tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114079722024-03-07T16:36:26.474-05:00Fish and CansI Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.comBlogger1496125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-15894107571306854232022-12-30T21:33:00.000-05:002022-12-30T21:33:02.304-05:00What Goes in Must Come Out<p><span style="color: red;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">Matthew 15: 10-19</span></span></p><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;">10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”</span><div><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVs3vn7rC4Ta-kO--AqJ26pJ850acuw3QgM0xqYqTGtm1-1EE5-_2Jz9BA7JdBhB-qnmN46KPTOWu2oFWPfx3XQ3HJyiPeabBTekmsiZISEZN5p12ng9hHcFqmZhjX0z3mT0rMH3Xsuw5K98uTb2GJ1cGtdp3qjk2Adb-nK2OfR0jg9sPFiw/s1500/What-goes-in-must-come-out-pin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What goes in must come out" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVs3vn7rC4Ta-kO--AqJ26pJ850acuw3QgM0xqYqTGtm1-1EE5-_2Jz9BA7JdBhB-qnmN46KPTOWu2oFWPfx3XQ3HJyiPeabBTekmsiZISEZN5p12ng9hHcFqmZhjX0z3mT0rMH3Xsuw5K98uTb2GJ1cGtdp3qjk2Adb-nK2OfR0jg9sPFiw/w266-h400/What-goes-in-must-come-out-pin.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I read these words and I honestly have to wonder... why couldn't the disciples understand this teaching? To me it seems so obvious.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">What goes in must come out. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Makes sense right? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I am reading a book right now in which one of the characters is a severely obese man. He died. His wife and children are both thin and loved this man whole-heartedly. He loved deeply his wife said. He hated that he was fat, but he loved eating too much. She continued talking about how much he hated his love of eating but was unsuccessful in figuring out how not to eat so much. So what he ate... came out.. in excess fat. In someways, I struggle with the same thing! I do love food dearly... so this passage reminds me that I need to do better. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">But that's not where this passage stops. Jesus is just using it to make the point. What does in must come out. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">If what is coming out is foul... what does that say for what it going in? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The way a person speaks and lives out their lives shows what is going into their lives, or perhaps more clearly, it shows what they are focusing on. What their heart is sending out comes out of one's mouth. As Jesus puts it: </span><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;">For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.</span><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="color: red; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">It's a fight isn't it? To be mindful of those evil thoughts and more. </span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is my fight too!</span></h4><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I'll admit that I had to fight against that today. It caught me off guard how long I considered it. I saw a coat I liked at Talize but was rather unimpressed with the price. YES.. it was a fair amount for a good quality used coat, but it's been an expensive month and I felt like I couldn't catch a break. I consider swapping out price tags! Can you believe it? Would have been easy enough...but I caught those way-ward thoughts. And I did not let them come to fruition. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">WHY? Why did I stop myself? 1. I don't want to be a thief and 2. I had just read about <a href="https://ladysown.blogspot.com/2022/12/numbering-our-days.html" target="_blank">planning out my day</a>. Would that be something I would want to plan???? NOT!!!! It's not something I would want to be known for either. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">As I left Talize I thought about how God blessed me with letting me find this coat. I need a good work outside with the rabbits coats as my old $5 coat from years ago. AND if I stopped and thought about it... of course the price of coats would go up in 10 years wouldn't they?</span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What Does one do?</span></h4><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The only way you can fight what's in our hearts is by filling our hearts with something else! That's it. Just as we can fight what we put in our mouths... so if we like to eat we food we just need to switch it out for lower calorie food and eat more slowly. :) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">If we want to change what fills our heart we need to provide some competition so to speak. We are naturally filled with sin and working (as believers) to be filled more with the things of God allows those things to come out of our hearts instead. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">How does one invite more impact from God? Daily devotions, attending a faithful church where God's word is preached, reading books of faith, having friends who love God, and taking the time to see God in the things of life. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">What do you pull out of this passage? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-67440634283362103672022-12-29T22:00:00.003-05:002022-12-29T22:00:39.934-05:00To Have Dominion<p> Today's passage is from Genesis 1:28-31 and reads as follows from the ESV</p><p>28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv542WbPtjDE4kjiCZvt5OSQ6sAi5gnNVV9UqVZa76m_sDaxsnxDTDK3UeRn7ZSspfTbYKEdZHDBUdUHCgsVp6l6UyTHynmqXWeIlq6P9tDxagWfgCJTb4SJRf_LCVTLzqYtjCQv4ZDdhmC_QIBRaAQ0bD5VjWwqfSkdbuKa8FbRK_635DUQ/s1500/to-have-dominion-pin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv542WbPtjDE4kjiCZvt5OSQ6sAi5gnNVV9UqVZa76m_sDaxsnxDTDK3UeRn7ZSspfTbYKEdZHDBUdUHCgsVp6l6UyTHynmqXWeIlq6P9tDxagWfgCJTb4SJRf_LCVTLzqYtjCQv4ZDdhmC_QIBRaAQ0bD5VjWwqfSkdbuKa8FbRK_635DUQ/w292-h439/to-have-dominion-pin.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><br /><p>God blessed Adam and Eve when he first created them. For some reason I read those words and I wonder.... did they recognize the importance... or perhaps the wonder of being blessed by God? </p><p>I know that my life is fairly good. God has richly blessed me in many ways. And you know what? I often fail to recognize it. I just take my life for granted in WAY too many ways. I don't stop to seriously consider what if my fellow died? What if something horrible happened to my lad? What if our house burned down? I just blithely go along not seeing God's richest blessings upon my life. I need to stop doing that. </p><p>But what else does God say in this passage?</p><p>The first people are to be fruitful and multiply. There's a huge world to populate! Within that command there is also the addendums of "subdue it, have dominion over it". </p><p>He is also very clear. All plants... tree, green plants, any plant with seed...it's ours to eat. All the animals could eat them too! </p><p>So why then do we eat meat? This is not a vegetarian/vegan/meat-eaters debate. It's a solid question of why? The short answer is sin. Sin changed everything, more profoundly I think that we can even imagine. Plants don't do enough anymore for us, and for many many animals that walk upon the earth.. plants simply aren't enough. Look at the obligate carnivores like cats! I wonder sometimes what cats were like before the fall of mankind. Because I can't imagine my Lizzy being a plant-eater.... Benji maybe cause he literally eats whatever I put in front of him. :) But Lizzy is a bit more discerning.... she likes meat! And her body (as is Benji's) is designed to eat meat. So it just shows how sin affects on the cellular level doesn't it? </p><p>All that is as it is. My mind just can't conceive of a pre-sin world and what it would have looked like. I do know that one day God says, the lion will lie down with the lamb, in peace. Rather cool eh?</p><p>In the meantime... we're to fill the earth and subdue it. We are to have dominion over it. Dominion is like to rule you know? Which means you are higher in authority, in a position to subdue. </p><p>There are lots of ways to subdue you know?</p><p>You can beat something into submission or one manipulate and coerce into obedience/submission. A person can show the benefits in a relationship to make a mutually beneficial status.</p><p>For instance lately on my facebook video feed these videos of people working with horses pop up. People who take the time to listen to their horse (some of them rather scary dangerous) and by doing so, they are able to transform that horse into a gentled animal. A horse that has been subdued without force. Its very amazing to see the change in that animals' demeanor. It doesn't change the fact that the horse is owned by a person, or at the very least under the control (or dominion) of someone. But the relationship is not one of fear, but of cooperation. </p><p>Is that how we are to have dominion? Do we take a forceful determined approach? This is what I want and I'll get it however I want? Or does one take the time to seriously look at the world around us and say, okay, to get to point A, I'll need to do a number of things to get to where I want. It might take longer, but will be better in the long run for not only the earth but the people using it? </p><p>I think too often we'd rather cut a path straight through a mountain instead of working with the landscape around us, instead of trying to accommodate the animals who share our space. </p><p>Or I think about me and my bunnies. Did you know there are as many different ways to raise rabbits as there are people raising them? There are commonalities of course, but in the end, each person makes their rabbit herd work for them. Some like a colony style, others like individual habitats for each rabbit, and yet others do a combination. Various feeding styles, watering systems, and out-buildings (or lack thereof) make for some interesting discussions on rabbit boards. Yet we all have one purpose right? To make our rabbits comfortable so they want to provide an end product that suits our needs. This I think is part of the "to have dominion" that God talks about. </p><p>These are just some of my thought processes today. They've meandered around a bit, but I think I have a deeper understanding of this passage now eh? </p><p>How about you? What strikes you in this passage? How do you see the directive to "“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion"?</p><p><br /></p>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-25089686931193408542022-12-28T21:24:00.000-05:002022-12-28T21:24:19.572-05:00Numbering our Days<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Psalm 90:9-12</span></p><p> <span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 1.6rem;">For all our days pass away under your wrath;</span></p><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;"><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-90-9" style="position: relative;">we bring our years to an end like a sigh.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-90-10" id="en-ESV-15389" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span>The years of our life are seventy,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-90-10" style="position: relative;">or even by reason of strength eighty;</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-90-10" style="position: relative;">yet their span is but toil and trouble;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-90-10" style="position: relative;">they are soon gone, and we fly away.</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-90-11" id="en-ESV-15390" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">11 </span>Who considers the power of your anger,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-90-11" style="position: relative;">and your wrath according to the fear of you?</span></span></p></div><div class="poetry top-1" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; min-width: 0px; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;"><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="text Ps-90-12" id="en-ESV-15391" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">12 </span>So teach us to number our days</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Ps-90-12" style="position: relative;">that we may get a heart of wisdom.</span></span></p><p class="line" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.6rem; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span class="indent-1"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="indent-1"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcVnmVJisDtztrS9NG22GW30UKRLVOcI0sqrkHoyLSIJqYpJyvDp--2ekJXp6TsflMC4uQwqSYOp6QKSsGltRLmvj6EA7UjdgdhZk3GVft31jHKGC0ylgAoMNj7b6Jo2rs5cudXhSha5Kw6847S-tVwmGyqishGhAJwsnWNEk9G6omoDDkg/s1500/numbering-our-days-pin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcVnmVJisDtztrS9NG22GW30UKRLVOcI0sqrkHoyLSIJqYpJyvDp--2ekJXp6TsflMC4uQwqSYOp6QKSsGltRLmvj6EA7UjdgdhZk3GVft31jHKGC0ylgAoMNj7b6Jo2rs5cudXhSha5Kw6847S-tVwmGyqishGhAJwsnWNEk9G6omoDDkg/s320/numbering-our-days-pin.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div><span class="indent-1"><br /><span class="text Ps-90-12" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span><p></p></div><span style="font-family: arial;">
