Trying an experiment

Today I worked hard.

I moved our woodpile that was scattered around our shed into one long row under our hedge. Keeps all our wood together and it's nicely piled hopefully into piles that won't fall over. (really really hope they won't fall over).

Anyways, I'm not a professional woodstacker. :)

Well, in my removing and stacking of wood, I discovered a nest of wee field mice. Knowing mice as I do, I know that a wild field mouse WON'T come back to a rather badly disturbed nest so I removed the babies to discover that they are about the same age as my wee ones upstairs.

Thus began a quick on-line search. How does one care for wee babies about two weeks old. I learned hey...put them with a nursing momma...and 8 times out of ten she'll care for them alongside her own (as long as she's not too badly outnumbered). And since Aunty mouse appears to be nursing the babies as well.....

Being a somewhat kind-hearted individual I am hoping that my two girlies will foster these babies. We'll have to wait and see. I really hope they'll be fine.. they just have to survive one week and then eyes will be open, they'll be co-ordinated and they'll be eating grains and apples and such like. AND then.......

Then I can raise them to be big enough to be well um, be eaten by the dogs! (yes, I'm nasty) :) What can I say.. they are WILD mice. They are indeed as my hubbie would say.. VERMIN! And well... one does not encourage vermin to stick around does one?

Anyways, that's my story of the day. :)

I have learned...

A couple of days ago I had a day that just didn't go well for me at all. I woke up feeling battered by life, and went to bed feeling battered by life. Why? Well...by the end of the day I was starting to feeling a bit more like myself again, but then I took a HARD tumble and it just all fell apart on me. I absolutely hate having days like that. When I have to fight so hard just to maintain an outward sense of equilibrium and "okayness". They do not happen often... which I can really say "thank God" for (and not in the worldly sense of saying it but in a heartfelt Christian way of saying it). But I do simply despise those days.

So today I looked at the scripture I was to read and thought..cool! James! we get to start reading James. :) I don't know, but I do enjoy the book of James. :) But then Psalm 55 caught my attention.

My first thought was... neat... another chance to learn to pray more deeply. It amazes me how often I read in books, granted many of them fiction, wherein people mention that they use the psalms to broaden or deepen their prayer life, or even to learn HOW to pray. Rather neat I think how God "planned" it that way. :) So my using them often in that regard isn't a new thing.

Granted this whole prayer doesn't really seem to fit, but some of it does. The whole crying out to God to hear me, to attend to me and answer me because I am moaning in my complaint. That fits! Or at least it fit well a couple of days ago. :)

1Give ear to my prayer, O God,
and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
2Attend to me, and answer me;
I am restless in my complaint and I moan,

All I wanted to do two days ago was to run away and hide somewhere. To just escape from life and this place and just everything. I felt SO battered within.

4My heart is in anguish within me;
the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
5Fear and trembling come upon me,
and horror overwhelms me.
6And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest;
7yes, I would wander far away;
I would lodge in the wilderness;

I have learned from previous dealings with this, that I can't do that. and that if I try God will do something to make me stay at home (like have my car break down or my dog get sick or something). Yes it's true, he's done it! So I don't run and hide even if I want to very badly.

8I would hurry to find a shelter
from the raging wind and tempest."

What I have learned, is the very best thing to do? Call out to God as I keep myself very busy at home doing drudgery type things (two days ago I cleaned out the garage). :) Doing that type of thing frees up my mind to just talk with God. To think about his promises to care for me, to provide me with what I need for the moment and so forth.

16But I call to God,
and the LORD will save me.
17Evening and morning and at noon
I utter my complaint and moan,
and he hears my voice.
18He redeems my soul in safety
from the battle that I wage,
for many are arrayed against me.
19God will give ear and humble them,
he who is enthroned from of old,
Selah

because they do not change
and do not fear God.

Oh but I have oft relearned that turning to the Lord is the best thing I can do. I can say with the Psalmist:

22Cast your burden on the LORD,
and he will sustain you;
he will never permit
the righteous to be moved.

I can say "but I will trust in you".

Blessed indeed be the name of the Lord.

