Anyway, I keep digressing on Emily Dickinson. Here is a video.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Tenth Avenue North
Anyway, I keep digressing on Emily Dickinson. Here is a video.
It has been a long time.
Lately, I feel as though the fervor I had for God's word a year ago has faltered. Now I seem to spend more time on Hulu or HGTV's website than in the Bible. I still have been trying to read. I have been reading Psalms. Psalms is also like a verbal outlet. David expresses his emotions, even when they are not steadfast. He is fearful, then hopeful, in anguish and then joy. He feels abandoned by God then calls God is rock. I can relate to David's emotions. At times I feel fearful, other times hopeful, sometimes in anguish, and other times in complete joy. Overall, though, I can agree with David when he says in Psalms 18:2 "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
I hope to regain my focus on this rock. Hello again DVT.
THE "BIG STEW"
He's the biggest.
The greatest.
He breaks all records of cuteness.
He takes on any challenge.
He survived the fire and falling down the steps.
He makes Puss in Boots look like a heap of garbage.
He is STEWART "The Big Stew" ...I don't know his last name.....CAT!
Introducing our new kitten, Stewart. We got him when he was very small...I mean, that is my knee. He is the size of my knee cap. Then he got really fat and became Georgia's play toy. Okay, she fights then licks his head. She loves him.
The greatest.
He breaks all records of cuteness.
He takes on any challenge.
He survived the fire and falling down the steps.
He makes Puss in Boots look like a heap of garbage.
He is STEWART "The Big Stew" ...I don't know his last name.....CAT!
Introducing our new kitten, Stewart. We got him when he was very small...I mean, that is my knee. He is the size of my knee cap. Then he got really fat and became Georgia's play toy. Okay, she fights then licks his head. She loves him.
What is the less cheesy way of saying a "New Chapter"?
I think it might be too late in the evening to think up a better analogy. I will come up with one later, probably when the computer is already turned off. I always do that. I figure out something really clever to say once the moment has already passed. I call it retrowit. Anyways...cheesy new chapter...that is the title, my friend, so we shall talk about this new chapter. It involves one trailer, 15 boxes, 6 cans of fresh paint, three interviews, 5 new keys, and a new mattress.
The move.
It has gone well. It is exciting. I miss my friends, but I love my boyfriend. It feels so natural, living together. Like a dance we are supposed to do.And...get this ladies...he said I get my way in decorating. Well, he vetoed dark brown in the kitchen, but I will take that as a smart suggestion. But still, I get to make this house my masterpiece. It has become my job...I love it.
Here is my progress:
Living Room = 30%
Kitchen = 50%
Master Bedroom = 15%
Second Bedroom = 5 %
Office = 5%
Upstairs Bathroom = 90%
Not too bad. Well, not a great report card, but it is only ...week 3. Holy crap its week 3! We have lived together for 2 whole weeks AND no blood shed. Round of applause, please. Oh yeah, that's right I was just saying a dance that we were supposed to do. : )
Here's the progress in the upstairs bathroom.
FROM THIS
See my "picking a paint color" technique. Yeah. I didn't pick any of those colors.
TO THIS...
Kyle picked this soap dispenser and I was inspired. I bought the shower curtain and hangers the same day. At first, I was going to paint it a rust color, Kyle said he hated it. So last minute I went for this goldish yellow. Add a painting by yours truly, a few birds, and some old box shelves I bought in college and BAM...not too bad of a masterpiece upstairs bathroom.
Wait...Kyle does put in his opinion. Hmmmm...eh...I will keep him anyway.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
God Can Beat Cancer
God I admit, I am afraid.
I am not sure if up until this point I have been pulling from a well of hope, insisting that my Aunt would get better or if I have just been pushing the whole situation to the side, trying not to think about it. But I feel the situation in my heart more than ever before. I can tell that lately something isn't right. I am feeling bad about myself, I am cynical, quick to anger and frustration, and very doubtful. I prayed today for God to refill me. To pour hope and faith back into my cup so that this flaw upon my character can be healed. I miss feeling close to God. I feel like there is something blocking my way. Like that song by Jimmy Needham says, "I need you like a hurricane." I need to regain my hope in the prayer for healing that I have prayed so many times.
I was reading another some writing about Biblical healing. One writer, after reminding us of Mark 6:36 - "Be not afraid, only believe" - said Jesus knew that miracles and healings happen on purpose not by chance. They happen when people believe God, act on his Word and refuse to doubt. It is amazing how often we attribute the happenings in our lives to our good decisions, to our parents, to doctors, to teachers, to friends, or even to fate or luck; but, we may often forget to attribute all these things - good and bad - to God and his infitnite ability and wisdom. If I beleive my Aunt to heal, she will be healed. But if I doubt it, if I think God too busy or too little than I will minimize his ability to heal her and the miracle may not happen. Remission doesn't happen by chance. It doesn't even happen with a load of drugs or a diet of asparagus. IT HAPPENS ON PURPOSE BY GOD!!!