What does it mean to number our days?</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I've been pondering this verse over the course of the day. The devotional I read with this basically said we need to be thoughtful about our days, reminiscing over the day spent and thinking through how you can make improvements. Through doing that, you gain wisdom. I can see the value in this viewpoint. Learning from your mistakes is an excellent way to gain wisdom. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">But I think about the whole wisdom aspect from the book of Proverbs, about how wisdom is gained through a relationship with God and understanding his word. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">So then I'm thinking about how our lives are like a sigh. A bit of a breath and then we are gone, and God himself wants us to make the most of them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">So shouldn't numbering our days mean more than just being reflective and trying to change based on our history? Shouldn't numbering our days mean we should be intentional about what we do? What we learn? How we act? Looking forward to a longer-term picture? Being intentional about spending actual time with God? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">It's so easy to just let things slide you know? To forget to pray before a meal, to promise to pray for a friend and then forgetting, and to watch TV, or youtube, or whatever and not follow up with family and friends. To think that volunteering somewhere covers for all the slights that you do in life. So just perhaps we need to be deliberate about looking at what we do with our days. Deliberate about not wasting our moment of breath. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm listening to a book right now about a young man with a goal... he wants to save his brother. To do so he'll have to meet a number of challenges... none of them easy, so he's taking time to think about what his next move should be. Who should he get to know who can help him in his quest? What books and course of study does he need to take? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">So when I read these words from Psalms I can see this young man clearly in my mind. Carefully planning out his days even though he knows there will be blips in his journey. Can he work hard enough to overcome those blips?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">What about me? Do I look to the future? I know my end goal is glory with Christ in heaven. I know that. And sometimes I am too complacent about it...and at others a bit of a doubting Thomas... but really, I know that's my goal. So maybe I should be more deliberate about working out my faith eh? To spend more time with God and to read so more books like <a href="https://amzn.to/3Iax7hk" target="_blank">Gentle and Lowly</a> by Dane Ortlund. Perhaps I need to do something more... and that will require some thought... deliberate thought, a planning out of my days. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Can't say I'm feeling up for the challenge today. Tired and all that after a busy day. But tomorrow.... that I can plan out. Time for a verse or four in the morning. A chance to ponder and write. Time with my fellow and boy. It's enough for a start eh?<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-70371632000201823332022-12-27T22:00:00.002-05:002022-12-27T22:00:19.163-05:00The Significance of a Lamb<p> Starting up this blog again as a way to keep track of thoughts.</p><div><div><br /></div><div>Scripture today: </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xdj266r x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Luke 2:8-14</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">14 “Glory to God in the highest,</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”</div></div></div></div><div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGcUz_6KSkTy7JnN8AhVpM5i13PI4Z85JNFdJv73hgUb9XBSUZ7fQjIChsLmhkHlUeNV4O_4ofYlAD-UGl_JbkzlDcKmF4cY4jBWS8fnWy80wJB42BXkB40_b67eb4mAcXylhgG0uKV0nSWO-OOOpG7xJsJ-qVahcxHf4s0QiFuseKs3MSg/s1500/significance-of-a-lamb-pin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGcUz_6KSkTy7JnN8AhVpM5i13PI4Z85JNFdJv73hgUb9XBSUZ7fQjIChsLmhkHlUeNV4O_4ofYlAD-UGl_JbkzlDcKmF4cY4jBWS8fnWy80wJB42BXkB40_b67eb4mAcXylhgG0uKV0nSWO-OOOpG7xJsJ-qVahcxHf4s0QiFuseKs3MSg/s320/significance-of-a-lamb-pin.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div>So the other day, while browsing facebook, I saw a meme talking about how in Old Testament times lambs that were unblemished would be wrapped up and placed in a manger for safe keeping. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So when the shepherds heard about a baby all swaddled up and laying in a manger they would immediately grasp the significance of this. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I have to admit to some skepticism. Would they be amazed at a baby lying swaddled in a manger? Would they immediately have that connotation of an unblemished lamb? Or would their amazement simply have been due to angels having visited them. Being told not to be afraid and to head off to see a newborn baby? Wouldn't that fact alone supercede any other thoughts? Angels came! Angels, terrifying creations of God himself, came to visit humble shepherds out doing their job. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">These scary beings told them to go see a baby. Not only that... after the angels told them this a whole host of heavenly beings came praising God audibly. This was not an everyday occurrence for these shepherds. One would think that would be enough to get them off their butts and heading to town to see this baby, this sign from God of a Saviour born to them. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps those three events together... the angels coming, the heavenly beings praising God, and the baby lying like a swaddled unblemished lamb would put it all into perspective. But the baby alone? That I don't know. Mind... I'm not living in Old Testament times so I don't know exactly how immediately that significance would be grasped.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">It did add an extra element of understanding to me though. That those small details show God's glory all the more. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Makes me wonder.... what small details in my life show God's glory?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I'm typing this on a new laptop. My old one died rather spectacularly. So I have a new laptop, and my hubster got my old one to work well enough for HIS needs. So in essence, we both got a new laptop for the price of one. He's needed a new one for a while so it's good that he has one now eh? God at work... if one looks for it eh?</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">So what small details in your life have shown you God's Glory lately? </div></div></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-86749501734965237432012-06-07T06:55:00.002-04:002012-06-07T06:55:47.851-04:002 Corinthians 3:17-21 - day by day<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians+3&version=ESV" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 3</a>:17-21 (ESV)<br />
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of
the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face,
beholding the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory
to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">17 <span style="color: red;">Now the Lord is
the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory
to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.</span></span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Have
you ever seriously read the beginning of this chapter? Where Paul is
SO confident in the work he is doing in the Spirit that he sees the
Corinthians church as a letter of recommendation? </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;">"You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all."</span>
I read that and it was like wow... what kinds of letters of
recommendation do I have in my life? Where is my confidence in the
work that I do?</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Do I even have that confidence that Paul has?</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Paul is very clear though, his confidence is confidence not in himself but in the work that GOD himself does.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">i
have to admit it,... I struggle with that. Though I am getting
better! The more I learn to trust God more deeply, the more I learn to
be confident in the work that God is doing in my life and in my family
and in my community. It feels like a painfully show process though.</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span>As
I went on through the chapter, reading to get to the verses of the day
it became abundantly clear to me why reading verses in context helps
make sense of them. Today's verses talk about God being spirit, and in
the spirit of the Lord there is freedom and we can come with unveiled
faces to behold the glory of the Lord and that God is transforming us.</span><br /><br /><span>Now
the whole unveiled faces thing would NOT have made an impact on me if I
hadn't just read through Pauls explanation of the difference in how we
can approach God and how MOSES had to approach God. Moses needed to
veil his face before the Glory of God, but we don't need to.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">We have a boldness that Moses didn't have, but we are functioning under a different revelation.<span style="color: red;">For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> We live under righteousness.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Not death, not condemnation...but under righteousness...that's what Christ's death did for us.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">
And through it, God is transforming me. His Spirit moves within me
causes me to be someone different than I was years ago. Isn't that
cool? He is the one helping me to grow and to change, to see more of
him than I used to. </span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" />
<br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just consider these verses <span style="color: red;">12 Since
we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would
put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the
outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were
hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that
same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken
away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their
hearts. 16 But when one</span><span style="color: red;"> turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. <span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The veil is removed! God has given us so much more. Get to know him folks, see that there is so much more to life than what you've known before. :)</span><br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /><span>What
does Chuck have to say about these verses? um.. well.. he talked about
his marriage and reaching the stage of transcendent love. Which
didn't resonate with me AT ALL. it was like what in the world does this
have to do with the passage? ah... Just made a realization... we
talking on different passages.. I HATE MY EYES getting old. I was
SUPPOSED to look at <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians+5&version=ESV" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5</a>:17-21!</span><span style="color: red;">17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.</span><span style="color: red;">
