Stuff about me - a meme

Places I've lived

A farm in Ontario
Grand Rapids, MI
Kitchener, ON
Waterloo, ON
Exeter, ON


Famous People I've Met

absolutely no one :)


Schools I've attended

Wallace Public School
Norwell District High
Reformed Bible College
University of Waterloo
Conestoga College

Jobs I've had

Pig Farm Labourer
Babysitter
Special Services at Home worker
Dairy Farm labourer
Subway "artist"
Mommy
Library Assistant
Paper Delivery
Flyer person - put up flyers around town
Mystery Shopper
Counsellor for special needs folks


Pets I've had

Lady
Sassy
Riley
Timeron
Topper
Tansy
Tasha
Jack
Shyster
The "calico cat"
Kip
Itch
"the fish"
Beans
Various guinea pigs
Various mice
Rascal
The rat terrier
Various rabbits

Some books I've liked

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp
The Bible by men inspired by God
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Anything by Anne McCaffrey
Most anything by Mercedes Lackey
Brave Believers - thomas nelson published
plus many more that I just can't think of right now


My favorite T.V. shows at some point in time

E.R.
House
Leave it to Beaver
What Not to Wear
The Flinstones
Full House
Law and Order
Law and Order: CSI
Criminal Intent
Gilligan's Island
Family Ties
"tim the toolman taylor" -- can't remember the shows name right now

Works for me Wednesday

So my WFMW thing is how I organize doing my housework. :)

I know...thrilling eh!
BUT for someone who isn't the world's greatest house-keep, being semi-organized helps.

So Mondays I do nothing except morning dishes and not even those if my hubbie really wants to get out the door as in yesterday. :)

Tuesday - Laundry, marvellous laundry, plus usually sweeping the floor, giving a once over to the living room, tidying the stairs, and so on. Basically whatever I can fit in around laundry, marvellous laundry. :)

Wednesday - clean out the piggies, every other week I give the kitchen a good going over - including washing the floor (no mop, just a good hands and knees jobbie), usually do the fish tanks too.

Thursday - upstairs is done. some weeks better than others. Once a month (is the aim anyways) the dogs get a bath.

Friday - whatever is leftover from the week that particularly needs attentioning.

Saturday - clean out the piggies, tidy kitchen, and whatnot.

I know, not terribly organized, but better than completely winging it which means things get forgotten (and that's not a good thing with a wee one in the house). And everything has to fit around everything else we do AND an active little 18 month old boy. On busy days... it don't get done! :)

Do we Intervene for others?

Reading this morning in Genesis 18 when I found myself thinking, just how big were Sodom and Gomorrah? After all, Abraham was bargaining for the lives of all the people there, and for the sake of 10 God would spare the city. Even though I never found out the size of these cities I did find this site had some interesting facts about the area and how the destruction of the cities could have been possible.

Lot chose his "lot" in life. He chose to move to the fertile plains near these cities. He chose to dwell among these people. He made all these bad choices, and yet...Abraham didn't leave him to suffer his own fate. Abraham intervened physically when Lot was captured by enemy soldiers. Abraham bargained with God for the lives of the cities.

Makes me think of how we as Christians can't just leave others to the 'fates' that others create for themselves. People make bad choices all the time. We as Christians can say...ah...they made their bed, let them lie in it. OR we can say, you know what, they made a bad choice, we can still intercede on their behalf. We can still try to show them a different choice to make.

I have to admit, I do find Abraham really bold here. It's not something I would think of doing. Bargaining with God. Granted, he was really respectful in his approach to God, but at the same time to me, it seems abit audacious. And it must have been okay to do because God didn't say... how dare you! God didn't correct or discipline him in any way, he listened, accepted, and then when it was enough, he left. and for the sake of 10, God would spare the cities.

I am left wondering
- How do I intervene for others?
- Would it be okay for me to bargain with God?
- In what circumstances might I do this in?

How God Works

I find it interesting how God works sometimes.

In Genesis 17 we find God making a covenant with Abraham. In this passage Abram and Sarai's names are changed to Abraham and Sarah. These names are reflective of who they are before the Lord and what God will be doing in their lives. Abraham (father of multitudes), Sarah (princess) and Isaac (he who laughs). Abraham and his whole household (the males) are circumcised as a sign of belief in the promises of God. Sarah gets pregnant (we know this from later stories) and bears a son (this is God keeping his promises).

And then over in Nehemiah 6 we read these words

15So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

The nations around Israel saw that the Jerusalem wall was rebuilt. This by a handful of Exiles and in the face of danger. The wall was rebuilt. God showed his love and concern for his people.

And then over in Acts 16 we read about how the Holy Spirit directed the actions of Paul and Timothy in the spreading and preaching of the gospel. We read about how the church was strengthened and numbers added daily. We read how they were prevented from speaking in Asia and were directed to Macedonia. There a demon-possessed girl was undemonized, a jailer and his family became believers, Lydia became a believer, and they had a chance to encourage other believers. This is God at work.

I just find it amazing watching the different ways that God "does his stuff". Things happen, promises are kept and lives are changed. All for the glory of God.

What Defiles a Person?

Reading today from Matthew 15 where Jesus is trying to teach the disciples what true defilement is.

We read these verses:

1Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat." 3He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' 5But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, 6he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

8"'This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

10And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: 11it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." 12Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" 13He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." 15But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." 16And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."

The Pharisees came to Jesus all offended because how dare the disciples not follow all the rules. How dare they eat without washing their hands first! There were traditions to be upheld afterall.

Jesus' response to them was fairly simple... what use are traditions if they cause the word of God to not be followed? God's word, God's law is more important than the traditions of men.

The Pharisees had even instituted a law/a tradition, that said that if a fellow said his stuff belonged to the Lord, he couldn't use his 'stuff' to support his parents or family. It was a good way to get out of one's obligations to them. BUT it also meant that God's word/law was not being followed. So Jesus called them on it.

They of course, did not appreciate this at all. :) To the point where the disciples came to Jesus and said "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"

Jesus' response was "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." In essence he said....let them be. Ignore them. God will sustain that which he planted, the rest will die off.

I really liked the clarity of these lines:

Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."

We are defiled by what we let come out of our mouths.

There are lots of times that I think things that I aught not think. And by the power of God...and choosing not to, I don't say half of what I think. And when I do let things slip out that I aught not to, that is when I show that I am wrong. That is when I show that I defiled.

I know that I am not to think wrongly, it is as much of a sin as actually saying and doing stuff. What comes out of my mouth, shows the state of my heart. And learning to curb the state of my heart (through the power of God) keeps my defilement at bay.

People seem to get so hung up on doing the right things, of following tradition and ideas and so forth, that sometimes just following God gets lost in the process. I look at the traditions in churches, in families, in society and sometimes I wonder.....where is just obeying God in all of this?

