Sometimes Christ gives us direction that seems so off course with our perceptions of what is best for our lives; when He does this it is quite often because He is trying to use us to reach someone, but more often it is because He is trying to show us something about ourselves and our relationship with Him, trying to help us grow in Him.
But so often we are comfortable with where we are in life, and want to stay put. I picture us as Veggie Tales portrayed Jonah, plugging our ears and running for Tarshish saying, “I can’t hear you, Lord!” You can see how silly this is, especially because we’re basically leaving God with no option other than to send the storm.
We become overwhelmed by the crashing waves, our friends will often turn and throw us from that ship, and are finally swallowed up by that great whale, when we run from God. Because when we don’t follow Him we are opening ourselves up to attack since we are outside of His will. And when we knowingly run from His will, we are just begging for Him to get us completely alone and desperate for change, just so we can grow in Him.
It is when we are in that whale’s belly and realize we are about to be digested that we have no other options. We can either submit to our Father and ask for forgiveness for our stubborn pride and unwillingness to do His will, or we can rot in the trenches. We can let the whale eat us and spend eternity whishing we had just unplugged our ears and opened our hearts to God’s loving guidance.
For three and a half years I’ve been going my own way, plugging my ears to God’s leading. I did what felt good, what I wanted to do, and ignored Him and His will for me. And needless to say the storms came, and I became whale bait. But I’m thankful for it. Because I fear that if I hadn’t been swallowed up I never would have reached out to God. I never would have turned and chosen to do it His way. Is doing it His way easier? No. But it is better. I know after I get through this my reward will be great.
And though it is overwhelming, though I wish I could turn back or even just lie down and find rest, that’s not His will. I have to hold onto my Father’s finger, as a little child holds on to her daddy, and keep walking. I may stumble, but that’s why He is here holding my hand. He will pick me up when I fall, so long as I continue to go His way.
The valley may be muddy, and dark, and frightening, but walking through all of this is strengthening the muscles that matter, my spiritual muscles. And someday I’ll be on that mountaintop looking back, and I will see all that He has done for me. I will see that I never could have made it out of that valley, out of that whale if not for His loving mercy.
So what shall it be? Nineveh, or the belly of a whale? I don’t know about you, but I’d rather smell like whale vomit and go to my Nineveh than to be consumed. I’d rather just do what He knows is best. And though it may be difficult, though I may at times wish I could plug my ears and run away, I know if I do I’ll just end up right back in that whale, and I’m tired of being swallowed and then vomited back up.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Friday, July 08, 2005
Allstate Insurance
Recently I have become aware of a news story concerning controversy surrounding Allstate Insurance and their firing of Matt Barber. Matt is a Christian who was employed as a manager in Allstate's Corporate Security Division. While he was employed for Allstate, he wrote an internet article on his own time that was critical of homosexuality. His article was deemed a violation of Allstate's corporate philosophy and resulted in Matt being suspended and eventually fired.
The state of Illinois did an investigation into the matter, and "The State's investigation further concluded that Allstate intentionally chose to terminate Barber's employment for writing the article despite the fact that he engaged in no misconduct whatsoever: "The term misconduct means the deliberate and willful violation of a reasonable rule or policy of the employer…In this case, the claimant's action which resulted in his discharge was not deliberate and willful." This determination, issued March 8, 2005, was not appealed by Allstate." Source.
I suppose Mr. Barber isn't "in good hands with Allstate," which raises the concern of how good those hands are that they would turn on a valued member of their staff so sharply based on an undisclosed "outside agency". And be so unwilling to disclose why he was fired, if in fact they did not fire him for his faith. But they will not disclose it, nor will Allstate disclose who the "outside agency" is, if indeed there actually is an outside agency. I cannot help but wonder if they can't disclose that information because there is in actuality no outside agency.
If you would like to hear a recent radio program concerning Allstate's promotion of homosexual agendas visit VCY America and look for the show from 7.6.05.
The state of Illinois did an investigation into the matter, and "The State's investigation further concluded that Allstate intentionally chose to terminate Barber's employment for writing the article despite the fact that he engaged in no misconduct whatsoever: "The term misconduct means the deliberate and willful violation of a reasonable rule or policy of the employer…In this case, the claimant's action which resulted in his discharge was not deliberate and willful." This determination, issued March 8, 2005, was not appealed by Allstate." Source.
I suppose Mr. Barber isn't "in good hands with Allstate," which raises the concern of how good those hands are that they would turn on a valued member of their staff so sharply based on an undisclosed "outside agency". And be so unwilling to disclose why he was fired, if in fact they did not fire him for his faith. But they will not disclose it, nor will Allstate disclose who the "outside agency" is, if indeed there actually is an outside agency. I cannot help but wonder if they can't disclose that information because there is in actuality no outside agency.
If you would like to hear a recent radio program concerning Allstate's promotion of homosexual agendas visit VCY America and look for the show from 7.6.05.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
The purpose of your life
What trash, I cannot begin to wonder how many people are being led astray by this junk. And sadly, it mirrors so much of what you hear in a lot of churches these days. It's all about finding "your purpose" in life. Nobody seems to want to stop and ask "what is God's will for my life?"
It's whatever is going to make you happy, or that's what a lot of people seem to want us to believe. That God supports whatever will make us feel good. Pastors push self help books, and ignore the cross & Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake...
"There's a lot of pain out there. There'’s a lot of darkness. The world needs your Light right now.
It really does.
So …glad you could show up. Now the fun starts. Now the challenge gets underway in earnest. Now the Healing begins.
With you as the Healer.
That'’s why you came to Earth, in this body, in this time and in this place."
"You cannot know what that is unless and until you decide on a Purpose. That is, you cannot decide how to get where you are going until you decide where you are going."
And these people sit there and talk about "God" but it has nothing to do with God, it's all about me. Or you. Or whoever wants to read and believe this. Through Christ we are healed, it is only when we submit our lives, & everything in them, to God's will that we can be healed. We cannot fix ourselves, if we could don't you think we would have by now?
Yet there is no Point to it all. Life has no point. If Life had a Point, who would assign it one? And if you say God, why would God create the Point, then make us all search for it for 50 years! (And, as a society, for 50 thousand years) And if you say God does not make us search, but has given us the answer, why did God not give us the answer in a way in which we could easily understand it, and with a formula upon which we could all agree? And if you say that God has done that, then you have not looked at the world lately.
Now, the Bible tells us that many things will happen, there are plagues & trials coming, these are all in God's plan and when these things are fulfilled Christ will restore His followers and we will have paradise b/c God will be with us again. But we have to walk through the bad. But Christ is coming (Revelation 22:12), and as more prophecies are fulfilled the closer we are. We have a ways to go yet, just read the book of Revelation. We are still waiting for the temple in Isarel to be restored, and the organizationtion of a one world govenrment and it's "peace".
All of these things are coming, and quickly. The appearance of the Euro, has brought us a step closer to having a world wide currency & technology has made chips that can be inserted under the skin which could be used as a means of identitification, and there are plans underway to rebuild the Jewish Holy Temple.
All of these things were told to us in the Bible. God has a plan, and it is rapidly playing out before our very eyes. Christ did not come to bring peace, rather He came "'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and "a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'" (Matthew 10:35-36)
"You do not believe this, and so you have spent years trying to figure out the Purpose of Life. And all the while, Life (God) has been waiting for you to decide Its purpose."
"Right Livelihood is seldom attained through a doingness decision although it may involve a doingness function somewhere along the way."
Now, they just got done telling me that there is no right answer, whatever I feel is right for me and whatever you feel is right for you. Yet now they are saying there is a "right livelihood". Which is it?
A person in “right livelihood,” by the way, is a Bringer of the Light. That is because all people in right livelihood are being who they really are...and Who You Really Are is the very Light you are seeking to bring!
Did you get that? Did you hear that? There is no brighter Light in the Universe than the Light of your Beingness. Therefore, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Where do I begin? There is so much wrong with this it confounds me. They keep telling you that you are who you search for, that there is nobody that is going to come & that we have all we need within us. So, if that were true, why would there be a Father in heaven that would need to be glorified? If we are our own gods & the reason for living is within us, doesn't that nullifiy the need for a god?
But there is a God, and only His Son can save us. We cannot save ourselves, nor can we get to heaven on good works alone. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
The entire website is like someone picked out the pretty promises of the Bible and smooshed them together with a bunch of New Age ideas. They tell you to meditate on "being peace" and that when you do that you become peace and the chaos around you may change because you have brought peace into it. But you have to choose to be peace. And if things are chaotic around you it is because you chose them to be that way.
Society is so stuck on themselves, that even within our very own churches the idea of purpose is seeping in. Christians are turning and doing everything they can to discover the purpose for their lives, and letting that "purpose" drive their lives that they are not allowing what God gave us to lead them. The Holy Spirit is what was given, we are to follow It's leading. Not pick a purpose and drive it home. How do we know the "purpose" we've chosen is God's will for us? We have to submit to God and allow His Spirit to show us what we need to do. Only then can we truly be living for God & in His will.
Are we really so prideful as to think we could possibly know what is best for our lives? So many of us walk around trusting that we know what we are doing and never stop to consult God, our Creator & Father, what He wants us to be doing. Yet, He has even told us already. We are to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. And we are to love each other, including our enemies, as ourselves. Yet we lose sight of that and go on our own marry little way seeking out purpose and wondering why we feel so utterly alone.
It is my sincere prayer that we may all turn to God and seek His will for our lives. Philippians 3:3 tells us, For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,. We must daily come to Christ & His Word to seek His will out for us. We must allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit of God, and not driven by a desire for purpose.
It's whatever is going to make you happy, or that's what a lot of people seem to want us to believe. That God supports whatever will make us feel good. Pastors push self help books, and ignore the cross & Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake...
"There's a lot of pain out there. There'’s a lot of darkness. The world needs your Light right now.
It really does.
So …glad you could show up. Now the fun starts. Now the challenge gets underway in earnest. Now the Healing begins.
With you as the Healer.
That'’s why you came to Earth, in this body, in this time and in this place."
"You cannot know what that is unless and until you decide on a Purpose. That is, you cannot decide how to get where you are going until you decide where you are going."
And these people sit there and talk about "God" but it has nothing to do with God, it's all about me. Or you. Or whoever wants to read and believe this. Through Christ we are healed, it is only when we submit our lives, & everything in them, to God's will that we can be healed. We cannot fix ourselves, if we could don't you think we would have by now?
Yet there is no Point to it all. Life has no point. If Life had a Point, who would assign it one? And if you say God, why would God create the Point, then make us all search for it for 50 years! (And, as a society, for 50 thousand years) And if you say God does not make us search, but has given us the answer, why did God not give us the answer in a way in which we could easily understand it, and with a formula upon which we could all agree? And if you say that God has done that, then you have not looked at the world lately.
Now, the Bible tells us that many things will happen, there are plagues & trials coming, these are all in God's plan and when these things are fulfilled Christ will restore His followers and we will have paradise b/c God will be with us again. But we have to walk through the bad. But Christ is coming (Revelation 22:12), and as more prophecies are fulfilled the closer we are. We have a ways to go yet, just read the book of Revelation. We are still waiting for the temple in Isarel to be restored, and the organizationtion of a one world govenrment and it's "peace".
All of these things are coming, and quickly. The appearance of the Euro, has brought us a step closer to having a world wide currency & technology has made chips that can be inserted under the skin which could be used as a means of identitification, and there are plans underway to rebuild the Jewish Holy Temple.
All of these things were told to us in the Bible. God has a plan, and it is rapidly playing out before our very eyes. Christ did not come to bring peace, rather He came "'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and "a man's enemies will be those of his own household.'" (Matthew 10:35-36)
"You do not believe this, and so you have spent years trying to figure out the Purpose of Life. And all the while, Life (God) has been waiting for you to decide Its purpose."
"Right Livelihood is seldom attained through a doingness decision although it may involve a doingness function somewhere along the way."
Now, they just got done telling me that there is no right answer, whatever I feel is right for me and whatever you feel is right for you. Yet now they are saying there is a "right livelihood". Which is it?
A person in “right livelihood,” by the way, is a Bringer of the Light. That is because all people in right livelihood are being who they really are...and Who You Really Are is the very Light you are seeking to bring!
Did you get that? Did you hear that? There is no brighter Light in the Universe than the Light of your Beingness. Therefore, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Where do I begin? There is so much wrong with this it confounds me. They keep telling you that you are who you search for, that there is nobody that is going to come & that we have all we need within us. So, if that were true, why would there be a Father in heaven that would need to be glorified? If we are our own gods & the reason for living is within us, doesn't that nullifiy the need for a god?
But there is a God, and only His Son can save us. We cannot save ourselves, nor can we get to heaven on good works alone. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
The entire website is like someone picked out the pretty promises of the Bible and smooshed them together with a bunch of New Age ideas. They tell you to meditate on "being peace" and that when you do that you become peace and the chaos around you may change because you have brought peace into it. But you have to choose to be peace. And if things are chaotic around you it is because you chose them to be that way.
Society is so stuck on themselves, that even within our very own churches the idea of purpose is seeping in. Christians are turning and doing everything they can to discover the purpose for their lives, and letting that "purpose" drive their lives that they are not allowing what God gave us to lead them. The Holy Spirit is what was given, we are to follow It's leading. Not pick a purpose and drive it home. How do we know the "purpose" we've chosen is God's will for us? We have to submit to God and allow His Spirit to show us what we need to do. Only then can we truly be living for God & in His will.
Are we really so prideful as to think we could possibly know what is best for our lives? So many of us walk around trusting that we know what we are doing and never stop to consult God, our Creator & Father, what He wants us to be doing. Yet, He has even told us already. We are to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. And we are to love each other, including our enemies, as ourselves. Yet we lose sight of that and go on our own marry little way seeking out purpose and wondering why we feel so utterly alone.
It is my sincere prayer that we may all turn to God and seek His will for our lives. Philippians 3:3 tells us, For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,. We must daily come to Christ & His Word to seek His will out for us. We must allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit of God, and not driven by a desire for purpose.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
It is well with my soul
When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul
Chorus:
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
My sin o the joy of this glorious thought
My sin not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and
I bear it no more paraise the lord, praise the lord,
O my soul
And lord haste the day
When my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound and
The lord shall descend
Even so it is well with my soul
Tonight is a rough night. William has been a monster, it took 2 hours to get him to sleep. Then after I got him down and I tried to go to bed I had 6 messages from Chris. It's like ripping open a wound that has just barely began to close. I'm hurting so badly right now. And yet I sing "How Great is our God" and "It is well with my soul". God's provisions. I got a few free iTunes downloads today and downloaded a bunch of praise music.
This is so difficult, so painful. I feel so broken and weak. And I sit here crying and He reaches out and covers me in His love. I feel Him here, and He reminds me that He can do anything that He is great and it is ok for me to be weak, because in Him I am strong. I can do nothing without Him.
Sing with me, how great is our God?
And all will see how great is our God...
This is so insane. "Love song for a Savior" just came on. "She will come running and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and she'll pray 'I want to fall in love with You'"
Do you know why I love Jars of Clay so much? It's because their self titled cd was the first album I purchased after coming to Christ. I remember so vividly putting it on and cranking it up and when this song came on I just sat on my floor and cried for the longest time. It still breaks my heart because when I hear it I am reminded of how broken I was and how loving Christ truely is. "It seems to easy to call you Savior, and not close enough to call you God"
You would not believe how much God speaks to me through music. When I came to Christ it was through song, not preaching, just a song & His peace. Praise God, for that peace. It has come again. He's picked me up and touched my soul yet again. Although I suppose He is always here, I'm just more aware of Him when I'm in the valley.
