Thursday, January 28, 2010
From the mouth of a 3 year old
Here are just a few of the conversations I have had with Emma Kate over the last 24 hours.
Emma: Mommy go do your Bible Study and I will go do mine.
Me: Emma you can not read so you need mommy to help you do your Bible Study.
Emma: Mommy I know how to talk to God. I do not need your help. I am just going to tell Him something I already know about him like you know how he made everything. Then I am going to sing. I do not need your help. Now you go talk to God and leave me alone!
Emma: Mommy I dropped my princess shoes and want to be a princess so can you get them for me?
Me: I will get your shoes for you baby but guess what? Did you know you are princess because you have a kind heart not just because you have princess shoes.
Emma: I know that mommy but the princess shoes help too!
Emma has to take 100 things with her when we go somewhere. Her stash normally includes 3 purses and a wallet and then several loose things in her hands. Today when were leaving to go to Starbucks she had her cell phone, a calculator, and a bracelet. I told her that she could only take 2 things so she needed to decide what would stay here. She then proceeded to put her bracelet on her wrist and said "Now I only have 2 things in my hand mommy but I get to take all 3 with me."
Emma: Mommy go do your Bible Study and I will go do mine.
Me: Emma you can not read so you need mommy to help you do your Bible Study.
Emma: Mommy I know how to talk to God. I do not need your help. I am just going to tell Him something I already know about him like you know how he made everything. Then I am going to sing. I do not need your help. Now you go talk to God and leave me alone!
Emma: Mommy I dropped my princess shoes and want to be a princess so can you get them for me?
Me: I will get your shoes for you baby but guess what? Did you know you are princess because you have a kind heart not just because you have princess shoes.
Emma: I know that mommy but the princess shoes help too!
Emma has to take 100 things with her when we go somewhere. Her stash normally includes 3 purses and a wallet and then several loose things in her hands. Today when were leaving to go to Starbucks she had her cell phone, a calculator, and a bracelet. I told her that she could only take 2 things so she needed to decide what would stay here. She then proceeded to put her bracelet on her wrist and said "Now I only have 2 things in my hand mommy but I get to take all 3 with me."
Friday, January 22, 2010
Walking thru the Word...Catching Up
I have decided it is WAY TO HARD to try to get all my Bible Study in for the day AND write about all of it on the blog! So moving forward I am just going to hit the highlights of what I learned/thought was interesting. I have read Gen. 27-35, Psalms 11-15, Matt. 5:13-6:24, and Acts 7-8
The Gen. section is all about Jacob, who happens to be one of my favorite characters in the OT. I love him because he wrestled with God and taught me it was ok to do the same! I love the fact that I can ask God anything I want and He is big enough to handle it. It has given me great freedom in my walk with Him once I understood it is ok to ask Him "why". He can handle me telling Him that I don't understand and quiet frankly do not like His plan! God does not have an ego problem and is not turned off by our questions to Him or about Him.
Psalms 11:7 "For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; upright men will see His face."
I loved how this verse went along with the whole theme of wrestling with God. Regardless of what are questions are to God, we ALWAYS have to go back to His righteousness. When I am in the middle of a wrestling match I think of and say aloud to God Dan. 9:14 "The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything He does." Even when I don't understand or even agree I can rest in the fact that indeed my God is righteous in EVERYTHING He does.
Matt. 5:13-6:24: In these verses God calls me to be salt and light. The thing about salt and light is they will ALWAYS change their surroundings. He then really steps on my toes and calls me to love my enemies. Can I just tell you that is a TOUGH TOUGH thing to do! He even goes as far to say that "even pagans love those who love them". I have by no means got the whole "love your enemies" thing down. But I do know the more I pray for my enemies the more I start to see them thru the lenses of Christ love and not my hurt.
Acts 7 & 8: Acts 7 gives us a great overview of the Old Testament. Acts 8 is just crazy to me. v. 39 "When they came up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away and the eunuch did not see him again but went on his way rejoicing." WHAT??? Phillip just disappeared...and then later it says in v. 40 "Phillip however appeared at Azotus and traveled about , preaching the gospel in the towns until he reached Caesarea." So then scripture just causally tells us that Phillip reappeared at so and so and went on with his life! That is some crazy stuff.
The Gen. section is all about Jacob, who happens to be one of my favorite characters in the OT. I love him because he wrestled with God and taught me it was ok to do the same! I love the fact that I can ask God anything I want and He is big enough to handle it. It has given me great freedom in my walk with Him once I understood it is ok to ask Him "why". He can handle me telling Him that I don't understand and quiet frankly do not like His plan! God does not have an ego problem and is not turned off by our questions to Him or about Him.
Psalms 11:7 "For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; upright men will see His face."