Take for instance something simple, and on my mind since Christmas is just past. Advent wreathes are used in many churches. It has gotten to the point in many churches that if the advent wreath isn't used that the church is properly celebrating Christmas and isn't properly looking forward to the return of Christ. And people actually get quite upset about it. It's not the wreath that is important, it's what is in our hearts and minds. We don't need the wreath at all. Having special readings to help point our hearts and minds in the right direction... that's one thing, but the physical wreath itself... that's a tradition...and isn't the important thing at all.

There are lots of things that can be looked at this way. And we really need to. We as a people really need to see what's on our hearts and minds, is it God or a bunch of traditions meant to just make it look that way?

Lord of the Rings...who are you?

You scored as Samwise. You're Samwise Gamgee! Samwise the brave is the most loyal friend that you could ever ask for. He'll be there for you through thick and thin, and be willing to do anything for you.
"There is some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for."

Samwise		81%
Gandalf		75%
Eowyn		63%
Arwen		56%
Pippin		50%
Frodo		50%
Aragorn		25%
Faramir		19%
Gollum		6%

Which LOTR character are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Samwise.

Blogs I've Appreciated this week

From Voice of Vision comes the Bitter End.

I liked this post over at Windows to My Soul, on Increasing the Desire for God's Word.

From a Pastor's wife's perspective, I appreciated this blog.

When I first heard about the Ashley story, my first thought, having worked in the field was good. They'll keep their child small enough to be cared for easily, and keep her safe from predators, and probably help her health. But I also knew that many people would probably not agree with me. Thanks to Writer Mom for her well-thought out response (saves me from having to make a long one) and also for her links these sites. Fox News and the dad's thoughts.

I liked this on prayer that I found at Home Steeped hope.

Tim Challies did a piece on three part piece on Discernment. Here's the link to part one, part two, and part three.

I have to admit, i love looking at holiness. Before getting married I had embarked on a study of the word holiness, and I remember being stunned at how many times the word holy popped up in scripture, and the different contexts it came up in. Scott over at Ars Theologica talked this week about the beauty of holiness.

Sallie over at Gracious Home talks about Christ as Shepherd.

I enjoyed these two posts that came to me through the Christian Carnival. The first is by Light Along the Journey called Not seeing the forest for the tree. And the second one deals with the relevance of Language from Allthings2all.

Over at Kerux Noemata I found this good article on Abortion and Fetal Testing.

So...what do you think?

I made some changes to my blog.

So tell me folks....what do you think? Like 'em, Hate 'em? Any suggestions/changes you'd like to see made?

First Year Off

I was pointed to this article by this fellow.

It made sense to me.

In a day and age where divorce rates are phenomenal, deliberately planning time, especially in the first year of marriage, to spend time with your new spouse, seems like an amazing thing to do. But if people would do it, I think it would sow good seeds for the future of the marriage.

Some quotes

It should go without saying that the command in Deut. 24:5 is no longer binding for new covenant Christians; we are neither under the Law, nor obligated for war. However, the wisdom of a husband taking a year off of what would otherwise occupy most of his time, in order to devote it to the happiness of his wife, seems undeniable.

Cutting back during the first year shouldn't be reduced to legalism or license, but should serve as a unique contribution to the happiness of your spouse. In Deuteronomy, the word for happiness means "to cause to rejoice or to gladden." The idea is that we commit ourselves to the deepest joy of our spouse. This might include such things as making a special effort to give gifts, go on dates, enjoy romantic nights and take regular afternoon walks.

This one made me think of my brother-in-law Paul, sending my sister home for a couple weeks this fall.

Pursuing your spouse's greatest joy will also include silent sacrifice, putting their needs before your own. Paying for a plane ticket to let your wife go home to see her family or giving your husband a weekend to go to a conference with the guys are ways of serving each another by inconveniencing yourself.

Doing this doesn't always make sense from a responsibility point of view but... it is worth it.

Time isn't money and efficiency isn't the highest virtue — love is — and love can be very inefficient. A few weeks ago we got a babysitter and took an entire weekend to ourselves. This weekend occurred just before I left for an overseas trip on Sunday night. I returned on Friday to preach my first Easter sermon. Over the next two weeks I had to finalize a master's thesis, fly to Texas for an interview, defend my thesis and prepare another sermon. Oh, and there was my other part-time job.

I could have really used that weekend away to work on my thesis or sermon. From a productive standpoint it was a pretty inefficient weekend. But efficiency isn't my highest virtue. Well, at least I strive for it not to be.

In choosing to take that time off, my wife and I had one of the most intimate, fun, and insightful times we've had in a while. By taking a step back from vocational and social responsibilities at work, church, and/or school, we were able to spend more time knowing and loving one another. In turn, that led to a greater relational intimacy and understanding, which fueled our marriage for the future.

Anyways, go read the article yourself and let me know what you think. :)

No Little Disturbance

Reading in Acts 12 this morning, and these words made me smile.

18Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.

Peter had been imprisoned. He was locked up tight, in fact he

was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.

So picture it, Peter has been arrested. Herod has plans to kill him because he knows it will please the Jewish people. To keep him securely locked up they have chained him to two guards AND posted sentries. And he gets away through the help of an angel.

Do you understand now why these words made me smile?

Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter

Peter had been securely locked up with men who knew what they were doing, and he's gone! The guards and sentries unhurt, the chains had just fallen off. How do you explain it? You can't really. I do feel badly that men died as the result of Peter's miraculous escape but at the same time, I can smile at how confused they must have been (especially Herod).

God rescued Peter. Peter's response shows his heart

"Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."

He knows that God did this thing. He goes immediately to tell his friends what happened and then leaves town.

Isn't it just amazing what God can do?
He can take something that the world has deemed secure, and give it freedom.

One of the TV shows I like to watch often has this line in it "people don't change". But I know that God can change people. I've seen it happen time and time again. God does things that the world doesn't expect to see happen. He gives new life. He changes hearts. He, oh, just sit back for a moment, think of what he has done for you? Could you have ever imagined it?

I look at my own life. Happily single lady. Loved God. Couldn't find a good church to attend, struggling in her faith. And now here I am, 4.5 years later, married to a godly husband, with a child, in a good church, still struggling with my faith but in a better way now. God changed my life. He's made me more complete as a person, as a Christian, as a woman, it's just wow! :) Beyond what I would have imagined.....

Abram Treated Family Well.

My, it's an early morning for me today. My boyo decided to be LOUD at 400 a.m. At my hubbie's prompting (over the last couple of weeks) I had taken some melatonin before going to bed to see if that would prevent my waking up at 2,3 or 4 a.m in the morning. Well....it did that, but it also made it hard for me to get up at 4 to see what was up with the boy. When I finally did get up, he was DRENCHED from top to bottom. I don't know if his sippy cup leaked or the more likely, if he just peed so much that everything just leaked through. BUT he was so happy to see his mommy! Changed him, gave him a bottle, and put him back to bed. he's happy with the bottle, but I'm rather awake though feeling rather dopey. :) And since the boyo is still mumbling away in his room I figured I not going to get back to sleep so may as well be productive. :)

I always find it interesting how in Genesis 13, Abram gives way to his brother. Lot and Abram's servants are fighting over watering rights. Abram basically says, enough of this, we are family, this shouldn't be happening. Abram then says, Lot pick the land you like best, either to the left or to the right. Whatever you choose, I will take the opposite.