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul
Chorus:
It is well (it is well)
With my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul
My sin o the joy of this glorious thought
My sin not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and
I bear it no more paraise the lord, praise the lord,
O my soul
And lord haste the day
When my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound and
The lord shall descend
Even so it is well with my soul
Tonight is a rough night. William has been a monster, it took 2 hours to get him to sleep. Then after I got him down and I tried to go to bed I had 6 messages from Chris. It's like ripping open a wound that has just barely began to close. I'm hurting so badly right now. And yet I sing "How Great is our God" and "It is well with my soul". God's provisions. I got a few free iTunes downloads today and downloaded a bunch of praise music.
This is so difficult, so painful. I feel so broken and weak. And I sit here crying and He reaches out and covers me in His love. I feel Him here, and He reminds me that He can do anything that He is great and it is ok for me to be weak, because in Him I am strong. I can do nothing without Him.
Sing with me, how great is our God?
And all will see how great is our God...
This is so insane. "Love song for a Savior" just came on. "She will come running and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and she'll pray 'I want to fall in love with You'"
Do you know why I love Jars of Clay so much? It's because their self titled cd was the first album I purchased after coming to Christ. I remember so vividly putting it on and cranking it up and when this song came on I just sat on my floor and cried for the longest time. It still breaks my heart because when I hear it I am reminded of how broken I was and how loving Christ truely is. "It seems to easy to call you Savior, and not close enough to call you God"
You would not believe how much God speaks to me through music. When I came to Christ it was through song, not preaching, just a song & His peace. Praise God, for that peace. It has come again. He's picked me up and touched my soul yet again. Although I suppose He is always here, I'm just more aware of Him when I'm in the valley.
I feel like an 80 year old woman
I have a lot of problems with my knees and hips, it's all from a foot problem and how I walk.
Yesterday my mother and I went to Walmart and my left hip started bothering me, but I didn't say anything b/c it is normal. Well, by time we were done shopping it was about ready to give out, it was right at that point where if I kept walking it would have gone out of place, but instead we left. As if that weren't fun enough (it actually hurts quite a bit when this happens) as I put William into the van I somehow managed to slam my knee into the side of the van. Yes, I am a clutz. So there I am with my left hip threatning to give out and now I've got my right knee feeling like it's going to explode.
It's the morning after and my knee feels the same, though my hip finally feels better.
Moral of the story? You can't buy replacement body parts at Walmart.
Yesterday my mother and I went to Walmart and my left hip started bothering me, but I didn't say anything b/c it is normal. Well, by time we were done shopping it was about ready to give out, it was right at that point where if I kept walking it would have gone out of place, but instead we left. As if that weren't fun enough (it actually hurts quite a bit when this happens) as I put William into the van I somehow managed to slam my knee into the side of the van. Yes, I am a clutz. So there I am with my left hip threatning to give out and now I've got my right knee feeling like it's going to explode.
It's the morning after and my knee feels the same, though my hip finally feels better.
Moral of the story? You can't buy replacement body parts at Walmart.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Explorations into Love, Marriage & God - Part 3
God
The American Heritage Dictionary defines God as “A being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe, the principal object of faith and worship in monotheistic religions.”
Isn’t that nice and vague? So if the dictionary is of little help to us to understand who God is, where do we turn? Some people believe you can’t use the Bible as a reliable source to prove the existence of God. I don’t see why not. Find me something in the Bible and prove it didn’t happen. Prove to me that God isn’t who He says He is.
So, who is God? The New Testament tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8), and man that just about does it for me! How do we know we can trust God, can we believe His promises? Well, let us examine Him. How can we trust someone we don’t know? Well, I’d say it is time to get to know the G-man.
How do you get to trust a person in your life? By looking at their track record, if they say they are going to do something, or that they believe something and act to the contrary then it becomes increasingly difficult to trust them. But if they do what they say, then each time it becomes easier to believe them. So, you could use the same principle and apply it to God. Look at His word, examine it. Find some promises and follow up. Did God keep His word?
In Genesis we find Abraham and Sarah, married and childless. Sarah was well past the age of having children, yet God made a covenant with Abraham and promised that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars. Fairly unbelievable, yet at the tender age of 100 Abraham became a father to the child Sarah had carried. And sure enough, a few generations down the line his decedents became the heads of the tribes of Israel.
Also, God told Abraham that his decedents would be “strangers in a foreign land, and they will be oppressed as slaves for four hundred years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth.” (Genesis 15:-13-14) So what do you think? Are Abraham’s decedents slaves for 400 years? You can bet your last dollar that God was telling the truth, just remember the story of Moses (Exodus 12) and the plagues.
In Mark 9:31 Jesus tells his disciples that, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.” His disciples didn’t understand at the time, but God is a promise keeper. We needed a sacrifice to atone our sins and He sent Jesus to be that sacrifice. Even through out the book of Isaiah there are promises of Israel’s redemption, that He would be “led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth....For His life is taken from the earth.” (Isaiah 53:7,8 NKJV)
Later in Mark 14:43-49 Judas betrays Jesus, Jesus is taken away tried in an unjust court and sentenced to death. He is unjustly sentenced to death yet refrains from defending Himself (Luke 23:9 NKJV); He was beaten, mocked, crucified, died, and three days later He rose again. Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus after the resurrection (Mark 16:9 NLT), but she was soon followed by two people walking (Mark 16:12-13) and then to the disciples (John 20:19, John 20:24-29, John 21)
For those of you who really don’t want to trust the Bible, I can prove from my own life that God is a promise keeper. When I was a baby, less than a year old, I was severely burned. I had 2nd and 3rd degree burns all over my body, as well as severe brain damage. The doctors didn’t expect me to pull through, they performed at least two surgeries and informed my mother that on the off chance that I did make it I would be brain damaged for the rest of my life and would continue to need surgeries annually to repair the damage from the burns. After such a bleak diagnosis I was taken to a prayer meeting where I was prayed over. I had a tent full of people interceding for a miracle, for healing.
I can stand here today and tell you God is a God of healing, He is true to His word, and He says in numerous places through out the Bible that if you believe & ask then it shall be (Matthew 9:18-31 alone has two cases of people being healed because they believed and one girl being brought back from the dead because her father believed it could happen). Since that time I have only had one surgery my entire life to repair the damage from the burns, and with the exception of my right leg you would never even know anything had ever happened to me, and there has been no brain damage since that intercession!
So, by following God's promises and reading on we see He follows through on those promises. And ultimately He will prove Himself above all for the final time. I long for the return of Christ. I trust Him because He's proven Himself time and time again and soon He will put every doubt of His character to rest.
-------------------------------Sources-----------------------------------
The King James Bible
The New King James Bible
The American Heritage Dictionary
Veggie Tales: Love Your Neighbor
MOVIES
Shall we Dance?
Playing by Heart
The American Heritage Dictionary defines God as “A being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe, the principal object of faith and worship in monotheistic religions.”
Isn’t that nice and vague? So if the dictionary is of little help to us to understand who God is, where do we turn? Some people believe you can’t use the Bible as a reliable source to prove the existence of God. I don’t see why not. Find me something in the Bible and prove it didn’t happen. Prove to me that God isn’t who He says He is.
So, who is God? The New Testament tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8), and man that just about does it for me! How do we know we can trust God, can we believe His promises? Well, let us examine Him. How can we trust someone we don’t know? Well, I’d say it is time to get to know the G-man.
How do you get to trust a person in your life? By looking at their track record, if they say they are going to do something, or that they believe something and act to the contrary then it becomes increasingly difficult to trust them. But if they do what they say, then each time it becomes easier to believe them. So, you could use the same principle and apply it to God. Look at His word, examine it. Find some promises and follow up. Did God keep His word?
In Genesis we find Abraham and Sarah, married and childless. Sarah was well past the age of having children, yet God made a covenant with Abraham and promised that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars. Fairly unbelievable, yet at the tender age of 100 Abraham became a father to the child Sarah had carried. And sure enough, a few generations down the line his decedents became the heads of the tribes of Israel.
Also, God told Abraham that his decedents would be “strangers in a foreign land, and they will be oppressed as slaves for four hundred years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth.” (Genesis 15:-13-14) So what do you think? Are Abraham’s decedents slaves for 400 years? You can bet your last dollar that God was telling the truth, just remember the story of Moses (Exodus 12) and the plagues.
In Mark 9:31 Jesus tells his disciples that, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.” His disciples didn’t understand at the time, but God is a promise keeper. We needed a sacrifice to atone our sins and He sent Jesus to be that sacrifice. Even through out the book of Isaiah there are promises of Israel’s redemption, that He would be “led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth....For His life is taken from the earth.” (Isaiah 53:7,8 NKJV)
Later in Mark 14:43-49 Judas betrays Jesus, Jesus is taken away tried in an unjust court and sentenced to death. He is unjustly sentenced to death yet refrains from defending Himself (Luke 23:9 NKJV); He was beaten, mocked, crucified, died, and three days later He rose again. Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus after the resurrection (Mark 16:9 NLT), but she was soon followed by two people walking (Mark 16:12-13) and then to the disciples (John 20:19, John 20:24-29, John 21)
For those of you who really don’t want to trust the Bible, I can prove from my own life that God is a promise keeper. When I was a baby, less than a year old, I was severely burned. I had 2nd and 3rd degree burns all over my body, as well as severe brain damage. The doctors didn’t expect me to pull through, they performed at least two surgeries and informed my mother that on the off chance that I did make it I would be brain damaged for the rest of my life and would continue to need surgeries annually to repair the damage from the burns. After such a bleak diagnosis I was taken to a prayer meeting where I was prayed over. I had a tent full of people interceding for a miracle, for healing.
I can stand here today and tell you God is a God of healing, He is true to His word, and He says in numerous places through out the Bible that if you believe & ask then it shall be (Matthew 9:18-31 alone has two cases of people being healed because they believed and one girl being brought back from the dead because her father believed it could happen). Since that time I have only had one surgery my entire life to repair the damage from the burns, and with the exception of my right leg you would never even know anything had ever happened to me, and there has been no brain damage since that intercession!
So, by following God's promises and reading on we see He follows through on those promises. And ultimately He will prove Himself above all for the final time. I long for the return of Christ. I trust Him because He's proven Himself time and time again and soon He will put every doubt of His character to rest.
-------------------------------Sources-----------------------------------
The King James Bible
The New King James Bible
The American Heritage Dictionary
Veggie Tales: Love Your Neighbor
MOVIES
Shall we Dance?
Playing by Heart
Explorations into Love, Marriage & God - Part 2
Marriage
**Ok, so I've been working on this series for months now, and sadly my own marriage isn't working out, but I feel like what I have to say is still valid. And perhaps even more so now b/c I've seen something that could be beautiful utterly fail.**
Why do people get married? Why would you want to swear to spend the rest of your life with another person?
“Because we need a witness to our lives. There’s a billion people on the planet, I mean what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage you’re promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things, all of it, all the time, everyday. You’re saying, ‘Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed, because I will be your witness.’”
This raises an interesting concern, at some point in every person’s life they feel tiny, unnoticed, insignificant (at least in every person I’ve met anyway). We spend our time wandering around feeling alone. It can be a rather depressing situation if you don’t know God. Which is why God is so fantastic. When we chose to sin, we broke our relationship with God, we used to talk to God, to walk with Him, and then we got cut off. But He gave us a way to fix that, Jesus Christ can reconnect us, but to also help with the loneliness God gave man a companion.
Out of Adam’s side He created Eve. What is the significance of woman coming from man’s side? Where is the rib cage? It is under the arm, along the side of the body. Why did God in His ultimate wisdom create woman from that part of the body? Why not from the foot, or the head, or even from the dust as He had created man?
Eve was to be Adam’s partner, his help mate. She was there to support him. She was created out of his side so that he might lean on her when needed, and so that she could lean on him. Together they would walk arm in arm. Why not out of dust? Because together, they are whole. Even with all that God blessed him with Adam still was missing something, he still was not whole. Creating her from him shows us that without our partner we are always missing a part of us.
-----------------------------------Sources-----------------------------------
The King James Bible
The New King James Bible
The American Heritage Dictionary
Veggie Tales: Love Your Neighbor
MOVIES
Shall we Dance?
Playing by Heart
**Ok, so I've been working on this series for months now, and sadly my own marriage isn't working out, but I feel like what I have to say is still valid. And perhaps even more so now b/c I've seen something that could be beautiful utterly fail.**
Why do people get married? Why would you want to swear to spend the rest of your life with another person?
“Because we need a witness to our lives. There’s a billion people on the planet, I mean what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage you’re promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things, all of it, all the time, everyday. You’re saying, ‘Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed, because I will be your witness.’”
This raises an interesting concern, at some point in every person’s life they feel tiny, unnoticed, insignificant (at least in every person I’ve met anyway). We spend our time wandering around feeling alone. It can be a rather depressing situation if you don’t know God. Which is why God is so fantastic. When we chose to sin, we broke our relationship with God, we used to talk to God, to walk with Him, and then we got cut off. But He gave us a way to fix that, Jesus Christ can reconnect us, but to also help with the loneliness God gave man a companion.
Out of Adam’s side He created Eve. What is the significance of woman coming from man’s side? Where is the rib cage? It is under the arm, along the side of the body. Why did God in His ultimate wisdom create woman from that part of the body? Why not from the foot, or the head, or even from the dust as He had created man?
Eve was to be Adam’s partner, his help mate. She was there to support him. She was created out of his side so that he might lean on her when needed, and so that she could lean on him. Together they would walk arm in arm. Why not out of dust? Because together, they are whole. Even with all that God blessed him with Adam still was missing something, he still was not whole. Creating her from him shows us that without our partner we are always missing a part of us.
-----------------------------------Sources-----------------------------------
The King James Bible
The New King James Bible
The American Heritage Dictionary
Veggie Tales: Love Your Neighbor
MOVIES
Shall we Dance?
Playing by Heart
Explorations into Love, Marriage & God - Part 1
Love
“Do you remember what you told the kids about falling in love? The wonderful thing about falling in love is that you learn everything about that person . . . And if it is true love then you start to see yourself through their eyes. It brings out the best in you. Its almost as if you’re falling in love with yourself.”
This is such an interesting idea; that loving someone can cause you to love yourself, to see yourself in a new way. The concept can really extend far beyond any kind of human love. Yes, this can happen between friends (A good friend makes you feel better about yourself, don’t they? Just being around that friend makes you feel better, why? Because you are loved and accepted. But it is more than just feeling good; a true friend will give it to you straight. If you want to know if you are off base about something ask a friend, they should be more than willing to tell you if you are wrong in a loving way. A true love often inspires us to be a better person, we want to be who they think we are, we don’t want to let the ones we love down). Yes, this happens between husbands and wives, or it should at any rate. But the ultimate demonstration of this is the love God has for us.
God loves us as we are, but that is only the beginning. He wants us to grow into what we were meant to be. Loving, caring citizens of His Church. He takes us as we are, broken and lost and feeling unloved, rejected, and utterly dead inside, but. He does not leave us there. How could He?
You want the best for the people you love, you can often see that they are not as they should be, are doing something they shouldn’t be doing, or simply can see beyond the current situation they are facing. Would you leave your child in the middle of the street with a car racing around the corner? No, you love them and care for them, and would do everything in your power to get them to safety. You often can see your child as they were meant to be, not necessarily as they are at this moment and you guide them hoping to help them to what they were created for.
