In Couples Who Pray, Squire Rushnell and Louise Duart challenge readers to take a 40 Day Challenge to pray together with their better halves. The book opens to explain that praying together is the most intimate act a couple can share. The authors share their personal memories and parts of their lives, and those of other couples that have taken the challenge together. It helps show how beneficial this love and doing is to a relationship. The book offers easy and to the point rules to get you started and only you can really pick the direction your prayers will go together. This is not some perfect list of instructions that has 40 daily prayers that follow them. This is a book designed to encourage you to try the challenge, regardless of your self-consciousness and fear. All of the stories from others lives are there to show inspiration to you to help get you started. We were happy this book wasn't a do this now before you can move on, but more of a general motivation and encouragement for us. The appendix did offer great Bible verses that could easily be used for those that want more support. This was an amazing book that has worked in not only mine but my friends and families lives too.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Book Review for Bittersweet
In this book, Bittersweet, the author, Shauna Niequist, writes about growing through her struggles as she experiences the natural occurrences that most of us experience as we begin our journey in adulthood. Shauna Niequist speaks openly about her experiences and thoughts as she shares her journey as a young adult with family, work, friends, and traveling.
The book is easy to read, many short chapters. For me, I found myself realizing that I am now living some of those moments that she experienced in the earlier years of her adulthood – the struggles, the confusion, the uncertainty and the moments of bliss. I recommend this book to younger women who are considering marriage and motherhood, or young women who are currently living in this stage of life like me.
The book is easy to read, many short chapters. For me, I found myself realizing that I am now living some of those moments that she experienced in the earlier years of her adulthood – the struggles, the confusion, the uncertainty and the moments of bliss. I recommend this book to younger women who are considering marriage and motherhood, or young women who are currently living in this stage of life like me.
Her wisdom and experiences are learning stones to go by and that special friend you need to tell you that it is going to be okay. I have quoted her in my blog, on my social networking pages, to my friends and family—Shauna has a way with words and I am ecstatic that I was given the chance to read her book and learn from her story.
I received this book as a give-away through Librarything.com and Booksneeze.com and I am not required to write a review, positive or negative.
I received this book as a give-away through Librarything.com and Booksneeze.com and I am not required to write a review, positive or negative.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday which is the Tuesday before everyone prepares for Lent. When people prepared for Lenten they used up their eggs, milk and fat up to Fat Tuesday since those items are not allowed during Lent. Pancakes became a traditional way of using these items up, so the day is also known as Pancake Day.
1 Kings 17: 7-24 "Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him; "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please a piece of bread." As surely as the Lord your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it--and die." Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.' " She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah. Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. She said to Elijah, "what do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son? "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on the bed. Then he cried out to the Lord, "O Lord my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die? Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the Lord, "O Lord my God, let this boy's life return to him!" The Lord heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!" Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth."
The story makes you wonder why she said her and her son would die and why she did what Elijah told her to do; I know that you do trust in God to provide for your needs.
The food groups are very important! Everyone should know what the food pyramid is and how many servings they should have each day!
We should also say a prayer for all of the widows, widowers and single parents out there!
The story makes you wonder why she said her and her son would die and why she did what Elijah told her to do; I know that you do trust in God to provide for your needs.
The food groups are very important! Everyone should know what the food pyramid is and how many servings they should have each day!
We should also say a prayer for all of the widows, widowers and single parents out there!
Friday, February 25, 2011
National Music Month
Since it is National Music Month we are going to spend the day listening to our favorite Christian station 93.7 WDJC! Our favorite way to praise the lord is through music.
Psalms 98: 1-9 says "Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the neds of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with the trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn--shout for joy before the Lord, the King. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equality."
Doesn't that just touch your heart?! Just A Little Talk With Jesus is one of our favorite Hymns. It makes me smile when Blake and I sing it while driving down the road and Paxton joins in. I feel like God gets so happy when we sing to him and I feel so energetic when I sing to him all day. You can make a shoebox guitar for your kids to join in and sing along like the one above. They can feel like they are playing the harp like in the verse above. Teach them what a whole note, half note, quarter note and sixteenth note are and make them really feel like they are playing a harp for God.
Ephesians 5:19 states " Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
After reading this and doing the activity I hope you find it in your heart to say a prayer for the musicians in our lives.
Psalms 98: 1-9 says "Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the neds of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with the trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn--shout for joy before the Lord, the King. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equality."
