Compassion Needed

I was going through my reading for today, and these words from Matthew 9 jumped off the page at me.

35And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

Jesus walked all over the place in Israel.
Everywhere he went he saw the needs of the people.
He taught them. He healed them. He proclaimed the good news of God.

And he didn't get mad, impatient, frustrated, etc with them. He got angry with their sin, but mostly he was just there, meeting the needs that they had. He was compassionate.

I read that and thought....wow.... that is such a contrast to myself.

Compassion is often not my first response when faced with the needs of others. Particularly if I see the same thing, over and over and over again. I tend to think... STOP IT! Do it differently folks! I do have compassion, don't get me wrong. I have compassion for individuals that I meet who have a need that I can do something about. But for the masses of people that I meet on a daily basis, most of who do not know Christ, I don't have that generic compassion for them.

I think if I did I would be more pressed to introduce them to Christ as every available opportunity. I read these verses and I think ..... I have got to be able to do more. Where is my starting motivation? I read these verses and I think...ah...that's what I need. I need to pray that God increases my compassion for the folks of people I meet every single day of my life. And then that I can build upon that compassion to show Christ to them. HE is the one who can meet their needs best, all I have to do is introduce them.

I"m Somewhat Rare???

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISFP)

Your personality type is caring, peaceful, artistic, and calm. Only about 7% of all people have your personality, including 8% of all women and 6% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

I got this courtesy of Joel's Thoughts who I was sent to by Baxter. :)

I hope in your words

I have to admit, it's been a struggle this week to find the time to study God's word. Not sure if anyone else has missed it, but I sure have..... and I can tell in how I feel too that I've missed my deliberate God time.

So even though it is late and I"m tired, I am taking the time now to read a bit.

Read tonight the last few verses of Psalm 119. I read these words, and I have to admit, really made me feel my lack in good time with God this week. Check them out:

145With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD!
I will keep your statutes.
146I call to you; save me,
that I may observe your testimonies.
147I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I hope in your words.
148My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.

I LOVE having my quiet time in the morning. I really do.

I do though, have to admit that sometimes my "life" intervenes.
1. sometimes I sleep later than I aught
2. sometimes an email comes in that I "just have to read right now"
3. sometimes my "distractability" hits hard and I just can't focus for the life of me
4. sometimes I don't know what happens, but devotions ain't it! ARGH is what I say on those days. :(

But then I read verses like those above and I am reminded of what I truly love. Taking the time to stop and think about what is most important. The psalmist hears calls out to God... first thing in the morning. He calls out knowing that God will answer him. His hope is found in the words of God. he is more watchful for what he knows of God, more watchful to God's words than the watchmen are of the night.

Just think about that. Watchmen HAD to be alert. Safety depended on it. So keeping awake and alert and watchful was important. And the psalmist is more alert than that! that's how keen he is for God's word. This is how keen I am to be. As alert and ready as if my very survival depended upon it..... and indeed it does!

Our God is indeed a jealous God. He is holy and just and righteous. he forgives my sin and all he asks from me to be like him as best I can. That means knowing him, loving him and trusting him and THAT requires knowing God's word.

So yes,...... I must long for God's word. It must be the first thing I reach for in the morning.

Ah...Tis good to have this call back. To have this reminder of what is most important. :)

Cheers all, time for bed. Earlier I get down the earlier I can get feeling alert for what God has in store for me tomorrow! :)

Changes made

Seeing as I didn't know that my blog took forever to load up, I thought I would change my template, this at my hubbie's urging.

So I didn't do anything fancy, just picked a simple one from Blogger's available templates. Hopefully this will help. If not, I have no clue what else to do to help out.

I use Firefox if that makes any difference.

Blogger Reflection Award

The reason for the title is because this award should make you reflect on five bloggers who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted you in some way, and have been a Godly example to you. Five Bloggers who when you reflect on them you get a sense of pride and joy... of knowing them and being blessed by them.






Of course, this isn't as easy as one might think. Some of the people I would choose have been chosen before and it's always nice to spread these things out a bit. :) Jen, Kim, Baxter and Carla have been done already so..... here are my days' choices.

1. My hubbie Jim, what can I say, he makes me think.... sometimes even when I don't want to. :) His blog is: Kerussomen Christon Estauromenon (try saying that five times fast!) . I do have to admit, sometimes he just makes me laugh to. Good posts, listen to his preaching sometime, he does a good job of expounding God's word.

2. This man, Even so, over at Voice of Vision, I have learned from. Some of his posts of answered long held thoughts and made me reconsider. I see God in a lot of what he writes. His responses to others seem well-considered as well.

3. Scott over at Random Responses is also one I learn from. Some of his posts make me think, others well... they don't, but that's okay. He's a good preacher, you should give his sermons a listen to. He is an encouraging blogger.

4. Holly at Seeking Faithfulness. Oh...meeting her is something I would love to do some day. Share a bag of Doritos (even though it's not good for me) and just sit and chat about kids, God and what we think about it all. Would be fun.