God is like that. And when you come to know Christ, really know Him and begin to grow in Him you’ll begin to see yourself through His eyes. You’ll see yourself as loved and adored by the only perfect thing to ever exist. You’ll begin to understand that we were never meant to just exist, to live and die; rather, we were created out of love to love. To love God, to love others (even the unlovely people), and to love ourselves.
I’m not talking about unhealthy love for oneself, full of pride and arrogance, I’m talking about loving ourselves the way we were made to. We are to love ourselves with the understanding that though we are sinners, though we may mess up, we are still worthy of love, still capable of love, we are each worth dying for. But more than that, we are worth living for, we are called to love others more than ourselves and be servants to each other. We all have needs, and God calls us to help each other meet those needs in love.
As Veggie Tales puts it, “Loving means lending a hand.”
Biblical Example: Ruth
Ruth knew how to love, she cared for the people in her life. Even after the death of her husband she cared for his mother. His mother was a widow, and then both her sons died. For all intents and purposes she was alone in the world. She dismissed her two daughter in laws, “And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.” (Ruth 1:8 KJV)
Yet Ruth stayed with her, she left her native country behind, left her family behind, and traveled on with Naomi saying, “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God”(Ruth 1:16)
And so they traveled on, and Ruth lived with Naomi, and worked to feed her mother in law, and eventually when she did remarry she gave her first born son to Naomi to raise (Ruth 4:13-16) so that the name of Naomi’s lost ones would live on.
--------------------------------Sources-----------------------------------
The King James Bible
The New King James Bible
The American Heritage Dictionary
Veggie Tales: Love Your Neighbor
MOVIES
Shall we Dance?
Playing By Heart, 1998
“Do you remember what you told the kids about falling in love? The wonderful thing about falling in love is that you learn everything about that person . . . And if it is true love then you start to see yourself through their eyes. It brings out the best in you. Its almost as if you’re falling in love with yourself.”
This is such an interesting idea; that loving someone can cause you to love yourself, to see yourself in a new way. The concept can really extend far beyond any kind of human love. Yes, this can happen between friends (A good friend makes you feel better about yourself, don’t they? Just being around that friend makes you feel better, why? Because you are loved and accepted. But it is more than just feeling good; a true friend will give it to you straight. If you want to know if you are off base about something ask a friend, they should be more than willing to tell you if you are wrong in a loving way. A true love often inspires us to be a better person, we want to be who they think we are, we don’t want to let the ones we love down). Yes, this happens between husbands and wives, or it should at any rate. But the ultimate demonstration of this is the love God has for us.
God loves us as we are, but that is only the beginning. He wants us to grow into what we were meant to be. Loving, caring citizens of His Church. He takes us as we are, broken and lost and feeling unloved, rejected, and utterly dead inside, but. He does not leave us there. How could He?
You want the best for the people you love, you can often see that they are not as they should be, are doing something they shouldn’t be doing, or simply can see beyond the current situation they are facing. Would you leave your child in the middle of the street with a car racing around the corner? No, you love them and care for them, and would do everything in your power to get them to safety. You often can see your child as they were meant to be, not necessarily as they are at this moment and you guide them hoping to help them to what they were created for.
God is like that. And when you come to know Christ, really know Him and begin to grow in Him you’ll begin to see yourself through His eyes. You’ll see yourself as loved and adored by the only perfect thing to ever exist. You’ll begin to understand that we were never meant to just exist, to live and die; rather, we were created out of love to love. To love God, to love others (even the unlovely people), and to love ourselves.
I’m not talking about unhealthy love for oneself, full of pride and arrogance, I’m talking about loving ourselves the way we were made to. We are to love ourselves with the understanding that though we are sinners, though we may mess up, we are still worthy of love, still capable of love, we are each worth dying for. But more than that, we are worth living for, we are called to love others more than ourselves and be servants to each other. We all have needs, and God calls us to help each other meet those needs in love.
As Veggie Tales puts it, “Loving means lending a hand.”
Biblical Example: Ruth
Ruth knew how to love, she cared for the people in her life. Even after the death of her husband she cared for his mother. His mother was a widow, and then both her sons died. For all intents and purposes she was alone in the world. She dismissed her two daughter in laws, “And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.” (Ruth 1:8 KJV)
Yet Ruth stayed with her, she left her native country behind, left her family behind, and traveled on with Naomi saying, “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God”(Ruth 1:16)
And so they traveled on, and Ruth lived with Naomi, and worked to feed her mother in law, and eventually when she did remarry she gave her first born son to Naomi to raise (Ruth 4:13-16) so that the name of Naomi’s lost ones would live on.
--------------------------------Sources-----------------------------------
The King James Bible
The New King James Bible
The American Heritage Dictionary
Veggie Tales: Love Your Neighbor
MOVIES
Shall we Dance?
Playing By Heart, 1998
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
I'm such a girl
Ok, I've never been one for shopping. And those of you who really know me just screamed "DUH" at your computers, I know you did I heard it.
Anyway, Julianne has messed me up, since I had her in December I've spent more time in stores than I care to admit. But only shopping for the kids or Chris. Yesterday the kids and I went out with my friend Kristin and her two kids. We spent 5 hours shopping, hit only 3 stores, and then I went out again today. It's crazy. Oh, but I finally own an ironing board, before this I just ironed on my kitchen table. And with the exception of maybe 3 outfits and the ironing board all the stuff bought was for me.
And I hate shopping (another DUH), well anyway I did. It's growing on me. I didn't run though the stores yesterday grabbing what I needed and leaving as quickly as possible. It was a new experience for me. I browsed. Can you believe it? Oh, and I've got a major thing about trying clothes on, I never do it because I get nervous. Well, I tried on LOTS of clothes yesterday. And I quit having panic attacks about half way through the shopping spree. So yay! I can function in stores now. I think.
Anyway, Julianne has messed me up, since I had her in December I've spent more time in stores than I care to admit. But only shopping for the kids or Chris. Yesterday the kids and I went out with my friend Kristin and her two kids. We spent 5 hours shopping, hit only 3 stores, and then I went out again today. It's crazy. Oh, but I finally own an ironing board, before this I just ironed on my kitchen table. And with the exception of maybe 3 outfits and the ironing board all the stuff bought was for me.
And I hate shopping (another DUH), well anyway I did. It's growing on me. I didn't run though the stores yesterday grabbing what I needed and leaving as quickly as possible. It was a new experience for me. I browsed. Can you believe it? Oh, and I've got a major thing about trying clothes on, I never do it because I get nervous. Well, I tried on LOTS of clothes yesterday. And I quit having panic attacks about half way through the shopping spree. So yay! I can function in stores now. I think.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Why does He love me?
Seriously, why does Jesus love me? You wouldn't believe how much He is blessing me. I cannot begin to explain what a wonderful and loving God Christ is. It's funny, today actually was stressful for me in certain ways (a friend unknowingly is forcing me out of my shell about certain things) and I wanted to, and did, cry a lot today. And yet after I got the kids down I just felt so good about myself.
Like heavy load has been unburdened. I wish I could make you all understand, but it would take forever to do so. So all I can hope, and pray for, is that each of you would be equally aware of His blessings. Even the hard times are blessings looking back on them. They are an oppertunity to grow and mature in His love. The trials of this life are a great way of seeing His hand at work. Yes the good things are to, but what is it that Vanilla Sky said? Something like, the sweet just ain't as sweet without the sour. And it's the truth.
Like heavy load has been unburdened. I wish I could make you all understand, but it would take forever to do so. So all I can hope, and pray for, is that each of you would be equally aware of His blessings. Even the hard times are blessings looking back on them. They are an oppertunity to grow and mature in His love. The trials of this life are a great way of seeing His hand at work. Yes the good things are to, but what is it that Vanilla Sky said? Something like, the sweet just ain't as sweet without the sour. And it's the truth.
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Esther, a Veggie Tales Movie
Ok, so William loves V.T. because Larry is silly. And that's ok, because as he gets older he'll start getting something more out of it. So I buy him a video once a week, it's his treat. But it is a treat for me as well. It seems like, though they are definitely geared for kids, I'm getting a lot out of them spiritually right now.
So, we got Esther tonight. I'd never seen it before. HOLY COW. Man, they did a great job with this one. The animation, the script, THE MUSIC...Seriously if you haven't seen this one you need to. Anyway, like I said, I'm getting a lot out of the movies.
Here's what I got this time:
Tell me why, I don't understand.
Tell me why, or show me your hand.
Tell me why because I can't see my way through
What now...should I...do
The battle is not ours
We look to God above~
For he will guide us safely through
and guard us with his love
I will not be afraid
I will not run and hide~
For there is noting I can't face
when God is at my side
No, there is nothing I can't face
when God is at my side
The battle is not ours
We look to God above
For he will guide us safely through
and guard us with his love
This is absolutely beautiful. The lyrics are fantastic, it has this haunting melody, and then the score just tops it off. I think this is one of the best songs I've ever heard for a movie. And the fact that it is for a kid's movie makes it even more special!
So, we got Esther tonight. I'd never seen it before. HOLY COW. Man, they did a great job with this one. The animation, the script, THE MUSIC...Seriously if you haven't seen this one you need to. Anyway, like I said, I'm getting a lot out of the movies.
Here's what I got this time:
Tell me why, I don't understand.
Tell me why, or show me your hand.
Tell me why because I can't see my way through
What now...should I...do
The battle is not ours
We look to God above~
For he will guide us safely through
and guard us with his love
I will not be afraid
I will not run and hide~
For there is noting I can't face
when God is at my side
No, there is nothing I can't face
when God is at my side
The battle is not ours
We look to God above
For he will guide us safely through
and guard us with his love
This is absolutely beautiful. The lyrics are fantastic, it has this haunting melody, and then the score just tops it off. I think this is one of the best songs I've ever heard for a movie. And the fact that it is for a kid's movie makes it even more special!
Friday, June 24, 2005
Concerning my beauty post
Please note, the point of the beauty post is not that we should completely withdraw from the world, nor is it that Christ died on the cross only to make me feel pretty. The point is that this world's perception of beauty is skewed and unattainable, and that God loves us for who we are and that our spirits are beautiful. Physical beauty fades, it's all about the spirit here.
Christ died on the cross so that we might have life, and life to the fullest, so why shouldn't that fact touch us and help us to realize that we're beautiful? Yes, beauty is less important than realizing Christ died for our salvation, but what are we to do? Just say "Thanks Jesus for saving my soul, now I'm going to buy a copy of Cosmo to see how to make myself beautiful!" He wants to transform us, inside and out. He wants to transform us, but if we don't surrender ourselves to His power He's not going to force us to change...Which means we could continue on chasing the airbrushed beauty and continue to feel broken, dejected, and empty inside.
Anyway, I just thought I'd clarify that a bit.
Christ died on the cross so that we might have life, and life to the fullest, so why shouldn't that fact touch us and help us to realize that we're beautiful? Yes, beauty is less important than realizing Christ died for our salvation, but what are we to do? Just say "Thanks Jesus for saving my soul, now I'm going to buy a copy of Cosmo to see how to make myself beautiful!" He wants to transform us, inside and out. He wants to transform us, but if we don't surrender ourselves to His power He's not going to force us to change...Which means we could continue on chasing the airbrushed beauty and continue to feel broken, dejected, and empty inside.
Anyway, I just thought I'd clarify that a bit.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Psalm 62
I got home from a friend's & put the kids to bed and just sat on the floor and cried because I'm having a bit of a problem with Chris not being home and missing him today. I felt so lost right then, I was doubting everything about the situation and I just asked Him "what do I do?" And then the first thing I opened my Bible to was Psalm 62.
I tell you God just blows my mind on a daily basis. I thought whoever reads this might get a kick out of it. He just keeps showing me things about waiting on Him and trusting in Him at all times. That seems to be the theme as of late. It's really neat.
Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8
1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
...
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.
I tell you God just blows my mind on a daily basis. I thought whoever reads this might get a kick out of it. He just keeps showing me things about waiting on Him and trusting in Him at all times. That seems to be the theme as of late. It's really neat.
Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8
1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
...
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Biblical Beauty
I was listening to a message on VCY America about godly beauty earlier and found it to be very interesting. It deals with how we as women deal with worldly beauty vs biblical beauty. It discusses how we, as believers, have let the world's view of beauty effect us in a negative way. Regina Franklin delivers a powerful message on a journey of seeing what the world sees or believing what the Word says about us and beauty.
Roughly she says at one point, My identity is in Christ, and if I'm chasing the world I cannot find my identity in Him...He died so you can know how uniquely He created you...Our beauty was paid for with the blood of Christ.
She discusses how the things we see in advertising campaigns are driven by one thing, the dollar. When we see women on t.v and we feel like in order to be "sexy" and beautiful we have to look or dress certain ways. And we feed ourselves lies, and we chase the impossible airbrushed images of society and wonder why we feel so empty and ugly. Why should we stand in front of the mirror and say to ourselves "I'm fat, I've got big hips, my hair won't do what I want it to"?
I feel like we, as Christian women, should be able to stand in front of that mirror and say to ourselves, "God loves this, God loves me, I am His temple." And as we stand in front of the mirror or in front of other women, or even our daughters, and say derogatory things about ourselves and then wonder why our daughters at such a young age become fixated and influenced by the world's standards. Our youth are our future and our future needs to be protected. Their innocence is important, and precious, and we must fight and guide our children so that they know that they are unconditionally loved. That it doesn't matter what is on the cover of People Magazine, what matters lies between the words of the Bible, what matters lies in Christ and His love for them.
Romans 12:1-2 (emphasis mine)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
When the thought comes into our minds we have to take hold of the thought, and if it does not line up with what God thinks of us we have to choose to realign ourselves with His word and transform our minds through Him.
"Skin sells and skin is selling well." We can either buy into the message of the world or we can separate ourselves and the Bible makes it clear that we are not of this world.
John 17:16 (King James Version)
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
It is often difficult as we are constantly bombarded with the perpetuated image of what beauty is. We can't turn the TV on or go to the grocery store without being confronted by worldly beauty. As a Christian woman we are called to aspire to godly beauty, but if we don't daily come to God for strength to resist these images we can & will succumb. We say to ourselves, "I can separate myself, I just won't watch certain shows or read those magazines," but we are told not to put confidence in our flesh (Philippians 3:3).
1 John 2:16 (NKJV)
For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world.
Edited 11:53pm on Wednesday
When we become consumed by what is in the mirror we cannot begin to understand who we are in Christ. We have to lay down the idolatry and turn to God for our identity. We are suffering as a society from an identity crisis, we seem to forget so easily who we are. Who brought us back from emptiness & death; we so desperately long for affirmation that it costs us the understanding that comes when we become the women God created us to be.
He did not create 16 million "Sally"s or 50,000 "Sarah"s. He created me, Kristina Marie Hansen, and He created you. You are an individual, as am I, and God doesn't want you to be Jennifer Aniston, Katie Holmes, Angelina Jolie, or even the pastor's wife at your church. He wants YOU! He wants ME!
I am beautiful, I may not always feel that way but I know in Christ I am. And in Christ you are. You may feel awkward or geeky or even a bit plump, but here and now understand you are beautiful. You have a choice. You can believe the world who is never satisfied, and you can continue to strive for the airbrushed beauty. Or you can believe God's Word, and know you are worthy of love. You are beautiful, you are worth dying for, and someone loves you so much that He died & rose so that you can know that you are loved!
