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Saturday, April 30, 2011

Talents - Day 102

Every one of us has different talents and abilities God has given us. Some have been gifted with more than others. But we all have them.

We each need to take those gifts that God has given us and use them for his glory. Not everyone's going to look and act like you. And on the flip-side, you shouldn't try to become a carbon copy of another person. We are all individuals and need to use those talents that we've been given. Don't try to become someone else. That is of course excepting Christ. We need to grow more and more like him every day.

It's God who gave us different talents. He didn't mean for us to be little robots. Just as a body is not made up of a bunch of arms or a bunch of eyes, neither are we.

Now we must use these different talents. Once you know what your talents are, you have a responsibility to go out and use them. We don't want to be like the servant who buried his talent in the ground and was cursed for it. No matter how large or small our talents are we need to use them and grow them to the glory of God.

Picture of the day #102:

Friday, April 29, 2011

Film - Day 101

Oh you beautiful black box, you pull my eyes toward you. Your static calls out to me in the night. The flashing images light up my eyes. I hear promises of much, yet I receive almost nothing. But your images become dull over time and I ask for more. I ask for flashier images and more disturbing images. I no longer am happy with a happy family and beavers. I want the dramatic. I want intensity. I want the grotesque. I ask for more cleavage and less honor. I beg of you to drag me through the mire. And then my flesh cries out "thank you."

So I turn it off. Then I resort to a "Christian" movie. I watch bad acting. I enjoy terrible scripting. I amuse myself by viewing badly constructed sets. My sense of beauty cries out in terror and looks for the nearest exit.

There are many problems with today's films. Mainstream films are generally unedifying. But then, neither are many Christian films. I feel like you wasted my time by selling me this badly-put-together film that makes unbelievers mock your film and laugh at you.

Let's try to grow as Christians. Don't accept the low standards that Hollywood gives us. But let's also not be happy with badly made "Christian" films.

Signed,
A disgruntled movie watcher (after watching another schlocky Christian film)

Picture of the day #101:

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Get Started - Day 100

100 Days! *candles*

I've made it 100 days. It's not always easy but I've done it.

It got me thinking. If you never start you can never finish. Many young guys are constantly stuck in planning mode. I'll wait till everything is perfect and then I'll start. To some extent you just need to start. Of course planning is great and all, but getting stuck in the planning stage is a killer. No matter how perfect your plan is you're still going to have problems and failures. Might as well get them out of the way now instead of in neverland when you start.

Of course don't be stupid. Getting counsel is really important as well. But you can only use so much counsel, at some point you have to start.

Picture of the day #100:

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Reading - Day 99

Reading. It's an area that many of us lack in. Or at least as guys. If we do get to a book it's an easy book right before bed. But we need to continue to grow. Once we feel like we've reached a good place we tend to stagnate. Either become stagnate or grow. And I think reading is one wonderful way to grow.

P.S. Sorry about the brief posts. Just too tired to write a long winded soliloquy.

Picture of the Day #99:

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Tired - Day 98

There's something about getting to the end of the day and feeling tired and happy to have accomplished a lot. And kind of crazy.

Bye. :-)

Picture of the Day #98:

Monday, April 25, 2011

Childlike Faith - Day 97

I love children. They have a faith that is amazing. They look up to their mommy and daddy and believe what they have to say. No questions. No asking for evidence. They just accept it as fact.

But as they grow up, they no longer need help. They know it all. They've already seen a frog jump 50x it's body length. They know that ants have 6 legs. They know the moon is a piece of rock. They know it hurts when they fall. They don't need to trust anymore.

Have you become this way with your faith?

I hope not.

"And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." - Matthew 18:2-6

Like children we should turn to God our father and have the faith that the little child has and believe his words with both our heart and hands.

Picture of the day #97:

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sunday Quote - Day 96

“It takes your enemy and your friend, working together to hurt you to the heart; the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you” - Mark Twain

Picture of the Day #96

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Time in the Word - Day 95

When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thought that crosses your mind? I must brush my teeth? I must check Facebook? I must read my Word?