Lot of course, looks at the land, and picks the best for himself.

And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar.

No more struggles for him to find enough water for his herds. No more fighting with anyone about watering rights. Lot probably thinks to himself...I"m set!

Abram lives up to his word and goes off in the opposite direction from Lot. He settles in the land of Canaan, by the Oaks of Mamre, where he built an altar to the Lord. God makes this promise to Abram

"Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. 17Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you."

So it's interesting, how Abram made the first offer to Lot. Lot apparently got the better of the deal when you first look at it. Lots of water, no enemies to fight. Abram on the other hand, got the second choice land, and it was the land of the Canaanites who weren't just going to give up their land that easily.

But in the long run, Abram got the better end of the stick. Lot ends up living among the people of the land, right in their cities. And we have forwarning in this passage that God is going to destroy two of it's cities (Sodom and Gomorrah). Abram and his children will inherit all the land of the Canaanites.

So what can we learn from this?
1. Treating your family well is important
2. Worshipping God is important. It's one of the first things that Abram did.
3. The externals of any given situation don't always mean squat.
4. What means something, in any situation, is God's take on the matter. God blesses as he wills.

Old Testament Prayers Converted

This morning I was reading in Nehemiah One and in that chapter is a prayer that Nehemiah (the cupbearer of the King) makes on behalf of the exiles in Jerusalem.

"O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6let 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. 7We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.' 10They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11O 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."

As I read this prayer, my first thought was... wow...this man knows how to pray. My second thought, because saying things well in prayer is not my strongest suit, was... I wonder if I could use this prayer as a template for praying myself. Immediately I was drawn to praying for my church.

"O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 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 Bethel Reformed Church, we are your servants. I confess that as a church we have sinned against you. Even I and my household have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you have laid down in your word. Remember the words that you have spoken throughout the bible, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.' This church contains your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 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 people today, and grant us mercy."

I am hoping, over the coming year, as I find prayers written in the bible, to use them as "prayer builders" in my own life. I know there are different acronyms for prayer, but I find when I use them that prayer seems contrived somehow, and yet just praying spontaneously, I find that my prayers are short and sweet, and somehow always seem to lack proper reverance for God. I would like to change that. :) I have good examples in my church of people I just love to listen to pray.... good godly men, and one comes regularly to prayer meeting. May I over the coming year, learn how to pray more reverently.

Protective Mamma

HT: Walden's Wit



After you watch this, go over to Walden's Wits and read his commentary on it.

This is just too cool!

Okay, reading in Acts 10 and it's just too cool. Just watch what God did.

Here's a man, has a dream/vision. Send for Peter.

"Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside."

In the meantime.....Peter has a vision/dream, nothing is unclean. Even though Peter didn't quite get it.

and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 14But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." 15And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common." 16This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

These three men come to get Peter (also known as Simon). And Peter is told he should go with them.

7Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. 20Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them." 21And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?" 22And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say." 23So he invited them in to be his guests.

Peter goes with them and then the dream makes sense to him! Nothing is unclean.

"You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."

The gospel is opened up to the Gentiles. Peter preaches to them just as he would to jewish folk.

The last few verses are fun to read...

44While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47"Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Can't you just see the amazement? The Jews would be so used to the gospel ONLY going to theJewish folk, but here the Holy Spirit himself is coming upon the Gentiles. WOW! Just blow their socks off! AND!!!! They were baptized too! It's just wow! This was an earth-shaking time for the Jewish believers, to realize that preaching to the Gentiles was also allowed. Gentiles were no longer to be shunned, but to be welcomed as part of the body of Christ.

I just think it was so neat watching how God pulled it all together. And he still does it today.

Plans in Ruin

I was reading in Genesis 11 this morning, this passage

1Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth." 5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech." 8So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

I found it interesting, how so often throughout scripture we read of men making plans, and then God having other plans, he changes things to best suit his purposes.

In this passage, all the peoples of earth spoke one language. These people set out to build a city, and a tower, so that they would not be dispersed all over the world.

"Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth."

They wanted to make a name for themselves. They wanted to be important, and they wanted to stay put.

God saw this and said

"Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech."

He did not want the people to make a name for themselves. He did not want them to do the "impossible". He did not want them to stay all in one place. SO... God said "Let us do down and confuse their language". and that's what happened. The peoples started to speak different languages and dispersed all over the world.

I also find it neat to read of the "let us". See the plurality in God? It's one of the hardest things to even try to wrap one's head around. That God is ONE God, and yet a plurality. Better minds than me have tried to explain this well, so I'll let you check them out, here's one that might help, and here also. But God is Father, God is Son, and God is Holy Spirit. And God is God, all wrapped up in one package.

How People Find my blog - 2

Went through site meter again to find out how people find my blog

annettes joy of life
rca free devotions
herods temple
how did people fish in babylon
joshua hit the battle of jericho story
ingredients for making cookies
submissive wife
devotionals helping the needy
slentrol --- this was about the dog diet drug
little boys pampers --- came up with my boyo sliding down an empty box
"christian horizons" evil --- i used to work here, came up with government praises
beatitudes
ear nose throat
"may the god of endurance and encouragement grant to think in harmony with one another in keeping with christ jesus"

I have to admit, I find it fascinating how people get to my blog. Most don't stay long, I suspect they are surprised sometimes. I know that when I follow the backlinks and check out some of the things they looked at, I'm surprised. I have learned to be more discerning in my tracking back. But sometimes I wonder.... how did the search engines connect this with that? Just doesn't always make sense.

Ashamed and Thankful

Reading from Ezra 9 this morning I came across these words

"O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.

I read those words and one of my first thoughts was.... how often have I been like that when I come in repentance before the Lord? So seldom. So often as I take inventory of my day it's well...it wasn't to bad, but oh God, forgive me for ______ and that's all I do. And yet my response to my sin should be more like Ezra's was on behalf of his people. To be ashamed, to not want to lift my head, to be fully aware of the error of my ways.

I should always see what God has done for me, and how my sin, especially if I am unashamed of my sin, just basically laughs in his face. Basically shows contempt for him and his ways. And God is so gracious to me. He's given me a loving husband, shelter, food, a wonderful boy child, a great family, a good land, health and oh my...the list could just go on.

For Ezra in his day, God has restored the people to the land. He gave them protection from their enemies when they were few in number and their enemies numerous. God said...don't intermarry. They did! And they were not bothered by it. But Ezra was. Ezra was repentant for their actions, especially in the light of all God had done for them.

May I be more like Ezra. Repentant of my sin. Ashamed of my sin. Fully thankful to God for all the many ways he blesses me (like snow in the winter that makes me smile). Oh my Lord, forgive me in my arrogance. Keep me humbled before you.

