On Thursday I took Michael out to eat and then we went to a local park and he played for a while. Before we left, we went down to the soccer field and twirled. He wanted to chase me as we twirled so we were twirling and running at the same time. Such talent, I dare say. After that we played Ms. Pac Man and the blue ghost while walking along the lines drawn for the soccer field.
On Friday I picked up Michael and he met me at the door dressed as Darth Vader. When he met my mom and dad at the door, he had to be fully dressed with his mask and cape. It's cute how he takes on Darth's serious persona. But then he raises the mask to assure my dad that "hey, it's just me under here, Poppy."
He said he and Blake were going to do a show .. kind of like he went to in Disney when he got to train to fight against Darth Vader. He will be Darth Vader since he has the costume. Blake will be Luke. My dad is going to help train the kids to be storm troopers. Michael assured me he will take off his mask at the end so the kids will know it was only him under there. He said he will charge 25 cents and give part of the money to his parents to help out with expenses. He asked my dad for some wood and a saw to build a background.
Tonight I went over to my grandparents' apartment because my uncle Artie and his son David came up to visit from Jacksonville, FL. I'd not seen them in ages. David was 2 last time I saw him and now he is 13. He asked where I was from and when I told him, he said I sounded like I was from...Texas. Or like that lady on "Facing the Giants." I guess he noticed my southern accent. He seemed to like me though he didn't realize our relationship fully at first. Sweet kid. He drew us pictures to remember him by.
Michael and Blake were there with Stephanie and Will. My mom was also there and we sat around the living room and sang for a while. I'd forgotten how funny my uncle could be. It'd been too long, but it was nice sitting around, singing and laughing like the olden days.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
More on Anger
I Peter 2: 23 about Jesus -- "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."
More thoughts on anger from the In Touch devotionals...
In dealing with anger, first we must "recognize anger in our hearts" and then "confess unrighteous anger as sin and then begin to deal with it immediately. Because anger is often a response to hurt, care must be taken not to excuse or defend it in the name of justice. Although someone may have sinned against you, holding onto anger in response is also a sin. Scripture tells us to overcome evil with good, not to repay it (Romans 12:17-21). . . . We can't expect to live in the new nature Christ has created for us while retaining our 'right' to be angry and hold grudges."
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
And lest we think this stuff is too hard. Well, it is. In our own strength. However, Paul tells us in Philippians 4:
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
And all things includes forgiving those who have hurt us, right?
"Such a response is unnatural since the One who modeled it is supernatural. Priorities need to change for us to emulate Jesus. Love and understanding must supersede the need to defend ourselves; preserving the relationship must replace safeguarding our rights. Let Christ be your defender and protector."
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Thoughts on Anger & Imitating God
James 1: 19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
I've been reading the devotionals in the back of this month's In Touch magazine. The recent topic is anger and I wanted to share a few things said.
Wow, really sobering, huh? Are we passing down a heritage of anger and resentment? Children often mirror what they see in us. I couldn't help but think of family feuds (e.g. Hatfields and McCoys) when the author mentioned passing down this angry spirit from generation to generation. Can we not see this displayed throughout the world? In my opinion, it should have absolutely no place within the family of God!
The author asks:
Notice the choice here? Maintaining anger requires effort - a choice on your part. The author challenges us to get rid of any resentment, anger or bitterness in our lives. Perhaps we don't even realize we have bitterness down deep, but he urges us to ask God to reveal it to us so we can get rid of it with His help. Somehow I ended up reading in Ephesians and thought these verses were worth noting in this post:
See how we are urge to make every effort to be unified? I daresay we often don't put much effort into keeping things peaceful. Why? Because like you, I want my own way! I want to explain why I am right, how you hurt me and I want to be understood no matter if losing peace is the price!
And then read on to these familiar verses. Ones that most church-going children learned in their Sunday schools or AWANA programs. But don't just gloss over them because they are familiar. Read them, and better yet, LIVE them! How different America could be if those who say they follow Christ actually applied these few verses.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
And finally this wonderful reminder from the first two verses of the next chapter. Ephesians 5:
I've been reading the devotionals in the back of this month's In Touch magazine. The recent topic is anger and I wanted to share a few things said.
An angry spirit is contagious. It is passed from one person to another -- and from one generation to the next. Workplaces can become tense environments full of caustic words and attitudes. Ire turns homes into battlegrounds of verbal explosions or silent hostility. Even churches suffer from malicious gossip and fights over personal preferences. . . . Children learn to respond to life's situations by observing their parents' example. They then develop similar attitudes and patterns of behavior. We need to give serious thought to what kind of heart we are passing down to our sons and daughters.