I loved how this verse went along with the whole theme of wrestling with God. Regardless of what are questions are to God, we ALWAYS have to go back to His righteousness. When I am in the middle of a wrestling match I think of and say aloud to God Dan. 9:14 "The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything He does." Even when I don't understand or even agree I can rest in the fact that indeed my God is righteous in EVERYTHING He does.
Matt. 5:13-6:24: In these verses God calls me to be salt and light. The thing about salt and light is they will ALWAYS change their surroundings. He then really steps on my toes and calls me to love my enemies. Can I just tell you that is a TOUGH TOUGH thing to do! He even goes as far to say that "even pagans love those who love them". I have by no means got the whole "love your enemies" thing down. But I do know the more I pray for my enemies the more I start to see them thru the lenses of Christ love and not my hurt.
Acts 7 & 8: Acts 7 gives us a great overview of the Old Testament. Acts 8 is just crazy to me. v. 39 "When they came up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away and the eunuch did not see him again but went on his way rejoicing." WHAT??? Phillip just disappeared...and then later it says in v. 40 "Phillip however appeared at Azotus and traveled about , preaching the gospel in the towns until he reached Caesarea." So then scripture just causally tells us that Phillip reappeared at so and so and went on with his life! That is some crazy stuff.
Beauty Shop
One of Emma's new loves is to play "beauty shop". Emma becomes "the lady" and you have to call to make an appointment because she is so busy. After you view the pictures you will understand why people stand in line a long time to get their hair done by her! Our good friends Ms. Sandy and Kae Kae came for a visit earlier this week and both got their hair done by "the lady" You know someone has to love your child very much to allow the torture they both went through!
Thanks for coming to visit Ms. Sandy and Kae Kae. We love you and are so thankful for your friendship!
Thanks for coming to visit Ms. Sandy and Kae Kae. We love you and are so thankful for your friendship!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Small Enough
I came across this song on a blog that I read frequently and LOVE IT! I am not a big fan of the music that goes with it but thought the words were SOLID. I am so very thankful that we serve a God who is small enough to bottle up my tears and big enough to part the red sea!
Smal Enough
By Nicole Nordeman
Oh, great God, be small enough to hear me now
There were times when I was crying from the dark of Daniel's den
And I have asked you once or twice if you would part the sea again
But tonight I do not need a fiery pillar in the sky
Just wanna know you're gonna hold me if I start to cry
Oh, great God, be small enough to hear me now
Oh, great God, be close enough to feel you now
There have been moments when I could not face Goliath on my own
And how could I forget we've marched around our share of Jerichos
But I will not be setting out a fleece for you tonight
Just wanna know that everything will be alright
Oh great God, be close enough to feel you now
All praise and all honor be to the God of ancient mysteries
Whose every sign and wonder turn the pages of our history
But tonight my heart is heavy and I cannot keep from whispering this prayer
"Are you there?"
And I know you could leave writing on the wall that's just for me
Or send wisdom while I'm sleeping, like in Solomon's sweet dreams
But I don't need the strength of Samson or a chariot in the end
Just want to know that you still know how many hairs are on my head
Oh great God, be small enough to hear me now
Smal Enough
By Nicole Nordeman
Oh, great God, be small enough to hear me now
There were times when I was crying from the dark of Daniel's den
And I have asked you once or twice if you would part the sea again
But tonight I do not need a fiery pillar in the sky
Just wanna know you're gonna hold me if I start to cry
Oh, great God, be small enough to hear me now
Oh, great God, be close enough to feel you now
There have been moments when I could not face Goliath on my own
And how could I forget we've marched around our share of Jerichos
But I will not be setting out a fleece for you tonight
Just wanna know that everything will be alright
Oh great God, be close enough to feel you now
All praise and all honor be to the God of ancient mysteries
Whose every sign and wonder turn the pages of our history
But tonight my heart is heavy and I cannot keep from whispering this prayer
"Are you there?"
And I know you could leave writing on the wall that's just for me
Or send wisdom while I'm sleeping, like in Solomon's sweet dreams
But I don't need the strength of Samson or a chariot in the end
Just want to know that you still know how many hairs are on my head
Oh great God, be small enough to hear me now
Monday, January 11, 2010
Walking thru the Word Days 8-10
I have done relatively well keeping up with what I am supposed to be reading but not so well on putting it on the blog!
Gen. 21-26, Ps. 8-10, Matt. 4-5:12, Acts 5-6
Gen. 21: I love v. 1 and 2 "Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age at the very time God had promised him." I am so very thankful that God is gracious....gracious even after we laugh when he reveals His plan to us! The thing that really struck out to me in those verses was a little phrase found in v. 2..."at the very time God promised". God is going to do what He has promised. Not only that He is going to do it at the very time he promised it....not before or after but the very time He promised. The problem is God's timing is not my timing and I would much rather Him fulfil a promise sooner then later! However, I am thankful that His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts. His timing is perfect. He is gracious and He is going to do what He said He will do!