We so often will search for love and affection and acceptance in relationships with people, even husbands, and get disappointed. In Genesis 29 we meet Leah and her sister Rachel. The Bible tells us that Rachel was rather stunning, while Leah had "pale eyes" and through a twist of events Leah and Rachel both marry the same man, "but because Leah was unloved, the Lord let her have a child, while Rachel was childless." God reached out to this poor woman who was feeling unloved and gave her a son. This was a great act of love on His part, but she didn't seem to realize it and was more concerned with making her husband love her. "The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me," but he didn't love her. Not the way she wanted him to, and so she had another son, and another, and finally when she gave birth to her fourth son, Judah, she seems to have finally realized that God loves her and she said, "Now I will praise the Lord!"
Can you imagine how loved she must have felt on that day? To have finally realized what God had done in her life, to be able to fall at His feet in the knowledge that she had been loved all along? The tears of joy she must have shed on that day...To understand that God loved her and it didn't matter what other people, including her own husband thought about her - what a great day!
In 1st Samuel we meet Hannah, who though she is loved by her husband still feels unloved and probably very inadequate. Because by society's standards she wasn't up to par, she was barren. Her husband's other wife would often tease Hannah, because she could have children, to the point of tears. Hannah was so consumed by the need for a child that finally after years of trying and years of being disappointed she fell to her knees before God.
"And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head." (1 Samuel 1:11)
And God gave her that son, and I can only imagine the joy she must have felt. Finally, her husband's wife could say nothing more to her. She was no longer a sub-standard citizen in society. God used her desire to show her that she was loved, and because He was faithful to her, she was faithful to Him. She weaned that precious child and brought him to the temple and left him with the priests to be raised and to be a servant to the Lord.
All through out the Bible God chooses to show love and mercy to the unloved, the people society doesn't deem as beautiful or worthy He stretches His loving arms out to receive them. He calls and gives strength to the meek, He blesses the poor, He comforts the hurting, and the people society calls unlovely He loves. And it is only in allowing oneself to realize that beautiful fact that we can really begin to understand who we are, and who God is. It is in knowing God, and rejecting what the world thinks (after all, society doesn't know what it wants. One year it's the in thing to be blonde, the next it is cool to be a brunette), that we can see even the lepers are beautiful.
------------SOURCES------------------------------------------
VCY America"
Roughly she says at one point, My identity is in Christ, and if I'm chasing the world I cannot find my identity in Him...He died so you can know how uniquely He created you...Our beauty was paid for with the blood of Christ.
She discusses how the things we see in advertising campaigns are driven by one thing, the dollar. When we see women on t.v and we feel like in order to be "sexy" and beautiful we have to look or dress certain ways. And we feed ourselves lies, and we chase the impossible airbrushed images of society and wonder why we feel so empty and ugly. Why should we stand in front of the mirror and say to ourselves "I'm fat, I've got big hips, my hair won't do what I want it to"?
I feel like we, as Christian women, should be able to stand in front of that mirror and say to ourselves, "God loves this, God loves me, I am His temple." And as we stand in front of the mirror or in front of other women, or even our daughters, and say derogatory things about ourselves and then wonder why our daughters at such a young age become fixated and influenced by the world's standards. Our youth are our future and our future needs to be protected. Their innocence is important, and precious, and we must fight and guide our children so that they know that they are unconditionally loved. That it doesn't matter what is on the cover of People Magazine, what matters lies between the words of the Bible, what matters lies in Christ and His love for them.
Romans 12:1-2 (emphasis mine)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
When the thought comes into our minds we have to take hold of the thought, and if it does not line up with what God thinks of us we have to choose to realign ourselves with His word and transform our minds through Him.
"Skin sells and skin is selling well." We can either buy into the message of the world or we can separate ourselves and the Bible makes it clear that we are not of this world.
John 17:16 (King James Version)
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
It is often difficult as we are constantly bombarded with the perpetuated image of what beauty is. We can't turn the TV on or go to the grocery store without being confronted by worldly beauty. As a Christian woman we are called to aspire to godly beauty, but if we don't daily come to God for strength to resist these images we can & will succumb. We say to ourselves, "I can separate myself, I just won't watch certain shows or read those magazines," but we are told not to put confidence in our flesh (Philippians 3:3).
1 John 2:16 (NKJV)
For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world.
Edited 11:53pm on Wednesday
When we become consumed by what is in the mirror we cannot begin to understand who we are in Christ. We have to lay down the idolatry and turn to God for our identity. We are suffering as a society from an identity crisis, we seem to forget so easily who we are. Who brought us back from emptiness & death; we so desperately long for affirmation that it costs us the understanding that comes when we become the women God created us to be.
He did not create 16 million "Sally"s or 50,000 "Sarah"s. He created me, Kristina Marie Hansen, and He created you. You are an individual, as am I, and God doesn't want you to be Jennifer Aniston, Katie Holmes, Angelina Jolie, or even the pastor's wife at your church. He wants YOU! He wants ME!
I am beautiful, I may not always feel that way but I know in Christ I am. And in Christ you are. You may feel awkward or geeky or even a bit plump, but here and now understand you are beautiful. You have a choice. You can believe the world who is never satisfied, and you can continue to strive for the airbrushed beauty. Or you can believe God's Word, and know you are worthy of love. You are beautiful, you are worth dying for, and someone loves you so much that He died & rose so that you can know that you are loved!
We so often will search for love and affection and acceptance in relationships with people, even husbands, and get disappointed. In Genesis 29 we meet Leah and her sister Rachel. The Bible tells us that Rachel was rather stunning, while Leah had "pale eyes" and through a twist of events Leah and Rachel both marry the same man, "but because Leah was unloved, the Lord let her have a child, while Rachel was childless." God reached out to this poor woman who was feeling unloved and gave her a son. This was a great act of love on His part, but she didn't seem to realize it and was more concerned with making her husband love her. "The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me," but he didn't love her. Not the way she wanted him to, and so she had another son, and another, and finally when she gave birth to her fourth son, Judah, she seems to have finally realized that God loves her and she said, "Now I will praise the Lord!"
Can you imagine how loved she must have felt on that day? To have finally realized what God had done in her life, to be able to fall at His feet in the knowledge that she had been loved all along? The tears of joy she must have shed on that day...To understand that God loved her and it didn't matter what other people, including her own husband thought about her - what a great day!
In 1st Samuel we meet Hannah, who though she is loved by her husband still feels unloved and probably very inadequate. Because by society's standards she wasn't up to par, she was barren. Her husband's other wife would often tease Hannah, because she could have children, to the point of tears. Hannah was so consumed by the need for a child that finally after years of trying and years of being disappointed she fell to her knees before God.
"And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head." (1 Samuel 1:11)
And God gave her that son, and I can only imagine the joy she must have felt. Finally, her husband's wife could say nothing more to her. She was no longer a sub-standard citizen in society. God used her desire to show her that she was loved, and because He was faithful to her, she was faithful to Him. She weaned that precious child and brought him to the temple and left him with the priests to be raised and to be a servant to the Lord.
All through out the Bible God chooses to show love and mercy to the unloved, the people society doesn't deem as beautiful or worthy He stretches His loving arms out to receive them. He calls and gives strength to the meek, He blesses the poor, He comforts the hurting, and the people society calls unlovely He loves. And it is only in allowing oneself to realize that beautiful fact that we can really begin to understand who we are, and who God is. It is in knowing God, and rejecting what the world thinks (after all, society doesn't know what it wants. One year it's the in thing to be blonde, the next it is cool to be a brunette), that we can see even the lepers are beautiful.
------------SOURCES------------------------------------------
VCY America"
Monday, June 20, 2005
Trust in Me
Erm, so there is a new song entitled "Trust in Me" on the website. I did the guitar and really junky demo vocals (to get the melody out of my head) earlier, the guitar is pretty good, I may redo it, I may not. Actually I'm pretty happy with it. And I just redid the vocals, it's a bit rough but in a good way. Anyway, yes. God is good. :)
Want the lyrics? Good, here's them as they stand now. I may rewrite them a bit.
There is nothing I could say
To express the gratitude of my soul
You stooped down and redeemed me,
The emptiness hasn't got a grip on me.
You say, "see? I showed you
And we'll do it again.
Pay attention little one.
I've given you all you need
Just trust in me
Trust in me little one
I love you
Trust in me
And you'll see
If you trust in me"
There. Short, sweet. Pretty. :)
Want the lyrics? Good, here's them as they stand now. I may rewrite them a bit.
There is nothing I could say
To express the gratitude of my soul
You stooped down and redeemed me,
The emptiness hasn't got a grip on me.
You say, "see? I showed you
And we'll do it again.
Pay attention little one.
I've given you all you need
Just trust in me
Trust in me little one
I love you
Trust in me
And you'll see
If you trust in me"
There. Short, sweet. Pretty. :)
Saturday, June 18, 2005
My thoughts and concerns about new translations - part 2
Have you ever read The Message? It is a paraphrase of the Bible by Eugene Peterson.
"It is a bridging of the gap between the original languages and English, and between centuries of time and language change, to bring to us the Bible as it originally sounded."
Here is my problem with The Message, it distorts what God intended. It takes what was originally said and turns it around and makes things, shall we say, less black and white? Sexual immorality doesn't seem so bad in The Message (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), and occult dangers don't seem so scary (2 Thessalonians 2:9)
Rather disturbingly the Lord's Prayer now includes New Age terms. Let us compair Matthew 6:9-13 in The Message to KJV.
Matthew 6:9-13 (The Message, emphasis mine)
9With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
10Set the world right;
Do what's best--
as above, so below.
11Keep us alive with three square meals.
12Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
13Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Matthew 6:9-13 (King James Version)
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Not only does The Message add New Age terms to scripture, but it also removes verses entirely (sadly, this happens in other translations as well), for example if you'll read below, we'll be looking at Acts 8:36-39, there is no verse 37 even in there, and why? Well, because verse 37 tells us that Philip says that if you believe with all your heart you can be baptized and the eunuch answered that he believes Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. Obviously Mr. Peterson didn't feel that verse was worth putting in.
Acts 8:36-39 (The Message)
36As they continued down the road, they came to a stream of water. The eunuch said, "Here's water. Why can't I be baptized?" 38He ordered the chariot to stop. They both went down to the water, and Philip baptized him on the spot. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of God suddenly took Philip off, and that was the last the eunuch saw of him. But he didn't mind. He had what he'd come for and went on down the road as happy as he could be.
Acts 8:36-39 (King James Version)
36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
The Message sugar coats God's word, it diminshes the peril of being a true believer in Christ and inflates God's promises. It does not accurately put forth what Jesus intended, as demonstrated by John 3:36. God does not tell us that we will have it easy, rather He tells us "Now brother will deliver up brother to death...And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 10:21, 22 NKJV)
The following verse in The Message, doesn't warn readers of what can happen if you don't believe Christ. It leaves it to one's imagenation. It implies that if you don't believe and trust in Jesus you'll just be left out. That's not what the KJV implies. You don't just get left out of fun stuff, you get the wrath of God.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36 KJV
"Whoever accepts and trust the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever!" [John 3:36a] THE MESSAGE
My concern is that those who only read The Message will be unprepared for the spiritual attacks that await them as believers. Satan does not want you to believe, he is the author of lies and will do anything to keep you from knowing the truth. Including put forth a "Bible" that makes life seem like it is all sunshine and roses. The Message does not convict the heart as it should, nor does it prepare the believer of things to come. Instead it softens God's word to fit into the world, yet the Bible tells us that we are not of this world (John 15:19-21).
The following verse also shows a distortion in Scripture. The Message says nothing about the Father being greater than anybody, it just says that He is the goal and purpose.
"my Father is greater than I." John 14:28 KJV
"The Father is the goal and purpose of my life." John 14:28 THE MESSAGE
Below is just another example of how The Message makes the bad seem less bad. The KJV tells us that to be carnally minded is DEATH, but The Message does not even come close to putting that idea on paper.
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6
"Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life." [Romans 8:6] THE MESSAGE
Yet, another example.
Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD. Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee. And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall rise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him. (Jeremiah 50:30-32 KJV)
Jeremiah 50:30-32 (The Message)
30And now she pays: her young strewn dead in the streets,
her soldiers dead, silent forever." GOD's Decree.
31"Do you get it, Mister Pride? I'm your enemy!"
Decree of the Master, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies.
"Time's run out on you:
That's right: It's Doomsday.
32Mister Pride will fall flat on his face.
No one will offer him a hand.
I'll set his towns on fire.
The fire will spread wild through the country."
The above verse sure puts things into perspective, God is not just about love and peace, ulitmately that is what will come, but God is a righteous God and humbles the proud! His fire devours evil. Please note that in the above selections the KJV says "for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee" while the Message says "That's right: It's Doomsday ".
The Message says nothing about God coming. Doomsday could mean different things to a different set of people (Doomsday could be bombs dropping, massive flooding, any number of things. But God coming? You know exactly what that means.), each person's perspective could render a different way of looking at this verse, while the KJV leaves nothing to question.
God is coming!
---------------------------CREDITS----------------------------------------------------
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
The Message at Navpress NavPress
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain
A Public Domain Bible KJV at Zondervan Zondervan
"It is a bridging of the gap between the original languages and English, and between centuries of time and language change, to bring to us the Bible as it originally sounded."
Here is my problem with The Message, it distorts what God intended. It takes what was originally said and turns it around and makes things, shall we say, less black and white? Sexual immorality doesn't seem so bad in The Message (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), and occult dangers don't seem so scary (2 Thessalonians 2:9)
Rather disturbingly the Lord's Prayer now includes New Age terms. Let us compair Matthew 6:9-13 in The Message to KJV.
Matthew 6:9-13 (The Message, emphasis mine)
9With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
10Set the world right;
Do what's best--
as above, so below.
11Keep us alive with three square meals.
12Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
13Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Matthew 6:9-13 (King James Version)
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Not only does The Message add New Age terms to scripture, but it also removes verses entirely (sadly, this happens in other translations as well), for example if you'll read below, we'll be looking at Acts 8:36-39, there is no verse 37 even in there, and why? Well, because verse 37 tells us that Philip says that if you believe with all your heart you can be baptized and the eunuch answered that he believes Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. Obviously Mr. Peterson didn't feel that verse was worth putting in.
Acts 8:36-39 (The Message)
36As they continued down the road, they came to a stream of water. The eunuch said, "Here's water. Why can't I be baptized?" 38He ordered the chariot to stop. They both went down to the water, and Philip baptized him on the spot. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of God suddenly took Philip off, and that was the last the eunuch saw of him. But he didn't mind. He had what he'd come for and went on down the road as happy as he could be.
Acts 8:36-39 (King James Version)
36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
The Message sugar coats God's word, it diminshes the peril of being a true believer in Christ and inflates God's promises. It does not accurately put forth what Jesus intended, as demonstrated by John 3:36. God does not tell us that we will have it easy, rather He tells us "Now brother will deliver up brother to death...And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 10:21, 22 NKJV)
The following verse in The Message, doesn't warn readers of what can happen if you don't believe Christ. It leaves it to one's imagenation. It implies that if you don't believe and trust in Jesus you'll just be left out. That's not what the KJV implies. You don't just get left out of fun stuff, you get the wrath of God.
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36 KJV
"Whoever accepts and trust the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever!" [John 3:36a] THE MESSAGE
My concern is that those who only read The Message will be unprepared for the spiritual attacks that await them as believers. Satan does not want you to believe, he is the author of lies and will do anything to keep you from knowing the truth. Including put forth a "Bible" that makes life seem like it is all sunshine and roses. The Message does not convict the heart as it should, nor does it prepare the believer of things to come. Instead it softens God's word to fit into the world, yet the Bible tells us that we are not of this world (John 15:19-21).