Wow, really sobering, huh? Are we passing down a heritage of anger and resentment? Children often mirror what they see in us. I couldn't help but think of family feuds (e.g. Hatfields and McCoys) when the author mentioned passing down this angry spirit from generation to generation. Can we not see this displayed throughout the world? In my opinion, it should have absolutely no place within the family of God!
The author asks:
Which would you prefer: churning anger or Christ's peace? Both require sacrifice. To maintain anger, you might have to forfeit healthy relationships and a godly heritage for your descendants. But to acquire peace, ask God to help you leave your grudges, personal rights, and insults on the altar.
Notice the choice here? Maintaining anger requires effort - a choice on your part. The author challenges us to get rid of any resentment, anger or bitterness in our lives. Perhaps we don't even realize we have bitterness down deep, but he urges us to ask God to reveal it to us so we can get rid of it with His help. Somehow I ended up reading in Ephesians and thought these verses were worth noting in this post:
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
See how we are urge to make every effort to be unified? I daresay we often don't put much effort into keeping things peaceful. Why? Because like you, I want my own way! I want to explain why I am right, how you hurt me and I want to be understood no matter if losing peace is the price!
And then read on to these familiar verses. Ones that most church-going children learned in their Sunday schools or AWANA programs. But don't just gloss over them because they are familiar. Read them, and better yet, LIVE them! How different America could be if those who say they follow Christ actually applied these few verses.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
And finally this wonderful reminder from the first two verses of the next chapter. Ephesians 5:
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
We must be like our Father. Live a life of love and service today!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Paul's Humor
That Paul! He does have a sense of humor, doesn't he? Actually I never noticed this until my preacher brought it to our attention as he went through a wonderful series on Philippians in recent weeks. The theme of Philippians is joy and, indeed, it's a great chapter to find the "secrets" to God's kind of peace and joy. Paul says we can have a peace that surpasses human understanding. Peace and joy: good stuff for sure! And they seem to missing among many in the world today .. at least where I live.
Anyway, on to Paul's humorous tidbit to end this chapter. Take a look at this from the fourth chapter:
21Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. 22All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.
Does anyone else find it a bit humorous for Paul to end this letter with greetings especially from those who belong to Caesar's household? In today's terms that would be like saying, "Those who trust Jesus from the house of Saud greet you" or "All the Christ followers from Kim Jon-il's household told me to tell you hello."
Amusing, eh?
Anyway, on to Paul's humorous tidbit to end this chapter. Take a look at this from the fourth chapter:
21Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. 22All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.
Does anyone else find it a bit humorous for Paul to end this letter with greetings especially from those who belong to Caesar's household? In today's terms that would be like saying, "Those who trust Jesus from the house of Saud greet you" or "All the Christ followers from Kim Jon-il's household told me to tell you hello."
Amusing, eh?
Friday, October 2, 2009
"Be about the Father's business!"
Just read this on Mark Batterson's blog:
"Life is too short and the message is too important to spend our energies criticizing each other. Infighting must break the Heavenly Father's heart. It's self-righteous. It's sideways energy. And when we take pot shots at each other we're just playing into the enemy's hands. We need to be about the Father's business!"
I agree! Jesus prayed in John 17 that we would all be one as He and the Father were one. Instead we are fractured and often criticize one another - frequently over minor issues! How distracted we are from the purpose God has for us in this life!
I read two of Mark's books (see "Chase the Lion" and "Wild Goose Chase") and enjoyed his insights. So now I read his blog. He often has great gems to share.
"Life is too short and the message is too important to spend our energies criticizing each other. Infighting must break the Heavenly Father's heart. It's self-righteous. It's sideways energy. And when we take pot shots at each other we're just playing into the enemy's hands. We need to be about the Father's business!"
I agree! Jesus prayed in John 17 that we would all be one as He and the Father were one. Instead we are fractured and often criticize one another - frequently over minor issues! How distracted we are from the purpose God has for us in this life!
I read two of Mark's books (see "Chase the Lion" and "Wild Goose Chase") and enjoyed his insights. So now I read his blog. He often has great gems to share.
Random Spiritual Thoughts
These are just some random thoughts that I noted from the devotional section of the October In Touch magazine.
Speaking of Jehoshaphat, "he had developed the habit of seeking the Lord in various situations," and likewise "we must discipline ourselves to seek God every day, acknowledging His Lordship and our dependence on Him."
"If we start our day thinking about Him instead of our own plans, and regularly read and apply Scripture, then we demonstrate a heart that is pursuing Him." -- I really like seeing this and circled "apply" because I read the Bible, but don't always apply it. So what good is that? James tells us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. I've become a sponge. Also I've been wondering how to pursue God -- He speaks often of seeking after Him and following Him so maybe this is a clue of how to do this.
"Goals should align with Scripture; then our heavenly Father directs us, and we follow with confidence. We ... ought to have a clear picture of what needs to be accomplished." The example given is the young boy David who knew the God-mocking Goliath needed to be challenged.
"Live intentionally." -- Two words with a lot of punch, eh?
"Our success will be determined by our dependence upon the Lord. If we set out to accomplish anything in our own strength -- even a godly task -- we will fail." -- Reminds me of Jesus' words in John 15 -- "without me, you can do nothing." Nothing is pretty much self-explanatory.
"The Lord will equip us for every task He assigns."
"You can continue to live as before, or you can find out what God plans to do in your life." -- I circled that "or"!
Do you agree or disagree with any of these? If so, why? Any personal stories of how some of these have become true in your own lives? How does one live intentionally anyway? Hmmm.
Speaking of Jehoshaphat, "he had developed the habit of seeking the Lord in various situations," and likewise "we must discipline ourselves to seek God every day, acknowledging His Lordship and our dependence on Him."
"If we start our day thinking about Him instead of our own plans, and regularly read and apply Scripture, then we demonstrate a heart that is pursuing Him." -- I really like seeing this and circled "apply" because I read the Bible, but don't always apply it. So what good is that? James tells us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. I've become a sponge. Also I've been wondering how to pursue God -- He speaks often of seeking after Him and following Him so maybe this is a clue of how to do this.
"Goals should align with Scripture; then our heavenly Father directs us, and we follow with confidence. We ... ought to have a clear picture of what needs to be accomplished." The example given is the young boy David who knew the God-mocking Goliath needed to be challenged.
"Live intentionally." -- Two words with a lot of punch, eh?
"Our success will be determined by our dependence upon the Lord. If we set out to accomplish anything in our own strength -- even a godly task -- we will fail." -- Reminds me of Jesus' words in John 15 -- "without me, you can do nothing." Nothing is pretty much self-explanatory.
"The Lord will equip us for every task He assigns."
"You can continue to live as before, or you can find out what God plans to do in your life." -- I circled that "or"!
Do you agree or disagree with any of these? If so, why? Any personal stories of how some of these have become true in your own lives? How does one live intentionally anyway? Hmmm.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
October!
My friend, Niki, posted this picture from Grandfather Mountain along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and gave me permission to use it. I love it!
Here is a quote* that could go along with it. "If we pray while focusing on His greatness, our troubles will shrink into proper perspective." Because for sure when you see sights like these gorgeous mountains, you should think of the greatness of our Creator! Wow!
Today was pretty good. I reallllllllllly miss my nephew who has been in Orlando, Florida since last Saturday. They are visiting all the sights of Disney World so I have been Michael-less this week. I will be so happy to see him again!
My friend Louai (click on his name to see him at work) called on Google Talk from London. We only talked about 20 minutes or so. He wanted to hear me say the Arabic alphabet since writing it wasn't giving him the full affect -- especially on letters like "khaa" ﺥ and "gheen" ﻍ . Those are said further back in my throat...kind of different from most English words. I can say them OK, but not great. "Gheen" especially gives me trouble if my mouth is dry. I have to have some spit to work with. It's said almost like when you gurgle mouthwash. Definitely my Arabic has a Southern-American accent to it. :-)
*Quote from page 33; In Touch magazine, October 2009 edition
Here is a quote* that could go along with it. "If we pray while focusing on His greatness, our troubles will shrink into proper perspective." Because for sure when you see sights like these gorgeous mountains, you should think of the greatness of our Creator! Wow!
Today was pretty good. I reallllllllllly miss my nephew who has been in Orlando, Florida since last Saturday. They are visiting all the sights of Disney World so I have been Michael-less this week. I will be so happy to see him again!
My friend Louai (click on his name to see him at work) called on Google Talk from London. We only talked about 20 minutes or so. He wanted to hear me say the Arabic alphabet since writing it wasn't giving him the full affect -- especially on letters like "khaa" ﺥ and "gheen" ﻍ . Those are said further back in my throat...kind of different from most English words. I can say them OK, but not great. "Gheen" especially gives me trouble if my mouth is dry. I have to have some spit to work with. It's said almost like when you gurgle mouthwash. Definitely my Arabic has a Southern-American accent to it. :-)
*Quote from page 33; In Touch magazine, October 2009 edition
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