Being more like Jesus

One of the things that I wish I could do well, is to associate with non-believers and not be influenced for the wrong by them.

I was reading in Matthew 9 this morning and came across this section

10And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Jesus did things like this all the time. Look at the people he called to himself. Rough fishermen, a tax collector, and so forth. And he took these men and he changed them. He sits and eats and talks with all sorts of sinners, and he is not changed, but their lives are changed so much.

Now I know, he's God. He's not going to sin. So that is a big thing that he has going for him, but still, he was human, and he was tempted, and yet he sinned not. He was just as human as I am... and the world did not influence him for evil.

I love my friends, Christian and non-Christian alike, but it is so easy for me to be badly influenced by my non-friends, often easier than to be influenced by my Christian friends... and that's not such a good thing. I am so thankful that God has given me the Holy Spirit who helps to 'check' my wilful ways. Who calls me to ruminate over my thoughts and actions, and to repent from wrongdoing so the influence of those around me is lessened, and the grace of God within me is strengthened.

But man, I so often wish...why can't I just be more like Jesus so that this is less of struggle! So that I can be more effective in my witness and..... ARGH! (rueful smile) But all I can do is continue with what the Lord God himself has given me, the word of God and the Spirit within. Blessed be his name for the mercy he shows me.

Crying and Whining

So my boyo has apparently entered the "terrible twos" with gusto!

Boy does this little man know what he wants....now if only he knew all the words to go with it! Unfortunately with gusto does not include a lot of words yet. His gusto comes complete with pulling, pointing and yes...the all important crying.

Sometimes the crying works and well....sometimes it doesn't.

Like in many families there is some differences in parenting methods. My husband is a bit more "what I say goes" type of parent. I'm a fairly lenient parent but there are somethings that I do say no to as well. AND I'm learning that what my hubbie says no to, often there is good reason for as well. :) In time I'm sure my boyo will come to the understanding of why we say no, but right now he's just not there yet.

All I can say is he keeps me leaning on God....and that my friends is not a bad thing. :)

The Workings of the Holy Spirit

Today I had four readings to do, but for this devotion I will focus on just the one, Acts 8.

In this reading, Saul has not yet been converted. At this point in history he is still zealous for the Jewish leaders and is in charge of the arrest and execution of countless Christians. Through his actions, the church disperses into other regions, thus helping spread the gospel of Christ.

Interesting how even before Saul becomes Paul he is instrumental in the spread of the gospel. Shows the power of God working through all.

Philip is one of the disciples. And like all the other disciples he was busy about preaching the word of God to everyone he came into contact with. Through his preaching, many would come and pay attention to him, and these folks would also see all the signs and miracles he performed.

7For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.

In one of the cities that Philip preached in, there was a magician named Simon. People liked Simon. They paid attention to him. They would say "this man is the power of God that is called Great." They had paid attention to this man for a long time because of how he amazed them. BUT when Philip came...they heard his message of good news about the "kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ" and so they were "baptized, both men and women" including Simon. Simon was amazed by the signs and great miracles that were performed.

Can't say I blame him. A magician who knows the tricks of his trade, seeing miracles and so forth performed? I'd certainly be amazed.

Unfortunately though for Simon, he thought these signs and miracles were tricks to be performed and wanted very much to know how to do it, to the point where he offered money to the disciples to learn the trick of "giving the Holy Spirit".

The disciples rebuked him for such a thing.

"May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

Simon did just that (at least I infer that from these words)

"Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

The word of God was not only preached to the Jewish people, but to the Samaritans as well, as they travelled throughout the regions of what we know as the Middle East.

Philip was a man who was responsive to the word of God. When an "angel of the Lord" came to him telling him what to do, Philip just went out and did it. He didn't stop to question, he just obeyed. When he did that, that life of an Ethiopian eunuch was changed. This man was a court official, Philip came upon him reading Isaiah and not understanding it. Philip helped him to understand this passage

"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth."

As they traveled, they came upon some water (this was out in the desert), and the eunuch asked to be baptized. A new member of the house of God was found that day. The eunuch continued on his way rejoicing and Philip was whisked away by the Spirit of the Lord to Azotus, where he continued preached the good news of Christ as he travelled along to Caesarea.

You know something? I find it amazing. Philip obeys, a man is saved, Philip is whisked away and we don't read anything about the eunuch being totally stunned by this (just that he rejoices) and we don't read about Philip saying hey....I was taken by the Holy Spirit. All we read about is a man doing the job that God called him to. He was faithful to the task set before him regardless of where he was located.

This is a good example and a reminder to me. Even though I at times, find it difficult living in my small town, it is where God has called me to be at this time. So I should not focus on my struggles with small town living, but instead should focus on what God would have of me, the raising of my boy to be a man of God, the supporting of my husband to do his job, the work within my church and the witnessing to my neighbours as I meet them along the way. May I be more like Philip.

Snow! We have SNOW again!

yes, I know, it's only barely covering the ground...but we have winter! Snow has come again.

I thought yesterday the way the wind felt that we would get snow.

My hubbie mentioned it was snowing a wee bit when he got home from church.

And this morning when I got up to walk the dogs we had SNOW ON THE GROUND!

yes, I am happy.

Interesting responses from fellow early morning walkers.
My greeting "we have snow, beautiful snow"

First person "yes, isn't it great?"
Second person "yah, I'll have to adjust my driving habits now"
Third person "I was hoping it would stay away"
Fourth person --- absolutely no response.

Sassy ran around like a young idiot. She likes snow.
Riley was in his "I'm not sure I"m awake mode" this morning. But when he did connect with his surroundings he seemed pleased as well. Very alert for the last part of our walk.

Submission gone wrong

Okay, I'm tired, I'll admit that right off the start.

I"m feeling bothered in my spirit. I'll admit that right off the start too.

And just so you know, I'm trying to be careful about how I write things because I don't know who all reads my blog and the ages thereof.

Last night I ran into something that I didn't know existed. You know you read a blog, and you follow links from one to another and so forth. Well, somehow I ran into a blog where they talked about "domestic discipline".

This lady described herself as a good Christian, submissive wife. They attend church, he's a leader within their local fellowship, with thankfully (my opinion) no childen. And then she went on to describe what that meant.

I was shocked and horrified and so very deeply saddened.
This woman consents to having her husband physically and otherwise discipline her for infractions. Apparently they decide together how things will be run in the household (basically what he says goes) and if she breaks any of the rules, then she is disciplined by him. AND this is called biblical Christian living. It's a husband treating his wife worse than a person would treat an errant child in need of a quick correction.

I know that submission is a hard word for women to hear now-a-days. It brings up visions of women not being able to do anything without their hubbies okay and all that. And that is not what submission should be all about.

I know that about 8 months after Jim and I got married that my mom shocked/angered/upset me when she said that I had become more submissive since I got married. Not what I wanted to hear at all! Set off a whole wave of thinking and praying and considering and conversation (not all of which my hubbie enjoyed!) thanks for your patience love!