I needed to say that. I needed to scream it through all caps across the internet. I needed to remind God and myself that I am believing my Aunt to be healed, just like those lepers believed Jesus could heal them. They were healed, as will be my Aunt. So I thank God this instance for his love, compassion, and fullfilled promises. Thank you Lord for healing Robin Johnson - work in her heart, take away her pain, and keeps us full of faith in your promises and word.
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53.5
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
In all things - Big and Small
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3 & 4)
I used to think that I only needed to turn to God when I was completely lost of hurt or desperate. I not only thought that those were the only times I needed to turn to him,but, and I do not admit this eagerly, I used to think those were the only times when he had his attention on me. I couldn't worry God with little matters like a big test, a bill that needed to be paid, or a small ailment of the body. I couldn't bother him with things that weren't life-threatening, heart-breaking, or eternally important. Even though one of my favorite verses in the Bible (1 Peter 5:7) says to cast ALL your anxieities on Him for He cares for you, I always thought that meant big anxietities, you know the important stuff.
However, I saw that verse out into practice in a different way by the women in my Bible study group. At the end of each Bible study, these women would offer up prayer requests. Some would ask for healing for a very ill friend, reconciliation in a marriage, or wisdom in a new business deal. Their voices were filled with concern and need and I understood why they needed prayer. However, other women would ask for a fun time at the beach, healing for a bruised foot, or Christian friends for their kids. At first I thought, well I hope God heals the person with the life-threatening illness before he worries about a bruised foot. Now, as I write this, I realize how horrible of a thing that is to say. By imagining God as if he is like a human physician with a waiting room and only time for the major cases, I put a limit on God's ability. Any prayer I made for that woman's bruised foot would have been compromised since I basically said God couldn't do it because he was too busy with the big stuff. I see that that isn't the correct idea about how God works.
Joel Osteen told a story about his father once praying that the trunk of his car open after it got stuck right before a conference. His father needed sound equipment that was inside the trunk and when he couldn't open it himself, he said a prayer over it. The people with him thought he was crazy to pray for a trunk to open. They probably thought as I did: it isn't important enough to bother God with. I can just imagine Jesus saying to us, "Oh ye of little faith." But, after the prayer, the trunk opened.
The Bible says God cares about all parts of out lives. He wants us to use faith in everything we do. In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, a part from me you can do nothing." If we do all things - pray, celebrate, travel, eat, etc. - in Jesus we are living a life of faith. No thing is unseen by God. Romans 14:23 describes eating without faith. It reads, "But the man who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not with faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." Big statement.
So now I realize, yes of course we should pray to God when we are desperate or hurt or lost. But we should also use our faith in dealing with all worries and when we try to accomplish every goal. Joyce Meyer states that "there is no part of your life God is not concerned about, and He wants to be involved in everything we want, need, or do. So let him in."
I used to think that I only needed to turn to God when I was completely lost of hurt or desperate. I not only thought that those were the only times I needed to turn to him,but, and I do not admit this eagerly, I used to think those were the only times when he had his attention on me. I couldn't worry God with little matters like a big test, a bill that needed to be paid, or a small ailment of the body. I couldn't bother him with things that weren't life-threatening, heart-breaking, or eternally important. Even though one of my favorite verses in the Bible (1 Peter 5:7) says to cast ALL your anxieities on Him for He cares for you, I always thought that meant big anxietities, you know the important stuff.
However, I saw that verse out into practice in a different way by the women in my Bible study group. At the end of each Bible study, these women would offer up prayer requests. Some would ask for healing for a very ill friend, reconciliation in a marriage, or wisdom in a new business deal. Their voices were filled with concern and need and I understood why they needed prayer. However, other women would ask for a fun time at the beach, healing for a bruised foot, or Christian friends for their kids. At first I thought, well I hope God heals the person with the life-threatening illness before he worries about a bruised foot. Now, as I write this, I realize how horrible of a thing that is to say. By imagining God as if he is like a human physician with a waiting room and only time for the major cases, I put a limit on God's ability. Any prayer I made for that woman's bruised foot would have been compromised since I basically said God couldn't do it because he was too busy with the big stuff. I see that that isn't the correct idea about how God works.
Joel Osteen told a story about his father once praying that the trunk of his car open after it got stuck right before a conference. His father needed sound equipment that was inside the trunk and when he couldn't open it himself, he said a prayer over it. The people with him thought he was crazy to pray for a trunk to open. They probably thought as I did: it isn't important enough to bother God with. I can just imagine Jesus saying to us, "Oh ye of little faith." But, after the prayer, the trunk opened.
The Bible says God cares about all parts of out lives. He wants us to use faith in everything we do. In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, a part from me you can do nothing." If we do all things - pray, celebrate, travel, eat, etc. - in Jesus we are living a life of faith. No thing is unseen by God. Romans 14:23 describes eating without faith. It reads, "But the man who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not with faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." Big statement.
