Yep, that is what I was told. I go see an opthlamolgist on Thursday. I have one weakness, that is the eyeballs. I don't wear contacts for a reason, I can't touch my eyes. I can't even put in my own eye drops. I had pinkeye a few weeks back, and quit doing the drops because I couldn't put them in myself. I had to have my husband or daughter or even coworkers do it.
Today i wento the optometrist for an eye exam. He said my ocular pressure is high, I need to see a specialist. That doesn't mean I have glaucoma, it does mean I am at a higher risk. I did have a cousin in his 20's that had it. Through research I have found one is diagnosised with Ocular Hypertension if they have 2 exams that resulted in it. So I am praying that the next exam will be normal. I don't know how I would ever be able to do eyedrops, I don't know how. I can't do the eyeball thing, I don't want to have eye surgery or go blind because of not being able to do eyedrops. This is something I really need God's grace on. Eyes scare me, I know that is silly, but it does. I am really fearful of the outcome. I know the Lord will be with me, but I am still nervous.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Weeding out the gene pool
DARWIN AWARDS 2007
And once again, it’s time for the Darwin Award Nominees. The Darwins are awarded every year to the persons who died in the most stupid manner, thereby removing themselves from the gene pool.
This years nominees are:
Nominee No. 1: [San Jose Mercury News]
An unidentified man, using a shotgun like a club to break a former girlfriends windshield, accidentally shot himself to death when the gun discharged, blowing a hole in his gut.
Nominee No. 2: [Kalamazoo Gazette]
James Burns, 34, (a mechanic) of Alamo, MI. was killed in March as he was trying to repair what police describe as a “farm-type truck”. Burns got a friend to drive the truck on a highway while Burns hung underneath so that he could ascertain the source of a troubling noise. Burns clothes caught on something however, and the other man found Burns “wrapped in the drive shaft”.
Nominee No. 3: [Hickory Daily Record]
Ken Charles Barger, 47, accidentally shot himself to death in December in Newton, NC. Awakening to the sound of a ringing telephone beside his bed, he reached for the phone but grabbed instead a Smith & Wesson 38 Special, which discharged when he drew it to his ear.
Nominee No. 4: [UPI, Toronto]
Police said a lawyer demonstrating the safety of windows in a downtown Toronto skyscraper crashed through a pane with his shoulder and plunged 24 floors to his death. A police spokesman said Garry Hoy, 39, fell into the courtyard of the Toronto Dominion Bank Tower early Friday evening as he was explaining the strength of the buildings windows to visiting law students. Hoy previously has conducted demonstrations of window strength according to police reports. Peter Lawson, managing partner of the firm Holden Day Wilson, told the Toronto Sun newspaper that Hoy was “one of the best and brightest” members of the 200-man association.
Nominee No. 5: [The News of the Weird]
Michael Anderson Godwin made News of the Weird posthumously. He had spent several years awaiting South Carolinas electric chair on a murder conviction before having his sentence reduced to life in prison. While sitting on a metal toilet in his cell attempting to fix his small TV set, he bit into a wire and was electrocuted.
Nominee No. 6: [The Indianapolis Star]
A cigarette lighter may have triggered a fatal explosion in Dunkirk, IN. A Jay County man, using a cigarette lighter to check the barrel of a muzzle loader, was killed Monday night when the weapon discharged in his face, sheriffs investigators said. Gregory David Pryor, 19, died in his parents rural Dunkirk home at about 11:30 PM. Investigators said Pryor was cleaning a 54-caliber muzzle-loader that had not been firing properly. He was using the lighter to look into the barrel when the gun-powder ignited.
Nominee No. 7: [Reuters, Mississauga, Ontario]
A man cleaning a bird feeder on the balcony of his condominium apartment in this Toronto suburb slipped and fell 23 stories to his death. Stefan Macko, 55, was standing on a wheelchair when the accident occurred, said Inspector Darcy Honer of the Peel Regional Police. “It appears that the chair moved, and he went over the balcony,” Honer said.