But in all my thinking, praying, reading etc.... I have learned that submission is not a bad thing. That my hubbie has to submit to the Lord, and as he does so, he shows God's glory. The better he lives as a Christian, the more he shows respect to me and leadership within our family, the more the glory of God is seen. I know that the more I am able to put myself aside for my hubbie, the more I show who he is, and the more that God's glory is seen.

And that to me is more important than the rest.

When I read about things like domestic discipline it disquiets me within. It bothers me deeply that something that is meant to bring glory to God can be so perverted (as in changed into what it shouldn't be). It just doesn't set well.

God set roles into place for a reason.....to show who HE is. And this way of living, doesn't show who God is at all.

So on my walk with the dogs this morning I thought....how do we reach people who live like this? Who deeply believe that this is the right way to do things? Is it like my hubbie (when I asked him about it last night) something with an 'erotic' side that somehow meets a need that's been twisted? Or is it truly just something that people think is important and the right way to do things? I can't understand it, nor do I really deeply want to (I just don't want to take my mind down those kinds of paths), so how to I show the truth of the gospel to them in a way that will be understood? I just don't know...

Top Ten Resolutions

Thanks to Tim who led me here, which in turn led me here, which of course led me to these Top Ten Resolutions for Women.

Even though I"m not a Young Christian woman, I am a woman who is a Christian and I thought a lot of these made sense.

A quote

This quote came from Attention Span.

Our church needs to escape the small church mentality which holds it back. "We're too small to be able to do something like that" just ain't gonna cut it anymore. It's a lack of faith, at best. At worst, it's laziness.

Why do I like it?

Because, the excuses small churches give for not reaching out into the community drive me batty. And this quote hits the nail on the head with what I think about those excuses.

I know, they shouldn't (the excuses drive me batty). I know, that I should look first at what I am doing before I look at what others are, or aren't doing. I know that God doesn't ask me to look at what he's asked others to do, but instead to just focus on what he's asked me to do.

In that light ..... I have to admit, I'm not as "out there" in the community as I aught to be. And sometimes I feel very much a failure... but, in my defense, right now my primary occupation is taking care of a very busy toddler. And that to, I have learned, is very much a call of God upon my life as well. And with my boyo I am doing things in the community like Library time, play group, and so forth. At these events, folks, when we talk, learn that I am a believer and that my faith matters, AND that I'm willing to listen to them. I also am very intentional about blogging, hoping and praying that through sharing my devotional time that people will be lead to learn more about my Lord and Saviour.

I am VERY much hoping that next year we can start doing some volunteering out in the community in an official capacity and when doing so, letting people know that I serve them because of my love for my Lord, and if they ask, explaining why he is so important and all that stuff.

That said... It drives me nuts when I see small churches struggling and the standard response is when asked about what they are doing about is... but we can't do anything about it. We don't want to close. We can't do anything. We're to old. We have too much to do. There's not enough of us to do anything. We can't do this that or the other program. We... and so on and so forth.

And in many small churches, 3-6 people are doing EVERYTHING while the rest of the church is just there. What? They can't all do something? Aren't we ALL called to trust in God and to do his will and bidding and ... you know? Where is the accountability, the trusting in God, the desire to something, anything?

See, I don't care how old someone is. If they can talk in person, on the phone, write a letter, sit and listen, anyone, regardless of how old OR how young they are, can do something. Even if it seems to make NO difference to your church or your immediate community, you need, as a Christian, to be out there doing something. Our actions reflect what is important to us. And if we do nothing with our faith (other than just go to church) what are we saying about our faith?

How are you showing your faith in the Lord?

This just astounds me

Oh my word... can you imagine it....
A diet pill for dogs. yes, the FDA has approved a diet pill for dogs.

I'm shocked...are you?

Oh...before I forget. Here's the link.

I guess I shouldn't be, after all, many people treat their dogs better than they treat their children, or at least relatively close to it.

This is a welcome addition to animal therapies, because dog obesity appears to be increasing," said Stephen Sundlof, director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration.

AGH!!!!

Haven't people heard of
1. exercising your dog
2. putting your dog on a diet... unlike people, dogs can't cheat unless you let them
3. switch to raw feeding if the kibble isn't helping their weight control - really it's not that hard to do and your dog will love you for it.

I do find it interesting that the side-affects of this drug are similar to that which people suffer if using drugs of this sort.

The prescription drug also can produce some unfortunate side effects, including loose stools, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite.

Ah..the joy of it... have a lazy (lethargic) dog with diarrhea... oh joy! :) Bet that will help people not use this "easy way" out of helping a dog lose weight properly. But guess to, is it will increase the "fartiness" factor as well. Doesn't that just sound like a ringing endorsment! :)

I do like this warning though

Like all diet drugs, Slentrol is meant to be part of an overall weight management program that includes a complete and balanced diet and exercise, according to its label. Slentrol is not a cure for obesity; its effects cease within a day or two of stopping treatment.

Like that's going to stop people from using it. People will just use it and think...ah..now I don't have to walk the dog so much, he can eat whatever he wants, and he can just the backyard and everything will be hunky dory fine.

All I can say is NOT!!!

UPDATE: a couple other places to check out for commentary on this.
Livin' La Vida Low-Carb and Edmund's Blog.

The Beatitudes and More

I have to admit, when I think of Matthew 5, I think primarily of the beatitudes. I don't think about what follows them. Jesus started talking on the mountain in order to teach his people what it means to be a follower of Christ.

He starts by sharing with them the blessings of having certain character qualities.
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Why? Theirs in the Kingdom of Heaven.
--- poor in spirit doesn't mean not possessing spirit. It means poor in an awareness that without God, our spirituality means nothing. As Christians we need to be aware of our need for God at all times.
--- when we have this awareness, of just how much we need God, then we know that God's home is our home.

Blessed are thse who mourn. Why? for they shall be comforted.
--- we mourn for the sins that we commit, that which is a separation of us from God. We mourn, to a certain extent, the things we've given up for God.
--- and in return, the spirit comforts us.

Blessed are the meek. Why? for they shall inherit the earth.
--- So just what does it mean to be meek? Is it being a person who just accepts whatever comes their way? I have to admit, I'm not quite sure. Jesus was a meek person, but he also was strong enough to drive money lenders out of the temple. So how is one meek? This site says a person is meek if they are people

Who are not easily provoked to anger; who patiently bear, and put up with injuries and affronts; carry themselves courteously, and affably to all; have the meanest thoughts of themselves, and the best of others; do not envy the gifts and graces of other men; are willing to be instructed and admonished, by the meanest of the saints; quietly submit to the will of God, in adverse dispensations of providence; and ascribe all they have, and are, to the grace of God. Meekness, or humility, is very valuable and commendable.

--- And that does make sense to me. A meek person doesn't put on a show, considers the needs of others, hmm... I wonder if a meek person can also be considered a submissive person. As a wife I am submissive (mostly) to my hubbie, but that doesn't mean that what I think, feel, desire, etc doesn't matter. It means that I consider his needs (for the most part) before I consider my own. So a meek person I would think, would consider the needs of Christ and others, before their own needs.