God is Holy, do not offend him

I was reading in Numbers 16 and I was, once again, stunned by what God does.

You know, there are times when I think Christians today take God too lightly. They seem to think, I can do whatever I want, do whatever I think and God won't really care. As long as I go to church on Sunday and act good for the most part, life will be just hunky dory for me.

People fail to consider that the God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament. God doesn't change. He still burns with anger when people defy him willingly.

In Numbers 16 we learn about Korah and his cohorts Dathan and Abiram. He was a Levite. He wasn't happy with this position in life. He wanted to be priest. He was angry about it. He saw Moses as leader of the Israelites and he questioned Moses right to do so. So Moses told Korah and his cohorts just who it was he dealing with. God himself!

"Hear now, you sons of Levi: 9is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, 10and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? 11Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?"

It was God who made these decisions. It was God who chose the sons of Levi to be servers in the temple. It wasn't the decision of Aaron or Moses. Moses led the people by GOD's choosing.

So Moses let God once again do the choosing. The people presented themselves before God.

20And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 21"Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment."

God wanted them all dead! He was not pleased. But Moses interceded.

22And they fell on their faces and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?" 23And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24"Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."

The people separated themselves from Korah, Dathan and Abiram.

27So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. 28And Moses said, "Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. 29If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me. 30But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD."

And can you imagine it? God did it!

31And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods.

God took them away. This source of rebellion and anger among the Israelites was just gone! Everyone else was greatly afeared (not that I blame them .... I'd have done the same)

34And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up!"

Not only that, God showed judgement against the men themselves who has stood with them. Just the men, not all their families.

35And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.

God used this experience to remind the people that he was holy. And that which is offered to the Lord is holy. And that only those whom the Lord chooses may burn incense before him.

39So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar, 40to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his company--as the LORD said to him through Moses.

How quickly though the people forget. THE VERY NEXT DAY the people were grumbling against Moses again! And God was angry. God acted swiftly telling Moses and Aaron to get away from them. Moses again interceded for the people, but by the time he acted, many people had died.

And they fell on their faces. 46And Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD; the plague has begun." 47So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 48And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. 49Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died in the affair of Korah. 50And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped.

The Lord acts! He sometimes, as in this case, acts swiftly. Sometimes he takes his time for he is slow to anger and abounding in mercy. But our God is a holy God. We must needs remember this. Do not offend his holiness.

Read his word. Follow it. Don't change it to suit your thoughts and ideas. Remember that the God we serve is GOD and none else. God is God and he is holy.

Encouragement and Example

I have to admit, today I feel a bit battered. Don't know why, just do. I feel distant from God, from the world, like I could just run away and hide somewhere.... but I don't have that luxury. I have a hubbie and child to care for. God has given me responsibilities in life and I must needs meet them.

I know that the best thing I can do when I feel like this is to merely cry out to God for refreshment, fulfillment and most importantly forgiveness.

And then today I also read from Hebrews 12 :

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

See the encouragement that has been placed before me? To just keep, keeping on.

In my study on 1 Thessalonians that I have with a couple other ladies I was struck by how God lets us imitate others and in turn has others imitate us.

6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

So I can't let myself get bogged down by what I think or feel. It doesn't really reflect reality. God LOVES ME. He has set a clear and straight path before me. All I need to do is keep going. If I look to Christ I am enabled to set aside that which bogs me down, that which slows my progress, and know that Christ will indeed perfect my faith, for he is the one that it is founded upon. If I follow the encouragement that the Hebrews author places before me, then I can be the encouragement that others might need. I can be one that others can imitate. If I don't, then what kind of example am I?

Anyways, that's where I'm at today. All Praise and Glory be to God.

Today's cry of my heart

This Psalm eloquently speaks the cry of my heart this day. I will let it speak for itself.

Psalm 51

1Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!

3For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Confidence for When You Doubt

This picture came in an email from a good friend.

