am NOT a big fan of snow, but looking at the images of individual snowflakes....WOW! I am amazed that there is such intricate design. In over 5,000 photographs, he never found 2 alike. I kind of always thought that was just a saying, no 2 snowflakes are alike.
If God takes such care and creativity with snowflakes that are only here for a little while and even less when we head indoors and they melt away forever, how much does He have planned for us?
We are like snowflakes too. Each individual with our own unique perspective on life, each here for a reason and purpose in this time in this place because God designed us to be the one right here right now. Even twins can look similar, but their personalities distinguish them as individuals.
I knew there was a passage in Job where God questions Job if he has ever been to the storehouses of snow. I read back over that in NIV and then found this in The Message version.
Job 37 1-13 (The Message) "Whenever this happens, my heart stops— I'm stunned, I can't catch my breath. Listen to it! Listen to his thunder, the rolling, rumbling thunder of his voice. He lets loose his lightnings from horizon to horizon, lighting up the earth from pole to pole. In their wake, the thunder echoes his voice, powerful and majestic. He lets out all the stops, he holds nothing back. No one can mistake that voice—His word thundering so wondrously, his mighty acts staggering our understanding. He orders the snow, 'Blanket the earth!' and the rain, 'Soak the whole countryside! 'No one can escape the weather—it's there. And no one can escape from God. Wild animals take shelter, crawling into their dens, When blizzards roar out of the north and freezing rain crusts the land. It's God's breath that forms the ice, it's God's breath that turns lakes and rivers solid. And yes, it's God who fills clouds with rainwater and hurls lightning from them every which way. He puts them through their paces—first this way, then that—commands them to do what he says all over the world. Whether for discipline or grace or extravagant love, he makes sure they make their mark.
When snowflakes are blown about, they can seem pretty scary. As they settle on the ground, and the sun glints off them, they look like diamonds. THEN we see the flakes as a problem, needing to get the shovel or snow blower.
Our problems can be like that. When looked at as a whole, kind of overwhelming. Sometimes we need to make our way through the problem before we can sit back and see the individual twists and turns that we have grown through. AND if they get too bad, we have a pretty good snow blower that can help us make a path through it all and get to the other side where we have the ability to help somebody else.
May we feel God's breath helping us to make our mark.
Now, I am NOT a big fan of snow, but looking at the images of individual snowflakes....WOW! I am amazed that there is such intricate design. In over 5,000 photographs, he never found 2 alike. I kind of always thought that was just a saying, no 2 snowflakes are alike.
If God takes such care and creativity with snowflakes that are only here for a little while and even less when we head indoors and they melt away forever, how much does He have planned for us?
We are like snowflakes too. Each individual with our own unique perspective on life, each here for a reason and purpose in this time in this place because God designed us to be the one right here right now. Even twins can look similar, but their personalities distinguish them as individuals.
I knew there was a passage in Job where God questions Job if he has ever been to the storehouses of snow. I read back over that in NIV and then found this in The Message version.
Job 37 1-13 (The Message) "Whenever this happens, my heart stops— I'm stunned, I can't catch my breath. Listen to it! Listen to his thunder, the rolling, rumbling thunder of his voice. He lets loose his lightnings from horizon to horizon, lighting up the earth from pole to pole. In their wake, the thunder echoes his voice, powerful and majestic. He lets out all the stops, he holds nothing back. No one can mistake that voice—His word thundering so wondrously, his mighty acts staggering our understanding. He orders the snow, 'Blanket the earth!' and the rain, 'Soak the whole countryside! 'No one can escape the weather—it's there. And no one can escape from God. Wild animals take shelter, crawling into their dens, When blizzards roar out of the north and freezing rain crusts the land. It's God's breath that forms the ice, it's God's breath that turns lakes and rivers solid. And yes, it's God who fills clouds with rainwater and hurls lightning from them every which way. He puts them through their paces—first this way, then that—commands them to do what he says all over the world. Whether for discipline or grace or extravagant love, he makes sure they make their mark.
When snowflakes are blown about, they can seem pretty scary. As they settle on the ground, and the sun glints off them, they look like diamonds. THEN we see the flakes as a problem, needing to get the shovel or snow blower.
Our problems can be like that. When looked at as a whole, kind of overwhelming. Sometimes we need to make our way through the problem before we can sit back and see the individual twists and turns that we have grown through. AND if they get too bad, we have a pretty good snow blower that can help us make a path through it all and get to the other side where we have the ability to help somebody else.
May we feel God's breath helping us to make our mark.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)