I am terrible about keeping up with anything that has to be done daily except for working, eating, and my family. Now, I argue that those are the most important things and so it doesn't matter but there are things that I wish I could keep up with more regularly. The first is reading my Bible, the second is remembering to take my medicine :)
Today I read John 16:1-33 It is the part where Jesus is telling the disciples that he is leaving and that it was necessary for the sacrifice for the sins of man. They are so confused and I can't blame them. Can you imagine? Your whole life you have heard that there is a Messiah coming that will save the world. You were probably thinking or had heard that it would be a king. And now, just as the word of Jesus is getting around and waves are being made he starts talking about leaving???
Those poor special men and what they went through in the next months, I can't imagine. I hope some day in heaven I get to hear about it first hand from them!
Take time to do what you should today and pray the same for me.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Let Down
I have been looking forward to going to work this week in Daytona since last year when I found out that we would be at this location. Today for no real reason I was completely let down by the airline and travel agency. My flight was changed by 12 hours and a 3 hour layover added and I was not notified until I showed up at the airport this morning 8.5 hours early for my REAL flight. As this is the day of travel there is nothing I can do but be very upset and let down because someone somewhere dropped the ball.
I wonder if this is what God feels like when we let him down?
Just a thought.
I wonder if this is what God feels like when we let him down?
Just a thought.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Wild Goose Chase
I was sent on a wild goose chase yesterday at work and it got me in trouble with the right and the left hand because neither knew what the other was doing. I found this very frustrating and unnecessary but I had to be the one apologizing in the end because everyone's feathers were getting ruffled.
I woke up this morning determined to find a way to use a "patch" for my problem. This all started over a certain computer program. I need it for my new job and I guess it is not easy to get hands on this program. I found and old student version of this program yesterday and I loaded it to try and "patch" my problem.
Well the student version doesn't work with the data I am using (my data is too big) and so I was sunk. Just then God took my eyes and hands and sent me to the programs list for this computer (one they are letting me use while I work on my PhD). THE PROGRAM WAS THERE!!!! Before this laptop was loaned to me they had just automatically loaded a VERY expensive statistics package that I had rarely ever used before and had not asked for.....amazing. I cannot help but think that God designed this moment for me 7 months ago when this laptop was bought and set up for a lowly graduate student who doesn't like goose chases but can see the lesson in them all the same.
Wow. Take a moment and make sure that you look at all possible options before you set off on your own unnecessary frustrating journey. There's lessons in everything, that's been confirmed yet again today.
Have a wonderful Day!
I woke up this morning determined to find a way to use a "patch" for my problem. This all started over a certain computer program. I need it for my new job and I guess it is not easy to get hands on this program. I found and old student version of this program yesterday and I loaded it to try and "patch" my problem.
Well the student version doesn't work with the data I am using (my data is too big) and so I was sunk. Just then God took my eyes and hands and sent me to the programs list for this computer (one they are letting me use while I work on my PhD). THE PROGRAM WAS THERE!!!! Before this laptop was loaned to me they had just automatically loaded a VERY expensive statistics package that I had rarely ever used before and had not asked for.....amazing. I cannot help but think that God designed this moment for me 7 months ago when this laptop was bought and set up for a lowly graduate student who doesn't like goose chases but can see the lesson in them all the same.
Wow. Take a moment and make sure that you look at all possible options before you set off on your own unnecessary frustrating journey. There's lessons in everything, that's been confirmed yet again today.
Have a wonderful Day!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Thought for Meditation
My pastor's daughter posted this as her Facebook status a little while ago.
"When the sky rolls up and the mountains fall on their knees, when time and space are free, I'll be found in You, still standing."
I feel that this would be a great banner for my life. I could read this every day as I find it inspiring. I am not sure if they are lyrics to a song, scripture, or if she just wrote it but I have read it ten times already this morning and keep going back to it. It is a profound statement.
We had strong thunderstorms last night and as usual I was in wonder at the power and majesty of my Lord. To think that He is so much more than that and that is what we are fighting for is wonderful for me.
Make it a goal to find a personal statement for you that reminds you to your core what we are doing here on this Earth.
"When the sky rolls up and the mountains fall on their knees, when time and space are free, I'll be found in You, still standing."
I feel that this would be a great banner for my life. I could read this every day as I find it inspiring. I am not sure if they are lyrics to a song, scripture, or if she just wrote it but I have read it ten times already this morning and keep going back to it. It is a profound statement.
We had strong thunderstorms last night and as usual I was in wonder at the power and majesty of my Lord. To think that He is so much more than that and that is what we are fighting for is wonderful for me.