The following verse also shows a distortion in Scripture. The Message says nothing about the Father being greater than anybody, it just says that He is the goal and purpose.
"my Father is greater than I." John 14:28 KJV
"The Father is the goal and purpose of my life." John 14:28 THE MESSAGE
Below is just another example of how The Message makes the bad seem less bad. The KJV tells us that to be carnally minded is DEATH, but The Message does not even come close to putting that idea on paper.
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6
"Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life." [Romans 8:6] THE MESSAGE
Yet, another example.
Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD. Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee. And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall rise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him. (Jeremiah 50:30-32 KJV)
Jeremiah 50:30-32 (The Message)
30And now she pays: her young strewn dead in the streets,
her soldiers dead, silent forever." GOD's Decree.
31"Do you get it, Mister Pride? I'm your enemy!"
Decree of the Master, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies.
"Time's run out on you:
That's right: It's Doomsday.
32Mister Pride will fall flat on his face.
No one will offer him a hand.
I'll set his towns on fire.
The fire will spread wild through the country."
The above verse sure puts things into perspective, God is not just about love and peace, ulitmately that is what will come, but God is a righteous God and humbles the proud! His fire devours evil. Please note that in the above selections the KJV says "for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee" while the Message says "That's right: It's Doomsday ".
The Message says nothing about God coming. Doomsday could mean different things to a different set of people (Doomsday could be bombs dropping, massive flooding, any number of things. But God coming? You know exactly what that means.), each person's perspective could render a different way of looking at this verse, while the KJV leaves nothing to question.
God is coming!
---------------------------CREDITS----------------------------------------------------
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
The Message at Navpress NavPress
King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain
A Public Domain Bible KJV at Zondervan Zondervan
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Santification
Frenzyboard topic on santification
I'm stealing my post from the topic, then I'll expand if I have anything else to say. It pretty much says where I'm at in my life though.
Just my thoughts. Also, I was reading 1 Cor. today and came upon this (chapter 7 verse 34) and I thought it was interesting.
"There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world - how she may please her husband."
This verse speaks to me a lot lately. I feel like I've been living that for quite some time. Putting the needs and desires of a man before God. And while it pains me to not have that man in my life anymore, at least in the way he had been, I'm glad for it. I'm getting back to where I should be. Once this is all behind me I'm going to be such a better person. I'm going to be so much more interesting, because I'm going to be focused on the Lord in such a new way. I already am getting there, and I know this is a life long journey. I'm learning so much, about myself and my interaction with people, and about Christ. I don't know that I would have reached this point without going through what I am right now.
I'm choosing to put aside worldy things. Yes, I'm going to miss certain things b/c they have been dear to me but I know in the end of it all I'm much better off. I want to partake of the Lord, and I can not fully do that until I've purged myself of the world.
I'm stealing my post from the topic, then I'll expand if I have anything else to say. It pretty much says where I'm at in my life though.
Well, santification can be a tough thing. You have to be willing to go through...it's hard to let some things go in order to be santified. Our flesh clings to things, a book, a cd, even a person. But once we know the truth and understand we are free in it, we have something to look forward to. Yes cleansing yourself of certain things/ people can be difficult, but ultimately what more do you need than Christ? ::shrug:: I don't know, I just figure a lot of times we are called and recieve Him, and sadly a lot of times we stay at that point. We say to ourselves, "Well, Christ loves me and it doesn't matter what I'm into because I've accepted Him"
And that is fine, for a time. But if you really want to know God, you have to give up the world. And that can be frightening. But the Bible says "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons." So what is that to us? Quite obviously you can not be with God and with demons. Does light not cast out darkness? Does water not wash away dirt? So, if we are to truely be of and with God, we can not be with immorality, we can not be evil, ect.
Just my thoughts. Also, I was reading 1 Cor. today and came upon this (chapter 7 verse 34) and I thought it was interesting.
"There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world - how she may please her husband."
This verse speaks to me a lot lately. I feel like I've been living that for quite some time. Putting the needs and desires of a man before God. And while it pains me to not have that man in my life anymore, at least in the way he had been, I'm glad for it. I'm getting back to where I should be. Once this is all behind me I'm going to be such a better person. I'm going to be so much more interesting, because I'm going to be focused on the Lord in such a new way. I already am getting there, and I know this is a life long journey. I'm learning so much, about myself and my interaction with people, and about Christ. I don't know that I would have reached this point without going through what I am right now.
I'm choosing to put aside worldy things. Yes, I'm going to miss certain things b/c they have been dear to me but I know in the end of it all I'm much better off. I want to partake of the Lord, and I can not fully do that until I've purged myself of the world.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
1 Chronicles 5:20 (King James Version)
20And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.
Can you say wow? It blows my mind at the things God does for us just b/c we trust Him.
Can you say wow? It blows my mind at the things God does for us just b/c we trust Him.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
My thoughts and concerns about new translations - part 1
There is a brand new translation of the Bible available, it is a second generation NIV and there is a lot of controversy surrounding it. Some say it is great because it's target is to reach the teens of today, it's been formed to be user friendly and politically correct. So what's the big deal? The Bible isn't supposed to be politically correct, it is supposed to be spiritually correct.
A Bible who wants everyone who reads it to understand and feel included & unjudged? Traditionally the Bible has been something you can turn to to see exactly where God stands on an issue, there is no grey area with God. Wrong is wrong and right is right. Sexual immorality is wrong (1 Timothy 1:10, 1 Corinthians 6:9), the Bible tells us that so many times I've lost count. Murder is wrong, stealing is wrong, homosexuality is wrong (Romans 1:26-27), lust is wrong (Matthew 5:28).
So, if a Bible is making things more accessable to todays youth, what's the problem? One problem lies with the "inclusive language".
"LAWTON: In the TNIV, Mary is now "pregnant," not "with child." Jesus walks on water not during the "fourth watch of the night," but rather "shortly before dawn." In the crucifixion accounts, references to "the Jews" are changed to "Jewish leaders." The most comprehensive changes surround gender. The TNIV uses more inclusive language, beginning in Genesis 1, where instead of saying God created "man" in his own image, the TNIV says God created "human beings" in his own image."
Now, I could swear that man WAS created first and woman was created later out of Adam's side, therefore God created MAN in his image. I've got Genesis 1:27 (NKJV) backing me up, what do they have? A bunch of people who are not being held accountable for what they do. Just because someone has a PhD doesn't mean we take everything they say as gold. You have to do research, just because someone says God doesn't make them a Christian (Matthew 7:21). At best they are a theist who has been decieved, at worst a liar decieving millions. And the worst part is that it can be very difficult in knowing what catagory they would fall into.
As believers in Christ we have the responsibility to test the spirits to see if they are of God (1 John 4:1-3) and to test all teachings against the Word of God, (Acts 17:11). Sadly, a multitude of teachers today tend to allow anything and everything to come through the doors without any attempt to discern the truth. We are called to guard, to watch and to warn those within the church, of the dangers of false teaching, seducing spirits, doctrines of demons, destructive heresies and the philosophies of the world.
"The TNIV was translated by the same independent committee of evangelical scholars who translated the NIV 30 years ago. Professor John Stek, who has worked on Bible translation for 40 years, chairs the committee."
By the same independent committee to me says that they aren't accountable to anyone. If you have no one to answer to you can do what you want. And sadly this happens. People twist the meaning of scripture to fit into their own sinful lives, or ignore it all together. John said "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:15), yet how many of us hold grudges for months, even years on end? Jesus said to "Agree with your adversary quickly," (Matthew 5:25.)
"More than 100 evangelical leaders and scholars have signed a statement of concern about the TNIV. Much of the opposition has been spearheaded by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, which criticizes the TNIV's widespread elimination of masculine words such as "he," "his," "brother," "father," and "son."
RANDY STINSON (Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood): If you do that throughout the entire text of the scripture, what you do is you undermine significant things about fathers, about manhood, about brothers, about relationships between men and women, and the way that the Bible fundamentally teaches from cover to cover about the role of men leading in the home, about the role of men leading in the church."
Now, Randy Stinson has hit it dead on. There are things they shouldn't be messed with. I wonder what the TNIV says about the man being the head of the household and that wives are supposed to submit to them and that men are the authority over women? How are they going to get around that one? Obviously women being submissive doesn't sound very P.C., so what shall they do?
7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. (1 Corinthians 11:7-9 TNIV)
I guess there was no getting around saying that women came from man there. If you follow the link above you will see that it goes on to confirm that men are supposed to have authority over women (verse 10) because women are the glory of man.
Ephesians 5:22-24 (NKJV) tells "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything."
Now, don't get me wrong. I love the idea of making the Bible more accessable to new believers. I'll admit the KJV can be a bit intimidating when you aren't used to reading it (Though if you get used to it reading Shakespear will be a whole lot easier!) I just have issues with altering God's intent. There has to be a way to clearly express what the original texts said in a language that is accessable to today's youth.
I think that the translators should be held accountable, the people doing the translation should not be an independant committie serving their own agenda, rather they should be serving the people they say they are trying to reach. They should have to put out a Bible that accurately puts forth what God intended, the Bible was never ment to be twisted to fit our needs, we were ment to bend and conform to God's will. And ultimately anyone who distorts God's word will answer to Him (Revelation 22:18).
You'll ultimately have to judge for yourself though, just read the Bible with a heart that is open to God's direction. He'll always give it to you straight so long as you ask (Matthew 7:7-8) so I suggest you just ask for His guidence & discernment as you read.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The source for my quotes.
A Bible who wants everyone who reads it to understand and feel included & unjudged? Traditionally the Bible has been something you can turn to to see exactly where God stands on an issue, there is no grey area with God. Wrong is wrong and right is right. Sexual immorality is wrong (1 Timothy 1:10, 1 Corinthians 6:9), the Bible tells us that so many times I've lost count. Murder is wrong, stealing is wrong, homosexuality is wrong (Romans 1:26-27), lust is wrong (Matthew 5:28).
So, if a Bible is making things more accessable to todays youth, what's the problem? One problem lies with the "inclusive language".
"LAWTON: In the TNIV, Mary is now "pregnant," not "with child." Jesus walks on water not during the "fourth watch of the night," but rather "shortly before dawn." In the crucifixion accounts, references to "the Jews" are changed to "Jewish leaders." The most comprehensive changes surround gender. The TNIV uses more inclusive language, beginning in Genesis 1, where instead of saying God created "man" in his own image, the TNIV says God created "human beings" in his own image."
Now, I could swear that man WAS created first and woman was created later out of Adam's side, therefore God created MAN in his image. I've got Genesis 1:27 (NKJV) backing me up, what do they have? A bunch of people who are not being held accountable for what they do. Just because someone has a PhD doesn't mean we take everything they say as gold. You have to do research, just because someone says God doesn't make them a Christian (Matthew 7:21). At best they are a theist who has been decieved, at worst a liar decieving millions. And the worst part is that it can be very difficult in knowing what catagory they would fall into.
As believers in Christ we have the responsibility to test the spirits to see if they are of God (1 John 4:1-3) and to test all teachings against the Word of God, (Acts 17:11). Sadly, a multitude of teachers today tend to allow anything and everything to come through the doors without any attempt to discern the truth. We are called to guard, to watch and to warn those within the church, of the dangers of false teaching, seducing spirits, doctrines of demons, destructive heresies and the philosophies of the world.
"The TNIV was translated by the same independent committee of evangelical scholars who translated the NIV 30 years ago. Professor John Stek, who has worked on Bible translation for 40 years, chairs the committee."
By the same independent committee to me says that they aren't accountable to anyone. If you have no one to answer to you can do what you want. And sadly this happens. People twist the meaning of scripture to fit into their own sinful lives, or ignore it all together. John said "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3:15), yet how many of us hold grudges for months, even years on end? Jesus said to "Agree with your adversary quickly," (Matthew 5:25.)
"More than 100 evangelical leaders and scholars have signed a statement of concern about the TNIV. Much of the opposition has been spearheaded by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, which criticizes the TNIV's widespread elimination of masculine words such as "he," "his," "brother," "father," and "son."
RANDY STINSON (Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood): If you do that throughout the entire text of the scripture, what you do is you undermine significant things about fathers, about manhood, about brothers, about relationships between men and women, and the way that the Bible fundamentally teaches from cover to cover about the role of men leading in the home, about the role of men leading in the church."
Now, Randy Stinson has hit it dead on. There are things they shouldn't be messed with. I wonder what the TNIV says about the man being the head of the household and that wives are supposed to submit to them and that men are the authority over women? How are they going to get around that one? Obviously women being submissive doesn't sound very P.C., so what shall they do?
7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. (1 Corinthians 11:7-9 TNIV)
I guess there was no getting around saying that women came from man there. If you follow the link above you will see that it goes on to confirm that men are supposed to have authority over women (verse 10) because women are the glory of man.
Ephesians 5:22-24 (NKJV) tells "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything."
Now, don't get me wrong. I love the idea of making the Bible more accessable to new believers. I'll admit the KJV can be a bit intimidating when you aren't used to reading it (Though if you get used to it reading Shakespear will be a whole lot easier!) I just have issues with altering God's intent. There has to be a way to clearly express what the original texts said in a language that is accessable to today's youth.
I think that the translators should be held accountable, the people doing the translation should not be an independant committie serving their own agenda, rather they should be serving the people they say they are trying to reach. They should have to put out a Bible that accurately puts forth what God intended, the Bible was never ment to be twisted to fit our needs, we were ment to bend and conform to God's will. And ultimately anyone who distorts God's word will answer to Him (Revelation 22:18).
You'll ultimately have to judge for yourself though, just read the Bible with a heart that is open to God's direction. He'll always give it to you straight so long as you ask (Matthew 7:7-8) so I suggest you just ask for His guidence & discernment as you read.
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The source for my quotes.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Baked Pigeons with Bacon & some food for thought
Servings: 3-4
6 Pigeons, cleaned
6 Bacon slices
Water
Salt & pepper to taste
Wrap a bacon slice around each de-boned dove breast. Place in shallow baking dish and add s&p. Add 1 C water. Cover and cook at 350 degrees for 1-1 1/2 hours.
Thanks to Dave again. I've got two more of these babies. Whoever reads this could start a restraunt...and save money on the pest control for that restraunt. And if you start cooking up bugs you'd save all kinds of money. Dip those spiders in chocolate. You know I've always wanted to try chocolate covered crickets, everyone thinks I'm nuts. They do it all over the world. Heck, in Asia they eat LIVE squid as a test for bravery.
I remember way back in the day when I used to watch MTV (I think it was about 6-7 years ago when I stopped) I remember seeing Road Rules, only God knows what season it was, and they had a cook off between girls and boys & the girls made something really normal and good, and the boys made chocolate & cricket cookies. And they didn't tell the girls till after they had all eaten a cookie and one girl went and threw up. And I just remember thinking that I'd like to try those cookies b/c those girls were wusses.
6 Pigeons, cleaned
6 Bacon slices
Water
Salt & pepper to taste
Wrap a bacon slice around each de-boned dove breast. Place in shallow baking dish and add s&p. Add 1 C water. Cover and cook at 350 degrees for 1-1 1/2 hours.
Thanks to Dave again. I've got two more of these babies. Whoever reads this could start a restraunt...and save money on the pest control for that restraunt. And if you start cooking up bugs you'd save all kinds of money. Dip those spiders in chocolate. You know I've always wanted to try chocolate covered crickets, everyone thinks I'm nuts. They do it all over the world. Heck, in Asia they eat LIVE squid as a test for bravery.