A new name is also revealed of God in this chapter...El Olam....The Eternal God.
Gen. 22: Can you imagine how Isaac must have felt? Do you think he walked away from the being strapped down on an alter with his dad holding a knife over his body with the same lessons that Abraham did? I wander if he was a little, ok... a lot mad that his dad would do such a thing. Scripture does not us anything about Isaac's response to the whole scene. I wander want Sarah's response was when they came back to camp and she heard the story?
Another name for God that is in the chapter is Jehovah Jireh...The Lord will Provide.
Gen. 23: Death of Sarah. She is buried in Cannon which is important later.
Gen. 24: v. 24 God answers Abraham's servant prayer "Before he had finished praying" Don't you love those answers that come without waiting!
v. 27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master..." Yes Lord, prasie Your holy name that I can say you have not abandoned Your kindness or faithfulness to me either! I don't understand Your kindness or Your faithfulness to me but I am so thankful it.
Gen. 25: Death of Abraham. v.21 is a beautiful picture of a husband's headship and love over his wife "Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer." Husbands have the potential to bring so much good to their wife when praying for them and over them. Later in Eph 5:26 it talks about husbands making their wives holy by cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.
Women, are you allowing your husband to take his rightful place of authority over you? Men, are you taking advantage of the privilege you have to serve your wife by praying for her and leading her in the Word?
Isaac and Rebecka had been married 20 years when Jacob and Esau were born. We learn Esau is a skilled hunter and Isaac's favorite child. Jacob is quiet and stays around the house. Rebecka favors him.
Gen. 26: Isaac repeats the sins of his father and lies about his relationship with Rebecka and says she is his sister. v. 11 is another disturbing verse in scripture.
Psalms 8: 3-4 " When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him.?"
Psalms 9:10 "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you Lord have never forsaken those who seek you."
Psalms 10:14 &17: "But You O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you, you are the helper of the fatherless."(v.14) "You hear O Lord the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry." (v.17)
Matt. 4: Jesus is tempted. He begins to preach and call his first disciples.
Matt. 51-11:I love the promise found in verse 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." There is not one second my study of God's Word that is wasted! He promises us that if we run after Him and study His Word.....He will fill us!
Gen. 21-26, Ps. 8-10, Matt. 4-5:12, Acts 5-6
Gen. 21: I love v. 1 and 2 "Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age at the very time God had promised him." I am so very thankful that God is gracious....gracious even after we laugh when he reveals His plan to us! The thing that really struck out to me in those verses was a little phrase found in v. 2..."at the very time God promised". God is going to do what He has promised. Not only that He is going to do it at the very time he promised it....not before or after but the very time He promised. The problem is God's timing is not my timing and I would much rather Him fulfil a promise sooner then later! However, I am thankful that His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts. His timing is perfect. He is gracious and He is going to do what He said He will do!
A new name is also revealed of God in this chapter...El Olam....The Eternal God.
Gen. 22: Can you imagine how Isaac must have felt? Do you think he walked away from the being strapped down on an alter with his dad holding a knife over his body with the same lessons that Abraham did? I wander if he was a little, ok... a lot mad that his dad would do such a thing. Scripture does not us anything about Isaac's response to the whole scene. I wander want Sarah's response was when they came back to camp and she heard the story?
Another name for God that is in the chapter is Jehovah Jireh...The Lord will Provide.
Gen. 23: Death of Sarah. She is buried in Cannon which is important later.
Gen. 24: v. 24 God answers Abraham's servant prayer "Before he had finished praying" Don't you love those answers that come without waiting!
v. 27 Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master..." Yes Lord, prasie Your holy name that I can say you have not abandoned Your kindness or faithfulness to me either! I don't understand Your kindness or Your faithfulness to me but I am so thankful it.
Gen. 25: Death of Abraham. v.21 is a beautiful picture of a husband's headship and love over his wife "Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The Lord answered his prayer." Husbands have the potential to bring so much good to their wife when praying for them and over them. Later in Eph 5:26 it talks about husbands making their wives holy by cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.
Women, are you allowing your husband to take his rightful place of authority over you? Men, are you taking advantage of the privilege you have to serve your wife by praying for her and leading her in the Word?
Isaac and Rebecka had been married 20 years when Jacob and Esau were born. We learn Esau is a skilled hunter and Isaac's favorite child. Jacob is quiet and stays around the house. Rebecka favors him.