Ephesians 5:19 states " Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
After reading this and doing the activity I hope you find it in your heart to say a prayer for the musicians in our lives.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Coffee-Mate House Party
#CMFFFParties --------I was thankful to be chosen to host a Coffee-Mate House Party, or as my boyfriend calls it- a Hen Party. They sent a box of wonderful goodies and games to play. My friends, family and I had a blast! Drinking coffee with tasty creamers and playing Cranium! I had never played Cranium before or had a chance to sample some of Coffee-Mates Creamers that were really good! I am thankful that we learned a new family game and have tastebuds for certain creamers like Cinnamin Bun and Chocolate Rasperry! Cannot wait to have another Hen Party with the girls :)
Friday, January 28, 2011
Booga Booga
Recently my son and I got to watch The Adventures of Booga Booga Land by Richard Milner, this movie was so touching to us. The beginning of it skipped a little but once it got going my son did not move from the television and was so intrigued by it. I am so glad that www.booksneeze.com was able to send us a copy of this movie. Marty the Monkey was our favorite character, but we enjoyed all of the characters in the movie. I enjoyed watching my son learn about Jesus and how he repeated after the characters, especially Marty and Mr. Squid Squishi; along their journey of 10,000 different jobs, journeys and lessons all made from biblical parables that Jesus taught many years ago. I let my son save a chocolate muffin so he would feel like he got to help them save the chocolate cake. It is hard for me to find cartoons for my son to watch as nothing compares to the famous Veggie Tales; however he did enjoy these at the age of two and I hope that he will be able to understand them better when he gets older and to be able to help teach other children about Jesus. Each part is about 10 minutes long and perfect enough to show one clip at a time and then talk about it to older children and explain to them more on where the cartoons are coming from and make sure they understand it fully.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Columbine Shooting Facts
It happened on April 20, 1999 in Littleton, Colorado by Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, two senior students at Columbine. It happened in the middle of the day with guns, knives and multiple bombs killing 12 students, 1 teacher and the two murderers themselves.
Klebold and Harris met at Ken Caryl middle school in 1993 and both could not make friends in high school. They both got picked on and worked at a pizza parlor together and playing a video game called Doom during their free time. Klebold thought of suicide in 1997 and both boys started planning the massacre in 1998. They had a history of breaking into cars. Their record was expunged after 11 months of workshops, counselors and volunteer projects.
Klebold and Harris hated everyone except a select few people. On Harris's journal he wrote that he hates racists, martial arts experts and people who brag about their cars. He said that Star Wars fans needed to get a life. He stated that he hated people who mispronounces words. He hated slow drivers and the WB Network.
In yearbooks they had drawn out their plots and the people that would die in 1998. There was history found on their computers where they had researched how to make homemade bombs and other explosives. They had eventually got an arsenal of guns, knives, and 99 explosives. There was evidence that they studied the cafeteria nothing that after 11:15 there would be over 500 people. They planned to plant propane bombs to explode at 11:17 and shoot any survivors running out. There was proof that they boys had planned on it happening on April 19th which is the anniversary of the Oklahoma city bombing or April 20th being the 110th anniversary of Adolf Hitlers birthday.
They were friends with those that were in the "Trench Coat Mafia", but were not part of it. They only wore trench coats that day to conceal their weapons.
They arrived at school at 11:10am. At 11:14 they went after the cafeteria carrying 2 20-lb bombs in duffel bags times to go off at 11:17. They went back to their cars and waited for the explosion that didn't go off that would have killed 488 people. Klebold armed with a 9-mm semi-automatic handgun and a 12-gauge double-barrel sawed off shotgun and both boys had utility belts filled with ammo. Klebold had a black glove on his left hand and Harris one on his right hand. They had knives, backpacks and duffel bags full of bombs.
11:19 the 2 pipe bombs they had planted in a field nearby as a distraction went off alerting the police. They started firing their first shots at students outside the lunch room. Immediately, 17 year old Rachel Scott was killed and Richard Castillo was injured. Harris removed his trench coat while they kept firing. A group of boys thought it was a senior prank and paintball guns so they walked right into them; injuring them. They then shot at 5 people in the grass, injuring them. They almost continually kept throwing bombs while shooting. Some students pretended to be dead. A policeman had arrived and exchanged shots with Harris, none were injured.
11:25 They entered the school. They threw 2 pipe bombs in the cafeteria where 52 students and 4 staff were hiding.