5. Paul over at Kerux Noemata recently did a series on things he likes about his church. Made me think, just as he often does. Really appreciate his writings, learn from him, sometimes laugh, but all round a good reflective blogger.


Rules of participating, don't feel obligated, but it is nice when you join the fun :) :
1. Copy this post.
2. Replace my bloggers with yours & reflect on five bloggers and write a least a paragraph about each one.
3. Make sure you link this post so others can read it and the rules.
4. Go leave your chosen bloggers a comment and let them know they've been given the award.
5. Put the award icon on your site.

Sparks

Kim at the upward call put out a call for cat lovers to post a pic of their cats.

This is our Sparks. He is a 7 year old tom cat. He started off as my cat. Would listen to me, was relatively trained..... And then... he decided that he would be my husband's cat. The fellow who tolerates cats, but doesn't particularly love them. All training disappeared (other than the go on the table and you're dead) :) That seemed to stick for some reason.

He is a good solid tom cat. Likes to lie around the house. Will catch flies for us. Doesn't have nasty habits unless, like any tom cat I've met, you pet him wrong and he'll let you know that. Doesn't hover for extended petting sessions, but will just lie on my hubbie for hours (as long as hubbie doesn't move). Tolerates the boy child chasing him really well. AND doesn't have Pica which even though he does get the odd hair ball.....I'm not constantly having to pick up after him. :) A good thing that.

Here you see him with a previous cat. Kip was a cat we got from a rescue. He was an interesting cat that we ended up not keeping. He had PICA so would literally eat anything he could get down his throat and then would promptly toss his cookies. I didn't like it, could live with it, but when he decided that using a litter box was not something he was going to do He left our home for someone else's. He was a bug catcher extraordinaire and even caught a bat once. A cat who could hold a grudge. Nice meow. In many ways had an endearing personality, but he would NOT have been a cat for a boy child. But ah....his bug clearing abilities....we still miss those what with living next to a horse farm...we have too many flies...just too many. :)

I've been rated....

I have to admit, my rating surprised me.

This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:

* death (5x)
* dead (2x)

Ah well.. no more quoting scripture I think! :)

Oh...where did I get this from? Not sure anymore, Kim or Rebecca or ???? not sure where I saw it first.

God's commands, my delight

When I was reading from Psalm 119 this morning I remembered a line from Jim's sermon yesterday. About how when he was in college, people were asked how they deal with hardship or stress in life, and his response was to turn to the bible, and how people were shocked by that answer. I remember that line, because I was surprised that people would be shocked by that answer...about the need to turn to God's word in times of trouble, sorrow and hardship.

Here is what turned my thoughts to Jim's message:

89Forever, O LORD, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91By your appointment they stand this day,
for all things are your servants.
92If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
93I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have given me life.
94I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
95The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your testimonies.
96I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Now I will have to admit, is turning to God's word the first thing that I do when "stuff" happens? No. Idiot that I am. I always turn to family first. But I have noticed over the years that family(this includes good friends and church) isn't enough most of the time. That God's word is what settles my spirit and heart. God's word is what tells me, reminds me of what is most important. And I have learned, like this psalmist, to delight in the commands of God, they cover everything in life. God's word meets anything that life can throw at me. And that's rather cool.

Makes sense I suppose, that God's word can meet everything in life, considering that God is the one who made all, who sustains all and such like. But logic aside, it's still cool. All I have to do is remember what I already know. God's word will meet my needs, and I should turn to it first, instead of to family...not that family isn't important, and God has given them to me for a reason, but HE is more important, and HE is the one who ultimately settles my mind, spirit and heart.

Our Anniversary

So yesterday was Jim and I's 5th anniversary. We got married June 22, 2002.

It was an interesting day. I got up and walked the dogs and was taking care of our outside critters when Jim got up and wished me a happy anniversary before I wished him one. Surprised me that! he's not always so good at keeping track of dates (my job I guess) :)

Anyways, Justin was in a sleepy, whiney mood so we had a quiet relaxed breakfast sitting on the couch eating cereal (yes I know, not the healthiest, but it worked for us).

Then Jim was back off to work on the funeral prep. While Justin and I kept busy in the house. Justin once again thought that helping mommy wash the plastics was the best thing in the world to do. So Mommy had the opportunity to wash the floor AGAIN! Ah well.. The boy had fun, had a chance to "keen, ceen" (clean, clean in case you don't understand toddler), and learned a bit of work ethic too! :)

Eva (Jim's mom) came up at 100 p.m. so she could watch Justin while Jim and I attended the funeral. It was such a sad funeral, for two reasons. First that in the remembrances of this young man, there was no mention of his love for God. Just his love for wrestling and food and family. He was raised in the faith, but no mention of it in his life. The Second reason is that he was still such a young man. Just a young fellow, just starting to think about what to do with his life. Very sad. Please, pray for his folks and siblings, his younger sister really struggles with all of this. After the luncheon Jim and I headed off for a night out.