I think a lot of problems tend to appear when people don't spend time in God's Word, each and every day. They may read a couple of inspirational verses once in awhile, but they rarely make studying the Word a priority in their lives.

Spending that time in Scripture is so vital to the Christian's life. If we aren't immersing ourself in the Word, we will be as babes. 1 Peter 2:1-3 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Spending time in the Word is so beneficial to the daily walk. It keeps your mind on good things. You find out more about your Creator. I'm amazed how I can read a passage hundreds of times and yet every single time get something more out of it. It will help you stay away from heresy. It will encourage you. Etc.

Our spiritual health is much more important than any other part of our lives. If we're healthy spiritually, the other areas will follow. If we aren't, the other areas of our lives will suffer.

Picture of the day #95:

Friday, April 22, 2011

The Simple Life - Day 94

People seem to despise, or at least fail to appreciate the simple life today.

Rather everybody has got to have their social media, their youtube, movies, work, hobbies, sports, shopping, tv shows, e-mail, blogs, books, etc. And everyone is really busy with all of this. What about a little hanging out with the family? But the big man goes to work, eats dinner, watches TV, checks his e-mail 15 times, and maybe connects with family and friends for a few minutes here and there.

What about the simple life? Less stress. More relationships. But it's not what we want. We've become the microwave generation. We constantly need streams of media flowing into our heads. We need music banging in our ears constantly. It's very different from what it was like just 150 years ago.

So friends, do you like where we've come in our technological age? It seems we have the ability to accomplish quite a bit of something or other. But it feels that we waste much of our time instead.

Picture of the day #94: (Happy Birthday Sis! :-D)

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Becoming Beautiful - Day 93

People are very critical of how they look. “I look terrible in that picture,” they say. “Delete that picture because I look bad. My smile is fake. My eyes are too squinty. . .” Everyone wants to look like the airbrushed and photo-shopped models found in ads.

It drives me crazy. Let me explain to you what makes someone beautiful.

It's your attitude. :-)

As I get to know people, they become more or less beautiful in my own perception. When I interact on a day-to-day basis with people, I see who they really are.

It's interesting. A person’s physical beauty changes in your eyes as you get to know that person. If a person is high strung, angry, frustrated, gossipy, unkind, unloving, etc. you slowly begin to see them for who they really are. Their physical beauty begins to grate on you as their true selves come to light. But then when you meet someone who is loving, joyful, peaceful, kind, faithful, gentle, godly, self-controlled, etc. those people become more beautiful. Those little things that you may have disliked when you first met them become something you learn to appreciate about them. It is their attitude that makes you appreciate the little blemishes, and not perfect cheekbones. (lolz)

I should hope that when a person marries, he doesn’t marry because he has found the “perfect physical specimen.”

God created people differently. But they're all created in His image. We need to stop focusing so much on making it to the world's standards of beauty. Our love for God must mean more than our love for health and exercise. Maybe we should spend more time worrying about how “godly” we are rather than our waistlines. (Although physical exercise does profit a little, as well. :-) But only a little. Lol, I'm one to talk..)

Picture of the day #93:

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Organized?! - Day 92

I am so disorganized. Part of that is because I'm doing a lot more then I have in the past. But I've always been this way. I'm starting to do more schedules and such, but those schedules get moved and changed and things become chaos. And that's why I'm getting 5 hours of sleep per night!!!! <_<

So...

How do you stay organized?

Picture of the day #92: (dubbing)

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Patriarchy - Day 91

I see a lot of bashing of patriarchy. And some of it is well deserved.

Patriarchy: 1. A system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line.

Okay, I honestly see nothing wrong with this definition of patriarchy because of 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

The marriage works like a team. There's a team captain. There are multiple players on the team. If there was no team captain or everyone declared themselves team captain you would have chaos. And I would suggest that the man is the team captain because of 1 Corinthians 11:3. It makes sense to me.