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is
from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us
the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was
reconciling</span><span style="color: red;"> the world to
himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to
us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors
for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf
of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be
sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chucks' words
still don't resonate with me in regards to this passage beyond the fact
that the Lordship of Christ in their marriage was a pivotal part.</span><br /><br /><span></span>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-87197041114745025122012-05-29T07:26:00.000-04:002012-05-29T07:26:15.412-04:00Prayer... when is it important<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
The other day hubby and I were talking, and he mentioned how he hasn't been sleeping well lately, so I asked him if he'd prayed about it. His response was that it wasn't a matter of prayer as nothing was bugging him, it was just a pattern he's gotten into lately of not sleeping through the night.</div>
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I have to admit to feeling bothered by that.</div>
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God has been ramming down my throat lately about the need to trust him more implicitly with EVERYTHING in my life. He reminds that I often fail to pray about homeschooling, about the rabbits, about my tiredness, about my lack of exercise or willpower with food, my fear of appearing foolish to my friends or neighbours about my growing concern to love them better and to show them God more clearly in my actions and words. </div>
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So when it comes to something as fundamental as our ability to sleep (which affects our relations with family, our ability to work well and clearly) it's like why isn't that a matter to bring before God?</div>
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Just because you can't track down why you are in an unhealthy pattern of sleep, doesn't mean that God doesn't want us to talk to him about it.</div>
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Even as I write these words I can feel myself convicted of all the times I have taken that same approach, God won't care if I don't talk to him about that. If I just continue to go my own way and lean on my own understanding of a situation. But that's not what God wants of me.</div>
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he wants me to trust in him, to lean on him, to not just see my own wisdom.</div>
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Proverbs 3 tells us</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="poetry top-1" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
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<span class="text Prov-3-5" id="en-ESV-16461"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup> Trust in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> with all your heart,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-3-5">and do not lean on your own understanding.</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-3-6" id="en-ESV-16462"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>In all your ways acknowledge him,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-3-6">and he will make straight your paths.</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-3-7" id="en-ESV-16463"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup> Be not wise in your own eyes;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-3-7"> fear the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, and turn away from evil.</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-3-8" id="en-ESV-16464"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>It will be healing to your flesh</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-3-8">and refreshment to your bones.</span></span></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The more</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I see God, the less I fret.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What in your life causes you to fret? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How can you learn to lean more on God and less on yourself?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Talk to God more, trust yourself less.</span>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-1429004930094925082012-05-29T07:15:00.001-04:002012-05-29T07:15:21.756-04:00Day by Day - Nehemiah 1-6<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
day by day by Charles Swindoll</div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=nehemiah%201-6&version=ESV" target="_blank">Nehemiah 1-6</a></div>
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before we get into my take on these chapters I would like to take a moment to point out what Mr. Swindoll had to say.</div>
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He points out this is a section that should be required reading for all leaders. </div>
<ol>
<li style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nehemiah had a passion for the project</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He had an unswerving confidence in God.</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He had the ability to motivate others</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He was resilient and patient through opposition</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He had a practical, balanced grip on reality</li>
<li style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He had a willingness tow work hard and remain unselfish</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He had the discipline to finish the job. </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Good points, good things for those in leadership, or contemplating leadership to consider.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I read through this section of the bible I was struck by Nehemiah's humbleness before God evidenced in his prayer.</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span class="text Neh-1-5" id="en-ESV-12302"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>And I said, “O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,</span> <span class="text Neh-1-6" id="en-ESV-12303"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>
let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of
your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of
Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.</span> <span class="text Neh-1-7" id="en-ESV-12304"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup> We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.</span> <span class="text Neh-1-8" id="en-ESV-12305"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples,</span> <span class="text Neh-1-9" id="en-ESV-12306"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup> but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’</span> <span class="text Neh-1-10" id="en-ESV-12307"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup> They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.</span> <span class="text Neh-1-11" id="en-ESV-12308"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>O Lord,
let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the
prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success
to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nehemiah hears of the sad state of the temple in Jerusalem and his first thought is to confess the sins of the people to God. He praises God for being who he is and then says Oh God...Forgive us your wayward people.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I read these words and I stand convicted. how Often I KNOW that I am in the wrong and I don't want to admit it. And yet this passage calls me to so much more. It calls me all the more to trust in God. To acknowledge him in all my ways.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Having talked with God about the matter he went before the king and asked permission to rebuild the temple. That permission was given. Throughout the whole process though, Nehemiah talked with God. He prayerfully gathered up the workers needed, he dealt with the opposition, and he set to work. They were threatened while doing so, so they prayed to God, set a guard and got the job done.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Throughout it all Nehemiah took the time to correct bad things the people were doing. And so Nehemiah did everything in 52 days, talking with God the whole time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Makes me think of how little I give of my day to God, how little I fail to talk to him about everything, and how often my prayers seem so dutiful. May my prayers and conversations with God be heartfelt and humble, and a good way to show how much he does indeed mean to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How much does God mean to you?</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Do you know him personally? Does God really matter to you in your daily life?</span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Email if you have questions, please. :) I'd love to help you know him better.</span>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-21119616894143148142012-05-23T22:38:00.003-04:002012-05-23T22:38:55.141-04:00Christian Carnival<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
this week's christian carnival in random order. </div>
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<a href="http://americanchurchhistory.blogspot.ca/2012/05/what-constitutes-real-university.html" target="_blank">What Constitutes a "Real University?"</a> is given to us by Chris over at <a href="http://americanchurchhistory.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">American Church History</a>. </div>
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I watched Bill Maher a few times many years ago, so I did not actually
watch the show under discussion. Maher, an evangelical atheist,
complained about Mitt Romney giving a talk at Liberty University because
"a) he's a liar and b) Liberty University isn't really a university."
Maher is at some level a comedian, but on another level his speech is
often hate-filled toward those he disagrees with. He complains about
people of faith who want to spread their ideas and beliefs, yet he does
not shy away from sharing his ideas and beliefs. </blockquote>
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<a href="http://infaith.org/burns/olympic-flame/" target="_blank">The Olympic Flame</a> presented by Ridge of <a href="http://ridge%27s%20blog/" target="_blank">Ridge's Blog</a>.</div>
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When I looked at how strategic and important these people believe the
Olympic flame is, how carefully they treat it, I began to think how
flippant I am about the Holy Spirit."</blockquote>
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<a href="http://thinkinginchrist.com/2012/05/22/the-slipping-value-of-life/" target="_blank">The Slipping Value of Life</a> shows up via Russ homed at <a href="http://thinkinginchrist.com/" target="_blank">Thinking in Christ</a>. </div>
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If an alien dropped into one of the super zips today, what would he think about the value we place on life?<br />
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<a href="http://infaith.org/stories/mission-blog/blood-and-death/" target="_blank">Blood and Death</a> comes to us by way of Greg at <a href="http://infaith.org/stories/mission-blog" target="_blank">InFaith's Mission Blog</a>. </div>
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While we were studying the life of King David in the Old Testament at
Bible club, one girl said to me, “Why are there so many killings and so
much blood in these stories?” <span id="more-4948"></span><br />
Indeed, nearly every story had someone dying a violent death:
Goliath and other Philistines, Saul and his sons, Eli’s sons, Amalekites
and their king, Uriah the Hittite, Uzzah who touched the Ark of the
Covenant, and others that we did not even mention in the stories. I
replied, “These are not myths or fairy tales. They are real history.
We are telling you truth here, not make believe.” </blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/Prayers-for-Meetings.html#axzz1vkVpVm6j" target="_blank">Prayers for Meetings</a> is presented by Michael at <a href="http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/" target="_blank">Prayers for Special Help</a>. </div>
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Here is a collection of prayers for meetings that I've put together. It
is good to have a few prayers prepared if you're hosting a prayer
group, bible study, or church get together. </blockquote>
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<a href="http://charispsallo.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/then-sings-my-soul/" target="_blank">Then sings my soul</a> is brought to us by Charis at <a href="http://charispsallo.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Charis: Subject to Change</a>. </div>
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It's a simple message really; Love the Lord, love your neighbour. </blockquote>
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<a href="http://fcov.blogspot.ca/2012/05/safe-church.html" target="_blank">Safe Church</a> given by Diane at <a href="http://fcov.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Crossroads</a>. </div>
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Maybe we should look at the old legalism, but do it with a new spirit to make church safer.</blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.onemoneydesign.com/how-to-be-prepared-for-an-insurance-claim/" target="_blank">How to Be Prepared for an Insurance Claim</a> shown to us by Jocelin at <a href="http://www.onemoneydesign.com/" target="_blank">One Money Design</a>. </div>
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Follow these tips to help you be prepared in case you need to file a
claim with your home or auto insurance. You can start by making sure you
have a...</blockquote>
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<a href="http://keyboardtheologians.blogspot.ca/2012/05/waiting-for-clouds-to-move.html" target="_blank">Waiting for the Clouds to Move</a> by Dan at <a href="http://keyboardtheologians.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">keyboard theologians</a>. </div>
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"While I was reading Robinson I did find some of my efforts to enjoy the sun being thwarted by clouds."</blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.onemoneydesign.com/should-parents-pay-children-an-allowance/" target="_blank">Should Parents Pay Children an Allowance?</a> by Jason at <a href="http://www.onemoneydesign.com/" target="_blank">One Money Design</a>. </div>
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My wife and I have started to get more serious about teaching our
children principles of stewardship by providing opportunities for them
to earn money and use give, save spend banks.</blockquote>
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<a href="http://www.paulkuritz.com/2012/05/the-alchemist-real-or-fools-gold/" target="_blank">THE ALCHEMIST: REAL OR FOOL’S GOLD?</a> submitted by Paul over at <a href="http://www.paulkuritz.com/" target="_blank">Paul Kuritz: Opinions</a>. </div>
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Does Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist belong in the Christian literary canon?</blockquote>
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<a href="http://ladysown.blogspot.ca/2012/05/windows-of-wisdom-proverbs-101-6.html" target="_blank">Windows of Wisdom: Proverbs 10:1-6</a> by Annette at <a href="http://ladysown.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Fish and Cans</a>. </div>
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Back and forth sayings. I like these. :) Shows the differences between actions and hearts and how they have an affect.</blockquote>
<br />Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-55988074607182827182012-05-16T07:17:00.002-04:002012-05-16T07:17:34.697-04:00Windows of Wisdom - Proverbs 10:1-6<div style="text-align: center;">
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Windows of Wisdom by Stephen Olford, today's study is on <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+10&version=ESV" target="_blank">Proverbs 10</a>:1-6. </div>
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<span class="text Prov-10-1">The proverbs of Solomon.</span> </blockquote>
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<span class="text Prov-10-1"> A wise son makes a glad father,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-10-1"> but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-10-2" id="en-ESV-16659"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup> Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-10-2"> but righteousness delivers from death.</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-10-3" id="en-ESV-16660"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup> The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> does not let the righteous go hungry,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-10-3"> but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-10-4" id="en-ESV-16661"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>A slack hand causes poverty,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-10-4"> but the hand of the diligent makes rich.</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-10-5" id="en-ESV-16662"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-10-5">but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-10-6" id="en-ESV-16663"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>Blessings are on the head of the righteous,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-10-6">but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.</span></span></div>
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Back and forth sayings. I like these. :) Shows the differences between actions and hearts and how they have an affect.</div>
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I wish I could do a chart! but I don't know how to do that in a blog so we'll make do.</div>
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Verse one. I find it interesting that the author not only show the difference in response that a parent would have to a wise or foolish child...but parental gender is also pointed out. Wise child - glad father, foolish son - sorrowing mother. </div>
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Verse two: long term view on life: wickedness may bring treasures, but no lasting profit. Righteousness on the other hand keeps one from death.</div>
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Verse three: The Lord himself helps the righteous, but thwarts the wicked.</div>
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Verse four: The diligent make their way in the world, the lazy don't.</div>
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Verse five: One who works and prepares while work is to be done is prudent, one who does not work is shameful.</div>
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Verse six: the righteous are blessed, the wicked hide their violence.</div>
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The only problem with back and forth verses is finding the continuity between them. Though the general over-riding theme is the righteous and the wise will prosper in the long run and the wicked and foolish will not. There is a seeming disconnect in some of these verses. Verse four speaks to being diligent, but verse three speaks to God helping the righteous. They are good verses to learn from and to stand by. God cares for the righteous and the wise, God does not wish us to be wicked or foolish.</div>
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Olford's focus in this section is on diligence that being diligent is a person who is busy doing what needs doing and requires a person to discipline themselves to get things accomplished. </div>
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<br /></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-35764785053343834532012-05-15T06:57:00.002-04:002012-05-15T06:59:00.302-04:00day by day - James 1: 2-4<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
As a basis for study, using Day by Day with Charles Swindoll.</div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%201&version=ESV" target="_blank">James</a> 1:2-4</div>
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<span class="text Jas-1-2"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup> Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,</span> <span class="text Jas-1-3" id="en-ESV-30253"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-4" id="en-ESV-30254"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have you ever had passages misused or stuck in your face when going through a hard time? I have. This has been one used. But you should be happy that you are going through this. Means that God thinks you can handle it, and .....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Makes me want to say ARGH! :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But when you stop and think about it for a while...trials are a help to us, even if at times they seem more like a hindrance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For instance: I never put much effort into understanding people who deal with migraines...until I suffered one, and now all I do is feel empathy for those who have to live with a head that is filled with that much discomfort regularly. It's like OUCH. They are worse than regular headaches. </span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> So that suffering brought about understanding, and that understanding brings about the knowledge that this too at some point shall end. Knowing there is an end in sight means that someone can bear up under it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And ultimately in life, there is an end to everything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you are a believer in God the end is glory in heaven with God himself. Ah.. sometimes that thought makes me smile.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you are not a believer, that end is simple... death and torment with Satan. Not an end I would wish for anyone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of the sadness things I've ever read was a comment from an atheist. Someone in her family died and so she wrote words to the effect: "we don't believe in God so there is no hope for the future. Just dead." All I could think was .. how sad is that. To not have any hope? It's like live life, die. the end. What's the point of that? I want to know there is something more, and I know there is something more and that gives me a reason to strive to be something more. I really really want to LIVE.. not just exist like atheists do.. but I really want to live.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Don't you? Won't you join me in really living?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In knowing that there is something more that is beyond us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That the one who created us is calling us to something bigger? And it starts with just knowing that he is real and then seeking after him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have hope.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Know that what you go through in life is preparing you for something more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You will lack nothing in Glory with God. </span>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-65473735431131277212012-05-14T07:44:00.000-04:002012-05-16T07:02:47.282-04:00Windows of Wisdom - Proverbs 9:1-12<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Today's devotional comes from Windows of Wisdom by Olford.<br />
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Proverbs 9:1-12</div>