We, after browsing around town, ended up at the Mandarin, after rejecting Montana's. Mandarin is a Chinese-English buffet. Nice place to eat. And we discovered to my delight that it was also crab night! YEAH!!! all you can eat crab!!!!! :) We had good food and good conversation. A nice way to celebrate five years of marriage. :)

Today Jim is off to a Classis meeting so Justin and I are just relaxing at home. We did run out for a bit this morning to do some garage-saling, not many in town and most of them just "junk" sales, but Justin did find a "winnie the pooh" themed toy that he was just taken with. The lady gave us a good deal so it came home with us. Got our weekend supply of milk and then home to play in the backyard.

Anyways, sounds like the boy child is sleeping so I'm going to cut the lawn! Don't need church folks thinking I'm lax in the my lawn-cutting duties! :)

God's word to be delighted in

I read these lines this morning from Psalm 119 and was convicted in my spirit.

9How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!
13With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
14In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.

It is so easy to wander away from God. To not put him first. To get distracted by the day to day's of life. It's no small wonder to me that God had his word written down, what better way to remind his people what he wants from them? What better way to remind his people what he has done for them?

The psalmist knows the value to God's word and God's commands. He seeks after God. He wants to know the things of God. He knows to meditate on God's words and his commands. He knows to delight in them. He knows the importance of remembering them. He knows the importance of sharing them with those around him.

I need to make this my prayer as well. I need to think deeply on God's words. I need to treasure his words so much that I have to share them with others. And I need to do this diligently, showing that God is important and that I will not forget his will for me.

God wants us to Remember

I was reading today in Deuteronomy 26 and it struck me at how often God reminds us, or gives us "stuff" to do in order to help us remember what he has done in our lives. It is found throughout the bible. Remember when I saved you out of Egypt, remember when I brought you out of desolation, remember when I answered your prayers, etc... found throughout the Old Testament and carried into the New. The biggest one on the New Testament is the Lord's supper "do this in remembrance of me".

God wants us to remember.

I wonder if God puts so many commands to remember into his words because he knows how easily we forget. If we do stuff, i.e. celebrate the Lord's Supper, we are involving more senses than just our brains. We involve our spirits, our minds, our taste buds, our touch, our sense of community and so forth. All these things help us to keep foremost what God has done for us.

May I find ways to remember all that God has done for me.

Some Browsing

Doing some browsing this morning.

found a couple of sites that I think are interesting and would like to go back to.

This one with videos of people doing freestyle with their dogs. I would love to do this someday, but I see what these folks have done and think, there is NO way I could ever be that good!

The blog Agile Ice is new to me. But I liked the thinking game with treats and would like to go back and finish reading what other training tips he might have.

Scootering is also an activity I would like to do some day. That or carting. :) So this primer on scootering/mushing is helpful. It would be fun to do all this stuff well enough to be able to train other folks in how to do it. Get them working with their dogs!

Why I Love the Lord

I find this psalm so true. Isn't it? We often love God because of what he has done for us. We don't just love God because he's God. We love God because he offers us salvation, help, a place of refuge, he created us... we have a whole myriad of reasons why we love God. But most of the time it because he does stuff for us. He hears us. He deals well with us. The 'stuff' God does gives us reason to praise him. So this psalm speaks well of my love for the Lord God.

Psalm 116

1I love the LORD, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4Then I called on the name of the LORD:
"O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!"

5Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6The LORD preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

8For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
9I will walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

10I believed, even when I spoke,
"I am greatly afflicted";
11I said in my alarm,
"All mankind are liars."

12What shall I render to the LORD
for all his benefits to me?
13I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD,
14I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.

15Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.
16O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
17I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the LORD.
18I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
19in the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD

!

Give attention

Aren't these words from Isaiah 51 neat?

4"Give attention to me, my people,
and give ear to me, my nation;
for a law will go out from me,
and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.
5My righteousness draws near,
my salvation has gone out,
and my arms will judge the peoples;
the coastlands hope for me,
and for my arm they wait.
6Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and they who dwell in it will die in like manner;
but my salvation will be forever,
and my righteousness will never be dismayed.

I read them and I see the hand of God at work.
I see God's steadfastness and holiness.

What do you see?

Prayers requested

two prayers, both for deaths in families

a good friend Grace, of mine, her dad died. This was expected. he was an old man who had health issues. Doesn't change the grieving process though.

second, I don't know all the details. But a neighbour lady, Tina, lost her oldest lad. he was just a lad yet. an apparently healthy normal lad. Found him dead in his bed. They have yet to determine the cause of death. Jim will be doing this funeral service.

Please keep the families of Grace and Tina in your prayers.

Thanks so much.

Update:

So.. I found out today that I was incorrect on the age of Tina's boy. He's her second oldest. He was just 20 years old. I had assumed younger than that because I often see a blond hair boy hanging around their place and she often talks about her boy as if he still needs a lot of guidance etc. :) So my apologies on the age thing. But she found him dead on his bed. Such a horrid thing for a momma to find. Autopsy done, no known cause of death. Just a normal healthy young man who just died! So very hard. That service is this Friday afternoon.