I read a study recently that said that when each member of the marriage has well, separate turf the household tends to be happier. (http://bit.ly/foTYEX) And yet you still have people saying, we need to all do everything the same. Men and women can't be any different. We all have to clean the dishes, make the money, take care of kids, etc. All the same, or you're a sexist.

And then you have all the feminists and others also whining, "Women are abused because they are under the head of some man." o.0 Okay, and I assume all the people on a football team who aren't the captains are abused as well?

In regards to men and women working outside of the home. I'm honestly fine with them all working outside of the home. But the responsibility to provide for the family with money and such is given to the man in 1 Timothy 5:8 "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

Okay, so there are jerks in this world. There are some men who are worse than jerks. I'm sorry all you people who think the world is perfect. There are angry patriarchs. Those who don't love their wives or their children. They want to be the head pig of the house. And I despise that type of patriarch. They are just infuriating.

But don't forget there's the other side of the coin. I recently read the blog of some man. He posted about how outside influences don't affect your child. A child when he sees a comic of superman flying he doesn't jump off of a building to try to fly. I don't know if this guy was naive, but I've heard of more than a couple stories of children doing this... Anyways, the son of this man at 12 or 13 went on a killing spree and killed his dad, mom, and stabbed a couple of his siblings. How could he do this?! His dad was so nice and kind. He was a good dad. Not one of those evil patriarchs who was constantly bombarding his children with rules.

So if you want to play the let's look at bad examples game with me, I can play it too.

This system is all based on love. And that's honestly the problem. If the dad isn't loving his God, wife, and children then this system is ruined. We have the angry patriarch. The one who's doing what he's doing all for himself. The rules he implements are to further his vision and not God's.

Ephesians 5:25 - Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

So love your God, your family, and your friends.

Picture of the day #91:

Monday, April 18, 2011

Pitching a Tent - Day 90

Yay! 90 days of blogging...

One thought that has interested me when reading through my writing over the past several months is the tendency to pitch a tent. It's easy to pitch your tent in one place. You become that one topic person. There are certain people you just kind of know their issue. Some people have really awful issues they talk about constantly. They're always talking about how much they hate everything. Blargh.

Anyways, pitch your tent on things that bless others and grow them in the fruits of the spirit. I think that's a good place to pitch one's tent.

Picture of the day #90:

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Sunday Quote - Day 89

“We shall neither fail nor falter; we shall not weaken or tire...give us the tools and we will finish the job.” - Winston Churchill

Picture of the day #89:

Saturday, April 16, 2011

E-mail - Chat - Day 88

People use the internet to communicate a bevy of different things. They debate, they talk about their lives, they send e-mails, make Facebook status updates, etc.

One thing I've found is that it's much easier to become offended at what people say via the internet because you're not able to pick up their tones and body language when they say it. Maybe they sound angry but their not. Maybe they sound annoyed but their not. Etc. We need to be careful when we write because it doesn't communicate over the internet as well as it does in person.

Picture of the day #88:

Friday, April 15, 2011

Ingrown - Day 87

Over time as we spend time with the same people we can become very ingrown. Pretty soon, we're the only ones right in Christianity. All our thoughts are of course right, because well we all agree. All ten of us.. But when you go out and meet other Christians and see their light and their joy you get different opinions. Some of them aren't right, and some of them are. But, we can all learn from one another. Sadly, you aren't a god. You aren't always right.

It can be easy to lose perspective when we are continually in our little part of the world. All your little problems and oddities will sometimes show themselves when you're out ministering to others and learning from them.

So get out of your shell once in awhile and go minister with other Christians. You and your little church aren't the only Christians in the world.

:-)

Picture of the day #87:

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Richness - Day 86

I hope I win the lottery.

I'm being sarcastic.