11:29 They entered the library. They shouted at everyone to "Get Up", nobody stood up. They asked all of the white caps to stand up, who were the jocks, and nobody did so, so they started firing at everyone. Killed 3 guys under a table, then banged 2 times on a table and said "Peek-a-boo" then shot and killed 1 girl, the kick from the gun broke his nose. 10 were killed in the library, 12 were injured and 34 escaped uninjured.
11:44 they went into the hall then into the cafeteria. They tried to ignite the bombs and couldn't. They shot at the bombs causing a fire but the sprinklers put the fires out.
12 o'clock they went upstairs to the library. 12:02-12:05 they shot out the windows and toward the policeman and paramedics. 12:05-12:08 they shot themselves in their heads. Ending the massacre. It lasted from 10am to Noon. Over 2,000 students were at Columbine that day.
The remaining students were sent to the Elementary school and put on stage for parents to claim. Some were still at the high school and waited hours to be rescued. Klebold and Harris had fired 188 rounds, 76 bombs although only 30 exploded, 13 bombs in their cars and 8 at home didn't explode.
Looking back at the tell tale hints: There are sayings that the video games they played, the journals they kept, the guns and bombs in their rooms- All stuff easily found if the parents had looked in their rooms. Harris had also kept a very hateful website.
Klebold and Harris met at Ken Caryl middle school in 1993 and both could not make friends in high school. They both got picked on and worked at a pizza parlor together and playing a video game called Doom during their free time. Klebold thought of suicide in 1997 and both boys started planning the massacre in 1998. They had a history of breaking into cars. Their record was expunged after 11 months of workshops, counselors and volunteer projects.
Klebold and Harris hated everyone except a select few people. On Harris's journal he wrote that he hates racists, martial arts experts and people who brag about their cars. He said that Star Wars fans needed to get a life. He stated that he hated people who mispronounces words. He hated slow drivers and the WB Network.
In yearbooks they had drawn out their plots and the people that would die in 1998. There was history found on their computers where they had researched how to make homemade bombs and other explosives. They had eventually got an arsenal of guns, knives, and 99 explosives. There was evidence that they studied the cafeteria nothing that after 11:15 there would be over 500 people. They planned to plant propane bombs to explode at 11:17 and shoot any survivors running out. There was proof that they boys had planned on it happening on April 19th which is the anniversary of the Oklahoma city bombing or April 20th being the 110th anniversary of Adolf Hitlers birthday.
They were friends with those that were in the "Trench Coat Mafia", but were not part of it. They only wore trench coats that day to conceal their weapons.
They arrived at school at 11:10am. At 11:14 they went after the cafeteria carrying 2 20-lb bombs in duffel bags times to go off at 11:17. They went back to their cars and waited for the explosion that didn't go off that would have killed 488 people. Klebold armed with a 9-mm semi-automatic handgun and a 12-gauge double-barrel sawed off shotgun and both boys had utility belts filled with ammo. Klebold had a black glove on his left hand and Harris one on his right hand. They had knives, backpacks and duffel bags full of bombs.
11:19 the 2 pipe bombs they had planted in a field nearby as a distraction went off alerting the police. They started firing their first shots at students outside the lunch room. Immediately, 17 year old Rachel Scott was killed and Richard Castillo was injured. Harris removed his trench coat while they kept firing. A group of boys thought it was a senior prank and paintball guns so they walked right into them; injuring them. They then shot at 5 people in the grass, injuring them. They almost continually kept throwing bombs while shooting. Some students pretended to be dead. A policeman had arrived and exchanged shots with Harris, none were injured.
11:25 They entered the school. They threw 2 pipe bombs in the cafeteria where 52 students and 4 staff were hiding.
11:29 They entered the library. They shouted at everyone to "Get Up", nobody stood up. They asked all of the white caps to stand up, who were the jocks, and nobody did so, so they started firing at everyone. Killed 3 guys under a table, then banged 2 times on a table and said "Peek-a-boo" then shot and killed 1 girl, the kick from the gun broke his nose. 10 were killed in the library, 12 were injured and 34 escaped uninjured.
11:44 they went into the hall then into the cafeteria. They tried to ignite the bombs and couldn't. They shot at the bombs causing a fire but the sprinklers put the fires out.