I remember way back in the day when I used to watch MTV (I think it was about 6-7 years ago when I stopped) I remember seeing Road Rules, only God knows what season it was, and they had a cook off between girls and boys & the girls made something really normal and good, and the boys made chocolate & cricket cookies. And they didn't tell the girls till after they had all eaten a cookie and one girl went and threw up. And I just remember thinking that I'd like to try those cookies b/c those girls were wusses.
Tired of pigeon poop?
Well grab your BB Gun and get shooting...and then make dinner. Here is a recipe for cooking pigeon! There will be more posted at a later time and date.
Pan-Roasted Rock Doves
Servings: 3
4 Tbsp All purpose flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Ground Black pepper
6 Rock Doves, cleaned
2 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Bacon drippings
1 C Dry white wine
1 1/2 C Veal or chicken broth
1 Tbsp Red currant jelly
Combine 2 Tbsp flour, salt & 1 tsp black pepper; dredge doves in mixture. Brown doves on both sides in butter and bacon drippings in a large skillet. Gradually add 1/2 C wine, 3/4 C broth & jelly. Cover and cook over low heat 40 minutes. Remove doves and keep warm.
Combine 2 Tbsp flour, 1/2 C wine & 3/4 C broth, stirring until flour dissolves. Gradually add flour mixture to the pan drippings. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Serve the gravy with doves.
Thanks to David L. Shangle, BCE (Dalsh Consulting, Burr Ridge, IL) for the recipe!
Pan-Roasted Rock Doves
Servings: 3
4 Tbsp All purpose flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Ground Black pepper
6 Rock Doves, cleaned
2 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Bacon drippings
1 C Dry white wine
1 1/2 C Veal or chicken broth
1 Tbsp Red currant jelly
Combine 2 Tbsp flour, salt & 1 tsp black pepper; dredge doves in mixture. Brown doves on both sides in butter and bacon drippings in a large skillet. Gradually add 1/2 C wine, 3/4 C broth & jelly. Cover and cook over low heat 40 minutes. Remove doves and keep warm.
Combine 2 Tbsp flour, 1/2 C wine & 3/4 C broth, stirring until flour dissolves. Gradually add flour mixture to the pan drippings. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Serve the gravy with doves.
Thanks to David L. Shangle, BCE (Dalsh Consulting, Burr Ridge, IL) for the recipe!
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Acts 8:36-38, what's up with the NIV?
Acts 8:36-38
NIV: As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
NKJV: Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water,
and he baptized him.
Why doesn't the NIV have verse 37? They even number it like they are missing something, it jumps from 36 to 38! This distresses me deeply. Why would the NIV cut out the most important part? Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is God, that's the whole point of the Bible; we are to know God through His Son.
How are we supposed to understand who Jesus is if the truth gets edited out? If someone were only to be allowed to read this one passage, and they were handed a NIV they would walk away never knowing that Jesus is the Son of God!
I can't help but wonder what else has been edited out of God's Word.
NIV: As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
NKJV: Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water,
and he baptized him.
Why doesn't the NIV have verse 37? They even number it like they are missing something, it jumps from 36 to 38! This distresses me deeply. Why would the NIV cut out the most important part? Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is God, that's the whole point of the Bible; we are to know God through His Son.
How are we supposed to understand who Jesus is if the truth gets edited out? If someone were only to be allowed to read this one passage, and they were handed a NIV they would walk away never knowing that Jesus is the Son of God!
I can't help but wonder what else has been edited out of God's Word.
Friday, June 03, 2005
Today is 7 years
Today is the 7th anniversary of our arrival to Illinois. Today, 7 years ago, I was filled with grief; deeply mourning the loss of my beloved friends & home. I was uprooted and dragged across the country to a place where we had nothing and no one. No place to live, no jobs lined up; just a boyfriend calling us, telling my mom he wanted her, but he couldn't be in Florida anymore.
Yet somehow she pulled us through, she got an apartment and a job within 48 hours of our arrival. Admist the chaos of setting up a new home, a teenager deeply angry and resentful, and probably quite a bit of heart ache (Dan chose to get us up here then hid from us saying we were stalking him) she was a pillar of strength.
I don't remember seeing her doubt our purpose, she never cried in front of us though I'm sure she did cry. And today I look back, fondly and see God's mighty Hand in it all. He guided us here, not to reunite mom & Dan, rather He brought us here so I might be saved. If not for the heart ached then I wouldn't be where I am today. I wouldn't have my husband and two children, and I most certainly couldn't say that I was going to heaven. But I can say it now. And I thank God for that pain 7 years ago.
Yet somehow she pulled us through, she got an apartment and a job within 48 hours of our arrival. Admist the chaos of setting up a new home, a teenager deeply angry and resentful, and probably quite a bit of heart ache (Dan chose to get us up here then hid from us saying we were stalking him) she was a pillar of strength.
I don't remember seeing her doubt our purpose, she never cried in front of us though I'm sure she did cry. And today I look back, fondly and see God's mighty Hand in it all. He guided us here, not to reunite mom & Dan, rather He brought us here so I might be saved. If not for the heart ached then I wouldn't be where I am today. I wouldn't have my husband and two children, and I most certainly couldn't say that I was going to heaven. But I can say it now. And I thank God for that pain 7 years ago.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
A brief update
Let me think...I'll start with William I guess. He's doing wonderfully, God is really doing a great work in this little boy. He is talking so much more now, it is remarkable. Just a few of his new favorite things to say include: Baby (meaning birdy), Where did he go? (this is his first sentance!), More juice (his first two word combination), drink, milk, Sasha, cheese, go, Jesus, Amen, and Andy (Andy is his uncle and the only person on Chris' side of the family that William wasn't saying.) So, yes we are very excited. On the downside, he's going through another "I don't eat anything but cereal, noodles, or toast with cream cheese" phase. It's cute but frustrating.
Julianne is doing well, getting big. She is in love with her toes, looking at them, biting them, it's all about the toes. She continues to be enamored with her big brother, and is currently in love with my friend and her two daughters. Not that I blame her, Kristin is one heck of a person and her kids are so cute you could just eat them!
Sasha, our dog, drives me crazy. She still goes potty in the house occasionally, and barks all the time. But she's good with the kids, and she watches the house so...yea.
Our veggie garden is starting to take. I'm going to have to put these plants in the ground soon, the pots are getting crowded. My lavender is taking its sweet time, but I'm not sure how fast it is supposed to grow so whatever. And the flowers Kristin gave me are reviving nicely.
........
On a more personal note, God has been amazingly faithful to me. I've been having a lot of stress the last couple of weeks, yet without fail when I turn to Him and ask for help He gives me a deep sense of peace. Randomly I feel like I can't go on, that I'm not strong enough for this and when I cry out to Jesus it's like His hand is on my shoulder and He is whispering that everything is going to be alright. I can't begin to tell you how great that is.
I love that even when I'm alone on my floor in tears I'm not ever actually alone. I've got a support that never fails. And as if that weren't enough, God has blessed me with a new friend who always seems to manage to say exactly what I need to hear. What God puts on my heart she manages to confirm even without me saying anything. I don't know why He loves me this much, but I sure am glad He does!
Julianne is doing well, getting big. She is in love with her toes, looking at them, biting them, it's all about the toes. She continues to be enamored with her big brother, and is currently in love with my friend and her two daughters. Not that I blame her, Kristin is one heck of a person and her kids are so cute you could just eat them!
Sasha, our dog, drives me crazy. She still goes potty in the house occasionally, and barks all the time. But she's good with the kids, and she watches the house so...yea.
Our veggie garden is starting to take. I'm going to have to put these plants in the ground soon, the pots are getting crowded. My lavender is taking its sweet time, but I'm not sure how fast it is supposed to grow so whatever. And the flowers Kristin gave me are reviving nicely.
........
On a more personal note, God has been amazingly faithful to me. I've been having a lot of stress the last couple of weeks, yet without fail when I turn to Him and ask for help He gives me a deep sense of peace. Randomly I feel like I can't go on, that I'm not strong enough for this and when I cry out to Jesus it's like His hand is on my shoulder and He is whispering that everything is going to be alright. I can't begin to tell you how great that is.
I love that even when I'm alone on my floor in tears I'm not ever actually alone. I've got a support that never fails. And as if that weren't enough, God has blessed me with a new friend who always seems to manage to say exactly what I need to hear. What God puts on my heart she manages to confirm even without me saying anything. I don't know why He loves me this much, but I sure am glad He does!
Monday, May 23, 2005
God is good
God is good, heck He is FANTASTIC. It doesn't matter what bad things are going on or have happened to you, He can bring good from all of it. How do I know, you may ask? What do I know about hard times? I've got a great husband, beautiful healthy children, and a roof over my head. What could I know about strife? Well let me tell you being a house wife can be insanely frustrating at times, but that isn't the point. The point is that I'm a screw up, I've messed up things in my life so badly that the fact that anything good has come out of it is proof enough that there is indeed a God, and that He loves me to death (No pun intended). It just knocks my socks off when I think about what God has managed to get me through. Things I thought would kill me, times when I just didn't want to live anymore - it is unbelieveable what He has saved my butt from! And He has saved people from far worse things than I could ever imagen, it's crazy. God blesses you even before you realize it.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
The zoo....and email on my phone
So, here's a short update.
I figured out last night that I can check my hotmail account from my cell phone. YAY. I don't feel so naked anymore. I hate not checking my email. Also, (I'm at my mother in law's) someone has managed to figure out my password to said email account b/c I have in my junk mail a bunch of delivery failure notices that are written in German. Weird huh? Chris & his brothers speak German....Makes you think, doesn't it? Anyway, I changed the password (too bad for you, who steal my account! I have ruined your evil plans!) God knows what the emails said, maybe I should have saved them and asked Chris to translate. Oh, well.
Today we took the kids to the zoo. William had a ball. Actually he got a ball, one with wolves on it. Julianne had fun too. William likes birds and cats (ie tigers & lepords)
I figured out last night that I can check my hotmail account from my cell phone. YAY. I don't feel so naked anymore. I hate not checking my email. Also, (I'm at my mother in law's) someone has managed to figure out my password to said email account b/c I have in my junk mail a bunch of delivery failure notices that are written in German. Weird huh? Chris & his brothers speak German....Makes you think, doesn't it? Anyway, I changed the password (too bad for you, who steal my account! I have ruined your evil plans!) God knows what the emails said, maybe I should have saved them and asked Chris to translate. Oh, well.
Today we took the kids to the zoo. William had a ball. Actually he got a ball, one with wolves on it. Julianne had fun too. William likes birds and cats (ie tigers & lepords)
Monday, May 02, 2005
New house, no internet, new family member
So we decided to cut costs when we moved into the new house and didn't get a house line b/c we both have cell phones, which means no internet for Kristina. Which is fine. I can use my mom's computer (I am right now as a matter of fact) and at the time I was working 3 days a week. I am no longer doing that so expect my entries to get more far apart. That could mean that the entries will be longer, but don't hold your breath.
On the home front. Julianne rolled all the way over onto her belly for the first time today! It's fun b/c she gets stuck there and cries b/c she can't see as much stuff. Very cute.
William's speech therapy is coming along nicely. There are new words being used and old words being used more frequently. He's even managed to impress the doctor by stacking 12-13 blocks on top of themselves. I guess this is unusal for a boy is age.
We got a puppy last Thursday, I'll post photos when I get a chance next week hopefully. Her name is Sasha, she's 2, a beagle (not the normal brown, black and white coloring though. She's white and yellow, cool looking). She is very sweet, although very needy. She doesn't like being left alone in the house at all and when Chris leaves for work she cries. It's kind of annoying, but she's good with William and she's a good watchdog it turns out.
I can't remember if I've posted about this or not so I'll do it anyway. Chris' brother Andy joined the army. He's in South Carolina in basic right now. We're all so proud of him, and are planning on going down for his graduation. If you pray, do me a favor and just keep him in your prayers. Keep all our troops in your prayers. What they do is an incredibly brave thing, and no matter what your political stance may be, they need love support and prayer.
See ya'll later.
EDIT So the reason I'm at my mother's today is that I'm mooching off her washer and dryer. We haven't gotten one yet and I'm nearly out of clean clothes. So thanks mom for allowing me to mooch. And what should I do to pass the time while I wait for the clothes to finish? Why I should take a test to find out what gender my brain is! Here's the results. Oh and that line about me having a level head? Totally subjective. It really depends on the day and who I'm dealing with. Certain people would maintain that I'm incapable of keeping a level head. But so are they. Whatever. Everything else works.
What gender is your brain?
Oh so yea, I have seen a couple new movies on DVD this week. "Closer" with Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Jude Law, and Natalie Portman. Mixed feelings on this. The acting on the part of Mr. Owen and Miss Portman was wonderful. Julia & Jude were great as well. Interesting twist at the end. Very vulgar at times. Not something to watch with the kids awake. Lots of bad language...sexual in nature. That's your warning, take it or leave it I warned you.
"Spanglish" I thought this was great. Not a normal Adam Sandler movie, it had a lot of heart. Oh and the food he made totally made me want to go out for dinner. It was funny, but not a fall out of your seat and roll around while you pee in your pants kind of funny.
haha How is THAT for a description?! I just impressed myself.
On the home front. Julianne rolled all the way over onto her belly for the first time today! It's fun b/c she gets stuck there and cries b/c she can't see as much stuff. Very cute.
William's speech therapy is coming along nicely. There are new words being used and old words being used more frequently. He's even managed to impress the doctor by stacking 12-13 blocks on top of themselves. I guess this is unusal for a boy is age.
We got a puppy last Thursday, I'll post photos when I get a chance next week hopefully. Her name is Sasha, she's 2, a beagle (not the normal brown, black and white coloring though. She's white and yellow, cool looking). She is very sweet, although very needy. She doesn't like being left alone in the house at all and when Chris leaves for work she cries. It's kind of annoying, but she's good with William and she's a good watchdog it turns out.
I can't remember if I've posted about this or not so I'll do it anyway. Chris' brother Andy joined the army. He's in South Carolina in basic right now. We're all so proud of him, and are planning on going down for his graduation. If you pray, do me a favor and just keep him in your prayers. Keep all our troops in your prayers. What they do is an incredibly brave thing, and no matter what your political stance may be, they need love support and prayer.
See ya'll later.
EDIT So the reason I'm at my mother's today is that I'm mooching off her washer and dryer. We haven't gotten one yet and I'm nearly out of clean clothes. So thanks mom for allowing me to mooch. And what should I do to pass the time while I wait for the clothes to finish? Why I should take a test to find out what gender my brain is! Here's the results. Oh and that line about me having a level head? Totally subjective. It really depends on the day and who I'm dealing with. Certain people would maintain that I'm incapable of keeping a level head. But so are they. Whatever. Everything else works.
Your Brain is 46.67% Female, 53.33% Male |
Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female You are both sensitive and savvy Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve |
What gender is your brain?
Oh so yea, I have seen a couple new movies on DVD this week. "Closer" with Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Jude Law, and Natalie Portman. Mixed feelings on this. The acting on the part of Mr. Owen and Miss Portman was wonderful. Julia & Jude were great as well. Interesting twist at the end. Very vulgar at times. Not something to watch with the kids awake. Lots of bad language...sexual in nature. That's your warning, take it or leave it I warned you.
"Spanglish" I thought this was great. Not a normal Adam Sandler movie, it had a lot of heart. Oh and the food he made totally made me want to go out for dinner. It was funny, but not a fall out of your seat and roll around while you pee in your pants kind of funny.
haha How is THAT for a description?! I just impressed myself.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!
I'm in love with this verse. Ask me why later. Oh, and be sure to read Genesis 29. It is a great read. Keep a look out for Leah, and remember that the only person you need to love you is God. I'll expand later...
Ok, it is later. The reason I love that verse is fairly obvious. I bet you could pretty much guess it. I love Isaiah 26:3 because I long for that peace. I want to be able to just trust God and know everything will work out. Slowly I am getting to that point, but I still struggle at times.
Do you remember that game one would play as a child? Where you would stick your arms out to the side and fall back trusting your friend would catch you? Remember how nerve wrecking that could be? It is like that, only there is no reason to be scared because God never drops the ball. He's always there, always with perfect timing and gives us his full attention. He'd never forget to catch us. But still we worry.
I'm in love with this verse. Ask me why later. Oh, and be sure to read Genesis 29. It is a great read. Keep a look out for Leah, and remember that the only person you need to love you is God. I'll expand later...
Ok, it is later. The reason I love that verse is fairly obvious. I bet you could pretty much guess it. I love Isaiah 26:3 because I long for that peace. I want to be able to just trust God and know everything will work out. Slowly I am getting to that point, but I still struggle at times.
Do you remember that game one would play as a child? Where you would stick your arms out to the side and fall back trusting your friend would catch you? Remember how nerve wrecking that could be? It is like that, only there is no reason to be scared because God never drops the ball. He's always there, always with perfect timing and gives us his full attention. He'd never forget to catch us. But still we worry.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Recording=life
Last year, I effectively scared myself by working simultaneously on two albums, Travis' and Pavement's. You can't get that much involved in two records at the same time.
Even though I didn't realize it, I was so overwhelmed by the whole recording euphoria. You have to set chill-out zones or it gets unhealthy...
But I've seen so many studio technicians getting completely washed out, unable to take on themselves in everyday life.
For instance, back home I don't have any recording device. It's important to flee, to disconnect. There is a dictatorial side in studios : "You're here to record music, and that's it".
I recently read an article that included that quote. It was an interesting read, check it out. Anyway, I feel that way. Not just about recording, but life in general. You have to be able to draw lines. "This is my work life", "this is my home life", and this what you are reading is my publicized life. I'm trying desperately to learn to separate different aspects of life b/c I'll drive myself and my family crazy other wise.
I so naturally just let things overlap and fuse together it's hard to see where my work ends sometimes. When I'm creative it consumes me, I want to do nothing but do that. Whatever it might be at the time (writing, painting, playing music) and I tend to bring the frustrations of that time with me into everything I do. If things are going well in a certain aspect of my life then everything seems ok, but if something slips and isn't just right it seems like my life comes crashing to a halt. And that's not healthy. My work life in the office should be able to go on no matter what else is falling apart. Eh, I'll get it one day. Or I'll go nuts trying.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Monday, April 11, 2005
Our first house
God, is good. There is no way around it. He provides abundantly, even when you don't think something is possible He'll find a way. He always does.
Today, Christopher and I signed our lease on our first house. We've never lived in a house before. We had a little apartment once, but it was really expensive and other than that we've always lived with family. But not anymore...well, not anymore after this weekend. I started painting the living room today, Christopher put up blinds for me, and hopefully Wednesday I'll finish the living room and be able to start on either the dinning room or the bed rooms.
I've chosen a nice tan color for the living room, which will compliment the couch set and carpet nicely once I'm done. As for the dinning room, I think I'm going to take the color scheme I had initially planned for the kitchen and use it there. It consists of a blue, something like a slate grey, and an off white. It looks nice together, very sharp. I'll post pictures once I get the house squared away. I've got some serious plans so don't look for pictures soon. Probably in a month or two.
Needless to say, we are both very excited. William enjoys the space already. I look forward to being able to just sit at home and not have to worry about moving cars b/c I'm blocking someone in, or worrying about if my clothes are going to end up on the basement floor b/c someone needed the washer. Christopher is looking forward to playing guitar loud at all hours of the night and possibly building a recording studio in this neat little room that is in the basement. I just want to make sure it doesn't flood first.
But, yes, God is good. I never thought we'd have the money to move into a place of our own this early in the year. And I was sure that when we finally did get a place it'd be an apartment or a trailer and we'd be paying quite a bit to be on our own. God has provided us with a house, that we don't have to share with anyone, near a park for a price that is well below what we would pay for a 2 bedroom apartment. You cannot beat that. And do you know why you can't beat that? Because God loves us and provides abundantly for us. And I'm not just talking "us" as in my family. I mean "us" as in every person that has ever lived.
Life is good. And it's getting better.
Today, Christopher and I signed our lease on our first house. We've never lived in a house before. We had a little apartment once, but it was really expensive and other than that we've always lived with family. But not anymore...well, not anymore after this weekend. I started painting the living room today, Christopher put up blinds for me, and hopefully Wednesday I'll finish the living room and be able to start on either the dinning room or the bed rooms.
I've chosen a nice tan color for the living room, which will compliment the couch set and carpet nicely once I'm done. As for the dinning room, I think I'm going to take the color scheme I had initially planned for the kitchen and use it there. It consists of a blue, something like a slate grey, and an off white. It looks nice together, very sharp. I'll post pictures once I get the house squared away. I've got some serious plans so don't look for pictures soon. Probably in a month or two.
Needless to say, we are both very excited. William enjoys the space already. I look forward to being able to just sit at home and not have to worry about moving cars b/c I'm blocking someone in, or worrying about if my clothes are going to end up on the basement floor b/c someone needed the washer. Christopher is looking forward to playing guitar loud at all hours of the night and possibly building a recording studio in this neat little room that is in the basement. I just want to make sure it doesn't flood first.
But, yes, God is good. I never thought we'd have the money to move into a place of our own this early in the year. And I was sure that when we finally did get a place it'd be an apartment or a trailer and we'd be paying quite a bit to be on our own. God has provided us with a house, that we don't have to share with anyone, near a park for a price that is well below what we would pay for a 2 bedroom apartment. You cannot beat that. And do you know why you can't beat that? Because God loves us and provides abundantly for us. And I'm not just talking "us" as in my family. I mean "us" as in every person that has ever lived.
Life is good. And it's getting better.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Five Iron Frenzy Tribute Album
You have just got to love Five Iron fans. Seriously, join Frenzyboard. If only to check out the "tribute album" that is in the works. "My Evil Plan to Save the World" is pretty good...so is "One Girl Army". "Gangsta's Mullet" is perfect, I just hope Coolio doesn't catch wind of the project, I remember him having and issue with an Amish Paradise.
"Spartan" is actually very beautiful. Be sure to check that one out. It's a beautiful arrangement, if the quality was a little better I'd be sending this to radio stations. Who knows, I may anyway.
"You Can't Handle This" by Professor Stephen Hawking (these kids are sick, but clever) is great."Farewell to Arms" by Ficus is insane, think music from the 50s + ska.
For a bunch of kids (kids referencing anyone on the board, a lot of this people are in their 20s.) with computer mics these recordings are pretty entertaining.
"Spartan" is actually very beautiful. Be sure to check that one out. It's a beautiful arrangement, if the quality was a little better I'd be sending this to radio stations. Who knows, I may anyway.
"You Can't Handle This" by Professor Stephen Hawking (these kids are sick, but clever) is great."Farewell to Arms" by Ficus is insane, think music from the 50s + ska.
For a bunch of kids (kids referencing anyone on the board, a lot of this people are in their 20s.) with computer mics these recordings are pretty entertaining.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
New song up, available only on my offical website
333 That's the direct link to the new song. Written on my BRAND NEW Guitar. Oh man, this thing is sexy. When I get a chance I'll take some photos and you can be all into my guitar too. But please, check the song out. I like it. And that doesn't happen often
Monday, March 28, 2005
Beliefs
So here is what I believe. I believe that what I believe matters. It helps define my character. Though I am not perfect. Though I screw up I try. I try to be honest. I try not to swear, I don't nessicarily succed, but I try. I believe that what I do matters more than what some average kid my age does. It matters more b/c I have kids. I have a husband. Every descion I make direct effects 3 people. I believe parents should be held accountable more strictly than non-parents should. I believe more should be expected of parents. I believe that what ever your religion may be, if you are a parent you should set the highest morals possible. People should look at you and want to emulate what you do. That's what children do. They want to be what their parents are, do what their parents do. Or, they will be horrified at what their parents do, and not want to be anything like them.
I am a parent. I should act like one. So should every other parent on the planet. We should be haunted by the fact that our children are watching. That fact should never escape our minds. Even if they aren't around if we are doing shady things it will effect our character and they will see the results. They will live the results of our transgretions.
I am a parent. I should act like one. So should every other parent on the planet. We should be haunted by the fact that our children are watching. That fact should never escape our minds. Even if they aren't around if we are doing shady things it will effect our character and they will see the results. They will live the results of our transgretions.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Friday, March 25, 2005
Random
You know, some times I get so frustrated. I feel like I really can't talk to anybody. Granted millions of people could "stumble" upon this blog and know what's going on, but the people in my life have no idea a lot of the time. It's sad.
I know I'm not the greatest person in the world. I have a nasty temper, a sharp tounge, and I can be pretty immature at times. Believe me I know this. These are things I struggle with. I know I'm disrespectful at times, I don't mean to be my mouth just is quick to answer. It's my defense stystem. If someone antaginazes me (good lord forgive my spelling tonight. I'm not in the mood to think, I just want to type) I naturally say something sharp back, often I don't even have to think. Things just tend to flow. And most of the time what I say back is quite clever, and can cut rather deep. So people think I'm a b**ch. Am I? I don't know. Perhaps. I try to control myself, but when people just don't stop messing with me I tend to give up. I suppose that makes me kind of weak willed. I suppose I should have more self control, I should grow up and be more mature. But I'm only 21.
I'm still growing up, I'm still learning. And though I may not want to admit it verbally, I need help to do that. I don't need people breathing down my neck about how I act. I need them to stop messing with me and when I do screw up say "Hey Kristina, hold on." I don't need them saying stuff back to me and getting mad that it keeps going b/c they won't stop either. Especially since they seem to pride themselves on being wise, mature adults. If you are older than me, act it. Show me how I should be. Set an example. Sure you're human, I understand you're going to screw up from time to time but if you want me to change how I react to you...well, you're going to have to meet me half way.
Don't start with me and I won't cut you off at your knees. I know it must sound like I'm not willing to change until everyone else around me changes, but honestly I don't go looking for trouble. I try to keep my head down, but if I'm attacked I defend myself. I'm trying to change the cycle, but I need help. We'll both have days where we screw up, but that is when we especially need the other person to be a bit more patient. I'll try if you try...but I fear I shall never have the nerve to say this to you. Oh well. Maybe someday.
I know I'm not the greatest person in the world. I have a nasty temper, a sharp tounge, and I can be pretty immature at times. Believe me I know this. These are things I struggle with. I know I'm disrespectful at times, I don't mean to be my mouth just is quick to answer. It's my defense stystem. If someone antaginazes me (good lord forgive my spelling tonight. I'm not in the mood to think, I just want to type) I naturally say something sharp back, often I don't even have to think. Things just tend to flow. And most of the time what I say back is quite clever, and can cut rather deep. So people think I'm a b**ch. Am I? I don't know. Perhaps. I try to control myself, but when people just don't stop messing with me I tend to give up. I suppose that makes me kind of weak willed. I suppose I should have more self control, I should grow up and be more mature. But I'm only 21.
I'm still growing up, I'm still learning. And though I may not want to admit it verbally, I need help to do that. I don't need people breathing down my neck about how I act. I need them to stop messing with me and when I do screw up say "Hey Kristina, hold on." I don't need them saying stuff back to me and getting mad that it keeps going b/c they won't stop either. Especially since they seem to pride themselves on being wise, mature adults. If you are older than me, act it. Show me how I should be. Set an example. Sure you're human, I understand you're going to screw up from time to time but if you want me to change how I react to you...well, you're going to have to meet me half way.
Don't start with me and I won't cut you off at your knees. I know it must sound like I'm not willing to change until everyone else around me changes, but honestly I don't go looking for trouble. I try to keep my head down, but if I'm attacked I defend myself. I'm trying to change the cycle, but I need help. We'll both have days where we screw up, but that is when we especially need the other person to be a bit more patient. I'll try if you try...but I fear I shall never have the nerve to say this to you. Oh well. Maybe someday.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
On art
So I'm stealing the initial idea for this post from Pedalboy's blog. Go there to read the post that started this, I'll quote one person & my reply from there, then fresh material will follow.
them: i like. however, can we really say that civilizations would "not survive" w/o art? what is "survival" anyway?
me: "can we really say that civilizations would "not survive" w/o art? what is "survival" anyway?"
Art is being creative, it is expressing yourself. If you have no outlet to express yourself are you truely living? Even mentally challenged people try to express them selves through art b/c in art they are equals. They are just expressing themselves. In art it's not kill or be killed, it's whatever makes you feel. Feel something, good or bad, feel anything.
How depressing would life be without art? How many of us wouldn't want to be here if not for art? Art is unifies us. You hear a song, whether it be in Chinese or Italian, you can pick up the emotions. You can empithize, you feel it. Art in any form helps us b/c it lets us not only express ourselves, but lets us know we are not alone.
I believe there is a reason art is so timeless. That a piece of artwork, whether it be a painting or a song or whatever, can transend language and touch us all so deeply. It's b/c in art we truely find that we aren't alone. Even artwork about feeling alone in this world shows us we're not alone b/c we can feel what the artist was feeling. And that I belive is the key. Art is transendant, it unifies us b/c none of us are alone. We were never ment to be alone. And we are never alone b/c God is with us. And I believe He gave us art to help us realize we aren't alone. Even if you don't realize that God is with you you can take comfort in knowing someone out there knows what you're feeling.
Ok, switching gears...this does relate, probably loosely, but it relates.
We were never ment to be alone, this is why it feels so wrong. It's why we long for a companion. Human beings were ment to be together, in a pair, as man and wife. But beyond that we were never ment to be disconnected from God. And that's what we are. That is why we are lonely. That's why we get depressed. That is why we get online and build relationships with people that we'll never meet, why we'll join a web forum or read a blog. Because we want to feel connected to other people.
We were also never ment to die. I believe this with all my heart. Death is wrong. It was never supposed to happen. Why would death feel so bad to us if it is natural? Because it is not natural. There is nothing natural about death. We were never ment to die, the trees were never ment to lose their leaves.
I was recently in the ER and witnessed a mother being brought in asking "Where is she? Is she ok? Is she alive?" That mother was taken down the hallway, away from where the ER actually is and taken into a room. The door shut, and the most heart wrenching screams came muffled through the door. That never should have happened. That woman never should have had to feel those pains. That child shouldn't be dead right now. It made me sick to my stomach and I longed to be home with my own children. God help that woman and her family, they are going through something I pray I never shall have to go through. I can't imagen it, I breaks my heart thinking about that family. Days later I still feel physically ill thinking about it. We were ment to live forever, with God walking amongst us. We were built for companionship, with each other and especially with God.
them: i like. however, can we really say that civilizations would "not survive" w/o art? what is "survival" anyway?
me: "can we really say that civilizations would "not survive" w/o art? what is "survival" anyway?"
Art is being creative, it is expressing yourself. If you have no outlet to express yourself are you truely living? Even mentally challenged people try to express them selves through art b/c in art they are equals. They are just expressing themselves. In art it's not kill or be killed, it's whatever makes you feel. Feel something, good or bad, feel anything.