--- And by doing so ... they shall inherit the earth. Huh??? who wants this old earth all beat up and half-way broken??? But when Jesus comes again, he will be making for us a new heaven and a new earth. This earth will shed it's beaten, broken body for a new one. Won't that be cool?

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Why? for they shall be satisfied.
--- self explanatory isn't it? The more we seek after God and his ways, the more we shall be satisfied. I know that the more I know God, the more I want to know God and the more dissatisfied I am with myself and how I live my life as a Christian. This verse gives me hope that someday, I will be satisfied. That someday I will truly have my heart's desire.

Blessed are the merciful. Why? for they shall receive mercy.
--- This will be good. Have you ever seen people who truly extend mercy to others? How often that mercy is not extended back to them? Ah...in God's world...that mercy is given freely.

Blessed are the pure in heart. Why? for they shall see God.
--- so just who are these pure in heart? This source says this:

How foolish, therefore, are those who seek God with these outward eyes, since He is seen with the heart! as it is written elsewhere, “And in singleness of heart seek Him.” For that is a pure heart which is a single heart: and just as this light cannot be seen, except with pure eyes; so neither is God seen, unless that is pure by which He can be seen.

--- we seek God with our hearts, not with our eyes just looking around. Our hearts are what go after God. And when we let them do that, we find what we are looking for.

Blessed are the peacemakers. Why? for they shall be called sons of God.
--- I must admit, I do dispair of myself as a peacemaker. I like to keep peace, I just don't see myself in that role very well. I'm too apt to take sides! But this is something that God calls me to do. I am to make peace. That means I'm not out there making fights, provoking battles, or any such stuff. I'm out there to say, hey, there's a better way. It's God's way. Know him. See him. Be one with us (as in unity, as in family, not in some weird cultish type way). If I truly do this, then I will be called a child of God! Wow... :)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake? Why? for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
--- The persecuted get heaven. Plain and simple.
--- not those just persecuted because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time, or belong to the wrong ethnic group or have the wrong color of skin, or speak funny or whatever. This passage is specific. Those who are persecuted for RIGHTEOUSNESS' sake. These are the ones for the kingdom of heaven.
--- So in essence, if we are believers, and we are persecuted for such reason, we don't have to be afraid, we know what is waiting for us. And it ain't a bad place neither!
--- the following verse emphasizes this, when others revile, persecute, utter all kinds of evil against you because you believe in Jesus you are to "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you".

So how are we as Christians to also live?
1. as salt. As good salt, that is there to do a job. Not as tasteless, worthless salt.
2. as light. We are not to hide who we are. We are a beacon in the darkness around us, let your light (the light of Christ) shine forth! Let people see that light, let them give glory to God!
3. As people who know the law is not abolished. That we know we still need to abide by the law, but we are not under the curse of the law. We follow the law because it shows us how to live.
4. as a people who have control of our tempers. We need to not only watch our actions, but our words and thoughts as well.
5. as a people who are willing to admit our faults in our relationships with others and are forthright in dealing with them before we make our offerings to God.
6. as a people not willing to commit adultery....not just the act itself, but the thinking of the same. We must do whatever we can to avoid falling into this sinful way of living. As God's word says "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell."
7. As a people who know that divorce is NOT what God wants. God allowed divorce because it is what people wanted, but God does not want his people to divorce. If a person does divorce (except for sexual immorality) he is committing adultery. (see pt.6)
8. we are to be a people who keep our word, simply because we made a promise. Nothing more needs to be added to a promise. Our word should be sufficient.
9. as a people who don't want to get evil. Just let it be. God knows what happened, and he'll take care of it all. Go the extra mile.
10. as a people who genuinely love all those around us. Not just our friends, family, relations etc. but truly love those around us. our enemies are all those who don't know that Jesus is Lord. God takes care of everyone just like he takes care of us, so who are we to say who should be loved and who shouldn't? Just love your neighbours, even the ones you don't like.

Our Goal is Simple, though getting there perhaps not quite so. :)

48You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Ah, I am SO far from this. I don't think I'll ever achieve it. But just because I think it seems impossible, is no reason for me to not to make it my aim. Step by step, and day by day, just trusting God and following the best I can is the only way to do it.

Babies are NOT just blobs!

Check this site out, it is just fascinating.

Courtesy of my hubbie, for whom it was courtesy of someone else. :)

How anyone could see babies as just blobs of tissue after viewing this, well....they'd be a couple bricks short of a full load I should think.

Sin Begets Sin

So reading from Genesis 4 tonight. In this chapter we find good judgement, bad judgement, God responding differently to two boys, jealousy, envy, planning to do wrong, and execution of the same.

What can we learn from this chapter? The right way to do things. God sees Cain's anger and his response is plain

The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it."

Do you see those words sins "desire is for you, BUT you must rule over it." So for all those times when we say...but I just had to do it... all God's word in essence says is NOT! :) We don't have to give into sin. Cain had the option of not being ruled by his envy, jealousy and nasty thoughts. BUT he made a plan, and murdered his very own brother.

So Cain was punished by God and as time went on, he got married, had children, and those children had children. And what do we find one of his grandchildren boasting about?

23Lamech said to his wives:
"Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
24If Cain's revenge is sevenfold,
then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold."

Lamech is boasting about murder! Ah the shame of it. To be boasting of such a crime. His grandpa did it, so Lamech, I guess, figures it's okay if he does it.

Tells me that as a parent I must be careful about what I do. My son sees what I do. As he matures, he'll see the sins that I struggle with. And he is such a copy cat! I must somehow teach him that it is a struggle, and that I do depend on God to see me through. If I don't, I risk him thinking it's okay to do this sin when it's not. He must somehow see that God sees sin with revulsion, and that we should do the same.

Seems I've a new prayer to add to my list of things to pray about as a parent...that I let myself be transparent in my relationship with God with my boyo. So that he sees both the joy I have in the Lord, as well as my sorrow when I displease God. The first will be easy I think to show...the second is harder....I'll have to fight my desire to keep those things hidden. Please pray with me that God grants me the strength and grace to follow his leading in this.

What to do When Tempted

I was reading from Matthew Four today and challenged by these verses.

1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4But he answered, "It is written,

"'Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

5Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

"'He will command his angels concerning you,'
and
"'On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"

7Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

"'You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.'"

11Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

One of the things we do as believers is to want to be like God as much as possible. Jesus is our earthly example in that. As we know Jesus, we know God. As we live like Jesus, we live like God.

So here is Jesus, being led by the Spirit into the desert.
Why?
So he can be tested/tempted by the devil.

Ever been tested or tempted? Especially by something that is hard to resist? It's the devil doing it. It's the sinfulness residing in each and every one of us that causes us to not live the way that God wants us to.

So what is Jesus' response to this time of temptation?

He answers the devil with God's own word.

Over and over and over again, Jesus turns to God's words for the solution to temptation.