Finally, THE WINNER!!!: [Arkansas Democrat Gazette]
Two local men were injured when their pickup truck left the road and struck a tree near Cotton Patch on State Highway 38 early Monday. Woodruff County deputy Dovey Snyder reported the accident shortly after midnight Monday. Thurston Poole, 33, of Des Arc, and Billy Ray Wallis, 38, of Little Rock, were returning to Des Arc after a frog catching trip. On an overcast Sunday night, Pooles pickup truck headlights malfunctioned. The two men concluded that the headlight fuse on the older-model truck had burned out. As a replacement fuse was not available, Wallis noticed that the .22 caliber bullets from his pistol fit perfectly into the fuse box next to the steering-wheel column. Upon inserting the bullet the headlights again began to operate properly, and the two men proceeded on eastbound toward the White River Bridge. After Traveling Approximately 20 miles, and just before crossing the river, the bullet apparently overheated, discharged, and struck Poole in the testicles. The vehicle swerved sharply right, exiting the pavement, and striking a tree Poole suffered only minor cuts and abrasions from the accident but will require extensive surgery to repair the damage to his testicles, which will never operate as intended. Wallis sustained a broken clavicle and was treated and released. “Thank God we weren’t on that bridge when Thurston shot his balls off, or we might both be dead,” stated Wallis “I’ve been a trooper for 10 years in this part of the world, but this is a first for me. I can’t believe that those two would admit how this accident happened,” said Snyder. Upon being notified of the wreck, Lavinia (Poole’s wife) asked how many frogs the boys had caught and did anyone get them from the truck???
(Though Poole and Wallis did not die as a result of their misadventure as normally required by Darwin Award Official Rules, it can be argued that Poole did, in fact, effectively remove himself from the gene pool.)
And once again, it’s time for the Darwin Award Nominees. The Darwins are awarded every year to the persons who died in the most stupid manner, thereby removing themselves from the gene pool.
This years nominees are:
Nominee No. 1: [San Jose Mercury News]
An unidentified man, using a shotgun like a club to break a former girlfriends windshield, accidentally shot himself to death when the gun discharged, blowing a hole in his gut.
Nominee No. 2: [Kalamazoo Gazette]
James Burns, 34, (a mechanic) of Alamo, MI. was killed in March as he was trying to repair what police describe as a “farm-type truck”. Burns got a friend to drive the truck on a highway while Burns hung underneath so that he could ascertain the source of a troubling noise. Burns clothes caught on something however, and the other man found Burns “wrapped in the drive shaft”.
Nominee No. 3: [Hickory Daily Record]
Ken Charles Barger, 47, accidentally shot himself to death in December in Newton, NC. Awakening to the sound of a ringing telephone beside his bed, he reached for the phone but grabbed instead a Smith & Wesson 38 Special, which discharged when he drew it to his ear.
Nominee No. 4: [UPI, Toronto]
Police said a lawyer demonstrating the safety of windows in a downtown Toronto skyscraper crashed through a pane with his shoulder and plunged 24 floors to his death. A police spokesman said Garry Hoy, 39, fell into the courtyard of the Toronto Dominion Bank Tower early Friday evening as he was explaining the strength of the buildings windows to visiting law students. Hoy previously has conducted demonstrations of window strength according to police reports. Peter Lawson, managing partner of the firm Holden Day Wilson, told the Toronto Sun newspaper that Hoy was “one of the best and brightest” members of the 200-man association.
Nominee No. 5: [The News of the Weird]
Michael Anderson Godwin made News of the Weird posthumously. He had spent several years awaiting South Carolinas electric chair on a murder conviction before having his sentence reduced to life in prison. While sitting on a metal toilet in his cell attempting to fix his small TV set, he bit into a wire and was electrocuted.
Nominee No. 6: [The Indianapolis Star]
A cigarette lighter may have triggered a fatal explosion in Dunkirk, IN. A Jay County man, using a cigarette lighter to check the barrel of a muzzle loader, was killed Monday night when the weapon discharged in his face, sheriffs investigators said. Gregory David Pryor, 19, died in his parents rural Dunkirk home at about 11:30 PM. Investigators said Pryor was cleaning a 54-caliber muzzle-loader that had not been firing properly. He was using the lighter to look into the barrel when the gun-powder ignited.