It was captioned "Confidence for when you doubt"
Made me smile. Hope it makes you smile as well! :)

Seven Random Things

I was tagged by Kim at Upward Call so...here goes. :)

Here's how it goes:
Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. You need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I come from a family of six children. Three boys, three girls. I was sandwiched in the middle. One of the things I learned growing up was the family was important. Got to know cousins, aunts, uncles and so forth. Lots of family connections since my dad was one of 8 children most of whom lived close enough to visit. Mom's family would visit from The Netherlands frequently as well.

2. I like critters. We currently have as pets, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 5 mice (okay 5 fancy mice, 3 field mice), 3 guinea pigs, and several tanks of fish. If the place was big enough I'd have a whole menagerie...chickens, goats, sheep, rabbits... and so forth.

3. Grew up on a farm. If I had my druthers I'd still be on a farm, milking cows, showing them too! And have a petting zoo (hopefully open and licensed for public but have heard that outrageously expensive insurance wise). But I"m not there at this point in my life and have learned to be content with what I've been given.

4. I love getting stuff for free or very very cheap. I will rarely turn down something that is offered me...even if it's just for me to take and then pass along to someone else. :) I love going to auction sales, buying the stuff no one else wants and then selling it at a garage sale and making a profit. Too cool that! Had the joy today of finding a new home for my myrtle/vinca/periwinkle (whatever you want to call it - apparently there are discrepancies in the name-calling) to a young lady who has a postage size yard and wants to cover it in ground cover. :) YEAH! It's mostly gone!

5. I like reading, a lot. But for the first few weeks every spring I do remarkably little of it. I have to get my garden in, I have mow the lawn, I have to get out and enjoy the nice weather, I have to prune, plant, trim, move ........ You get the drift. By the time night falls I'm too exhausted to read and usually crash into bed. This year I have the added benefit of an active toddler manipulating my days too! Ah... for a chance to read.....

6. When I do read I usually have lots of books on the go. Usually one (or two) fantasy. One non-fiction (usually religious but not always). And one murder mystery. Oh..and usually the book club book too! If one book gets particularly fascinating I finish it as fast as I can. :) Otherwise I take my time and depends on the mood I am in.

7. ACK>>>> what can I do for seven? Okay.. random thought... I just built a mouse house! It seems fool proof at the moment (no mice have escaped) and boy proof (he hasn't the strength to lift concrete blocks yet). I get to listen to MOUSE MOUSE when I'm outside. When I'm in the house, the litter we have squeaks at me. I find it fun, neat, cute to listen too! :) And no, they are NOT staying in the house, they shall be leaving, but they don't even have their eyes open yet! Patience is a good thing here.....

Who to tag, who to tag...
Sara from the Hemmeke
Kim from Hiraeth
Vicki at Windows to My Soul
Even So at Voice of Vision
Janice at Pressing On

And I don't know who else to tag. Most anyone else I would do has been done already so.. I can't really do them again can I? If so..go for it Connie and Jen. :)

Started to read through the book of Isaiah this morning. Here in chapter one I found these words. They just seemed to shout out at me this morning.

12"When you come to appear before me,
who has required of you
this trampling of my courts?
13Bring no more vain offerings;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations--
I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
14Your new moons and your appointed feasts
my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
15When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
17learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow's cause.

What does God really want from us? Does he want us to sacrifice to him? Does he want us to pray without action? Just what does God want from us?

God was faced with a nation of people who claimed his name and yet basically did whatever they wanted. Sure, they offered sacrifices and kept all the right ceremony and feasts. But they lived for themselves alone. So God wanted NOTHING to do with them. He hid himself from them. He was so weary of what they did.

Hmm... sometimes makes me think it's like that today. All these people who claim the name of Christ, and yet don't live that way.

I have to admit...sometimes I fall into that category. Just living my day without giving a lot of thought to God. God wants more from me that empty words and selfish actions.

God wants us to Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes.

That is what God wants from us. Without being clean, everything we do is tainted. Without being clean our prayers and sacrifices and deeds are all tainted and God will hide himself from us.

God wants me to live a clean life. He wants me to not be tainted. He doesn't want to hide from me. He wants me to seek him, to find him, to know him.