The words of God that he used in his defence/protection
"'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
"He will command his angels concerning you,"
"'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
"Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
"Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
"'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"

Jesus answered each of Satan's charges/desires with a word from the Lord.

Now I have to ask myself, in the light of such a clear example, how often do I do this? How often, when I am tempted do I say... but God will provide all my needs according to HIS riches. How often do I say, but You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve? How often am I bold enough to say... Satan, begone?

I have to admit...if I'm being brutally honest...not near as often as I aught to...which is every single time.

In fact what I do, is so often try to find my own solution to the problem. And so often I fail miserably at it. When I'm smart and realize that I need to turn to God for the solution, the problem goes away so much more quickly. And I'm just led to give all the glory to God.

So...if my aim is life is to love God and to enjoy him for ever and to bring glory to him in all that I do.... doesn't it make sense that I follow Jesus' example more closely?

Ah Lord Jesus, my only Lord and Saviour, help me to live as I aught to. Help me to use God's word all the time when I am tempted. Let my life show God's glory as I live for you. And doing it all through the power of your word. This I pray. Amen.

Two Moms, One Dad

3-parent family stirs debate is the headline in our local paper.

Gay rights groups celebrated a landmark court ruling yesterday, while family values groups said the decision to give a London boy two moms is an attack on the traditional family.

My only reaction to this was...duh! Of course it's going to stir debate...between people who know what is right, and people who just want to promote their own "rights".

I know...I'm probably being a bit harsh there. But seriously.... a child having three parents? Where will that stop? 4, 5, 6 parents? who decides?

And as well evidenced already in this child's life....relationships falter, they end. Who then has the "right" to this child? Can you imagine how hard it is for a child to endure two people fighting over him/her, but three? How many directions does a child have to be pulled in?

I can see the value in having lots of caring people in a child's life. IF a person is genuinely concerned about a child's well-being, be involved. I'm just not so sure that, that person needs to be made a parent...even if they are living with mom's other half and dad is elsewhere. If dad is still in the picture and involved.... well then he's a parent!

I have to admit...I'm not sure what to do with a comment like this

"After three years of being in the court system, he's happy to have his son's reality recognized," Mamo said. "The decision reflects the dignity of the non-biological mother, which she deserves as a full participating parent in the family."

Why is dignity involved? Why does her parenting need to be officially recognized to be seen as dignified? I don't know...but I think it begs the question... my boyo has lots of "aunties and uncles" and "grammas and grampas" at church, should their relationships be dignified by making them officially members of our extended family legally?

Quite frankly, I think anyone who puts the hours into parenting is already dignified. Anyone who genuinely cares about a child is already dignified. The rest is just legal stuff. Can live-in boyfriends and girlfriends now insist that they be seen as parents legally for the children they live with? They parent as well.

I don't know but I think this court decision just opens a whole can of worms that perhaps the judge did consider....or perhaps didn't care about. Afterall...he is just considering this case, and meeting the needs of this family. This judge met the needs of these individuals...and the rest... well apparently it doesn't matter.

"The court was able to find a solution in the situation where they acknowledge the legislation does not contemplate the circumstances," he said. "The reason we have a charter is to hold values of individuals as being higher than politics. These decisions are too important to be left to the whims of any particular party or consideration of the cabinet of the day."

Hubby Made a Change

My hubbie has chosen to make a change with his blog.

His old "musings" blog has been renamed "Kerussomen Christon Estauromenon" If you want to know why.... go check it out here.

What Else I read today

I also read from Matthew 2, Ezra 2, and Acts 2.

First Matthew 2
Wisemen came looking for Jesus. And they stopped off at King Herod's to get further directions. Hmmm... makes me wonder.. you know...all those stories they tell about how the wisemen followed the star RIGHT to where Jesus was? If it did, then why did they have to stop to ask directions? Shows the importance of actually knowing your bible well. Also shows how heresy starts. People think they have the story right, and then get a little bit wrong and it all spirals out of control from there UNLESS one actually knows scripture and calls people back on track.

I also found it interesting reading this passage. Reminded me of how God talks to people who don't even really know him. These wisemen knew that someone of significance had been born BUT they didn't know how important he was, just that he was very important. They didn't know the scriptures at all. They weren't Israelites because they left for their own country. BUT when God talked with them in a dream...they paid attention, they obeyed. Shows God at work among the gentiles. :)

Jesus was taken to safety in Egypt out of Herod's grasp. What a horrid time for the moms and dads who stayed behind. All those toddlers and babies killed because of the fear of one man. This too fulfilled scripture. When Herod died, Jesus came back to live among his own people. He became a Nazarene. This too, fulfilled scripture.

In Ezra we learn about the people who returned from exile under King Nebuchadnezzar. Citizens of Israel from all the different provinces, plus priests, levites, temple servants, The son's of Solomon's servants (though I"m not sure why this is an important detail), and even some who could not prove they were Isrealites. These last were not allowed into the priesthood because they could not prove their genealogies.

In Acts we read that The Day of Pentecost had arrived. All the disciples were in one place, and then life changed for them! Imagine it...the wind, the fire, the speaking in different languages! Must have shocked and amazed them. They began talking as the Holy Spirit allowed them too.
100's of devout men heard them, from "Every nation under heaven". These men were stunned at the ability of these Galileans to speak their language telling them of all the mighty works of God.

you know...sometimes I wish I could have been around back then. To see it, to hear it. Just to know the workings of God in such an obvious manner. I don't think I would have been among the mockers.

But Peter preached to all these devout men. He explained they were not drunk....it was too early in the day for that. He told how what was happening was foretold in the prophets. He explained scripture to them, and he explained who Christ was.

When the people listening heard these words, they were cut to the heart. They wanted to know what they should do, and Peter said

"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

Three thousand people became Christians that day.

But they didn't stop there. These new believers devoted themselves to learning more about God. They cared for each other. Signs and wonders were done. And more and more people were saved.

This is what it was like

44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Makes me wonder what would happen if the church today lived as the church back then? What would happen if we truly lived like a people who cared about each other, a people who were willing to sell our "stuff" in order to meet the needs of fellow believers?

So what then is the real order of things?

You know how you know the creation story?

As found in Genesis one.
Day one - light and dark
Day two - water and air
Day three - earth and seas, plants
Day Four - moon, sun, stars
Day Five - water critters and air critters
Day six - animals and mankind
Day Seven - rests

BUT then we come to chapter Two of Genesis.

On Day number seven God rests.

So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

And it is for this reason that we have one day in seven that we rest and make special unto the Lord.

But then we come to what some might call an anomaly

5When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up--for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground-- 7then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.(italics mine)

So there was NOTHING. Just land and water. No rain, no plants, no animals. According to Genesis One that stuff was around BEFORE God made mankind. But in Genesis two it would seem that God purposed to make mankind before he made all the rest, and that in fact he made it all with mankind in mind.