Nominee No. 7: [Reuters, Mississauga, Ontario]
A man cleaning a bird feeder on the balcony of his condominium apartment in this Toronto suburb slipped and fell 23 stories to his death. Stefan Macko, 55, was standing on a wheelchair when the accident occurred, said Inspector Darcy Honer of the Peel Regional Police. “It appears that the chair moved, and he went over the balcony,” Honer said.
Finally, THE WINNER!!!: [Arkansas Democrat Gazette]
Two local men were injured when their pickup truck left the road and struck a tree near Cotton Patch on State Highway 38 early Monday. Woodruff County deputy Dovey Snyder reported the accident shortly after midnight Monday. Thurston Poole, 33, of Des Arc, and Billy Ray Wallis, 38, of Little Rock, were returning to Des Arc after a frog catching trip. On an overcast Sunday night, Pooles pickup truck headlights malfunctioned. The two men concluded that the headlight fuse on the older-model truck had burned out. As a replacement fuse was not available, Wallis noticed that the .22 caliber bullets from his pistol fit perfectly into the fuse box next to the steering-wheel column. Upon inserting the bullet the headlights again began to operate properly, and the two men proceeded on eastbound toward the White River Bridge. After Traveling Approximately 20 miles, and just before crossing the river, the bullet apparently overheated, discharged, and struck Poole in the testicles. The vehicle swerved sharply right, exiting the pavement, and striking a tree Poole suffered only minor cuts and abrasions from the accident but will require extensive surgery to repair the damage to his testicles, which will never operate as intended. Wallis sustained a broken clavicle and was treated and released. “Thank God we weren’t on that bridge when Thurston shot his balls off, or we might both be dead,” stated Wallis “I’ve been a trooper for 10 years in this part of the world, but this is a first for me. I can’t believe that those two would admit how this accident happened,” said Snyder. Upon being notified of the wreck, Lavinia (Poole’s wife) asked how many frogs the boys had caught and did anyone get them from the truck???
(Though Poole and Wallis did not die as a result of their misadventure as normally required by Darwin Award Official Rules, it can be argued that Poole did, in fact, effectively remove himself from the gene pool.)
Longsuffering>>>>>>>>>>
Longsuffering, the devotions this week. This is pretty hard one for me to explain, i rally couldn't find a memory verse I wanted to learn.
The first three fruits were our outward appearance towards man, the next three is our inward attitude towards man. Longsuffering is the first. Longsuffering is the enduring patience of others.
The first three fruits were our outward appearance towards man, the next three is our inward attitude towards man. Longsuffering is the first. Longsuffering is the enduring patience of others.
Conversation
Dr. "Who does your church support for the presidency?"
Nurse "What?"
Dr. "Who does your church support for the presidency?"
Nurse "That is illegal, a church can't support anyone for presidency."
Dr. " I know, but who do they support?"
Nurse "It is against the tax exempt status if a Church supports anyone for the presidency"
The look on the O'bama supporting Doctor's face, Priceless....................
Nurse "What?"
Dr. "Who does your church support for the presidency?"
Nurse "That is illegal, a church can't support anyone for presidency."
Dr. " I know, but who do they support?"
Nurse "It is against the tax exempt status if a Church supports anyone for the presidency"
The look on the O'bama supporting Doctor's face, Priceless....................
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Peace>>>>>>devotions
Peace is this weeks fruit.
Memory verse Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.
Peace is to be safe from harm, in spirit, mind, and body.
I don't think I like that definition now I think about it. I think it should be Peace is to be safe from harm in spirit, mind, or body. I say that because our emphasis has been on past martyrs. The peace they bestowed during persucution. In this instance, they were not safe from in body, but they were in mind and Spirit.
I am not sure, but I was explaining to the girls how them marytrs would not cry in agaony and pain, when boiled, burned, ripped apart, instead they sang joyously unto their death. Did God give these saints extra protection because they were not carnally minded to endure the pain? Is that the great peace that is talked about by loving God's Word?
Memory verse Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.
Peace is to be safe from harm, in spirit, mind, and body.
I don't think I like that definition now I think about it. I think it should be Peace is to be safe from harm in spirit, mind, or body. I say that because our emphasis has been on past martyrs. The peace they bestowed during persucution. In this instance, they were not safe from in body, but they were in mind and Spirit.