How depressing would life be without art? How many of us wouldn't want to be here if not for art? Art is unifies us. You hear a song, whether it be in Chinese or Italian, you can pick up the emotions. You can empithize, you feel it. Art in any form helps us b/c it lets us not only express ourselves, but lets us know we are not alone.
I believe there is a reason art is so timeless. That a piece of artwork, whether it be a painting or a song or whatever, can transend language and touch us all so deeply. It's b/c in art we truely find that we aren't alone. Even artwork about feeling alone in this world shows us we're not alone b/c we can feel what the artist was feeling. And that I belive is the key. Art is transendant, it unifies us b/c none of us are alone. We were never ment to be alone. And we are never alone b/c God is with us. And I believe He gave us art to help us realize we aren't alone. Even if you don't realize that God is with you you can take comfort in knowing someone out there knows what you're feeling.
Ok, switching gears...this does relate, probably loosely, but it relates.
We were never ment to be alone, this is why it feels so wrong. It's why we long for a companion. Human beings were ment to be together, in a pair, as man and wife. But beyond that we were never ment to be disconnected from God. And that's what we are. That is why we are lonely. That's why we get depressed. That is why we get online and build relationships with people that we'll never meet, why we'll join a web forum or read a blog. Because we want to feel connected to other people.
We were also never ment to die. I believe this with all my heart. Death is wrong. It was never supposed to happen. Why would death feel so bad to us if it is natural? Because it is not natural. There is nothing natural about death. We were never ment to die, the trees were never ment to lose their leaves.
I was recently in the ER and witnessed a mother being brought in asking "Where is she? Is she ok? Is she alive?" That mother was taken down the hallway, away from where the ER actually is and taken into a room. The door shut, and the most heart wrenching screams came muffled through the door. That never should have happened. That woman never should have had to feel those pains. That child shouldn't be dead right now. It made me sick to my stomach and I longed to be home with my own children. God help that woman and her family, they are going through something I pray I never shall have to go through. I can't imagen it, I breaks my heart thinking about that family. Days later I still feel physically ill thinking about it. We were ment to live forever, with God walking amongst us. We were built for companionship, with each other and especially with God.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
R&B song coming, update on the family
Lately I've been in the mood for a lot of R&B. In fact it's pretty much the only music I've listened to for about 2 weeks. I even dug out some cool old songs that I listened to in middle school. Oh those were the days. Anyway, I've had some crazy beats floating around in my head and so there is a song in the works. The drums & bass line are this really neat loop I found, I've laid down the main vocals, now I'm adding other stuff and tweeking everything. It is coming along quite nicely, I hope to finish it in about 2 weeks. I can't work on it everyday so it is taking longer to get done.
On the home front, Julianne is getting so very big. She's really quite beautiful, and she's not just beautiful b/c I'm her mom, she's beautiful b/c that's what she is. Be sure to check out the photos page at my website to see her and William.
William is getting big also. He's such an intelligent little boy. He's fond of matchbox cars and clocks. He's got a bit of a cold right now so he's not his hyper little self, but is really into being cuddled, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts. I expect to be hearing from the doctors soon on when we can get him evaluated for speech therapy. (His hearing is fine, but he doesn't talk much and is behind vocally. All other development is on track. I think he may just not want to talk, but to be on the safe side we're looking into speech therapy.)
Chris is doing very well too, he is enjoying the new truck a lot. It is very pretty. Have you ever heard that country song, I think it's called "Her favorite color is chrome"? That's me. I love the way it looks. It's so sexy. Anyway, check the photos page to see the truck, I should have pictures up sometime today or tomorrow at the latest.
I'm doing well, I've started working in the nursery at church again. I can't begin to explain how much I enjoy that. I missed it a lot, I hated taking a couple months off, but I had to heal from the c-section. And now that I'm back I feel great. God is good. I'm so thankful He has provided me with this outlet. I'm glad He has put the other women in the nursery to care for the babies. Someone told me recently that the nursery won't make or break a child's faith, that it doesn't matter if we talk to the kids about God, because at this age they don't really understand. While I understand what she's saying, I don't agree.
Yes, the nursery probably won't make or break a kid spirtiually, but what if that kid only hears about God at church? What happens if we don't make it a point to teach them about Christ while they are with us? Then we will have it on our souls that we didn't try to reach them. What's the point of having a nursery if you're not going to care for the children spiritually as well as physically. So, no. I don't agree. I think it is vital to talk to the kids about God. Even if it is only cute little songs and coloring pages. It helps them get started on the right track. It's all about foundations, and I want my children to have a good solid foundation in Christ, so yes the nursery being based on teaching the kids about Christ is important and isn't something that should be left out. And I want to go to heaven knowing I did what I could for the kids that were there.
On the home front, Julianne is getting so very big. She's really quite beautiful, and she's not just beautiful b/c I'm her mom, she's beautiful b/c that's what she is. Be sure to check out the photos page at my website to see her and William.
William is getting big also. He's such an intelligent little boy. He's fond of matchbox cars and clocks. He's got a bit of a cold right now so he's not his hyper little self, but is really into being cuddled, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts. I expect to be hearing from the doctors soon on when we can get him evaluated for speech therapy. (His hearing is fine, but he doesn't talk much and is behind vocally. All other development is on track. I think he may just not want to talk, but to be on the safe side we're looking into speech therapy.)
Chris is doing very well too, he is enjoying the new truck a lot. It is very pretty. Have you ever heard that country song, I think it's called "Her favorite color is chrome"? That's me. I love the way it looks. It's so sexy. Anyway, check the photos page to see the truck, I should have pictures up sometime today or tomorrow at the latest.
I'm doing well, I've started working in the nursery at church again. I can't begin to explain how much I enjoy that. I missed it a lot, I hated taking a couple months off, but I had to heal from the c-section. And now that I'm back I feel great. God is good. I'm so thankful He has provided me with this outlet. I'm glad He has put the other women in the nursery to care for the babies. Someone told me recently that the nursery won't make or break a child's faith, that it doesn't matter if we talk to the kids about God, because at this age they don't really understand. While I understand what she's saying, I don't agree.
Yes, the nursery probably won't make or break a kid spirtiually, but what if that kid only hears about God at church? What happens if we don't make it a point to teach them about Christ while they are with us? Then we will have it on our souls that we didn't try to reach them. What's the point of having a nursery if you're not going to care for the children spiritually as well as physically. So, no. I don't agree. I think it is vital to talk to the kids about God. Even if it is only cute little songs and coloring pages. It helps them get started on the right track. It's all about foundations, and I want my children to have a good solid foundation in Christ, so yes the nursery being based on teaching the kids about Christ is important and isn't something that should be left out. And I want to go to heaven knowing I did what I could for the kids that were there.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Kristina Hansen.com and other stuff
Well, I've done it. I now own a domain that doesn't include the words "pest control" in it. I'm kind of excited. I've been doing this for so long on the free servers, but I want my music and photos to have a permanent home. www.kristinahansen.com I don't want my thoughts and crafts (how ever horrid they may be) to be lost. Besides my name.com is so much easier to remember than my name.tripod.com or www.geocities.com/likeachild83/
So, one and all, welcome to the age of kristinahansen.com I hope you hate it.
On a side note: I've been so blessed. I have two wonderful children, a husband who loves me even on my worst days, friends who know just what to say and when not to say anything, and best of all a God who has never left me. I am never alone, and while I may go mad at times wishing for silence I know that there is a reason everything is going on as it is. I know that the craziness that is my life has a purpose, and I can't be more happy about that fact.
So, one and all, welcome to the age of kristinahansen.com I hope you hate it.
On a side note: I've been so blessed. I have two wonderful children, a husband who loves me even on my worst days, friends who know just what to say and when not to say anything, and best of all a God who has never left me. I am never alone, and while I may go mad at times wishing for silence I know that there is a reason everything is going on as it is. I know that the craziness that is my life has a purpose, and I can't be more happy about that fact.
An interesting thought
I recently found this posted on five iron frenzy's web forum and thought it was interesting, though I doubt it's true.
Alexander the Great was on one of his many military campaigns. As was typical, he would post sentinels around the perimiter of the camp, to report on any unusual activity (enemy incursions and the like). He was known to execute those who failed at their duties on the spot. One night, he was making the rounds and found a gaurd asleep at his post. He woke him up and said "What is your name?" and the young gaurd said "My name is Alexander." Taken aback, Alexander the Great said "Young man - change your character, or change your name."
Alexander the Great was on one of his many military campaigns. As was typical, he would post sentinels around the perimiter of the camp, to report on any unusual activity (enemy incursions and the like). He was known to execute those who failed at their duties on the spot. One night, he was making the rounds and found a gaurd asleep at his post. He woke him up and said "What is your name?" and the young gaurd said "My name is Alexander." Taken aback, Alexander the Great said "Young man - change your character, or change your name."
Monday, February 28, 2005
Patience??!!!!!
Somtimes it feels as if I'm the only one who is supposed to have any patience. Sometimes, most of the time actually, it feels like the men in my life get away with anything they want b/c they are impatient. That's their hangup, one of their many problems that I shouldn't ever expect to get better. Why should a father have to take care of his daughter for an hour a day? I guess he shouldn't have to, not if it's going to interfere with him playing cards with his dad. It's crap. I'm so frustrated. There is so much going on, good night.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Refugees, statistics, and dreams
I'm currently rereading Angelina Jolie's "Notes from my travels" as well as online journels from the UNHCR. Reading the stories of refugees from around the world breaks my heart, and at the same time inspires me. It amazes me at the stregth of the human spirit, what people are able to endure and still remain hopeful and thankful. These people are more alive than most anyone I know, they have next to nothing and are thankful. I eat more for breakfast than they get to eat in an entire day, probably more than they get in two days, and they are grateful. I can't count the times I've gone into my cabinates and gotten frustrated because "there isn't anything to eat" but it's full of canned foods. Sometimes I really disgust myself.
Reading these accounts of their lives also reviels the horrid things people will do to each other. I just read about a musem in Cambodia that has photos that Pol Pot and his men took while torturing captives. The things they did horrify me, especially what they did to babies. It makes me physically ill just thinking about it. I don't want to think about it, yet at the same time I don't want to forget. I don't want to be able to forget b/c if I have to remember I'll be more likely to help. I want to learn, I believe that is the first step. How can I help if I don't understand?
Proverbs 21:13
If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too will cry out and not be answered.
www.unhcr.ch
Reading these accounts of their lives also reviels the horrid things people will do to each other. I just read about a musem in Cambodia that has photos that Pol Pot and his men took while torturing captives. The things they did horrify me, especially what they did to babies. It makes me physically ill just thinking about it. I don't want to think about it, yet at the same time I don't want to forget. I don't want to be able to forget b/c if I have to remember I'll be more likely to help. I want to learn, I believe that is the first step. How can I help if I don't understand?
Proverbs 21:13
If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too will cry out and not be answered.
www.unhcr.ch
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
working on a new song
I finally found the correct chords for "Will the circle be unbroken" so expect to see the song up soon at Myspace and Purevolume. I'm really excited about this. I've loved this song for quite some time now and this should be fun. I'm not going to follow Betty Jean Robinson's version exactly, but she's been an inspiration. It really is a beautiful song. Hopefully today or tomorrow I'll be recording it. I'm also learning Death Cab for Cutie's "Title And Registration" so look for that soon...maybe. Two weeks top and I'll have at least one song done so check back.
Julianne is beautiful. I really am very blessed. I look at the kids and just sit and wonder why God loves me so much that He'd trust me with these two precious children. Even when she can't sleep because she has a belly ache and he's sticking qtips in my A drive I can't help but smile in contentment. There's nothing more beautiful than these two. I can't imagen doing anything but this. I can't imagen my life without my kids, and I really don't want to have to.
Julianne is beautiful. I really am very blessed. I look at the kids and just sit and wonder why God loves me so much that He'd trust me with these two precious children. Even when she can't sleep because she has a belly ache and he's sticking qtips in my A drive I can't help but smile in contentment. There's nothing more beautiful than these two. I can't imagen doing anything but this. I can't imagen my life without my kids, and I really don't want to have to.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
I Got You
So, just to keep whoever stumbles upon this updated. I'm toying with the idea of doing an acoustic cover of "I Got You" by James Brown. Could be interesting, I'm gonna find the tabs and see how it goes. Oh and I did make a new song recently, kind of like old school funk. Check it out at www.myspace.com/kristinahansen/
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Family ties stink sometimes
You know, sometimes I really hate having family. It just seems like nobody is able to hurt you better and more effectiently than a family member. There are certain family members on both sides of the family that just frustrate me to no end, I bend over backward for them and it's not good enough. Chris bends over backwards and puts off doing things for me and still they don't appreciate it. I'd just like to take this moment to say GRRRRR.
If it isn't one person it's another, and on really great days there's two or more of them wanting something or they have a problem with us. If we don't jump right when they say jump we get our throats cut. But yes, grrr.
If it isn't one person it's another, and on really great days there's two or more of them wanting something or they have a problem with us. If we don't jump right when they say jump we get our throats cut. But yes, grrr.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Late Christmas presents
I bought Chris a cd on amazon b/c I couldnt get the cd ANYWHERE else. The dumb site said it would be GUARENTEED to be here by Christmas eve. It didn't show, but it was ok b/c Chris understood things could have gotten screwed up and delayed b/c of Christmas. Here it is December 29th now and I just checked the tracking number again to see where it was at (2 days ago it arrived in Chicago so it should have been delivered anytime now) and found out they shipped it all the stinking way back to Kentucky! GRRRRRRR
Oh yea and Chris ordered in a seperate shippment my Christmas presents, which were supposed to be here by Chrstmas Eve, the website says they're in route from the local UPS location so I swear if I don't get this shippment I'm never using amazon again
[end vent]
Oh yea and Chris ordered in a seperate shippment my Christmas presents, which were supposed to be here by Chrstmas Eve, the website says they're in route from the local UPS location so I swear if I don't get this shippment I'm never using amazon again
[end vent]
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
It's been a while, babies dipers and Christmas trees
Julianne Elizabeth. Pretty name huh? You should see her, she is by far the most beautiful baby girl that has ever lived. We welcomed her to the world on the 11th this month and haven't slept since. But that's alright, I'd rather be awake with her anyway. Seriously, if you saw her you'd understand.
She has, however, wrecked one thing other than my sleep habits. She's managed to take my beautiful almost 2 year old son and turn him into a little boy. Into a big brother. Before she was born William was my baby. He felt light as a feather and fit perfectly in my arms. Now, he feels as if he has gained ten pounds, though he hasn't, and looks like a little boy. He doesn't actually look different, but my perception has definatly changed. It's really remarkable.
William has, surpringly, not showed signs of jealousy. We were kind of expecting him to have problems with me holding Julianne all the time, but he hasn't. He gives her kisses and hugs, hands me her bottles (granted he steals them from me first, but it's all in good fun) and seems genuinely interested in this being we call "Sissy"
She has, however, wrecked one thing other than my sleep habits. She's managed to take my beautiful almost 2 year old son and turn him into a little boy. Into a big brother. Before she was born William was my baby. He felt light as a feather and fit perfectly in my arms. Now, he feels as if he has gained ten pounds, though he hasn't, and looks like a little boy. He doesn't actually look different, but my perception has definatly changed. It's really remarkable.
William has, surpringly, not showed signs of jealousy. We were kind of expecting him to have problems with me holding Julianne all the time, but he hasn't. He gives her kisses and hugs, hands me her bottles (granted he steals them from me first, but it's all in good fun) and seems genuinely interested in this being we call "Sissy"
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