Note too...It is mankind that God actually breathed life into. He just "created" the rest, mankind he breathed into. Kinda marks us as special doesn't it? :)

Then God noticed something:

"It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him."

Do you see it? God wanted man to have a helper FIT for him. Nothing less would do. Women are MEANT to be a FIT helper. FIT as in not talking about in good shape, but Fit as in being perfectly suitable for the task at hand. Our task at hand (for us women) is to be a fit helper for the men in our lives.

Anyways, so what did God do? He formed all sorts of animals and brought them before man. Man named them all.

9So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field.

Still seems backwards to the first account doesn't it a bit?

But still we see that all the different critters are merely formed by God, no breathe of life was given to them.

But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.

So what did God do? Did he just leave Adam helper-less since none of the animals were a "fit helper"? Did God just say...ah make do with the ox, the dog, the sheep etc.? NOPE!

21So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

From man, the one into whom God himself had breathed life, God made woman. He didn't make woman from the dust, he made her from man. And Adam's response?

Then the man said,
"This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man."

We as women are the very part of man! We come from him. God's desire for us is that we are fit helpers for our men. We are bone of bone, flesh of flesh. I don't know about you folks, but to me that is really cool. It's non-isolating. It's definitive. It's, oh...I don't know all the words...but we have a needful place in society. Men need us. And we need men....it's our position/role/joy in life.

And because of this

24Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

When a man marries, his first allegiance belongs to his wife, not to his parents. Well... okay...as believers our first allegiance is to the Lord God, but once we have our helpmeet.. we consider them above our parents.

I do still wonder a bit at the differences between these two chapters, but I also know that sometimes what one chapter explains in general, another chapter can explain in specific. and that I think tends to be what happens in these two chapters. In chapter one we get the overall view of what God did in creation, and in chapter two we see how God's focus is on creating man and making the world a suitable place for him.

What do you think?

Freestyle

One of the sports I tease around with, with my dog Sassy, is Freestyle.

This is a fun clip of some of things one can do with Freestyle


Some better quality ones with a REALLY good freestyler can be found at this site. Not sure that the clips are working right now, but when they do...make sure you watch the one of the Gladiator.

Though I must admit....when I first saw this particular clip I was sold on doing freestyle if I should ever find the time and figure out how to do some of the training needed for it. Of course...it doesn't help that I just LOVE the movie Grease...which my hubbie happens to hate...so I haven't watched it since we've been married...but ah well...that's a tale for another day. :)

Switched to a different bible plan

So last year I did through the bible chronologically. Found it interesting, but jumpy in some ways. Made it easier to put Psalms with actual events which I really enjoyed, but I didn't know if I wanted to do that again for the whole year. SO>>> switched. Not sure what this plan is called, just picked one that was different! I did once again, pick one from Bibleplan.org as I'm familiar with them and had no complaints with what they sent me last year.

Anyways, reading today from Matthew 1. Just so you know, I almost always read out of the English Standard Version (ESV) I will sometimes change though if a reading isn't making alot of sense to me. Sometimes changing translations can bring a passage to life.

Anyways, back to Matthew.

The book of Matthew was written by...MATTHEW! Hard to figure that one eh? :)
This is what Theodoretus says

Matthew, also called Levi, apostle and aforetimes publican, composed a gospel of Christ at first published in Judea in Hebrew for the sake of those of the circumcision who believed, but this was afterwards translated into Greek though by what author is uncertain. The Hebrew itself has been preserved until the present day in the library at Caesarea which Pamphilus so diligently gathered. I have also had the opportunity of having the volume described to me by the Nazarenes of Beroea, a city of Syria, who use it. In this it is to be noted that wherever the Evangelist, whether on his own account or in the person of our Lord the Saviour quotes the testimony of the Old Testament he does not follow the authority of the translators of the Septuagint but the Hebrew. Wherefore these two forms exist "Out of Egypt have I called my son," and "for he shall be called a Nazarene."

Now for the actual study of this first chapter.

In the first seventeen verses we read the genealogy of "Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." (v.1)

Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Judah to Perez (by Tamar) to Hezron to Ram to Amminadab to Nashson to Salmon to Boaz(by Rahab) to Obed (by Ruth) to Jesse to David.

Then from King David to Solomon (by the wife of Uriah) to Rehoboam to Abijah to Asaph to Jehoshaphat to Joram to Uzziah to Jotham to Ahaz to Hezekiah to Manasseh to Amos to Josiah to Jechoniah.

And then after the exile Jechoniah to Shealtiel to Zerubbabel to Abiud to Eliakim to Azor to Zadock to Achim to Eliud to Eleazar to Matthan to Jacob to Joseph.

And Joseph was the "husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ".

17So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

Four women are mentioned. Forty men are mentioned.
The women are not generally women of good repute.
The men are not all men of good repute, in fact, some we know not much about.

So the past of Jesus Christ the man is spotty. BUT he was born to devout parents. I know from later scripture that Jesus was circumcized as was the law, and they went to temple as the law ordained and so forth.

Joseph was a just man. He was not a man to willingly put a woman to shame.
He was also a man who took seriously words from the Lord. He changed his mind about divorcing Mary when the angel from God told him not to fear marrying her. He willingly took on the responsibility of raising the son of another...in this case God.

Mary was a lady chosen by God to bear his child. She was a woman who pondered things in her heart. She was seen with favour by God.

They were a couple who fulfilled the word of God.

This is the past of Jesus.
A bit spotty in parts, a bit devout in others. A man after God's own heart was part of his past. A woman of questionable morals was also part. But all were used of God.

So my past, your past, anyones past is NOT an excuse to not follow God. If God calls us, we must act upon it. We must accept all that we are when called upon by God, and that means accepting others too...even if you don't like how they do things, or how they dress, or what their past was.... if they have a true love for God and a hunger to know him and live for him.... we must needs accept them. It's part of loving the family of God.

I have a friend that I would LOVE to have come to know Christ, but I am also afraid of what might happen if she does...and then joins my church. Not for my sake...but for hers. She has a rough past, a edge about her that many who don't know Christ have, and I fear for what would happen or be said to her should she ever become one of Christ's own. How will those of us who have NEVER walked in her shoes react to her? We will support or will we... well... NOT?

Granted, God has not moved her heart in this direction yet.... but I keep praying and hoping... But also wondering...

How do we as a church, and/or as a people of God, meet the Rahab's and Uzziah's wives of this world when God calls them out of it?

Bible Reading Plans

Since it's the New Year and people tend to make resolutions....I thought a good one is always the plan to read through the bible in a year.

There are a number of plans out there. I thought I'd list a few of them here.

Back to the Bible.

ESV, Through the bible in a year.

Bible Plan which I am most familiar with. UPDATE! They also carry M'Cheyne's bible study plan.

This site, called Heartlight, lists a few different plans.

Nav Press has their plans.

And if you want to know why this is all important, check out this page.

Have a happy new year my dear readers. It's been fun over this past year. Let us, in the New Year, continue to learn about this great God that we serve, and how we can bring him glory in all that we do.