I am not sure, but I was explaining to the girls how them marytrs would not cry in agaony and pain, when boiled, burned, ripped apart, instead they sang joyously unto their death. Did God give these saints extra protection because they were not carnally minded to endure the pain? Is that the great peace that is talked about by loving God's Word?
Joy>>>>>devotions
Joy is the next result we discussed.
Joy is defined to us as a Cheerful, calm delight rejoicing in a particular circumstance.
Memory verse Nehemiah 8:10b for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Our focus was that joy comes from the Lord. First we discussed how King David lost his joy through his selfcenteredness. How when he repented in Psalm 51 He asked that the Joy of his salvation be restored.
We found that God's joy is when one lost sinner turns in repentance. How we can achieve joy by focusing our attention on the spiritual needs of others. The irony, is this fit in well with the sermon on Sunday night. As I was praying at the altar wanting to have that one disciple, and keep them (which also was on my heart as a resolution this year) the Lord spoke to me in how I can bring this home to my daughter. Help show and teach her how to be concerned with others. I am not sure how often I will do this, but my goal is once a week to visit some of the teens on her bus route and show an encouragement to them about coming to church. Her bus captain agreed to this. He loved the idea, and I have another teen girl willing to go with us.
That is how I am trying to demostrte Joy.
Joy is defined to us as a Cheerful, calm delight rejoicing in a particular circumstance.
Memory verse Nehemiah 8:10b for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Our focus was that joy comes from the Lord. First we discussed how King David lost his joy through his selfcenteredness. How when he repented in Psalm 51 He asked that the Joy of his salvation be restored.
We found that God's joy is when one lost sinner turns in repentance. How we can achieve joy by focusing our attention on the spiritual needs of others. The irony, is this fit in well with the sermon on Sunday night. As I was praying at the altar wanting to have that one disciple, and keep them (which also was on my heart as a resolution this year) the Lord spoke to me in how I can bring this home to my daughter. Help show and teach her how to be concerned with others. I am not sure how often I will do this, but my goal is once a week to visit some of the teens on her bus route and show an encouragement to them about coming to church. Her bus captain agreed to this. He loved the idea, and I have another teen girl willing to go with us.
That is how I am trying to demostrte Joy.
Love>>>>devotions
Love
memory verse 1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
This verse is vital in learning about the fruit Love. Every Christian must have the capacity to Love. Why? Well we are a child of God, we are apart of Him, an heir of His. The greatest characteristic God has is Love. I am sure some will argue, it is holiness, although that is a very distinct attribute of God, the greatest, must be Love. Why Love?
It is Love for us, that keeps Him Holy, but also, to keep us Holy. Being good, is a good thing. Oh we all hear that nice guys finish last, but do they? How can a nice guy finish last, even if he doesn't win the race, get the girl, land the job, he can still look himself in the mirror, and know he was pure in his intentions. Not one of us would want to drink from a dirty glass filled with impurties. We want a glass, crisp and clean with refreshing drink.
It is Love that created the earth, that kept God from destroying it and mankind a like. It is Love that a man, Godman, laid down His life for us.
First in our devotions we went over I Corinthians 13 of what love is not, what love is. Finally we discussed the ultimate sacrifice of Love. John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Then we asked ourself, examined our hearts, rather we could have that type of love, if we could lay our lives down for our friends? There was no answer. But I did go on to explain, the only time we could do that is by having the Holy Spirit indwelling in us, so that we can.
On a side note, my favorite novel is a Tale of Two Cities. The reason lies in this quote "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known." Sydney Carton
memory verse 1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
This verse is vital in learning about the fruit Love. Every Christian must have the capacity to Love. Why? Well we are a child of God, we are apart of Him, an heir of His. The greatest characteristic God has is Love. I am sure some will argue, it is holiness, although that is a very distinct attribute of God, the greatest, must be Love. Why Love?
It is Love for us, that keeps Him Holy, but also, to keep us Holy. Being good, is a good thing. Oh we all hear that nice guys finish last, but do they? How can a nice guy finish last, even if he doesn't win the race, get the girl, land the job, he can still look himself in the mirror, and know he was pure in his intentions. Not one of us would want to drink from a dirty glass filled with impurties. We want a glass, crisp and clean with refreshing drink.