12 o'clock they went upstairs to the library. 12:02-12:05 they shot out the windows and toward the policeman and paramedics. 12:05-12:08 they shot themselves in their heads. Ending the massacre. It lasted from 10am to Noon. Over 2,000 students were at Columbine that day.
The remaining students were sent to the Elementary school and put on stage for parents to claim. Some were still at the high school and waited hours to be rescued. Klebold and Harris had fired 188 rounds, 76 bombs although only 30 exploded, 13 bombs in their cars and 8 at home didn't explode.
Looking back at the tell tale hints: There are sayings that the video games they played, the journals they kept, the guns and bombs in their rooms- All stuff easily found if the parents had looked in their rooms. Harris had also kept a very hateful website.
People who listen!
Do you ever wonder who listens to what and how people know certain things? Here is a list of people that a lot of the time listen to other peoples dirty laundry that is thrown out there:
-Hair Stylists
-Nail Techs.
-Bartenders
-Waitresses
-Preachers
-Teachers
-Salesmen/women
-Classmates
-Cabdrivers
-Bus drivers
-Accountants/Banks
-Cashiers
-Barbers
-Police/Jailers
-Social Workers
-Colleagues
-Mistresses
-Doctors
-Attorneys
-Reality TV shows like Dr. Phil, Opera, Nancy Grace, etc.
-Mail Carriers
-EMS
-Firefighters
-Bill Collectors
-Utility company
-Deliver People
-Unemployment office
-Friend/Family/Neighbor
-Principal
-People at the Gym
-Janitor
-Coaches
-Church Members
-Daycare Members
-People on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Blogs and Email.
-County and Probate Judges
-Elected Officials
There are a lot more but I think this is a pretty good list of them.
-Hair Stylists
-Nail Techs.
-Bartenders
-Waitresses
-Preachers
-Teachers
-Salesmen/women
-Classmates
-Cabdrivers
-Bus drivers
-Accountants/Banks
-Cashiers
-Barbers
-Police/Jailers
-Social Workers
-Colleagues
-Mistresses
-Doctors
-Attorneys
-Reality TV shows like Dr. Phil, Opera, Nancy Grace, etc.
-Mail Carriers
-EMS
-Firefighters
-Bill Collectors
-Utility company
-Deliver People
-Unemployment office
-Friend/Family/Neighbor
-Principal
-People at the Gym
-Janitor
-Coaches
-Church Members
-Daycare Members
-People on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Blogs and Email.
-County and Probate Judges
-Elected Officials
There are a lot more but I think this is a pretty good list of them.
Teachers Good and Bad
I had a teacher in 8th grade that I very much disliked with every passionate bone in my body. She always took extra points off of my homework, classwork and tests for no reason. She would say it was too sloppy or too small or too big; yet she never took points off of anyone else's work like she did mine. If I ever had a question about anything I had to go ask another teacher, because she would laugh at me and tell me that I was dumb and should just not even try to strain my brain that hard. She tried to fail me and told the board that I was dumb and could not read or write. I will have to say she was the worst English teacher I ever had.
I also had a teacher in the 8th grade that I loved very much and could not wait to attend her class everyday. She always praised me and told me what good work I did and that I was a very good writer. I loved it when she would talk about my writing skills. Both of those teachers were moved up to teach high school as my class moved up into the high school. My favorite teacher went from teaching reading to advanced English classes. I will never forget her and how I refused to go to the other teachers class, so that the school was forced to place me in advanced English so that I could have a different teacher. I will not say that I wish I was still in school there, but I am glad that I do not have to deal with that anymore. Although, I do still refer back to my advanced English teacher when I have questions on my college work and when I need her to review my papers before I submit them.
I also had a teacher in the 8th grade that I loved very much and could not wait to attend her class everyday. She always praised me and told me what good work I did and that I was a very good writer. I loved it when she would talk about my writing skills. Both of those teachers were moved up to teach high school as my class moved up into the high school. My favorite teacher went from teaching reading to advanced English classes. I will never forget her and how I refused to go to the other teachers class, so that the school was forced to place me in advanced English so that I could have a different teacher. I will not say that I wish I was still in school there, but I am glad that I do not have to deal with that anymore. Although, I do still refer back to my advanced English teacher when I have questions on my college work and when I need her to review my papers before I submit them.
January 21, 2011
That is my son and I hugging in the snow :)
Monday, January 17, 2011
Prayer with Children
"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all of my life." -Abraham Lincoln...This is the second time I have heard someone speak of their mothers prayers and how it affected them. Do you pray with and infront of your children? If not, then who teaches them to pray? That is something everyone should think about.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
January 16, 2011
Today my special calender states that it is "Do Nothing Day". When I saw that yesterday I just laughed out loud. I thought of all the laundry to be put away, the dishes to be washed, the floors to sweep, mop and scrub (as I do not have any carpet in my home), the homework to prepare for, and the grocery shopping to do. Then I kind of had an AHA moment and decided to go to my boyfriends dads' church and listen to him preach. I woke up this morning and spent all morning getting myself and my son ready, we went to church, then had lunch at the local Mexican restaurant with my boyfriends family, went for a long country drive, spent time with my father, nanny, brothers and nieces, then came home to relax watch Hellboy 1 and 2, and now I am relaxing getting ready for sleep and then a very busy day tomorrow. I find it funny that my calender knew I would do nothing; as much as I may laugh and try to defy my calender. It always knows best! I believe from now on I will do what my calender tells me to do. Ha!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
God and Life
*I believe that God is making all things new. I believe that Christ overcame death and that pattern is apparent all through life and history: life from death, water from a stone, redemption from failure, connection from alienation. I believe that suffering is part of the narrative, and that nothing really good gets built when everything is easy. I believe that loss and emptiness and confusion often give way to new fullness and wisdom.*
*I believe that faith is less like following a GPS through a grid of city blocks, and more like being out at sea: a tricky journey, nonlinear and winding, the wind kicking up and then stalling.*
*The world is changing all the time, at every moment. Someone is falling in love right now, and someone is being born. A dream is coming true in some city or small town, and right at the same moment, another dream is crashing and crumbling. A marriage is ending somewhere, and it's somebody's wedding day, maybe even right in the same town. It's all happening.*
*Unclench your fists, unlock your knees and also the door to your heart, take a deep breath, and begin to swim. Begin to let the waves do their work in you and trust in God.*
*Fear is like a hand grenade: surprisingly powerful and surprisingly destructive.*
*It's easy to believe that having a child is as simple as growing tomatoes: you do the right things, you take your prenatal vitamins and avoid caffeine and nitrates, and the universe hands you a perfect life, right on schedule. But if you've ever tried to grow anything--a tomato plant, a baby, anything--you know it's more mysterious and more treacherous than that.*
*I love the illusion of being able to do it all, and I'm fascinated with people who seem to do that, who have challenging careers, beautiful homes, vibrant minds and well-tended abs. Throw in polite children and a garden, and I'm coming over for lessons.*
*Time is finite, as is energy. One day I will stand before God and account for what I did with my life. There is work that is only mine to do; a child that is mine to raise, stories that are mine to tell, friends that are mine to walk with. The grandest seduction of all is the myth that DOING EVERYTHING BETTER gets us where we want to be. It gets us somewhere, certainly, but not anywhere worth being.*
*If arithmetic is numbers, and if algebra is numbers and letters, then grace is numbers, letters, sounds, tears, feelings and dreams. Grace is smashing the calculator and using all the broken buttons and pieces to make a mosaic.*
*Grace is when you finally stop keeping score and when you realize that God never was, that his game is a different one entirely. Grade is when the silence is so complete that you can hear your own heartbeat, and right within your ribs, God's beating heart, too.*
*Age, like numbers on a scale and letters on a report card, tells us very little of who we are. You decide every year exactly how young and how old you want to be.*
*I believe deeply that God does his best work in our lives during times of great heartbreak and loss, and I believe that much of that rich work is done by the hands of people who love us, who dive into the wreckage with us and show us who God is, over and over and over.*
*I believe that faith is less like following a GPS through a grid of city blocks, and more like being out at sea: a tricky journey, nonlinear and winding, the wind kicking up and then stalling.*
*The world is changing all the time, at every moment. Someone is falling in love right now, and someone is being born. A dream is coming true in some city or small town, and right at the same moment, another dream is crashing and crumbling. A marriage is ending somewhere, and it's somebody's wedding day, maybe even right in the same town. It's all happening.*
*Unclench your fists, unlock your knees and also the door to your heart, take a deep breath, and begin to swim. Begin to let the waves do their work in you and trust in God.*
*Fear is like a hand grenade: surprisingly powerful and surprisingly destructive.*
*It's easy to believe that having a child is as simple as growing tomatoes: you do the right things, you take your prenatal vitamins and avoid caffeine and nitrates, and the universe hands you a perfect life, right on schedule. But if you've ever tried to grow anything--a tomato plant, a baby, anything--you know it's more mysterious and more treacherous than that.*
*I love the illusion of being able to do it all, and I'm fascinated with people who seem to do that, who have challenging careers, beautiful homes, vibrant minds and well-tended abs. Throw in polite children and a garden, and I'm coming over for lessons.*
*Time is finite, as is energy. One day I will stand before God and account for what I did with my life. There is work that is only mine to do; a child that is mine to raise, stories that are mine to tell, friends that are mine to walk with. The grandest seduction of all is the myth that DOING EVERYTHING BETTER gets us where we want to be. It gets us somewhere, certainly, but not anywhere worth being.*
*If arithmetic is numbers, and if algebra is numbers and letters, then grace is numbers, letters, sounds, tears, feelings and dreams. Grace is smashing the calculator and using all the broken buttons and pieces to make a mosaic.*
*Grace is when you finally stop keeping score and when you realize that God never was, that his game is a different one entirely. Grade is when the silence is so complete that you can hear your own heartbeat, and right within your ribs, God's beating heart, too.*
*Age, like numbers on a scale and letters on a report card, tells us very little of who we are. You decide every year exactly how young and how old you want to be.*
*I believe deeply that God does his best work in our lives during times of great heartbreak and loss, and I believe that much of that rich work is done by the hands of people who love us, who dive into the wreckage with us and show us who God is, over and over and over.*
God can use anybody
Growing up we are all taught to be good and listen to our preachers, teachers and parents. If we get out of line or make a mistake we are taught that God doesn't love us until we ask for forgiveness. Well we do need to ask for forgiveness for our sins, but God loves everyone and uses a mixture of people to get his word out. Like the following:
Noah was a drunk as it states in Gen. 9:21
Jacob was a liar as it states in Gen. 27
Leah was ugly as it describes her in Gen 29:16-18
Joseph was abused as it goes through his story in Gen. 37: 22-28
Moses had a stuttering problem in Exod. 4:10
Gideon was afraid in Judg. 6:15
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer as it tells his story in Judg. 16:5-17
Rahab was a harlot in Josh. 2:1
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young as it describes in Jer. 1:6
David had an affair and was a murderer as it tells his story in 2 Sam. 11:2-4 and 14-17
Elijah was suicidal in 1 Kings 19:4
Isaiah preached naked in Isa. 20:2
Jonah ran from God in Jon. 1:3
Naomi was a widow in Ruth 1:3
Job went bankrupt in Job 1:21
Peter denied Christ in Mark 14:71
The disciples fell asleep while praying in Matt 26:40
Martha worried about everything in Luke 10:40-42
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once in John 4:17-18
Zaccheus was too small in Luke 19:2-3
Paul was too religious in Acts 22:1-5
Timothy had an ulcer in 1 Tim. 5:23
and Lazarus was dead in John 11
Next time you are feeling down about something or someone in your life you can revert back to these people and realize that God does use anyone and everyone :)
Noah was a drunk as it states in Gen. 9:21
Jacob was a liar as it states in Gen. 27
Leah was ugly as it describes her in Gen 29:16-18
Joseph was abused as it goes through his story in Gen. 37: 22-28
Moses had a stuttering problem in Exod. 4:10
Gideon was afraid in Judg. 6:15
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer as it tells his story in Judg. 16:5-17
Rahab was a harlot in Josh. 2:1
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young as it describes in Jer. 1:6
David had an affair and was a murderer as it tells his story in 2 Sam. 11:2-4 and 14-17
Elijah was suicidal in 1 Kings 19:4
Isaiah preached naked in Isa. 20:2
Jonah ran from God in Jon. 1:3
Naomi was a widow in Ruth 1:3
Job went bankrupt in Job 1:21
Peter denied Christ in Mark 14:71
The disciples fell asleep while praying in Matt 26:40
Martha worried about everything in Luke 10:40-42
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once in John 4:17-18
Zaccheus was too small in Luke 19:2-3
Paul was too religious in Acts 22:1-5
Timothy had an ulcer in 1 Tim. 5:23
and Lazarus was dead in John 11
Next time you are feeling down about something or someone in your life you can revert back to these people and realize that God does use anyone and everyone :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)