A thought I think many people have thought this from time to time. I was thinking about this today. Lottery is big business. It's millions of people putting money into a pot so one person can get rich with no work. Why do we desire this? Is this really what taking dominion is all about? It's about having enough money so we don't have to take dominion or work?

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

I think what defines most of success is faithfulness. That commitment to work with your business for 10 years. Your faithfulness in a marriage. Your faithfulness in a family. Your faithfulness in a church. Your faithfulness to a job. Instead of going for the get rich quick approach with all things in life, instead being faithful will bless you so much more. Not that we don't need wisdom, but faithfulness is a big deal. And many people aren't very faithful.

Picture of the day #86: (many of the pictures lately have been from our D@C because I got so many good pictures and didn't want to waste them. ;-) )

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Social Networks - Day 85

Facebook, Linked In, Gmail, Twitter, etc. Today we are so much better connected than we've ever been before. We know when our friends are eating breakfast, what they had for breakfast, what they did today, and the articles they read. Wouldn't this mean we're closer than we were before all this great technology came out?

Sadly, no. Instead, now we have less time to spend with real people. We spend hours upon hours on these social networking sites connecting with our "friends." What's the point of these sites if they're hurting our actual friendships? Now, in the middle of a conversation we have to interrupt the conversation to observe how many people liked our most recent inspirational quote we posted.

I don't think social networking is all bad though. It can help us connect with people we haven't seen in years. If someone moves across the country you can stay in touch and at least have a basic idea of how to pray for that person. People can encourage us through their posts and words of encouragement. You can exchange prayer requests. You can see your friend's kids grow up, etc.

Technology can be both that blessing and a curse. It takes wisdom to use it. You need to use it, don't allow it to use you.

Picture of the day #85:

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Take Yourself Too Seriously? - Day 84

I see many people who take themselves too seriously. I can at times. But it's so difficult to be around people like this. Everything you do to them is a great offense. You have to walk on egg shells around them. Just quit thinking of yourself as God and thinking you're always right. You're wrong, at least once in awhile. Sometimes you have to be able to laugh at yourself. It makes life for others around you much easier.

Picture of the day #84:

Monday, April 11, 2011

Gossip - Part II - Day 83

Part II - From yesterday's post.

Scene I:

We are far away from a crowded scene.

From what we can see, the scene is a man surrounded by news reporters. His friend is up for a presidential seat. The news reporters want all the dirt on this man. They want his closest friend to spill the beans on him so they can rip him apart in the press.

And we slowly come closer and see what's happening.

The reporters are hanging around him like dogs on a piece of venison. They drool. They bark ravenously with their words. The man stands in the middle of them. One reporter offers him ten million dollars for information on his friend's private life. Another offers him fame. But he stands there quietly. Thoughts flash through his mind. Stories that he could give up for ten million dollars. The thought of ten million dollars, and fame?! Who could ask for more? Just the little stories. Once it's happened it's permanent. Except that no one knew except him.

The reporters screamed at him, "Shouldn't the world know?!"

And there was no hesitation in the man's voice as he said, "No comment."

We most likely will never be called to tell stories about others with pressure like that. But do we give them up much more freely? Sure we do. When we commit to a friendship, the mistakes people make shouldn't just be handed out freely for the entire world to see. If I'm a true friend, I'll try to delve into people's lives and help them with what their struggling with. And when I do, I accept the responsibility to not ever bring it out again for the world to see. Unless of course it's a bigger problem that elders need to be called in to handle, but even then I wouldn't do it without pulling my friend along with me. My love for my friend is going to keep me from spreading it all over the place like spreading cow manure all over the living room. But the truth that is there requires me to address my brother's sins.

P.S. As a side note, let's say there's a person who we disagree with adamantly about an issue. Let's say he's talking about how the Trinity is false and Christ is not God. And I want to warn people about him. I would first of all refute his doctrine. I would not attack the man's personal character. I may bring up reasoning that follows the lines of the consistency of his position and how it would affect his daily life. Unless of course he has proven us wrong. No theorizing though. Put your little demon hat away. If you're not able to say what you're saying to the person's face then change how you say it. That would be one idea that I have.