It is Love that created the earth, that kept God from destroying it and mankind a like. It is Love that a man, Godman, laid down His life for us.
First in our devotions we went over I Corinthians 13 of what love is not, what love is. Finally we discussed the ultimate sacrifice of Love. John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Then we asked ourself, examined our hearts, rather we could have that type of love, if we could lay our lives down for our friends? There was no answer. But I did go on to explain, the only time we could do that is by having the Holy Spirit indwelling in us, so that we can.
On a side note, my favorite novel is a Tale of Two Cities. The reason lies in this quote "It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known." Sydney Carton
Fruit of The spirit
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
For family devotions I have been teaching about the fruit of the Spirit. For the life of me, I have always wondered why is was fruit, instead of Fruits since, it was a multiple list.
The first thing we learned is that "fruit" means result. The result of the spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long suffereing, Gentleness,Goodness,Faith, Meekness, Temperance. It is a continuous list. It isn't an multiple choice so you can choose, which result you want, but all must be growing.
The thing with learning about the Fruit of the Spirit, it requires a word study on my part. The book I have been using is from reformers unanimous, the strongholds study course.
So we have incorporated Love, Joy, and working this week on Peace. Memorizing verses as we go along, to apply God's Word in our hearts with every little thing we do.
Having family devotions is more then reading the Bible and praying. It has to have application in my children's lives. they need to see how the Spirit can work through them and how it has worked through others in the past. That the Spirit, although not tangible, is still very real today.
For family devotions I have been teaching about the fruit of the Spirit. For the life of me, I have always wondered why is was fruit, instead of Fruits since, it was a multiple list.
The first thing we learned is that "fruit" means result. The result of the spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long suffereing, Gentleness,Goodness,Faith, Meekness, Temperance. It is a continuous list. It isn't an multiple choice so you can choose, which result you want, but all must be growing.
The thing with learning about the Fruit of the Spirit, it requires a word study on my part. The book I have been using is from reformers unanimous, the strongholds study course.
So we have incorporated Love, Joy, and working this week on Peace. Memorizing verses as we go along, to apply God's Word in our hearts with every little thing we do.
Having family devotions is more then reading the Bible and praying. It has to have application in my children's lives. they need to see how the Spirit can work through them and how it has worked through others in the past. That the Spirit, although not tangible, is still very real today.
Anonymous
As some may figured out, I have given a Generic name of Christian. I enjoy, blogging, it is a stress reliever for me, but I wish to do it quietly if possible. I know I can set my blog so no one reads it. I have done that it the past. I just feel what I have to say is important enough not to hide it, but not important enough to draw attention to myself, as I have done in times past. If my anonymity is a problem, please relay it to me. It isn't to be sneaky, or coy, I assure you. If want to comment feel free, I don't feel that as an invasion, if I do, I'd delete it.
Monday, January 14, 2008
God meant it for good
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Joseph spoke those words to his brothers, after their father Jacob died, when they were concerned that Joseph would seek revenge against them. This story is very dear to my heart. It is a story of forgiveness. a biblical approach to that.
Joseph had every right to be bitter, angry, and even vengeful towards his brothers. His own brothers considered killing him, but ended up selling him into slavery. Joseph ended up in prison for refusing to commit adultery. He has rally trying to do right. He was trying to serve God, but everything in his life back fired. Where was Joseph God? Why was he enduring so much hardship? Verse 20, of Chapter 50 of the book of Genesis tells us why. The answer was to save much people alive.
As a teenager, wickedness infiltrated me. I would go a time of doing right, but then I would fall away again. I couldn't handle being good for so long. I would pray and read my Bible. I would pray for godliness, holiness in my life. But I honestly didn't know what that was. I thought listening to good music, not watching bad TV, or even wearing a dress would bring that to me. As I headed off to Bible College. I was taught that same approach. That holiness was an external action. I couldn't survive. I drowned in the rules. Not because it was knew to me, but because the impurity of them. The fakeness, lied in the external. The external fooled many. Joseph was able to survive the challenges before him, because he had a set of internal rules of the heart.
I was tired of the external. The fake christianity that I saw, experinced, participated in. I wanted internal holiness, but didn't know how to achieve it. The people that had already successfully achieved internal, had no use, for those seeking it. They wanted to protect themselves. Is this a godly example we see done in Joseph life? No, it isn't. So why do we see it in our churches? Why do we group the strong with the strong, the weak with the weak. Why do we not have classes of the elite, intermingled with classes of the weak?
As a Christian, who do you hang with? Do you only have dinner with the in group? Are you always stuck with the outcasts? Do you enjoy, all sects, all walks of lives in your clique? Is it just you and your family, no room for anymore? Can you be an encouragement to the weaker, can you help the strong stay strong?
My life may look pathetic to some. I have a good job, we have a good income, but I am not a homeownner. I live in a small 2 bedroom apartment. But compare that to the dump I have grew up in. I am content. I don't have a big beautiful home, but I am comfortable. Isn't that a good thing? What I have is a 100x more, then what I could have dreamed. That some one like me could have even expected. Do you think Joseph when he was in the prison in Eygpt was worried about his dwellinng place? Do you think that he cared what people thought? It isn't mentioned, but I'd say no. So why do so many others have a problem with how I live, and I don't? How I am living right now is good. It is good for a dirty koolaid stained moustache, rugged, abused, neglected buskid like me. Why can't others be happy for me, instead of judgemental.
I don't deserve anything. I know that. I don't deserve a husband that loves me. I don't deserve, food on the table, a nice car to drive, a respectable job, I am tired of but they pay me so well, I can't quit. The $1.95/ hr raise I got. Do you realize, I make over 40K/year at working 24/week. That is crazy. I am blessed. I know that. God has taken very good care of me. When I took that wrong road. When I left His goodness, and love. I sought the world, instead of wait for His timing. God has been very gracious to me. So please tell me why, I should be discontent? Because i have this overwhelming feeling that people are not happy that, I am not living better then what I could, when the fact is, I am living better, then what I deserve, what I dream.
Joseph ended up living in a palace, ruling the food chain, second only to Pharoah. All Joseph ever asked, was to get out of prison. I don't expect to live in an earthly mansion, nor do I want too. All I wanted was to get out of prison. I did. A life of wicked sin is prison. If anything else comes my way, it isn't my doings. It is my Father's. As a teenager, I wanted a Christian family. I have that. It isn't the best, I know. But through God's grace, and He does have the grace, it is getting better, each day. That is all I can ask. So if I am content with that, why can't others be?
Things that have happened in my life God meant for good. My husband and my children are saved. That is good.
Joseph spoke those words to his brothers, after their father Jacob died, when they were concerned that Joseph would seek revenge against them. This story is very dear to my heart. It is a story of forgiveness. a biblical approach to that.
Joseph had every right to be bitter, angry, and even vengeful towards his brothers. His own brothers considered killing him, but ended up selling him into slavery. Joseph ended up in prison for refusing to commit adultery. He has rally trying to do right. He was trying to serve God, but everything in his life back fired. Where was Joseph God? Why was he enduring so much hardship? Verse 20, of Chapter 50 of the book of Genesis tells us why. The answer was to save much people alive.
As a teenager, wickedness infiltrated me. I would go a time of doing right, but then I would fall away again. I couldn't handle being good for so long. I would pray and read my Bible. I would pray for godliness, holiness in my life. But I honestly didn't know what that was. I thought listening to good music, not watching bad TV, or even wearing a dress would bring that to me. As I headed off to Bible College. I was taught that same approach. That holiness was an external action. I couldn't survive. I drowned in the rules. Not because it was knew to me, but because the impurity of them. The fakeness, lied in the external. The external fooled many. Joseph was able to survive the challenges before him, because he had a set of internal rules of the heart.
I was tired of the external. The fake christianity that I saw, experinced, participated in. I wanted internal holiness, but didn't know how to achieve it. The people that had already successfully achieved internal, had no use, for those seeking it. They wanted to protect themselves. Is this a godly example we see done in Joseph life? No, it isn't. So why do we see it in our churches? Why do we group the strong with the strong, the weak with the weak. Why do we not have classes of the elite, intermingled with classes of the weak?
As a Christian, who do you hang with? Do you only have dinner with the in group? Are you always stuck with the outcasts? Do you enjoy, all sects, all walks of lives in your clique? Is it just you and your family, no room for anymore? Can you be an encouragement to the weaker, can you help the strong stay strong?
My life may look pathetic to some. I have a good job, we have a good income, but I am not a homeownner. I live in a small 2 bedroom apartment. But compare that to the dump I have grew up in. I am content. I don't have a big beautiful home, but I am comfortable. Isn't that a good thing? What I have is a 100x more, then what I could have dreamed. That some one like me could have even expected. Do you think Joseph when he was in the prison in Eygpt was worried about his dwellinng place? Do you think that he cared what people thought? It isn't mentioned, but I'd say no. So why do so many others have a problem with how I live, and I don't? How I am living right now is good. It is good for a dirty koolaid stained moustache, rugged, abused, neglected buskid like me. Why can't others be happy for me, instead of judgemental.
I don't deserve anything. I know that. I don't deserve a husband that loves me. I don't deserve, food on the table, a nice car to drive, a respectable job, I am tired of but they pay me so well, I can't quit. The $1.95/ hr raise I got. Do you realize, I make over 40K/year at working 24/week. That is crazy. I am blessed. I know that. God has taken very good care of me. When I took that wrong road. When I left His goodness, and love. I sought the world, instead of wait for His timing. God has been very gracious to me. So please tell me why, I should be discontent? Because i have this overwhelming feeling that people are not happy that, I am not living better then what I could, when the fact is, I am living better, then what I deserve, what I dream.
Joseph ended up living in a palace, ruling the food chain, second only to Pharoah. All Joseph ever asked, was to get out of prison. I don't expect to live in an earthly mansion, nor do I want too. All I wanted was to get out of prison. I did. A life of wicked sin is prison. If anything else comes my way, it isn't my doings. It is my Father's. As a teenager, I wanted a Christian family. I have that. It isn't the best, I know. But through God's grace, and He does have the grace, it is getting better, each day. That is all I can ask. So if I am content with that, why can't others be?
Things that have happened in my life God meant for good. My husband and my children are saved. That is good.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Wasteland
A life so rich and free
from Satan's dark ways.
A life brought home to be
a light to shine bright as day.
This is a life meant for me
The bright star, so gay
allured wickedly to me
The laughter of sin, sought me away.
The life so rich and free,
brought to me by Christ's Blood
Drew dimmer, as I flee
the nail piecred hands of Love.
I stumbled through my sin filled steps.
The mountains high above the laughs
The noise I often heard as I slept.
Was not a giggle but a gasp.
The horrid life in the wasteland
The what if's of impatience
Danced wickedly in the band
I wonder in my stance
I was warned of the what if's
But the joy of now could not wait.
I spit, spat, tit and tat, the tiff
of the world I did not hate.
I followed along the signs and wonder
The mighty cliffs of love and money
What I did find, only some can ponder
It wasn't dreams, and it wasn't sunny
Sadness, alone was the backpack I carried
The worn out climber, was I so weary
One step to the right, I would soon be buried
One step to the left, I was all but leary.
Looking down I seen the wasteland of life
No hope, was I bothered, I had no time
Looking up, was blinding seeing my life
that my soul was spent for the sake of a dime.
from Satan's dark ways.
A life brought home to be
a light to shine bright as day.
This is a life meant for me
The bright star, so gay
allured wickedly to me
The laughter of sin, sought me away.
The life so rich and free,
brought to me by Christ's Blood
Drew dimmer, as I flee
the nail piecred hands of Love.
I stumbled through my sin filled steps.
The mountains high above the laughs
The noise I often heard as I slept.
Was not a giggle but a gasp.
The horrid life in the wasteland
The what if's of impatience
Danced wickedly in the band
I wonder in my stance
I was warned of the what if's
But the joy of now could not wait.
I spit, spat, tit and tat, the tiff
of the world I did not hate.
I followed along the signs and wonder
The mighty cliffs of love and money
What I did find, only some can ponder
It wasn't dreams, and it wasn't sunny
Sadness, alone was the backpack I carried
The worn out climber, was I so weary
One step to the right, I would soon be buried
One step to the left, I was all but leary.
Looking down I seen the wasteland of life
No hope, was I bothered, I had no time
Looking up, was blinding seeing my life
that my soul was spent for the sake of a dime.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Pesky Squirrels
There were five country churches in a small town: The Presbyterian Church, the Baptist Church , the Methodist Church , the Catholic Church and the Jewish Synagogue. Each church and Synagogue was overrun with pesky squirrels.
One day, the Presbyterian Church called a meeting to decide what to do about the squirrels.
After much prayer and consideration they determined that the squirrels were predestined to be there and they shouldn't interfere with God's divine will..
In The BAPTIST CHURCH the squirrels had taken up habitation in the baptistery. The deacons met and decided to put a cover on the baptistery and drown the squirrels in it. The squirrels escaped somehow and there were twice as many there the next week
The Methodist Church got together and decided that they were not in a position to harm any of God's creation. So, they humanely trapped the Squirrels and set them free a few miles outside of town. Three days later, the squirrels were back.
The Catholic CHURCH came up with the best and most effective solution. They baptized the squirrels and registered them as members of the church.
Now they only see them on Christmas and Easter
Not much was heard about the Jewish Synagogue, but they took one squirrel and had a short service with him called circumcision and they haven't seen a squirrel on the property since.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
They rose up and called her blessed
I have a real burden. The burden in my heart is girls are not taught to be ladies.
The idea is scorned at in today's society. The Proverb's 31 woman is considered a door mat.
A submissive, mindless, zombie. Girls are encouraged to be loud, strong,
and independent. Depending on her husband is considered a shame.
Girls fight for the attention of men by their provocative dress,
obnoxious behavior,lustful conversations. A meek and quiet spirit, is considered weak, and preposterous.
The idea is scorned at in today's society. The Proverb's 31 woman is considered a door mat.
A submissive, mindless, zombie. Girls are encouraged to be loud, strong,
and independent. Depending on her husband is considered a shame.
Girls fight for the attention of men by their provocative dress,
obnoxious behavior,lustful conversations. A meek and quiet spirit, is considered weak, and preposterous.
My burden isn't just for the continuation of a the Proverbs 31, lady. But the fact that is has so deescalated, that Christian wives, don't even know what it means. They try to be the Proverbs 31 wife, but they simply don't know how. They haven't been taught.
This is an excerpt from a journal I read.
" I would like to say I'd like to be a virtuous woman, but I am not sure how to do that. Virtue was never apart of my child rearing. I was taught how to drink, cuss, and fight, but never to have a meek and quiet spirit. I doubt I can even raise my daughters how to be a Proverbs 31 woman. What I can do is pray for grace and ask the Lord to help me to be as virtuous as I can, that isn't much. Maybe I can't be, maybe my girls can't be, but maybe my grand children can be."
There is a plethory of truth spoken here. Where does the problem lie? It obviously lies with our mothers. They ought to be our number 1 example. But what about the Christian woman, in the excerpt? She apparently did not have a mother of God to teach her how to be a virtuous woman? Who then is to blame? Well God gave us Titus 2 as an example. Our older women should teach the younger women. How is that being done? Is it being done? Does it happen in our churches? If so how is it? How is God working in the older women's lives so they can teach the younger women? Or are they simply neglecting their duty, not wanting to take the time to teach, get involved, butt in to someone else's life? If you are an older Christian wife and mother, when was the last time you gave guidance to a younger mother? Or does the problem simply lie with the young Christian women, are they so incorrigible, they can't be a Proverbs 31 wife and mother?
The truth is, the ball was dropped by many facets of womanhood. First the grandmother, then mother, the older Christian ladies that should be teaching, and finally the younger Christian women, that haven't taken the time to learn and listen. Now where does this leave the future? Where does it leave our daughters? My burden lies in the fact that true Proverbs 31 values, our Christian values will soon disappear. Unless, of course, as women, we take charge. We keep the idea alive and burning, hence the reason for my post.
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