Make it a goal to find a personal statement for you that reminds you to your core what we are doing here on this Earth.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Friendship is a Blessing
In my nightly readings I have been reading about David and Jonathan and the friendship they had. 1 Samuel 18:1 says, "Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself." This kind of friendship doesn't come along every day and is very special.
After I spent the morning with a very dear friend of mine today I was reminded that I am very blessed in friendship because God has put many people in my life that I love as myself. I would describe myself as someone who has a lot of friends but only very few of them close. But I realize today that I am very lucky to have no less than three friends like this in my life.
With friendship at this level comes love which the Bible tells us over and over is very important. In having these people in my life I give love and get it in return.
So, take a moment today to thank God for any dear friends that you may have or ask for one if you don't have one already. We were not made to walk our journey alone. Thank God for Friends!
After I spent the morning with a very dear friend of mine today I was reminded that I am very blessed in friendship because God has put many people in my life that I love as myself. I would describe myself as someone who has a lot of friends but only very few of them close. But I realize today that I am very lucky to have no less than three friends like this in my life.
With friendship at this level comes love which the Bible tells us over and over is very important. In having these people in my life I give love and get it in return.
So, take a moment today to thank God for any dear friends that you may have or ask for one if you don't have one already. We were not made to walk our journey alone. Thank God for Friends!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Spend Time With God in Nature
One great way to stay connected to our Bible is by getting out in nature and enjoying the God-breathed things that we have in our lives. It is amazing to me to think about people in Old Testament times and that many of the things in their nature we still have in ours. They looked upon skies, mountains, rivers, oceans, trees, and grasslands just as we do today.
I find the most peace when I am camping next to a lake and I can sit out under the stars and listen to the water lapping on the shore, the insects singing, and the birds chirping. I have also picked up a photography hobby and I love to shoot things in nature. It never fails that when I focus on a beautiful shot I think of God and how he shows us how awesome He is.
It is on my “to-do” list to go through my photos and to match some of them with scriptures that make me feel the same way the picture does. I did find a website that has just that, pictures of nature with scriptures included. Take a look at: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/207135362fNqVgS if you would like to see.
Even if you are in the city and busy working take time when you are outside to look at a tree or plant and think of the nature gifts that God has given us.
I find the most peace when I am camping next to a lake and I can sit out under the stars and listen to the water lapping on the shore, the insects singing, and the birds chirping. I have also picked up a photography hobby and I love to shoot things in nature. It never fails that when I focus on a beautiful shot I think of God and how he shows us how awesome He is.
It is on my “to-do” list to go through my photos and to match some of them with scriptures that make me feel the same way the picture does. I did find a website that has just that, pictures of nature with scriptures included. Take a look at: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/207135362fNqVgS if you would like to see.
Even if you are in the city and busy working take time when you are outside to look at a tree or plant and think of the nature gifts that God has given us.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Paul's Journey with biblestudyforkids.com
Linda Shanks, creator and head of Biblestudyforkids.com is a wonderful lady who has created a very detailed and fun program that is designed to help a person study the travels of Paul. It is a series of lessons that can teach and strengthen people from all walks of life.
Linda has been doing this curriculum with our church. There are activities for all ages. The children have coloring and activity pages and the adults have a detailed study of the scripture accounting Paul's tales. The study also does a really good job of going through what the lands that were traveled look like and who lives there today.
The reason for the creation of this series is Linda is taking a once in a lifetime trip later this month. She is traveling with Mark Moore and Mark Scott, both with Ozark Chritian College in Joplin, Missouri, to Turkey, Greece, and Italy to see first hand where Paul traveled and spread the news of Jesus.
It is going to be a wonderful trip and Linda plans on keeping a blog and streaming some video while she is there. I invite and encourage you to visit www.biblestudyforkids.com and follow the link on the left side of the page to enter the exciting world of Paul's travels.
Linda has been doing this curriculum with our church. There are activities for all ages. The children have coloring and activity pages and the adults have a detailed study of the scripture accounting Paul's tales. The study also does a really good job of going through what the lands that were traveled look like and who lives there today.
The reason for the creation of this series is Linda is taking a once in a lifetime trip later this month. She is traveling with Mark Moore and Mark Scott, both with Ozark Chritian College in Joplin, Missouri, to Turkey, Greece, and Italy to see first hand where Paul traveled and spread the news of Jesus.
It is going to be a wonderful trip and Linda plans on keeping a blog and streaming some video while she is there. I invite and encourage you to visit www.biblestudyforkids.com and follow the link on the left side of the page to enter the exciting world of Paul's travels.
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