At some point Paul mentioned names. He mentioned Demus as one who had forsaken him.

Warn people about a label. And then show the attributes of that label. And if you fit in that label then you're wrong. But don't be the person who creates a label and then stuffs people into those labels you've created.

I have seen many times, people who say this person is evil because of some fact that we don't even know is true. They attack his personal character. They post bad pictures of him. They use absolutely no Scriptural reference. They use pet names to degrade the man/woman's position. Hey, they're smart. I understand how the game is played.

Gossip. It's. Everywhere.

Picture of the day #83:

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Sunday Quote - Gossip - Day 82

“I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.” - Oscar Wilde
“The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” - Oscar Wilde

The internet is full of gossip. No matter who you are you'll have haters. (Speaking of which, I NEED HATERS! Just sayin'.. Jest, I know you're out there. *love you guys* Just don't you dare comment, I hate angry comments. Irony.)

Psalm 37:30 - The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.
Psalm 101:5 - Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.

People feel that when they type on the internet behind their computer screens that they are safe. They can speak their mind. (Which is one thing that I appreciate. Seeing that I'm doing that exact thing as we speak.) But does that call on you to utter slanderous sayings?

No.

The internet has helped breed a bunch of fools and perverts who are very loud about proclaiming that's what they are. Sadly. (Augh, are my words foolish?) Children who were never taught by their parents civility and manners have grown up and become mean spirited, angry, and gossiping adults.

“Who gossips with you will gossip of you” - Irish Sayings quotes

If you're going to be part of gossip either in person or on the internet just expect to get back stabbed. When you're around back stabbers, guess what happens, back stabbing.

Amazing Conundrum.

Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more. - Wizard of Oz

I liked these quotes today. :-)

And as a last note. Everyone is susceptible to gossip. It's easy to do. It may feel harmless. But it's evil and a sad part of the internet. I'd spent some of the day thinking of things that the internet has helped us with and how it has harmed us. And this topic of gossip really came to mind in ways that it has harmed us. Now you can spread your gossip all over the place. (Now your waste is all over the place, and let me tell you. It smells awful)

And finally.

Mark 12:28-31 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving[d] that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’[e] This is the first commandment.[f] And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[g] There is no other commandment greater than these.”

1 Corinthians 13 - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

My personal opinion is it may be best to shut your trap (or quit typing) unless you're going to be loving your neighbor, i.e. the person you're talking about. (There are so many things to talk about, rather then someone else's life. If that's all you have to talk about get a life.) And it should generally be said in a spirit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Do I follow this perfectly? No. I'm a person who can literally talk all day long. And I won't ever reach perfection in this life. But am I striving each day to become this person? Yes. With God's help I will grow closer to him.

Wow this got long. :-) Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. I post every day, so what I say is not always the best thought out. If you dare. ;-)

(I'll be talking about addressing people's faults in my next post.)

Picture of the day #82:

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Morning - Day 81

I see the sunrise way too little. Whenever I do though I feel refreshed. It's a new day! The smell of the dew on the grass. The early morning sounds of the world waking up. The birds singing. The wind rushing through the trees. The cold slowly leaving the face of the earth. It's a new beginning. And we can experience it every day. Just another little blessing God has given us.

Picture of the day #81: (here's a plethora of pictures. Seeing my post is short)



Friday, April 8, 2011

Forgive Me - Day 80

Asking forgiveness is hard enough. But to ask forgiveness with a proud heart is not asking forgiveness. True repentance takes ripping our proud hearts to pieces.

James 4:6b Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Apologies for this being so short, I should go to bed.

Picture of the day #80:

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Investment - Day 79

Everything takes work and especially relationships. To expect a relationship to be able to handle huge strains and tough situations it's going to have to become a strong relationship over time.