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<span class="chapter-1"><span class="text Prov-9-1"><span class="chapternum">1 </span> Wisdom has built her house;</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-1">she has hewn her seven pillars.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-2" id="en-ESV-16641"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-2">she has also set her table.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-3" id="en-ESV-16642"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>She has sent out her young women to call</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-3">from the highest places in the town,</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-4" id="en-ESV-16643"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup> “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-4"> To him who lacks sense she says,</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-5" id="en-ESV-16644"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>“Come, eat of my bread</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-5">and drink of the wine I have mixed.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-6" id="en-ESV-16645"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>Leave your simple ways,<sup> </sup>and live,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-6"> and walk in the way of insight.”</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Prov-9-7" id="en-ESV-16646"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-7">and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-8" id="en-ESV-16647"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup> Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-8"> reprove a wise man, and he will love you.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-9" id="en-ESV-16648"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-9">teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-10" id="en-ESV-16649"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup> The fear of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is the beginning of wisdom,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-10">and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-11" id="en-ESV-16650"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>For by me your days will be multiplied,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-11">and years will be added to your life.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-12" id="en-ESV-16651"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup> If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-12">if you scoff, you alone will bear it.</span></span></div>
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Wisdom ...the whole of Proverbs is about gaining wisdom and living in a way that pleases God.<br />
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I have to admit, I do have problems seeing wisdom and something that calls and beckons to folk. Making it like a person. It's hard imagery for me.<br />
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Though I know that being seen as a wise person beckons to me. I just don't see wisdom as doing the beckoning...more like me seeking after it. And most of the time thinking that I am failing in it.<br />
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So with that understanding, note that I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of wisdom preparing a place for folk to come and become wise. :)<br />
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as the author writes: <br />
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<span class="chapter-1"><span class="text Prov-9-1"><span class="chapternum">1 </span> Wisdom has built her house;</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-1">she has hewn her seven pillars.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-2" id="en-ESV-16641"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-2">she has also set her table.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-3" id="en-ESV-16642"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>She has sent out her young women to call</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-3">from the highest places in the town,</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-4" id="en-ESV-16643"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup> “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”</span></blockquote>
Regardless of the struggle the picture is placed in front of us, of wisdom wanting to be shared/learned. That the simple are called to come and learn.<br />
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These words speak to me, they say learn to to be wise, learn a better way to live. Learn more about how to live for God. <br />
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<span class="text Prov-9-6" id="en-ESV-16645"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>Leave your simple ways,<sup> </sup>and live,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-6"> and walk in the way of insight.”</span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-8"> reprove a wise man, and he will love you.</span></span></blockquote>
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<span class="text Prov-9-9" id="en-ESV-16648"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-9">teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-10" id="en-ESV-16649"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup> The fear of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is the beginning of wisdom,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-10">and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-11" id="en-ESV-16650"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>For by me your days will be multiplied,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-9-11">and years will be added to your life.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-9-12" id="en-ESV-16651"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup> If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;</span></blockquote>
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> Though I have to admit to wondering about the last line.. of being wise for yourself. To me what's the point of being wise if you don't share that wisdom? But then again, one can't truly gain wisdom for others can they? If you are wise you are wise in yourself, not wise in others and your wisdom can be used for the benefit of others. (if that makes any sense at all). :)</span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks">I often don't feel wise.</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks">I often feel like I'm blundering about life.</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks">I need wisdom. I need to fear the Lord. I need to truly live my life. </span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks">Is that not what the author says? </span></span><span class="indent-1"><sup class="versenum"></sup>"Leave your simple ways,<sup> </sup>and live, <span class="text Prov-9-6">and walk in the way of insight.” (ESV) the new international version says it this way </span></span><span class="text Prov-9-6" id="en-NIV1984-16645">"Leave your simple ways and you will live; </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span><span class="text Prov-9-6">walk in the way of understanding." I want to truly live.</span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-9-6">The more I know something, and the more I think on it, the wiser I will be and less blundering through life I will do. And the place to start with all that is with the fear of the Lord. I can only fear the Lord properly if I know who he is.</span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-9-6">God keeps telling me... TRUST in me with ALL your heart. Don't lean on your own understanding. See me in EVERYTHING and I will direct the way you should go. It's not an easy thing to be hearing all the time because all I see are my own thoughts and plans and how often I leave God out of them and I feel like an abject failure. I see how I try to teach my boy, but I think too often I try to do so under my own strength and abilities and I am seeing more and more how I need to spend more and more time in prayer just talking with God about everything I do, and think and setting aside more time to just be with him. (perhaps I am becoming more wise in this hmm?)</span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-9-6">It's hard to balance it out you know.. living life and loving up on God and learning from him. God is helping me learn to be more heavenly minded.</span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-9-6">I do have this fear though.....what if I become so heavenly minded that I am no earthly good? I so want to live a good practical life. Meeting the needs of others is where my heart lies. But I also need to meet the needs and demands of God in my life. God is the more important of the two and I need to trust him to make it all work. Trusting God is sometimes difficult.</span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-9-6">Ah...brain wave... my son lately is worrying about his bedtime and I keep telling him to trust me to make sure he's in bed on time...and he's finding that difficult...hmm...and now I have more understanding into his heart. This a good thing. It gives me more empathy for how he is feeling which will help me to help him more. Cool! God is good. </span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-9-6">What is God doing in your life lately? </span></span></div>
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</div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-24092947365520441352012-05-08T09:28:00.001-04:002012-05-08T09:28:27.825-04:00a puzzle, can you figure it?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-66224598277882091392012-04-12T07:35:00.001-04:002012-04-12T07:35:37.014-04:00Day by Day - Micah 6:8<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Using as a base of Study, Day by Day by Charles Swindoll</div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+6&version=ESV" target="_blank">Micah 6</a>:8 (NIV)</div>
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He has showed you, O man, what is good. <br />
And what does the LORD require of you? <br />
To act justly and to love mercy <br />
and to walk humbly with your God. </blockquote>
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I learned this verse back when I was in Calvinettes. It was a girls club in my church. I think now-a-days it's called Gems. I couldn't link to the main page as it wouldn't open for me so this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEMS_Girls%27_Clubs" target="_blank">wiki page</a> will have to do.</div>
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Putting that aside, I find that it is generally not helpful to look at verses without knowing the context so...for some context I'm now including the verses that came before:</div>
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<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV1984-22655">6</sup> With what shall I come before the LORD <br />
and bow down before the exalted God? <br />
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, <br />
with calves a year old? <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV1984-22656">7</sup> Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, <br />
with ten thousand rivers of oil? <br />
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, <br />
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV1984-22657">8</sup> He has showed you, O man, what is good. <br />
And what does the LORD require of you? <br />
To act justly and to love mercy <br />
and to walk humbly with your God. </div>
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Do you ever find in your life that you want to give God something to show him your gratitude for what he has done in your life? I do. But because this verse was hammered into me as a child I KNOW what God wants from me. He doesn't want my stuff, he doesn't want me giving him whatever of my things... it belongs to him anyways. What he really wants is for me to act in a just manner, he wants to me love dispensing mercy to others, and he wants my humility. These are the types of things that God wants.</div>
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They need to be offered willingly or they aren't truly offered. And oh man, it is so easy to forget this in the bustle of life.</div>
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It's so easy just to say.. okay God I'm going to give you half an hour in the morning and a quick prayer before we eat and that should do you. But God wants so much more than that. He wants himself to affect my life. And to act in just manner, to love mercy, to walk humbly before will take my life ACTION to complete.</div>
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Oh that God may bring all this more to the forefront in my life... this is my prayer. </div>
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So what does Chuck have to say about this?</div>
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Chuck went on about how there are lists everywhere for all sorts of things, and God has made lists as well. Lists of things he hates, lists of things he likes and that this is one more list of things that God likes.</div>
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I don't know, that list left me wanting something more....</div>
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To extend mercy: Chuck took the time to remind us that God has let us know what he wants us from us. All we must needs to is to exercise wisdom and DO IT.</div>
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Let us today: act in a just manner, love to do mercy and to walk humbly before him. Shall we? :)</div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-78137676446921317072012-04-11T07:32:00.000-04:002012-04-11T07:32:20.706-04:00Windows of Wisdom - Proverbs 8:32-36<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Using as a base of study today Windows of Wisdom by Stephen Olford.</div>
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Proverbs 8:32-36 <span style="font-size: x-small;"> (ESV)</span></h3>
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<span class="text Prov-8-32" id="en-ESV-16635"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>“And now, O sons, listen to me:</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-8-32"> blessed are those who keep my ways.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-8-33" id="en-ESV-16636"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup> Hear instruction and be wise,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-8-33">and do not neglect it.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-8-34" id="en-ESV-16637"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup> Blessed is the one who listens to me,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-8-34">watching daily at my gates,</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-8-34">waiting beside my doors.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-8-35" id="en-ESV-16638"><sup class="versenum">35 </sup>For whoever finds me finds life</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-8-35">and obtains favor from the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span></span><br />
<span class="text Prov-8-36" id="en-ESV-16639"><sup class="versenum">36 </sup>but he who fails to find me injures himself;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-8-36">all who hate me love death.”</span></span></div>
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The Proverbs are a bunch of wisdom sayings. If we play attention to them, they can help us to better live lives pleasing to God.</div>
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Today the author is telling us to keep God's ways, to hear his instruction and to not neglect what we are hearing. We need to be wise in our life.</div>
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If I look at the rest of the chapter I see that God created wisdom. </div>
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<span class="text Prov-8-23" id="en-ESV-16626"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>Ages ago I was set up,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-8-23">at the first, before the beginning of the earth.</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-8-23">and so we are wise to seek after wisdom, blessed if we do what is wise. Part of doing that is to listen to instruction and then the heed what we hear. If we don't we are not wise. Being wise is a necessity in life...it brings us the favour of God, it brings us to truly living life. </span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-8-23">What the alternative to seeking after wisdom? We end up injuring ourselves and loving death. Not something I'm keen on. :) </span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-8-23">But seriously, what does this mean for practical living. I know lots of people who don't love the Lord. And they seem to be living lives of contentment. I know that in the end, if they fail to find God then they will suffer the second death, they will end up in a place of punishment. Is this what the author is talking about? I don't get that impression. This lack of seeking after wisdom seems to have a more immediacy about it.</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-8-23">God set up the world in such a way that seeking after wisdom should be a part of life. As believers we know that true wisdom comes from seeking after the things of God. So if people don't love God or think of him as a part of life, then they are missing out on something vital in life. So perhaps this is what the author is talking about. If people don't pursue what should be a natural part of real living, then what's the point really? It's like an unseen injury to themselves that only becomes truly apparent when they die.</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-8-23">Olford touches on this in his meditation;</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-8-23">He talks about how we are blessed (happy) if we seek after wisdom and do as wisdom says. We are happy if we seek (like children) to learn and then to do what we have learned. And all those who don't seek after wisdom are being self-deceptive and don't truly have happiness.</span></span></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-13287065758059377192012-04-10T07:49:00.001-04:002012-04-10T07:49:51.671-04:00Day by Day - John 17:1-8<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Using as a base of Study, Day by Day by Charles Swindoll</div>
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Today's reading is from John 17:1-8
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. </span></blockquote>
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6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.</div>
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When I first started reading this passage I was drawn to the words "when Jesus had spoken these words.." I immediately wondered.. what words? So I went back and looked them up. In John 16 Jesus had spoken to them about the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and how he would be leaving them and then once they told him they could understand and believed him he replied with </div>
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<span class="text John-16-31" id="en-ESV-26746"><span class="woj">“Do you now believe?</span></span> <span class="text John-16-32" id="en-ESV-26747"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.</span></span> <span class="text John-16-33" id="en-ESV-26748"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”</span></span></div>
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This is what had caused Jesus to lift up his head to heaven and then he spoke to God above. The whole of Chapter 17 is Jesus talking to God his Father. Jesus knows his work on earth is about done. He knows it will be a difficult time for him and he needs to talk with his Father. (at least that's the impression I get). If you read on in the passage you will see Jesus' concern for the disciples, that God protect them from Satan. And not only for the disciples but for all those who would come to know and believe in God. He prays to God for our protection. Jesus gave us the knowledge of who God truly is, and also prayed to God for our protection.</div>
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I feel very humbled when I read these words. So much aware of how much Jesus loved us, LOVES us, how much he was willing to spend for us to bring us back into right relationship with God. I how very unworthy of this I feel. Jesus loves me. He prayed to God on my behalf to keep me safe. That to me is a humbling thing.</div>
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Swindoll's thoughts on John 17:1-8</div>
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He focuses on John 17:4 <span class="text John-17-4" id="en-ESV-26752"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. Jesus accomplished what he came to earth to do. And then on the relief it would bring to him to be done and to back in glory with God his Father.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-17-4" id="en-ESV-26752"><span class="woj"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-17-4" id="en-ESV-26752"><span class="woj">I have to admit, I hadn't thought of things quite in that regard. Good to see things differently.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-17-4" id="en-ESV-26752"><span class="woj"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text John-17-4" id="en-ESV-26752"><span class="woj">Jesus came to earth to accomplish a task - to bring us into right relationship to God and that needed to make sense so he needed to teach the disciples what God was calling him to do. He taught them, he prayed to God on our behalf out of his deep love for us, and then he looked forward to returning to glory. Ah...but we are loved and we are led back to God. This is indeed a good thing. :)</span></span></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-66084910129576286482012-04-09T08:41:00.001-04:002012-04-09T08:41:21.293-04:00The Skipper<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xXHPdjc-ADc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I watched this over at 22 words this morning. What struck me as how absurd it seems, but he's so willing to talk about something he firmly believes in.
How more like him we Christians should be. Willing to talk about our Lord and Saviour much more freely.Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-41133690303974403942012-04-04T23:09:00.002-04:002012-04-04T23:09:16.589-04:00christian carnival postedIt's ove<a href="http://thinkinginchrist.com/2012/04/04/christin-carnival-4-april-2012/" target="_blank">r here</a> this week.Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-67934152950676077112012-04-02T07:59:00.000-04:002012-04-11T07:49:53.106-04:00Windows of Wisdom - Proverbs 7:1-5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3N3bWVL7S73NhQdHUWcnaPpEYclmMwBJI3AQ6PZQBkMYsRuWwwrfWDLGNmGgIjsmLCoUntWsJN0PYWx-7lY-Ktfs3_uSTduhFPEhBLXLAnQpwiQg0VPTCyDRp_NsMvlib7A5/s1600/windows+of+wisdom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3N3bWVL7S73NhQdHUWcnaPpEYclmMwBJI3AQ6PZQBkMYsRuWwwrfWDLGNmGgIjsmLCoUntWsJN0PYWx-7lY-Ktfs3_uSTduhFPEhBLXLAnQpwiQg0VPTCyDRp_NsMvlib7A5/s320/windows+of+wisdom.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+7&version=TNIV" target="_blank">Proverbs 7</a>:1-5 says: (TNIV)</div>
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<sup class="versenum" id="en-TNIV-16577">1</sup> My son, keep my words <br />
and store up my commands within you. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-TNIV-16578">2</sup> Keep my commands and you will live; <br />
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-TNIV-16579">3</sup> Bind them on your fingers; <br />
write them on the tablet of your heart. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-TNIV-16580">4</sup> Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” <br />
and to insight, “You are my relative.” <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-TNIV-16581">5</sup> They will keep you from the adulterous woman, <br />
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.</div>
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Do you ever think about these words "store up my commands within you". What that means?</div>
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How other translations put it</div>
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ESV: <span class="chapter-1"><span class="text Prov-7-1">My son, keep my words</span></span> <span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-7-1">and treasure up my commandments with you;</span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-7-1">Amplified: </span></span>MY SON, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments [for use when needed] and treasure them.</div>
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CEV: My son, pay close attention and don't forget what I tell you to do. </div>
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ERV: <sup class="versenum" id="en-ERV-16313">1</sup> My son, remember my words. Don’t forget what I have told you.</div>
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KJV: <sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-16577">1</sup>My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee</div>
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MSG: Dear friend, do what I tell you; treasure my careful instructions.</div>
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NASB: <sup class="versenum" id="en-NASB-16577">1</sup> My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you.</div>
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Keep, pay close attention, do what you are told, remember, lay up, treasure, don't forget</div>
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These words are used in conjunction with what God tells us to do.</div>
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We need to consider them as importantly as treasure we could find anywhere.</div>
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I NEED To consider them as important as my house, my family, my critters, my time alone... I need to treasure God's words into my very own heart and life.</div>
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IF I do so...then I will be more readily kept from sin. I will live as the apple of God's eye.</div>
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IMAGINE THAT. Just take a moment to imagine living in such a way that you know you are the apple of God's eye. That's what happens when we take God's word and treat it like it's the apple of OUR eye. Of my eye. God's word is THAT important.</div>
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God's word keeps my path straight.</div>
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God's word keeps my ideals where they need to be.</div>
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God's word will help me be the kind of mom I really want to be.</div>
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God's word will help me be the wife I really want to be.</div>
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What do you suppose God's word would help you be?</div>