Gen. 26: Isaac repeats the sins of his father and lies about his relationship with Rebecka and says she is his sister. v. 11 is another disturbing verse in scripture.
Psalms 8: 3-4 " When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him.?"
Psalms 9:10 "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you Lord have never forsaken those who seek you."
Psalms 10:14 &17: "But You O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you, you are the helper of the fatherless."(v.14) "You hear O Lord the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry." (v.17)
Matt. 4: Jesus is tempted. He begins to preach and call his first disciples.
Matt. 51-11:I love the promise found in verse 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." There is not one second my study of God's Word that is wasted! He promises us that if we run after Him and study His Word.....He will fill us!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Day 6 and 7 of Walking Thru the Word
So this one blog post will have 2 days worth of my time in the Word. I have kept up with doing it daily but have had a hard time time finding time to read AND post!
The segments for the last 2 days are Gen. 15-20, Psalms 6-7, Matt. 3:13-4:11, and Acts 4.
Gen. 15: If you have done any type of Precept Study then you know that any 1st mention is important. In. Gen. 15th we come across 2 first mentions. v.6 is the first time the word believe is mentioned and also the first time that "cutting covenant" is seen.
Gen. 16: I LOVE v. 7 "the angel of the Lord found Hagar." I am so very thankful that we serve a God who is in the business of finding us in our desert places. I also love the 2 questions that she is asked: "Where have you come from and where are you going?" I think it is a great thing for us to ponder. This chapter also holds my favorite name of God, El Roi, The God who sees me. Only God alone knows how many times I have thanked Him that HE indeed is the One who sees me.
Gen. 17th: We learn the sign of the covenant is circumcision. My take away from this chapter comes in v. 23 "On that very day".....Abram had immediate obedience. He did not wait he simply heard from God and then obeyed! May I have the kind of faith that displays immediate obedience....even if it involves pain!
Gen. 18th: I would love to know the time lapse between chapter 17 and 18. If you know please leave a comment or your thoughts. The exchange between God and Sarah in v. 15 cracks me up!!
Gen. 19th: This is a very disturbing chapter all around. When I studied The Patriarchs by Beth Moore I remember this being a VERY somber week. I will say though that I am thankful that the Word of God does not leave out hard stuff.
Gen. 20th: Abraham does it again and says that Sarah is his sister (which is a half truth) but God protects her and no harm is done to her.
Psalms 6: v. 4 "Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love."
Psalms 7: v.17 "I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
Matt. 3:13-17: Baptism of Jesus
Matt. 4:1-11: Temptation of Jesus
Acts 4: I love the fact that God uses "unschooled ordinary men" v.13 to do His work! The apostles prayed for boldness to speak the truth. I love the community of the first church.
I would love to hear your thoughts on any of these verses or on what God has been teaching you over the last few days!
The segments for the last 2 days are Gen. 15-20, Psalms 6-7, Matt. 3:13-4:11, and Acts 4.
Gen. 15: If you have done any type of Precept Study then you know that any 1st mention is important. In. Gen. 15th we come across 2 first mentions. v.6 is the first time the word believe is mentioned and also the first time that "cutting covenant" is seen.
Gen. 16: I LOVE v. 7 "the angel of the Lord found Hagar." I am so very thankful that we serve a God who is in the business of finding us in our desert places. I also love the 2 questions that she is asked: "Where have you come from and where are you going?" I think it is a great thing for us to ponder. This chapter also holds my favorite name of God, El Roi, The God who sees me. Only God alone knows how many times I have thanked Him that HE indeed is the One who sees me.
Gen. 17th: We learn the sign of the covenant is circumcision. My take away from this chapter comes in v. 23 "On that very day".....Abram had immediate obedience. He did not wait he simply heard from God and then obeyed! May I have the kind of faith that displays immediate obedience....even if it involves pain!
Gen. 18th: I would love to know the time lapse between chapter 17 and 18. If you know please leave a comment or your thoughts. The exchange between God and Sarah in v. 15 cracks me up!!
Gen. 19th: This is a very disturbing chapter all around. When I studied The Patriarchs by Beth Moore I remember this being a VERY somber week. I will say though that I am thankful that the Word of God does not leave out hard stuff.
Gen. 20th: Abraham does it again and says that Sarah is his sister (which is a half truth) but God protects her and no harm is done to her.
Psalms 6: v. 4 "Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love."
Psalms 7: v.17 "I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
Matt. 3:13-17: Baptism of Jesus
Matt. 4:1-11: Temptation of Jesus
Acts 4: I love the fact that God uses "unschooled ordinary men" v.13 to do His work! The apostles prayed for boldness to speak the truth. I love the community of the first church.
I would love to hear your thoughts on any of these verses or on what God has been teaching you over the last few days!
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