Most people want things like this now. It's a microwave culture. Our attention spans are about 15 seconds (or whatever it is) and we want it now or we don't want it all.

But relationships just won't happen this way. If you're demanding much depth from a relationship you're going to have to work your way there. If things happen too fast, things fall apart, people will leave angry and wounds will not heal very quickly. I sometimes wonder why this is. You'd think that if you went deep it would be good for a relationship. And it is.

All I'm saying is that we need to go through those times that just aren't quite so deep. That doesn't mean it can't be edifying. Edification is wonderful. But too much of someone too quickly and too often will wear you down. It's like exercising. I know many people who want to start out running a ton of miles, exercising 2-3 hours a day immediately after sitting on the couch for the last 20 years. If you do too much too soon, you're going to get hurt and you're going to quit. But if you slowly train, starting with half a mile 3 days a week eventually you may be at that point where you can run over 50-60 miles per week. And this is how a relationship grows. As the muscles of your relationship grow you're less likely to quit. Getting through the little challenges become a piece of cake (like running that half a mile, no big deal) and the bigger ones you can face and make it through even though it may hurt for several days afterward, like running a marathon.

Remember everyone has sins. And eventually you're going to find out your friend is a sinner. Bummer. But then again you are to. (This is no excuse for your sin though. ;-) )

Picture of the day #79:

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Heart Grows Fonder - Day 78

My sisters are back from almost a month long trip to England. And I must say that the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" definitely applies in this situation. It's easy not to appreciate someone when they're with you all day every day. You tend to stare at their faults. You don't appreciate who they are or what they do. It's just the way our evil little hearts tend to be. Looking at all the negative things instead of dwelling on the good.

But when they leave, you recognize all they do. You feel their loss. You want to talk to them. You want to wake up and be able to say hello. And then say good night at the end of the day. You appreciate those little quirks that tend to annoy you, but now that they aren't there you miss it.

Yet, today divorce and families who never speak to each other are all too common. Is the saying false? Is it not true? Well, without Christ it isn't true. If it's all about you, why would you want others in your life? That absence will just make you fall more in love with yourself. The only reason you'll miss that person is because they are no longer washing your socks, or cooking you food, or bringing you money..

If we start with the heart that loves others, loves God, and serves, I think this saying is true. We will miss others for good reasons. We'll appreciate their little quirks and personality. And when they leave, our hearts have a little hole punched in them. But when they return, that hole is mended and we feel oh so much better.

Love God and Love Others.

Thank you Father for loving us, oh so much more than we deserve.

Picture of the Day #78:

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The Little Things - Day 77

There are several major events in the history of our lives. We're born, we get married, we die, etc. Many major events there, I don't want to go through the whole list. Okay, one example... The first day we're tall enough to ride the big roller coasters, I must say that is quite the exciting day!!!

Each day is built up of many small things. Major things don't happen that often. It's very much like bitterness, it tends to creep up and grow on us over time. It's those moments where the milk has been left on the counter for 2 hours to spoil. Or when the sibling just has to ask you the same question 4 times or was it 400 million?! Or when you get awoken too early. Or when the baby cries 14.2 hours per day.

We really need to be careful about these little things. They creep in and begin to affect us. And then as one piles upon the other, eventually we fall into a bad mood.

Instead, let's look to Christ as we feel our bodies and minds tense up. Our burdens are not meant to be carried by us. And we aren't able to carry these burdens. REMEMBER THIS! We cannot bear our own burdens. Christ died for us to carry our burdens. Cast them upon Christ. Otherwise you will become that stressed, overworked, crazy haired person. (Nothing against crazy hair. I'm just making a POINT.) ;-)

Psalm 55:22 - Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.


Picture of the day #77:

Monday, April 4, 2011

More Time - Day 76

We will never get more time on this earth. As each second ticks by, that's another second that's never going to come back to you.