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What does Olford have to say about this text?</div>
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"Obedience is love's active response to all the will of God - with joyful anticipation."</div>
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- The demands of obedience</div>
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We need to receive God's words and we need to reflect upon them which leads us to relating God's word to our lives. </div>
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- the delights of obedience</div>
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We will have vitality and longevity in life if we hold to God's word. </div>
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- the dynamics of obedience</div>
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The saying to wisdom you are my sister and to understanding that you are my kin. I honestly don't get where he was going with that... in calling wisdom your sister is calling for encouragement and understanding as a relative means you are accepting discipline. I don't get it. Perhaps others might. To me these words show the importance of wisdom and understanding. Just as I hold my family close to me in my heart, so I should hold wisdom and understanding close to my heart. </div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-2888982009541770302012-03-21T23:05:00.002-04:002012-03-21T23:05:11.909-04:00How Revisionist Activists Subvert the ChurchI like this article. <br />
<h1 class="title">
<a href="http://www.standfirminfaith.com/?%2Fsf%2Fpage%2F28532" target="_blank">How Revisionist Activists Subvert the Church</a></h1>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-61835436110753820592012-03-17T13:07:00.001-04:002012-03-17T13:08:49.160-04:00bible story books.<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
We have a number of bible storybooks in our house that we read every night. Not all the books every night, but we rotate through them. there are things that I like in each one, and things that I don't like.</div>
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The lad's favourite BY FAR is the Big Picture Story bible</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-ca.amazon.ca/e/cm?t=fisandcan-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=1433523914&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
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And I have to admit, I like this book too. it has big pictures, simple text and sets out to do what it wants to do.. it presents the big picture of what the bible is doing.. setting out God's love story to us and how Jesus in woven throughout it. From Amazon's page.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Presents the big picture of the Bible to children ages 2-7 through
easy-to-read stories and striking illustrations. Now includes an audio
reading of the book. No child is too young to begin learning about the
greatest love story of all-Gods love for his people, as portrayed in the
Bible. David Helm and Gail Schoonmaker have together created a colorful
book of Bible stories written especially for children ages 2-7. Rather
than simply retelling portions of the Bible, this book presents the big
picture-the unified story running through the Old and New Testaments.
Twenty-six stories together form parts of this big picture. Simply
written and beautifully illustrated, this book teaches children the
Bibles whole story so they can begin to appreciate the fulfillment of
Gods promise to his people. </blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My only fault in it is that I sometimes want there to be more details. But that is not this books' aim. It is presenting the big picture of God's love toward us and his attitude toward people turning away from him. God's love for his people is VERY clear to see in this book.</span> <br />
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Then we have the Jesus Storybook Bible</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-ca.amazon.ca/e/cm?t=fisandcan-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=0310708257&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
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now this book is one that I really like. It tells the story of the Bible in a fairy tale like way. Amazon has this to say:</div>
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With beautiful 4-color artwork throughout, this Bible storybook for
children ages 6 and under uses a traditional storytelling format, with a
fairytale flavor, to help children learn more about Jesus.
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A bone I pick with most storybook bibles is their lack of accuracy and I do NOT have that bone to pick with this book. it is well-written. But the lad, though he likes listening as I read it, just isn't as keen on this book. And though it is marketed for the under 6 crowd, I honestly think it's for older children in how it is written. Good book, love listening to it on CD.<br />
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My first bible.<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-ca.amazon.ca/e/cm?t=fisandcan-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=0758609108&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
This was the lad's very first bible story book and one that we both have very much enjoyed. Perfect for when he was little, the stories are short, they are accurate without going into too much detail. Bible stories from both the old and new testament, with a fair amount of variety.<br />
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we have on occasion read from "classic bible stories".<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-ca.amazon.ca/e/cm?t=fisandcan-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=0784707138&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
Short stories, decent illustrations, I like looking at the pictures with the lad and asking questions about them. Like what does the picture make you think the story might be about? What people do think it will be about? What are the people doing? And then we read the stories. Some "poetic" license is taking which sometimes makes me go hmm....and sometimes we'll look up things in a REAL bible to get the accurate information.<br />
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"Bible Stories for Children" by Brimax Books. <br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-ca.amazon.ca/e/cm?t=fisandcan-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=0861128540&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
I have to admit that I found this book laid out differently than most bible story books. Instead of being broken up into stories, it's divided into characters. It has review pages at the each section. Overall not a bad book. More of a teaching/review book than a bible story book.<br />
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"brave Believers" is a bible story book put out by Thomas Nelson. <br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-ca.amazon.ca/e/cm?t=fisandcan-20&o=15&p=8&l=as1&asins=0840720297&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /><br />
Once I figured out how this story bible was laid out I decided I liked the concept. It would give a short synopsis of a biblical event and then over the next few pages expand upon it. I very much struggle with some of the poetic license taken in this book and would correct errors made in it. Mostly it was how one interprets events as opposed to blatant untruth. Scriptural references make this very easy to do though so I don't let that detract...and it's always good to show a child where to go to find truth if you wonder about what you are being taught, even if its from other believers.<br />
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Anyways, these are the bible story books that we've used over the past while.</div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-58772902263380228812012-03-14T17:44:00.001-04:002012-03-16T22:16:07.013-04:00Homosexuality and RCA<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
two good articles by Kevin DeYoung. </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/03/13/a-call-for-action-part-1/">Homosexuality and the RCA: A Call for Action, Consistency, and Faithfulness (Part 1)</a></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/03/14/homosexuality-and-the-rca-a-call-for-action-consistency-and-faithfulness-part-2/">Homosexuality and the RCA: A Call for Action, Consistency, and Faithfulness (Part 2)</a></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Good articles to make you think.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Must say that I agree with him.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">It's time to stop "dialoguing" and just make a decision and let the fall out be what it is.</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">NOTE: I do not have a problem with homosexual persons. But as a believer in the Lord I firmly hold to the model of what God is to the church, is what a husband is to his wife. And two men or two women can't model this properly. and yes, I know it can be argued that male/female marriages don't often mirror God's intent properly either...but at least they have a better chance at it. It's the deliberateness of turning from scriptural truth and historical church truth that is at issue. Not the love of the person who struggles (or chooses not to struggle).</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Third part in the series</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span><a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/03/15/an-overture-regarding-homosexuality-and-the-rca/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">A</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">n Overture Regarding Homosexuality and the RCA</span></span></a></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">I have to admit, I read through the list of all the folks contravening synod policy and I'm wondering why they aren't being disciplined. </span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">part four </span></span></h2>
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<a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/03/16/does-the-heidelberg-catechism-have-anything-to-say-about-homosexuality/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Does the Heidelberg Catechism Have Anything to Say About Homosexuality?</span></a></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">understanding the history and times of documents being written in valuable. </span></h2>
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</h2>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-71310084080186769402012-03-01T07:35:00.001-05:002012-04-11T07:51:04.657-04:00Day to Day - I Kings 2:1-4<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Using as a base for devotions, Day by Day by Charles Swindoll.</div>
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I Kings 2:1-4 (NIV)is the passage for today and it reads as follows: </div>
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<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8772">1</sup> When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. </div>
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<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8773">2</sup> “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8774">3</sup>
and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him,
and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written
in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and
wherever you go <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-8775">4</sup> and that
the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they
live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and
soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ </div>
</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">wow! it's that a great promise? Live for God and God will help you prosper and he will keep his promises.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can understand from this verse how the prosperity gospel came to be. Do right, and God will help you prosper.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The thing is... it's rather hard to do right all the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">God helping us prosper isn't a given.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But putting that aside...Here is David, he's about to die, and therefore he wants to live last instructions, or a good guide to life, to his inheriting child.</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Be Strong</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Act like a man</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Observe what the Lord your God requires</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Walk in obedience to God</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Keep his decrees and his commands, his laws, his regulations - as written in the Law of Moses</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Remember God's promise to me: </span></li>
</ol>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> If your descendants watch how they
live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and
soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
If Solomon does this, then God may prosper in all him do and wherever he goes. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
For Solomon to do this he will need to know well God's word. He will need to stay in close communication with God. Because THAT is how one follows the Lord God. By knowing him well and desiring after him. He will need to be different and stand out as one who loves God.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
But we know that Solomon became influenced by the world around him.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
He allowed things he shouldn't have. He didn't stay true to what he should have.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
My challenge before me is NOT to be so influenced by the world around me and the desires of my own heart, but to be more influenced by the Love that God has for me.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
This is Charles Swindoll's challenge to us as well</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
"Start modeling the truth...the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God. Think truth. Confess truth. Face Truth. Love truth. Pursue truth. Walk truth. Talk truth. Ash, that lost one! That's a good place to begin. From this day forward, deliberately, consciously, and conscientiously speak the truth. Start practicing gut-level authenticity."</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-3868363436356296842012-03-01T07:17:00.000-05:002012-03-01T07:17:05.439-05:00Christmas Gift Idea I'm thinking...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiux2OmNbwl7iRgnJjVO802Ep0jXwMo9Q_GNo_rxNo1qA458QHC08bnmLZ4wLgSieD5kWdRr55CxigMPjvEkMbCXTv0huH3yGDdR4m2qdrmGyknqbKkY39OGJJ9rvaMdOM0ufKX/s1600/Etching+Cream+glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiux2OmNbwl7iRgnJjVO802Ep0jXwMo9Q_GNo_rxNo1qA458QHC08bnmLZ4wLgSieD5kWdRr55CxigMPjvEkMbCXTv0huH3yGDdR4m2qdrmGyknqbKkY39OGJJ9rvaMdOM0ufKX/s1600/Etching+Cream+glass.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Supplies needed</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<li>Etching cream</li>
<li>Glasses</li>
<li>Self-adhesive stencils</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Instructions</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<li>Stick adhesive stencils onto glass.</li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/teachers_toolbox/wp-content/uploads/350D.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-7398 aligncenter" height="215" src="http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/teachers_toolbox/wp-content/uploads/350D.jpg" title="Apply stencil" width="161" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Apply etching cream onto stencil with a foam brush</li>
<li>Leave it alone for 10 minutes.</li>
<li> Wash off etching cream and remove stencil.</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<strong>Wash glass and enjoy!</strong></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-433373844517008172012-02-23T07:18:00.000-05:002012-04-11T07:49:53.096-04:00Windows of Wisdom - Proverbs 6:12-19<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNYHDth7WTNlwQzP3QI2jJW765W_l9h4yCLCURE_zkVzDcGp82ra5Z8Omotkup7adguAFw8W2gorRBrKU8XFxIvJcJ8LAfrtV2oPeVJxoW9WmEBzGwrwq7UrDDLyyMHI-mnNR/s1600/windows+of+wisdom.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693374823689370850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNYHDth7WTNlwQzP3QI2jJW765W_l9h4yCLCURE_zkVzDcGp82ra5Z8Omotkup7adguAFw8W2gorRBrKU8XFxIvJcJ8LAfrtV2oPeVJxoW9WmEBzGwrwq7UrDDLyyMHI-mnNR/s320/windows+of+wisdom.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 170px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" /></a> <br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Today as we read from Windows to Wisdom by Stephen Olford we take a look at Proverbs 6:12-19.</div>
<div class="heading passage-class-0" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h3>
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%206:12-19&version=ESV" target="_blank">Proverbs 6:12-19 (ESV)</a><span class="text Prov-6-12" id="en-ESV-16553"><sup class="versenum"> </sup></span></h3>
<span class="text Prov-6-12" id="en-ESV-16553"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup> A worthless person, a wicked man,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-6-12">goes about with crooked speech,</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-6-13" id="en-ESV-16554"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup> winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-6-13">points with his finger,</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-6-14" id="en-ESV-16555"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>with perverted heart devises evil,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-6-14">continually sowing discord;</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-6-15" id="en-ESV-16556"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-6-15"> in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.</span></span></blockquote>
<div class="poetry top-1">
<blockquote>
<span class="text Prov-6-16" id="en-ESV-16557"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>There are six things that the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> hates,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-6-16"> seven that are an abomination to him:</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-6-17" id="en-ESV-16558"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup> haughty eyes, a lying tongue,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-6-17">and hands that shed innocent blood,</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-6-18" id="en-ESV-16559"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup> a heart that devises wicked plans,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-6-18"> feet that make haste to run to evil,</span></span><br /><span class="text Prov-6-19" id="en-ESV-16560"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup> a false witness who breathes out lies,</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="line">
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Prov-6-19">and one who sows discord among brothers.</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Verses 12-15 talk about what a worthless person is</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
- wicked</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
- saying things with his body: eyes, feet, hands</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
- his heart is perverted and he figures out ways to do bad </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
- continually finds ways to help people to not trust each other</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
To such a person will calamity come suddenly. This person will end up broken, beyond healing.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Verses 16-19 speak to things that the Lord hates</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
- haughty eyes</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
- a lying tongue</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
- hands that shed innocent blood</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
- heart that devises wicked plans</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
- feet that make haste to run to evil</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
- a false witness that breathes out lies</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
- a person who sows discord among believers</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
I was wondering what these sections had to do with each other until I read the sixth and seventh thing that the Lord hates. A false witness and a discord sower. These things are part of what make a worthless person. Even the heart that thinks up evil plans, this too is part of a worthless person. I see that list and I want to do all I can to make sure I'm not a worthless person. Who wants to be worthless? Who wants to end up being broken beyond repair?</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Not something I want for my life or for my child and family.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
God tells us "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths". </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
If I truly believe this to be true... then I won't be a worthless person because I will have my thoughts and actions directed by him. I won't be lying, I won't be saying wrong things with my mouth or with my body, I won't be like those who want to stir up drama, who will encourage folks to do wrong, and so forth. My trust will be in the Lord the one who HATES such things. If I let him direct my paths then I won't do the very things he hates (at least I'll be well on my way to that anyways). :) </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
What does Olford have to say about this passage?</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Olford points out that </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
1. There are things that we must hate </div>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">first God describes what he hates (in the worthless man)</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">then God defines what he hates (his list of seven) </span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">vanity, falsity, cruelty, subtlety, villiany, perjury, and enmity</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
2. There are times that we must hate </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
A quote that I like "This means that when God hates, he does so with due regards to His nature as life, light and love. ..... If you and I are to identified with the Lord of life, light and love, we also will have to hate evil and love good".</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<br />Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11407972.post-49814037727073374092012-02-22T18:05:00.000-05:002012-02-22T18:07:01.647-05:00Lemon TroutSo I had lemon trout and rice for supper tonight.<br />
the trout was on sale for 2.99/lb so.. I was happy about that.<br />
<br />
Here's the link: <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe-Tools/Print/Recipe.aspx?RecipeID=139915&origin=detail&&Servings=4" target="_blank">Lemon Trout</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #efefef; border-bottom-color: rgb(236, 233, 216); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(236, 233, 216); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(236, 233, 216); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(236, 233, 216); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 8px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="border-width: 0px; color: #fb6400; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.05em; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">INGREDIENTS:</span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #efefef; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<tr style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top" width="50%"><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
4 cups all-purpose flour</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
2 tablespoons lemon pepper</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
1 1/2 tablespoons salt</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
1 teaspoon onion powder</div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" valign="top" width="50%"><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
1/4 cup grated lemon zest, divided</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
4 (6 ounce) fillets rainbow trout</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
1 lemon</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
1/2 cup lemon juice</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, lemon pepper, salt, thyme, cayenne and half of the lemon zest. Combine the lemon juice and remaining lemon zest in a shallow dish and soak fish fillets for about 1 minute.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Dip the trout fillets in the flour mixture so that both sides are coated. Shake off the excess and place fillets in the hot oil. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until golden brown and fish can be flaked with a fork. Discard the leftover lemon juice.
3. Remove from the skillet and drain on paper towels briefly before serving. Garnish each serving with a wedge of lemon.<br />
<br />
SHOULD mention I made some changes<br />
<br />
I did 1.5 cups of flour.<br />
I used about 3/4 cup oil<br />
I use dried lemon peel instead of fresh lemon zest.<br />
I substituted paprika for cayenne powder. <br />
<br />
It turned out okay. I'd have no problem making this again.Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07731853888897956775noreply@blogger.com0