So now I realize, yes of course we should pray to God when we are desperate or hurt or lost. But we should also use our faith in dealing with all worries and when we try to accomplish every goal. Joyce Meyer states that "there is no part of your life God is not concerned about, and He wants to be involved in everything we want, need, or do. So let him in."
Oh me of little faith.
Friday, June 12, 2009
To Forgive - Divine.
I was told a story by a friend of mine about a man, a very well-respected, good, Christian man, who had to come to terms with an obstacle in his life that was blocking him from God. I would like to refer to this man, as I recount this story, as Bob. (I know I am going to get the details wrong, so I will change the name so as to make it almost a fiction-based-on-truth anecdote.)
So, Bob was having troubles with this finances. He was struggling and he just felt like something was off, that something was not right in his life. So, he prayed about it and felt that God was leading him to believe that there was unforgiveness in his heart. Bob said, "No way, God, I am not mad at anyone. I love everybody." But God brought a face to the mind of Bob that made him a little uneasy. It was a co-worker that had made a poor business move at Bob's work that cost Bob and several of his co-workers a dock in their pay. Bob thought, "Oh no way, God. Not that guy. You want me to forgive that guy? Do you know what he did to me?" Bob thought back to how he had been angry with this man, giving him the cold shoulder for almost a year. How this man had selfishly messed with the money that Bob brought home to support his family. Heck, the man never even said he was sorry. But Bob felt a tug at his heart and he thought of Jesus saying, "Bob, you ask if I know what this man has done to you. But do you know what my people did to me?" After that, Bob understood that his unforgiveness was standing between him and God's goodness. He couldn't continue on until he rid his heart of such bitterness.
When Jesus instructs his disciples how to pray, part of that pray sounds like this: "Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors." Mathew 6:12. A few verses later, it states in Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
When it comes to prayer, God's word instructs us to rid our hearts of all unforgiveness before asking of the Lord. Mark 11:25: "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions."
God doesn't say that you should only forgive certain sins or only forgive if those who have hurt you beg for it. He doesn't say only give some one three chances and then that is it - don't forgive them again because they do not deserve it. Luke 17:3-4: "Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
We do not deserve forgiveness and we sin over and over and over again. To ask someone to be perfect and never cause pain or frustration is to say that they don't need Jesus and you would never want to wish a life without Jesus on anyone. However, we know that sinning comes to easy for us - it makes us human, but forgiveness is harder and it comes from God. There is a famous adage that reads: "To err is human, to forgive divine." It rings true. God is the ultimate source of forgiveness. He can help us forgive as he forgives us.
Forgiveness takes time but it is necessary to forgive, in order for God to forgive you and to be close to God. So forgive each other - we all make mistakes. If it doesn't come easily - pray about it and God will lead your heart through it. Remember, vengence is for the Lord, not for man. (Romans 12:19)
Romans 12:21: "Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
So, Bob was having troubles with this finances. He was struggling and he just felt like something was off, that something was not right in his life. So, he prayed about it and felt that God was leading him to believe that there was unforgiveness in his heart. Bob said, "No way, God, I am not mad at anyone. I love everybody." But God brought a face to the mind of Bob that made him a little uneasy. It was a co-worker that had made a poor business move at Bob's work that cost Bob and several of his co-workers a dock in their pay. Bob thought, "Oh no way, God. Not that guy. You want me to forgive that guy? Do you know what he did to me?" Bob thought back to how he had been angry with this man, giving him the cold shoulder for almost a year. How this man had selfishly messed with the money that Bob brought home to support his family. Heck, the man never even said he was sorry. But Bob felt a tug at his heart and he thought of Jesus saying, "Bob, you ask if I know what this man has done to you. But do you know what my people did to me?" After that, Bob understood that his unforgiveness was standing between him and God's goodness. He couldn't continue on until he rid his heart of such bitterness.
When Jesus instructs his disciples how to pray, part of that pray sounds like this: "Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors." Mathew 6:12. A few verses later, it states in Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
When it comes to prayer, God's word instructs us to rid our hearts of all unforgiveness before asking of the Lord. Mark 11:25: "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions."
God doesn't say that you should only forgive certain sins or only forgive if those who have hurt you beg for it. He doesn't say only give some one three chances and then that is it - don't forgive them again because they do not deserve it. Luke 17:3-4: "Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
We do not deserve forgiveness and we sin over and over and over again. To ask someone to be perfect and never cause pain or frustration is to say that they don't need Jesus and you would never want to wish a life without Jesus on anyone. However, we know that sinning comes to easy for us - it makes us human, but forgiveness is harder and it comes from God. There is a famous adage that reads: "To err is human, to forgive divine." It rings true. God is the ultimate source of forgiveness. He can help us forgive as he forgives us.
Forgiveness takes time but it is necessary to forgive, in order for God to forgive you and to be close to God. So forgive each other - we all make mistakes. If it doesn't come easily - pray about it and God will lead your heart through it. Remember, vengence is for the Lord, not for man. (Romans 12:19)
Romans 12:21: "Don't be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
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