So how do we get clean?
We get clean through Christ. He was the ultimate sacrifice. He made an end to animal sacrifices. He gave us the way through Christ. We simply have to say, Lord, I need you. Without you I am nothing. We need to trust him and the word that he will do through us by the Holy Spirit. When we see our need for Christ, and when we trust him to be our high priest, our King, our Saviour, then God will no longer hide himself from us.

When we trust Christ, when we turn to God for the answers, then doing the deeds of him become so much easier. Deeds such as

• ceasing to do evil,
• learning to do good;
• seeking justice,
• correcting oppression;
• bringing justice to the fatherless,
• pleading the widow's cause.

I am so thankful that I was brought up in a Christian home. It didn't prevent me from doing some really stupid things in my life. It didn't prevent me from , for a season, turning away from Christ. But it did give me the grounding to come back to him. I knew that I really did have a home, a real eternal home, to turn back to when I realized that what I was doing wasn't enough for me. AND knowing Christ, getting to know God better, does make the rest so much easier to do. To care for others, to see need and want to answer it.

Answer the call here that God makes through Isaiah. Wash yourself clean. Turn from your wicked ways. Seek God. Call out to him. Don't make God hide himself from you.

The Old Is Obsolete

When I was reading in Hebrews 8 this morning I had a book I was reading floating through my memory.

Paul tells us in Hebrews that 13In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The old is obsolete. It's time is over.

The book that I am reading is a work of fiction but it alludes to the time of Christ. When the power of the Pharisees over the people was great. It alludes to the stress that was placed on the people as they strove to obey God's laws and offer the proper sacrifices and so forth. It made me think how when something passes, or it's time to just go, how it can fight so hard to stay and be relevant.

BUT GOD.... he brought a new way. He knew the faults of the Old Covenant, he knew that he had something better in store for his people.

7For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

Christ is better. He is. He is better than following a bunch of laws, of being bound up in the "you shall nots". Christ is You Shall. Christ is You are Loved. Christ is Follow me. The laws now show us when we are not following him. Christ ministers to us.

6But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

Christ's ministry to us is better because it reasoned on better promises. God promises that we will be his children. God promises that we can live forever with him.

We don't have to bound up in the have to's and should's. All we have to do is follow our oldest brother in the Lord. That's all we have to do. He is our high priest, our King and our Saviour.

They followed the Lord

I was reading in Numbers 9 this morning and came across this section.

15On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 16So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 17And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. 18At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the LORD they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did not set out. 20Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they remained in camp; then according to the command of the LORD they set out. 21And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. 22Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. 23At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses.

God was with them by fire and pillar of cloud. They could always see him.

Through God they knew which way to do. They followed him. That is simply what the people of Israel needed to do. Follow God.

They waited on him. If God chose to linger a spell, they lingered. If God chose to hasten on, they hastened.

I read that and was struck by how different that is today.
People want so much to do things in their own time, in their own way, the idea of following God and going where he wants them to RIGHT NOW seems to have been lost. If God says wait, it often seems like it is fought.

I am guilty of this myself. I am often so impatient and just want things done my own way, at my own speed, when I desire to do it. It's wrong. It's not doing what I should be doing.. following the example that Christ left for us.

Christ... who willingly came down to earth.
Christ... who willingly died for us.

WHY? Because God so desired it.

I need to be more like the Israelites were... willing to wait and move at the Lord's behest, not my own.

Book Review - My First Counting Book

This book by Lillian Moore, published as a little golden book, is one of the nicest 'counting' books I have come across.

Each picture has a rhyme that works. it's just not "here are three bears" or "twelve cats".

Justin says "cat" and I know it's this book he wants to look at and read with mommy. Usually three times in a row. :) It has become part of his bedtime routine for now.

God is our Hope.

Isn't this a neat psalm?

I struggled this morning to find time to read through my devotional readings, so I looked at them before bed. Read this Psalm and thought....what a neat psalm. :) God vindicates us. God delivers us from the bad people around us. God brings us to himself. God is our hope.

Psalm 43

Send Out Your Light and Your Truth

1Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
2For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?

3Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
4Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.

5Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.

Short book Meme

Short Book Meme

Hmm. I've been tagged. Always happy to join in when it's about books! Thanks Jen!

Name three characters (from books)...
1). You wish were real so you could meet them.

Oh my, this isn't so easy.
Piglet from Winnie the Pooh. Such a scared little fellow but always there for his mates.

FitzChizalry Farseer, from the Robin Hobb farseer trilogy. Infected with both farseer magic and beast magic...his life takes all kinds of twists and spins and he ends up having more heart than you would imagine.

Menolly from Anne MacCaffrey's books. What can I say? Strong women character with the ability to fly a dragon.

Oh..and can I mention a fourth? (now that I'm on a role) Kay Scarpetta from Patricia Cornwell medical examiner thrillers. Strong woman, solves mysteries, fun.


2). You would like to be.

Hmmm....harder one this..
Who would I like to be?
Jaxom - yes, he's a guy, but he's this unsuspecting little guy, caught between two worlds who goes out of the way to break the rules in order to save another being. Oh, he's a character in Anne MacCaffrey's books.

Heidi - the whole world knows Heidi. Didn't she do a good job of caring for her friends and relations? :)

Timothy - (this one is for Justin). My boy loves this character by Rosemary Wells and he's a good one. Cares for his friends, can be mischievous, and is just a nice little coon. I could be him no probs! :)


3). Who scare you.

The unsleighe elves. no question on that. Loving to torture people just because it's fun. Fortunately written in a way I don't feel the pain that they inflict and their parts in books are usually small.

The bad guys in Steven Lawhead's first trilogy that I read. I have never re-read those books because I so disliked the bad guys. Don't know why I haven't tossed them out!

Kellerman wrote a book called Bad Love. The "bad guy" in that book was very bad. Pretended to be one thing, ended up being this nasty nasty fellow. Would NOT want to ever meet him. This book I even tossed after reading it (spent money on it to that's the shame). Just didn't want to risk reading of him again.

For a short time lower than the angels

in Hebrews 2 we find these words

1Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Since this chapter started with a "therefore" that means I have to go back to chapter one to find out why this "therefore" exists.

In chapter one I learned that

1Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

The rest of the chapter went on to explain the various ways that Jesus was better than the angels. Jesus was begotten by God, Jesus was God's son, Jesus was worshiped by the angels, the angels have a particular function, Jesus will reign forever, Jesus has been anointed by God, and Jesus will always be around, from beginning to no end.

So just who are the angels?

14Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

So when the writer to Hebrews tells us

1Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

We must needs pay attention to it. If we believe the angels, we should much more believe Christ. Jesus is far greater than the angels. If the angels could distribute retribution for failing to listen to them, how much more retribution could Jesus deliver?

I needed to think about that for a moment or two.

God has done all kinds of things to show us salvation.
he has given us different signs and wonders. He declared it! He distributed gifts through the Holy Spirit. Let me not, let us not, neglect such a great salvation!

Imagine this... Jesus, who I know from the first chapter was higher and greater and better than the angels, for a short time, was made less than the angels.

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Why? So that "by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone."

Jesus, higher than the angels, worthy of glory, reigns forever, made lower than the angels so that he might taste death for me! That he might taste death for you!

We don't have to die. He died for us.

Through death Christ destroyed the one who has power of death (ie Satan).
Through death Christ removed me from slavery.
Through death Christ helped me, not the angels, so that is why he became human.
Becoming human made Christ the merciful and faithful high priest that he is. Able to help me in/through all things.

14Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Just think, Christ did this for me.

Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

Today's reading in Psalm 37.

This Psalm of David opens up reminding people to not worry themselves about the evil people around them. They shouldn't fret, they shouldn't be envious of them. We should instead remember that they are like grass...soon to fade.

David then goes on to remind us about what we should do.

• We should trust in the Lord and do good. Don't just trust God and sit around the house. Do something, do something good!
• We are to dwell in the land. God gave it to us. Live in it. Make it your home.
• We are to befriend faithfulness. Not sure what that means... does that mean we make faithfulness a priority, or that we make friends of faith-filled people?
• We are to delight in the Lord! Delighting in the Lord, and he will give us the desires of our heart. Did you ever notice, that when one is truly delighting in the Lord, how his desires become your desires? Neat how that works.
• We are to commit our ways to the Lord. Trust him. He will act.
• He is the Lord, he will show what we are - bringing forth our righteous and justice.

Instead of the fret that this psalm opened with, instead we to be still before the Lord.
Ah...just being still. Waiting, resting...being quiet within.
Certainly is a lot nicer than the tension one gets from worry and fret or anger.

I have to admit, I love this line: Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

Do you see what worry does? It leads to evil. It's takes your eyes, mind, spirit off God and puts them on something else. God wants us being still before him. Fretting/worrying is not doing that. It's focusing on something other than God and that scripture tells us is leading to evil.

Good reminder for me. Some days I'm prone to worrying about how I will do everything or get it all done and so on and so forth ... AHHHHH not good for me, for my relationship with God, and does nothing for the peace and quiet within this house.

Much of this Psalm has seemed a contrast between the permanence of those who love the Lord and live the way he wants them to and those who don't. The wicked shall not last. These verses seem to sum that up well.

27Turn away from evil and do good;
so shall you dwell forever.
28For the LORD loves justice;
he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
29The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell upon it forever.

34Wait for the LORD and keep his way,
and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

37Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
for there is a future for the man of peace.
38But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

Let me, let us, live the way God wants us to. In stillness before him. Doing good. Living in righteousness and justice. Delighting in God, knowing he will bring us our heart's desire.

Works for me Wednesday - seed keeper

I was out with my hubbie the other day at a gardening shop.
I was browsing through their catalogue and noticed they sell a product called a seed keeper.

I thought..wow...interesting idea! But whoa...too much money for me.
But as I was looking at it I thought...hmmm.... A good old photoalbum should work just as well.

Get one of those albums that have the picture pockets, put the seed packs in them. Saves keeping seeds in an old clementine container. Keeps everything nice neat and tidy. AND I'll be able to store by group too. Like all the lettuce goes on one page, peas on another and so forth. And should be able to do this for less than $10. Pretty neat huh?

I like it!
I will do this!
Should work for me!

Philemon

My brain is as scatterbrained as ever this morning. Trying to focus on actually doing my devotions was an exercise in patience this morning. More on God's part than on mine...but hey, through the Spirit's guidance...here I am!

Philemon. A small book, written by Paul with Timothy at his side.
Paul at this point in his life was a prisoner. And he states very simply that he was a prisoner FOR CHRIST JESUS. That's why he was in jail.

Do you ever stop to ponder that...even for a moment. What would you do if you had to go to jail for Christ? For simply believing in him?

i have to admit. I don't often ponder this. Sometimes I think it would be good for the church for us to ponder this a bit, or even to have to face it. To face having to make our faith real. For being bold enough to say "i am a Christian" regardless of what we might have to face.

It's very real for some of our Christian brethern. Do we ever really think about it?
Be honest. Would it change what you do, what you think? Would it change the importance that God has in your life?

I honestly think that it would me.
To know that what I say, do or think makes a difference. Really makes a difference and isn't just seen as another "oddity" of Annette's. I try to show others that my faith is real and important. I don't know that I always succeed. I want others to see that I would die for Christ if he asked me to....even while I know that I still find somethings in my life hard to give up for Christ. I do! It's a paradox.

ANyways, this post is about this whole book, not just a couple of lines.

Book is written to Philemon, Apphia, Archippus and their house church.

Paul is filled with thankfulness for them. Why?

4I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints, 6and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 7For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

Mmmmm .... to get a letter like this. If I knew someone was in prison for Christ, and they wrote me a letter saying how much they appreciated how I lived out my faith for Christ, I would be so honoured and appreciative. I would want to really listen to what they had to say. To know that how I lived my life filled another with joy and comfort, particularly if they were in jail for the sake of Christ? Wow....

Gives me the thought that this is one way we can support the persecuted church. Don't take our faith for granted. Try to live our lives in such a way that their sacrifice is not in vain. Let us live lives that bring joy and comfort to our imprisoned brethern. Wouldn't that be great?

Paul continues this letter with a request: could they take Onesimus back? Could they make him part of their fellowship? Don't hold his past against him. Please treat him like you would me. Any wrongs he has done to you, please, credit them to my account. He is one of your own, please, take him back as a beloved fellow believer.

Paul writes how confident he is in their obedience. He writes about how he wants some benefit from them, benefit from them in the Lord. He wants them to refresh his heart in Christ. Do this he urges. It will help me, and will restore one of your own to you.

With these verses he closes this small book.

21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

Paul looks forward to being released sometime from prison and being able to meet with them. He fully believes they will do more than he has asked of them.

Wow...getting a letter like this would certainly inspire me to do that! To take in a lost fellow believer, one who has harmed me might be hard, but seeing the confidence expressed in me by a mature believer would certainly help me work hard at it! Wouldn't it you?

Perpetuating Falsehood

I really really wish when people sent on emails that they would check first to see if the things in them were accurate or not. I know that most of the time it is just ignorance, that people don't know that emails can and should be verified and there are places to do so.

This one by "julie andrews" was sent to me this morning.

To commemorate her 69th birthday on October 1,2006 actress/vocalist, Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP. One of the musical numbers she performed was "My Favorite Things" from the legendary movie "Sound Of Music".

Here are the lyrics she used:

"Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting, Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings, Bundles of magazines tied up in string, These are a few of my favorite things.

Cadillacs and cataracts, and hearing aids and glasses, Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses, Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings, These are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak,
When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions, No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions, Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring, These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no need for sinnin', Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin', and we won't mention our short shrunken frames, When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache,
When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had, And then I don't feel so bad."

I checked it out here.
What they in essence said was that due to a badly botched surgery, Julie Andrews could not have sung this ditty.
What people were supposed to do with this tune was pretend they were Ms. Andrews singing this song to the tune of "My Favourite Things". People changed it somehow into Ms.Andrews actually singing it.
What they in essence said was, that sending this email was perpetuating falsehood.

Places to check out emails are sites such as Urban Legends and Truth or Fiction.

Why is this so important to me?

What does it say about us as Christian believers if we willing send forward items that are falsehoods.

Excuses of>>>

• but what harm does it do anyways?
• it might help someone
• I don't have time to check it out
• what does it really matter

Consider...it does matter.
Consider...how does it help someone to tell a lie about a need, the next time a real need comes along... who's going to believe it's real?
Consider...you had enough time to read it, you have a enough time to send it, doesn't take long to check emails out
Consider...It does matter. Do you want the name of Christ to be associated with falsehood?

Tick Warning

I have to admit, I've received this one several times. The first time I got it, I laughed out loud. It does get a bit old after a while, but I thought it might provoke a smile or two this morning. :)

___________________________________________________

TICK WARNING!


I hate it when people forward bogus warnings, and I have even done it myself a couple times, but this one is important.

So please send this warning to everyone on your e-mail list.

If someone comes to your front door saying they are checking for ticks due to the warming weather and asks you to take your clothes off and dance around with your arms up...


DO NOT DO IT!! IT IS A SCAM!!
They only want to see you naked...
I wish I'd gotten this yesterday. I feel so stupid.

My Latest Diagnosis

I was just diagnosed with A. A. A. D. D. - Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder. This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden. As I turn on the hose in the driveway, I look over at my car and decide my car needs washing.

As I start toward the garage, I notice that there is mail on the porch table that I brought up from the mailbox earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys down on the table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.

But then I think, since I'm going to be near the mailbox, when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table, and see that there is only 1 check left.

My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Coke that I had been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the Coke aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. I see that the Coke is getting warm, and I decide I should put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Coke, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye; they need to be watered.

I set the Coke down on the counter, and I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning.

I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill a container with water and suddenly I spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV, I will be looking for the remote, but I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor. So, I set the remote back down on the table, get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day; the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm can of Coke sitting on the counter, the flowers don't have enough water, there is still only 1 check in my check book, I can't find the remote, I can't find my glasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today. I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.

Don't laugh! if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!

GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. LAUGHING AT YOURSELF IS THERAPEUTIC.

P.S. I just remembered. I LEFT THE WATER RUNNING IN THE DRIVEWAY!