Grace's dad's funeral is on Tuesday next week at 1000 a.m. Trying to figure out care for Justin so I can go. :) I'll figure something out though.

Thanks all for prayers said.

Makes my Heart smile

I have to admit, it makes my mother's heart smile when....

My boy has LOTS of things he can say thank you for. :)

We have this routine at night before bed, thank you God for ______. I usually list the different things that we've through the day, complete with sorry for when I was bad when I did ________ (Justin's viewpoint) then we end with God bless different family members.

Tonight when I said Thank you God for, I paused briefly only to hear my boy say, corn (he had just eaten some popcorn). So I said and what else? Missy, cookies, swimming, sand, trucks, mommy, dad!, and a whole host of other things. When I finally asked is there anything else, he shook his head so we did "in Jesus name" and he said his Amen.

I just thought it was too neat! :)

Sunday Hymn

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah, from the heavens praise His Name;
Praise Jehovah in the highest, all His angels, praise proclaim.
All His hosts, together praise Him, sun and moon and stars on high;
Praise Him, O you heav’ns of heavens, and you floods above the sky.

Refrain

Let them praises give Jehovah, for His Name alone is high,
And His glory is exalted, and His glory is exalted,
And His glory is exalted far above the earth and sky.

Let them praises give Jehovah, they were made at His command;
Them forever He established, His decree shall ever stand,
From the earth, O praise Jehovah, all you seas, you monsters all,
Fire and hail and snow and vapors, stormy winds that hear His call.

Refrain

All you fruitful trees and cedars, all you hills and mountains high,
Creeping things and beasts and cattle, birds that in the heavens fly,
Kings of earth, and all you people, princes great, earth’s judges all;
Praise His Name, young men and maidens, agèd men, and children small.

Refrain

---

To read more about Kitzpatrick, go here. He was a fellow he really liked music. :)

Happy Dad's Day Hun

my hubbie.

Just think, in another 5 days we will have been married for 5 years.

Just think, he's been a dad for almost 2 years.



It's been good. :)

Sisters

even though I disagree that other women "do it all" I did like the reminders in this email of the importance in remembering that God doesn't leave us isolated. He gives us people who can share our joys and sorrows. But in the end... HE is the one who does it all. For all the people out there who have prayed with me, rejoiced with me, who have made me feel welcome. To you I want to say THANK YOU. :)

_________

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up. Jobs come and go. Love waxes and wanes.. Men don't do what they're supposed to do. Hearts break. Parents die. Colleagues forget favors. Careers end. BUT - Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you, or come in and carry you out. Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, mothers, grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins and extended family all bless our life. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead, nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.

The Wooden Bowl

Note: I have edited this a bit since I got it in an email. I dislike those... pass this along if you are a person of faith or if you don't pass this along you are breaking a change, or risk bad luck type of inclusions to emails.

_______

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table.

But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. 'We must do something about father,' said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl!

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?'

Just as sweetly, the boy responded, 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.' The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Acts 2:38

An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services when she was startled by an intruder.

She caught the burgler robbing her home of its valuables and she yelled, "STOP! Acts 2:38! (" Repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven").

The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done.

As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar, "Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a Scripture to you."

"Scripture?" replied the burglar. "She said she had an Ax and Two 38's!"

Remember knowing scripture can save your life in more ways than one!!!
May the Lord bless and keep you!

June 16, Garage-saling

So... for those those who don't know me well, I LOVE to go garage-saling.

You know.... going through other people's stuff in the hopes that I find a treasure or two.

This morning I done good too! (I know, poor grammar but it works for me)

For Justin:

• Thomas the train (an almost brand new wood engine), Thomas the train plastic engine, train tracks and various other train type stuff. $4.00
• Thomas the train backpack - free
• Winter-coat and training pants - $2.50
• big plastic train that the boyo was just enamored with - $1.00
• plastic "dozer" - JUSTIN got for 10cents. :) Nice man to deal with a toddler. :)
• clothes hanger (like for coats) - free
  

For Jim

• Paint sprayer $5.00
• model plans for composter and playhouse - 50 cents
  

For our extra male mouse

• hamster cage complete with wheel - 10 cents
  

For me

• wheels for my eventual cart of Sassy - free
• measuring tape

I resisted the urge to purchase scrap-booking stuff, toy cars, candle/candleholder and a train set. Other than the plastic train I think I got just what was good and needed (well okay...the dozer wasn't needed, but a man dealing with a toddler...couldn't pass that up).

I am hoping at my next garage sale the I host... that I will sell that train for the $1.00 that I bought it for, if not for $2! :) Who knows, maybe I should list it on e-bay. :)

Duty and Obedience

So I was reading in Deuteronomy 21 this morning, and came across these verses

15"If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, 16then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn, 17but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.

18"If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20and they shall say to the elders of his city, 'This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.' 21Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

The first paragraph makes sense to me. God is reminding his people that firstborn is firstborn regardless of your feelings about the matter. Sometimes, even if you don't like it, you have to do what is right. If you don't love the mom of your firstborn, it's not that boy's fault, and shouldn't be penalized for it.

The second, my goodness, obedience to God in this would be so hard. One would have to try hard not to let feelings over-ride what you know to be right. Can you imagine, telling the elders of city that your boy is stubborn and rebellious, knowing that he would die as the result of it? I don't think I could do that, yet God told his people that this they must do in order to get rid of evilness from within them.

So how does one do this? How does ones maintain a strong sense of God's people needing to reflect the God that we serve even if our feelings tell us to do something different?

For instance, in the denomination that Jim serves in there are things going on that go against the holiness of God. Things that are NOT biblical (as in promoting a pro-gay agenda). We don't live in a day and age of stoning people. Often what people will say is but so and so is so talented and such a nice good person, what does it matter? See....feelings are entering the picture. You don't want to hurt a nice person! And yet God says remove the evil from among you. So just how does one do this?

Do we need to start kicking people out of the church/denomination?
Does one just leave the church/denomination?
Does one stay in the church/denomination and fight to maintain biblical standards?
Which method most pleases God?

I have to admit, I don't know. What are your thoughts?

They did not repent

I was in Revelations 16 this morning and it talked about seven bowls that were poured out that targeted those who bore the mark of the beast.

I'm going to assume that means those who don't love God. I base this on the fact that generally speaking the mark of the beast refers to Satan's own, and the fact that these bowls were a judgment. They were meant to turn people's heart to repentance and a desire to give the glory to God.
In verse 2 we read:

2So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

A judgment on those who worship the beast, who bear his mark.

The second angel killed everything in the sea by turning it into like blood. As did the third angel turning the river waters into blood.

What caught my attention was this verse

5And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say,

"Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,
for you brought these judgments.
6For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!"

With this following response

7And I heard the altar saying,

"Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
true and just are your judgments!"

God is judging the peoples of the earth.

The angels knew it too! and they worshiped God through it.

But the peoples of the earth did not. Not for the fourth angel.

8The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

Not for the fifth angel.

10The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

Not for any of the angels and judgments did the peoples of the earth turn to God. The sixth angel's bowl dried up the Euphrates and then the beast sent forth evil spirits.

And the seventh bowl brought forth earthquakes and thunderstorms such as the earth has never experienced before. The peoples of the earth cursed God.

I have to admit, that as a believer I find it fascinating and unbelievable that even in the end times God wants people to turn to him. He judges them as a method of causing them to repent. And we don't! Those who have turned to Satan, those who have not turned to God, remain stubborn in their desire to not be OF GOD.

Really shows who God is doesn't it.
I would have given up by now. But God remains forever the same, wanting this people to be HIS people. Bringing judgment for sure, but still with a call to repentance.

Blessed be the name of our Lord.

Seek the Lord Continually

Reading today Psalm 105. Have you ever stopped to think about these opening lines of this psalm?

1Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
2Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
3Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
4Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
5Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
7He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.

Give thanks I am told.
To whom? The Lord God himself.
I am to call upon his name, and let people know what he has done.

Man...that's a call to action and language. I fail at this so often. I fail to give God the praise that he is due, and then I fail to let people know what God has done in my life, and in the lives of others. Makes me think I need to change how I do things, especially how I phrase things. Give GOD the credit!

I am told, GLORY in his name.
Hmm...that sentiment makes me smile. Makes me think of all the times God just fills me with a sense of awe about him. it's more than a feeling, it's a knowing that God is everything that I need or would ever want. He does indeed make my heart rejoice.

Then I am told SEEK the Lord. Seek his strength.
That's active! That takes effort on my part. It's not wallowing in my sin. It's saying God, I need you. God I want to know you. God I need your strength to get me through _________. it's something I need to do all the time.

I need to remember what God has done in the past. The works, the miracles and his judgments. He is MY God. And I am one of his chosen ones.
Just think, God who knows all, who is all, who made all... he chose me to be his own.
He wants me to remember that and all the other things that he has done.

he wants that for you as well you know. He wants for you to be his own. For you to be able to glory in him. For you to know all that he has done and will do for you

Turn to him today. Just do it. You won't regret...I promise you. :)

My Dad and other things

So my dad is better now. YEAH!!!! No more antibiotics that make him feel icky. No more infection. All he has to do now is heal up. He's actually feeling better enough that my mom is coming up here tomorrow to take Justin and I out for the day. Should be fun.

As for the "other things" :)
Jim is struggling with a sore back.
Justin has a cold.
And I have managed to get a bladder infection.
Not the healthiest household at the moment. But we continue to enjoy the life that God has graciously provided us with. :)

I know this dog! Fouine!

I love doing agility. I also love getting to know some of the dogs and handlers in agility.

This fellow who runs this dog is a class act. His Fouine is a nice dog too.

Anyways, he had his final gamblers run with Fouine taped. Go here to see it. :) They did a difficult gamblers course rather well. I am thrilled for them.

New Member of Family

see this bunny? This picture, courtesy of Southern Hares Rabbitry, is a much finer example of our newest rabbit, but an example none the less. Thumper is the name he came with, that name will be changed. :) We will take suggestions.

He is a very friendly tame bunny. Not cage aggressive at all. DOES NOT get along with our other bunnies (as in the large bunny we have dislikes him intensely). Justin can play with this rabbit which is way cool. He is a silver marten mix. Some day I will post an official picture of our yet to be properly named bunny. (other than Justin's name of Bun-bun)

oh we also had a batch of baby mice born yesterday too. They aren't as cute so no picture :)

God is the Only God

I was reading today from Isaiah 44 and came across this verse:

6Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
"I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.

How succinct is that?

People like to make up their own gods, deciding for themselves what or who is most important. But God is very clear. There is only one God..and he is it. None else need apply.

Seems to me to fit well with what Even So wrote on today. Check that out here. Who do we worship? Our own feelings (therefore making them a bit of a 'god'), or do we truly worship God himself?

How God Sees Us

I was reading in Isaiah 43 this morning and was just blown away by these words:

1But now thus says the LORD,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
......
4Because you are precious in my eyes,
and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
peoples in exchange for your life.
5Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you.
6I will say to the north, Give up,
and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
7everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made."

God calls us by name. Can you imagine it? God, who created millions of people, who sustains life on earth, who surpasses anything that I can dream of.. he knows MY name. He knows me. He calls me his own. He created me for his glory. He is the one who gives me reason NOT to fear that which is around me. He knows me! :)

Just blew my socks off this morning to be reminded of this.

Pit bull tale (or not)

One of the dogs groups that I'm on sent this article in for comments.

I didn't comment on that group since everything has been said already. But it hasn't been said here, and it's my blog so I figured...why not rant a bit. :)

But I read this article and the first thing that popped into my head was... WHAT were these people thinking?

News article shows pictures of the dogs. I have to admit, to my eye, they look like pits. In Ontario is this day and age, one doesn't breed pits. It's against the law. AND if one is smart, one gets documentation of some sort to PROVE that your dog is NOT a pit, in the event that someone says it is when it isn't. Kinda hard to prove after the fact once your dog has been seized. As the article states:

The problem is the law doesn't deem what constitutes a pit bull, he said. It also places the onus on the dog owner to prove otherwise, before the animal is euthanized. ...... City clerk Brian Knott said dog owners who have animals suspected of being pit bulls seized by animal control have but four working days to prove otherwise before the animal is killed.

Then I thought... they fight to keep their one dog, and yet they let the animal control folks just take the others... then complain about it. IF they are breaking the law to keep one dog, why not break the law to keep all of them? makes no sense to me.... unless of course the dogs were pits and they are just making a stink because they are getting press time OR it makes better press to say...they are going to kill defenseless puppies and their mommy too!!!!! I don't know. Feeling a bit jaded at this point.

This statement made me shake my head

"Both she and Edwards contend the dogs are not pure bred pit bull terriers. They have contacted lawyer David Stoesser, who successfully challenged the pit bull law last year."

Well ... um.... Pit bulls... generally aren't purebred... they tend to be mixes of pit types with generic other type... whether that generic other type of dog be golden retriever, other pit type or whatever... a pit is a dog that resembles what is called "the pit bull type". yes, they have the "american pit bull terrier" that is a breed. It's illegal here. But most "pits" aren't purebred, they are staffy mixes, pit mixes, bull terrier mixes and so forth. And pit mixes that are bred with other pit mixes.. just continuing the whole mixed breed pit thing down the line...

Folks like these make me shake my head. Where were they 3 years ago (I think it was three years ago) when the "pit bull law" came into effect? Did they fight it? Did they get concerned by it? or did they think... ah...that's for purebreds our dogs don't matter? Then they missed a lot of news coverage......

Their dogs fit right into the category of needing to be protected against this law. No breeding them, muzzle them in public and so forth. Follow the law, your dog will be fine. Don't follow it and THEN complain that it's not fair when you get caught out!!!! it's like THINK PEOPLE! You broke the law! Even if it is a bad law. Even if it's a nasty law that isn't fair or right or proper. It's still the law. And until it is overturned or dismissed or defeated completely, one needs to obey it in order to protect your dog(s) nothing less.

I feel for these folks. Their dogs have been targeted because of ill-conceived legislation. They don't have a lot of recourse. They will probably lose their dogs because they didn't stop and think that oh...this law affects us too. Perhaps we better protect our dogs against it.

There is a defense league for dogs. Called the Dog Legislative Council of Canada as well as Banned Aid. These fine folks (whom I do wish I could support more fully), are fighting this bad law. They are doing what they can to make dog legislation that is fair to ALL dogs in Ontario.

There was some success in fighting the law... the term pit bull was considered bad so the law has to be re-written to better define it (or something like that) and the ramifications of that have not been worked out yet. But the fight continues.

Psalms 95-96

These Psalms are neat. Just see the praise to God!

Psalm 95

1Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3For the LORD is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
4In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
5The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

6Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
7For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you hear his voice,
8do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9when your fathers put me to the test
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
10For forty years I loathed that generation
and said, "They are a people who go astray in their heart,
and they have not known my ways."
11Therefore I swore in my wrath,
"They shall not enter my rest."

I had to ask myself, what is Meribah all about. This is what I found:

Meribah

Meaning: quarrel or strife

The name given to two different fountains in the Bible...

1. One of the names given by Moses to the fountain in the desert of Sin, near Rephidim, which issued from the rock in Horeb, which he smote by the divine command, "because of the chiding of the children of Israel" (Ex. 17:1-7). It was also called Massah (q.v.). It was probably in Wady Feiran, near Mount Serbal.

2. Another fountain having a similar origin in the desert of Zin, near to Kadesh (Num. 27:14). The two places are mentioned together in Deut. 33:8. Some think the one place is called by the two names (Ps. 81:7). In smiting the rock at this place Moses showed the same impatience as the people (Num. 20:10-12). This took place near the close of the wanderings in the desert (Num. 20:1-24; Deut. 32:51).

And then again with Massah:

Massah

Meaning: trial, temptation

a name given to the place where the Israelites, by their murmuring for want of water, provoked Jehovah to anger against them

It is also called Meribah (Ex. 17:7; Deut. 6:16; Ps. 95:8, 9; Hebrews 3:8).

Psalm 96

1Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
6Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth!

10Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity."

11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.

These two psalms are calls to praise the Lord. To not be like in the past, but to be a people who see all that God has done. Who don't murmur or complain, but just sing praises to the Lord above who provides for us, who cares for the world we live in, who is faithful and just and holy. We must needs worship GOD! :)

Prayer Request

Hey all

My dear on-line friend, Holly over at Seeking Faithfulness, has a prayer request.

In a nutshell.... the RH factor is causing a problem with her pregnancy. She's a bit over 3 months along now. It's a worry for the baby.

If you feel so led by God, could you keep her in your prayers?

Thanks

Circumcise your heart

In Deuteronomy 10, I read these words this morning.

12"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good? 14Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. 15Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. 16Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. 17For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. 18He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. 19Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 20You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. 21He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen. 22Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.

The start of this section has God telling us what he requires of us. Whenever I read the words of God telling us what he requires of us, Micah 6:8 always comes to mind since I learned it in Calvinettes as a teen.
We would be asked: Calvinettes, What does the Lord require of you?
Our response was: To do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your Lord.

This section expands on that. God tells us that he requires his people to:

• to fear the LORD your God,
• to walk in all his ways,
• to love him,
• to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
• to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD

He tells us to do these things for our own good.

For this is who God is:
He is the one who OWNS heaven and earth.
He is the one who CHOSE to set his heart in love on his people.
He is the one who CHOSE the offspring of his people.

God, who owns everything, chose to love his people.

THEREFORE God asks us to live the way that is best for us. Doesn't sound too unreasonable when it's put that way does it?

In Verse 16 these words are written: Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart.
Circumcision was a thing done to male bodies as an outward sign of God's work in the lives of his people. But God wants more from his people than outward signs. He wants changes in our hearts. He wants us to be fully committed to him and to doing the things he commands of us.

So let us then, let ME then, change how I think and live and do stuff. Let me then show him in my heart that I will live for him. That I will follow his ways. Afterall....he chose me to be his. He claims me as his own. HE the Lord of heaven and earth calls me his own. Not such a big thing after-all then to live for him.... For if he claims me, he will indeed make it possible.

Agility - I'm really not so crazy....

I found this funny. There are pictures to be found on the web-site, but this is the text. Made me think, I'm really not so crazy after-all! :)

It was one for the record books -- the Merrimac DTC Agility Trial on April 7, 2007, in Gloucester, Va. Who knew that Mother Nature would provide 4 inches of snow on Easter weekend!

Exhibitors looked over the snow covered fields at 7 a.m. Saturday shaking their heads, knowing the trial couldn't possibly go on and would have to be canceled. The decision was made to postpone the trial for two hours, until 10 a.m., to see if conditions would improve. A group of dedicated volunteers (Linda Amrein, Sam Banks, Holly Boyd, Jean Conroy, Laurene Galgano, Eleanor Hawkins, Denise McDonald, Brad Mykins, Candy Stephens, Karen Stewart, John Taylor, Lynn Ward) stormed the field determined to show that a little snow wouldn't stop the trial.

After two solid hours of back-breaking work to remove the snow from the Standard ring, the snow was rolled off the field into huge snow balls and scooped into buckets by hand. As it became apparent that there was hope of a trial, more exhibitors joined in the snow removal effort. The Trial Committee met, approved the conditions as safe to run and brought our judge, Rhonda Crane, out to inspect the fields. Once approved, it was decided that all classes would be held in the Standard ring, and the start time was set for 11 a.m.

Again, volunteers went to work and swarmed the JWW ring, headed up by Jim Smotrel, Tracy Fletcher and Brad Mykins, who worked tirelessly through the EXC STD class. The JWW ring was cleared in time to run Jumpers classes after the Open STD had finished.

Without everyone's help, not only would the Saturday trial been canceled but the trial on Sunday would have been so muddy that it would have been miserable and treacherous for handlers and dogs. Well done.

...and the trial went on! Four-inches of snow was no match for agility aficionados who worked diligently and creatively to clear the courses in time for the trial to proceed.

Your Clothing Shall Not Wear Out

I was blithely reading in Deuteronomy 8 this morning, not expecting to have anything catch my eye or spirit because I'm still tired from a busy weekend and such like. And I read these words:

2And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.

God has just commanded the people to remember what he did for them in the wilderness. The acts that God did are supposed to make it easier for his people to do what he tells them to. All the humbling, the testing and the caring that God did for his people.

Did you notice that he cared for them enough that their clothing did no wear out on them and their feet did not swell? For forty years they wandered in the desert! 40 years! who of us has clothes that will last us 40 years? Especially in the desert.. all that rough sand blowing about. Having to care for critters and such like. And God made it so their clothing lasted them.

Seems like such an insignificant detail...but it shows the depth of God's care for his people.

He cares for us deeply.

Read the rest of the chapter. It continues to show how much God cares for his people. For that matter.....read the whole book, and then the book it's contained within. Read it, see it, close your eyes and taste it... God cares for us. He really does. Be part of his family, it is the best place to be.

Just back

Okay.. just back from our weekend away. Boy...did I have fun.

Granted it was mixed with concern for my parents and how my dad was doing, but being surrounded by dogs and dog people all weekend was just a lot of fun. :)

Watched some totally amazing runs. Met some people that are just "the thing" in the world of dog agility and learned that even though I don't have a booming voice, I too, can be an effective gate steward. It was good.

My parents and Marisa took excellent care of Justin, but he's just totally wiped because he was totally off routine, didn't eat very well, and well....it was a stressful house. He did an excellent job of helping my dad smile throughout this pain-filled weekend. When I asked my mom how things went, she smiled and said "he's all boy, just so ALL boy". :) She enjoyed getting to know him a bit better so that was a blessing for them I think.

Anyways, my dad.
Still in a lot of pain. Getting a wee bit better from the infection. But the meds make him feel ill so all he does is feel icky all through. They are going to the doctor this afternoon (Monday) who did the surgery to see what he thinks about it all. They are not sure if he will need to continue the IV antibiotics or not.

It's my mom's birthday today. 70 years old! She's a great lady. Loves the Lord God deeply. This birthday is turning out to be "less fun" than planned. So feel free to email her and wish her a happy birthday. tinholt (at) porchlight (dot) com It just might make her smile. :)

My Dad, an update

Hectic morning.

Got Justin up to my parents only to find them not home. Note on door. Took dad to hospital.

Heart races. What's up?

Rush to hospital. Dad on iv antibiotics for infection.
Every 8 hours. Hoping to get home care to come and do it at their place.

Dad looked good, just sore.

Asked mom, does she still want Justin?
Yes. Marisa can come help (Justin's cousin).

Please pray for his health. Thanks.

Franklin DVD contest

Well..this totally bites for me....BUT if you are living in the grand ole' USA this contest is one that you can enter.

Check out Five Minutes for Mom, Franklin DVD contest.

Mind you..those of my readers who live stateside...if you win you can always send it to me. Justin likes Franklin too! :)

Our weekend Plans

This is where Jim and I will be this weekend. We are both volunteering.

Justin will be at Mom and Dad's (my parents) for the weekend.

The dogs will be at Mom's (Jim's parent) for the weekend. Eva will probably laugh when she sees Sassy. And that's okay. :)

I have to admit I"m rather nervous. They've asked me to gate steward most of the day on Saturday. Me... little old me, who has only gated for SMALL trials and who knows how "stressed out" people can get about this that and the other thing and that makes the gate steward a prime target. Ah well..... Hopefully I'll have fun anyways, if not... I can quit! (yeah right).

Why isn't Sassy participating you might ask?

1. They also compete on Sundays and with the regionals you pay for all the runs whether you play or not. And since I won't play on Sundays it would be wasted cash, and I'm just not big into that for some strange reason. :)
2. This year wasn't even an option as Sassy has been limping off and on her left back leg. Mind you after clipping her down....that might have been a hair problem....not sure. Will continue monitoring her.

Anyways, Jim got home safe and sound last night. He was very quiet.

I didn't sleep well because of the heat and someone took away the fan....have NO idea where it went...into the guest room perhaps? (Jim????) Happened while I was sleeping but I did wake up to ...huh? the fan? Ah well... hope he slept better than I did.

Anyways, need to go be productive. I tried doing my devotions but nothing is sticking in this tried brain OTHER THAN that fact that yesterday I made a booboo. Revelations 1 doesn't talk about the seven churches, it's Revelations 2 and 3 that do that. So my apologies for the error.