Seize the day. Seize the opportunity. And strive to serve God with every fiber of your being.

(Many of these posts are exhortations to myself, it doesn't mean that I have everything figured out. ;-) )

Picture of the day #76:

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Sunday Quote - Day 75

“Most of you live your life on flimsy little songs, not upon the word of God.” - Paul Washer

Picture of the day #75: (I know, I know don't say one word..)

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Looking Good - Day 74

I know I've made a post similar to this a couple months ago, but I've been reading several articles and some news clippings.. And this is something everyone seems to go through.. You can take a look at it here.

Today I read a study in USA Today about how the top 15% of "good looking" people are 10% happier than the bottom 10% of "ugly" people.

People today put much emphasis on good looks. Buy this shampoo and conditioner to make your hair more beautiful; buy this type of foundation, this type of lipstick; grow your eyelashes longer; and the list takes up hundreds of pages..

Our culture encourages us to see women or men by their physical looks. The character of hundreds of young women you may see every month is judged by their looks and the amount of skin they show. A nice insecurity for young women has been created - they're too fat; they're too skinny; their lips aren't big enough; their hair isn't the right color, etc, etc, etc..

But do they want discretion or modesty? No. They admire a woman who acts like a Proverbs 7 woman. They like to admire the reality stars of today and the women who like to show off their bodies on television and magazines.

Proverbs 11:22 - "Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion."

Proverbs 31:30 - "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."

We have to understand that our mission in life is to serve God. God calls us to glorify Him.

1 Corinthian 6:19-20 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

1 Peter 3:3-5 "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:"

But, it's not all about inward beauty alone. In Ezekiel God took Israel as His bride and adorned her with beautiful raiment and jewelry.

Ezekiel 16:10-14 - I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord God."

God doesn't wish us to look ugly and unkempt as we look at this passage, but most verses in the Bible spend much more time talking about the spiritual gifts rather than physical appearance.

I have 4 sisters. Each is different, and they all have their different personalities, different faces, and are at different places in their spiritual journey. They're all beautiful. God has created each one of them in His image. I, as their brother, need to tell them that they are beautiful and not let the world be the one to define this beauty. If they aren't loved and cherished in their own homes, they will want to be loved by the world. So brothers, God has called us to love and protect our sisters. It'll be different for each one in different contexts, but don't be the young child who rags on and makes fun of your sisters. Sure, fun is good, but it should be done in love for them.

Finally, as we look at these women who are beautiful today in the world's eyes, we will watch their bodies shrivel up and become ugly. On the other hand, the godly woman will become more beautiful as the holiness of Christ shines through her. And that is the woman that I want to marry someday.

Picture of the day #74: (old picture, but I think it's appropriate)

Friday, April 1, 2011

Friendship - Day 73

Your close confidant. The one who you sit down with every week and talk about your lives. The one who you hang out with when the times are good. And then you cry with them when times are rough. They're the people who you can trust to not stab you in the back. The ones who will be there when your first child is born and there at the graveside of your father's passing.

In America, the number of true friendships people have has dropped significantly. For many people they have no close confidants. Now Facebook has replaced this need. Why do you need real friends when you have a bunch of fake ones on social networking sites?

For one thing, good friends are hard to find.

Proverbs 20:6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

They're a treasure you must cherish. To have friends, you must show yourself friendly.

Proverbs 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

You can't expect people to be friends with you if you are continually pushing them away. But, you have to remember that when others push you away, it may be because they're having a bad day or they want friendship and they act like they don't.. Fight for the friendship. If you want good friends you have to enjoy the good days and fight your way through the bad ones.

John 15:13-15 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Christ is our ultimate example of what a true friend is. And friends sacrifice. If you want to be known as a true friend, you have to be willing to lay down your life. This could involve finances, this could involve relationships, many aspects of life, and maybe even dying.

Look at those who you call friends and ask yourself, can I lay down my life for these people.

Picture of the day #73: