Saturday, February 28, 2009
From 100 Ways to Simplify Your Life
Don't Worry About Tomorrow
God gave the Israelites their manna one day at a time. They were not allowed to store any of it up for another time---by doing this, they showed their trust and confidence in God and His promise to provide for them each day. Any time they did collect more than enough for one day, it became rotten and smelled bad. Many people say they have a "stinking, rotten life." They don't mean they smell--I think they're saying they have taken on too much--too much work, too much responsibility, too much to think through and it's so much, they have nowhere to put it and much is wasted. They are complicating today trying to gather provision for tomorrow.
God gave the Israelites their manna one day at a time. They were not allowed to store any of it up for another time---by doing this, they showed their trust and confidence in God and His promise to provide for them each day. Any time they did collect more than enough for one day, it became rotten and smelled bad. Many people say they have a "stinking, rotten life." They don't mean they smell--I think they're saying they have taken on too much--too much work, too much responsibility, too much to think through and it's so much, they have nowhere to put it and much is wasted. They are complicating today trying to gather provision for tomorrow.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Gib's Aha Moment
This morning during our prayer time at Living Water, Gib shared his aha moment he had at 3:30 this morning. He said he'd started writing a new sermon about living the abundant life. He hadn't finished it, because he wasn't sure where he was going with it. But at 3:30, God began showing him.
He said he'd read John 2:23-24 which says, "Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature." What God showed him through this was that some people say they trust in God, but God doesn't commit Himself to them because he knows their hearts are not sincere. And he said that there's no real relationship if both sides aren't committed. And then a verse came to his mind: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." He said it came to him that when we commit ourselves to Christ---it's giving him everything. It's giving up our life to allow him to live his life through us. That's when he commits himself to us! Gib said, "I get it! I'm 80 years old, but I finally GET IT!"
His aha moment became my aha moment. Since marriage was so fresh on my mind, I told him, "That's why our marriages are a picture of Christ & the church. We both have to make that commitment. It's no marriage if there's a half-way commitment---it's all or nothing." And then I asked the guys who were a part of that conversation, "Don't you hate watching a marriage where the wife won't submit, is rebellious, talks disrespectfully about/to her husband in public, etc.? Heads were nodding. (Feeling my own swift kick in the pants here!) She's living for herself--not in unity or for the good of the marriage. That's what we are when we don't submit to Christ---when we try to be committed without giving him everything." What a difference when we let him live HIS life through us.
The longer I live and the more I understand, I think the Christian life can be summed up in one word: submission. And Satan sure doesn't want us to get it, does he?
He said he'd read John 2:23-24 which says, "Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature." What God showed him through this was that some people say they trust in God, but God doesn't commit Himself to them because he knows their hearts are not sincere. And he said that there's no real relationship if both sides aren't committed. And then a verse came to his mind: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." He said it came to him that when we commit ourselves to Christ---it's giving him everything. It's giving up our life to allow him to live his life through us. That's when he commits himself to us! Gib said, "I get it! I'm 80 years old, but I finally GET IT!"
His aha moment became my aha moment. Since marriage was so fresh on my mind, I told him, "That's why our marriages are a picture of Christ & the church. We both have to make that commitment. It's no marriage if there's a half-way commitment---it's all or nothing." And then I asked the guys who were a part of that conversation, "Don't you hate watching a marriage where the wife won't submit, is rebellious, talks disrespectfully about/to her husband in public, etc.? Heads were nodding. (Feeling my own swift kick in the pants here!) She's living for herself--not in unity or for the good of the marriage. That's what we are when we don't submit to Christ---when we try to be committed without giving him everything." What a difference when we let him live HIS life through us.
The longer I live and the more I understand, I think the Christian life can be summed up in one word: submission. And Satan sure doesn't want us to get it, does he?
Enjoy Your Day!
That's what God told me yesterday---"Enjoy your day, it's a gift from Me!"
Andy recently went to a conference and heard a pastor speak. This pastor had had a stroke or heart attack. He said that before his crisis, he used to say, "I have to go do this or that..." But after the crisis, he said, "I get to go do this or that..."
So I hope you enjoy your day today and get to do this or that.
Andy recently went to a conference and heard a pastor speak. This pastor had had a stroke or heart attack. He said that before his crisis, he used to say, "I have to go do this or that..." But after the crisis, he said, "I get to go do this or that..."
So I hope you enjoy your day today and get to do this or that.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Power of Women
Jodina & I walked this morning and as we did, God began revealing TRUTH to us. OUCH!! It hurts sometimes, doesn't it?
I told her that I'd read Proverbs 16 this morning and verse 33 jumped out at me: "The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him]."
What I got from this verse is that my main concern in life is to learn to submit to God. He has a plan. I can either come in agreement with His plan or I can oppose Him. Period.
From there we discussed Proverbs 14:1, "Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands." I've never much liked that verse. ha! Because it shows just how much power we have as women---over our own homes. We can either build it with our hearts...or destroy it with our hearts. We can either build it with our words...or destroy it with our words. We can either build it with our actions...or destroy it with our actions. We can either build it with our minds...or destroy it with our mind.
Ahhhh....the real heart of the matter. Our minds. As we talked, we admitted that the biggest part of our problems originate in our minds. See if you do this, too. I can think through a weekend. I can have it all planned out in my mind. I see where we should go, what we should do and who we should spend it with. In my mind, I can even see Andy's part in my plans. If I'm honest with you, I can go as far as telling Andy (at the last minute) about some part of our weekend that I've got planned in my mind, and he has said, "I didn't know we were going to do that." And I get all bent out of shape and remind him quite pointedly that I told him what we had planned. He's argued that he had no idea. Are you kidding me? Did I just have all of that worked out in my mind and never fill him in? (But trust me...I usually stay on my steady course and try to make him think it's all his fault!) This also explains why I can get upset when Andy gets sleepy when we're supposed to be out having fun---I've already thought through how this evening is supposed to go and he's just not cooperating!
Or you could get angry over shared responsibility---because you had it all mapped out in your mind what each of you were going to do. And he's just not doing what you expected!
The sum of our expectations should be in God--not ourselves and certainly not in others. (Psalm 27:14)
Is this resonating in your mind yet? I think because we can multi-task, we think through so many options and then expect our husbands to fit in the way we think they should. That causes problems.
Those are vain imaginations that God tells us to cast down. (II Corinthians 10:4-5) Oh boy. It all starts in the mind. We're constantly given a choice. Do we submit to God or do we choose to go our own way? Do we choose to entertain thoughts in our minds that are going to lead to life or to death of our families?
Why did God give us women so much responsibility? The power to build our homes or the power to destroy our homes lies in our own hands.
I told her that I'd read Proverbs 16 this morning and verse 33 jumped out at me: "The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him]."
What I got from this verse is that my main concern in life is to learn to submit to God. He has a plan. I can either come in agreement with His plan or I can oppose Him. Period.
From there we discussed Proverbs 14:1, "Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands." I've never much liked that verse. ha! Because it shows just how much power we have as women---over our own homes. We can either build it with our hearts...or destroy it with our hearts. We can either build it with our words...or destroy it with our words. We can either build it with our actions...or destroy it with our actions. We can either build it with our minds...or destroy it with our mind.
Ahhhh....the real heart of the matter. Our minds. As we talked, we admitted that the biggest part of our problems originate in our minds. See if you do this, too. I can think through a weekend. I can have it all planned out in my mind. I see where we should go, what we should do and who we should spend it with. In my mind, I can even see Andy's part in my plans. If I'm honest with you, I can go as far as telling Andy (at the last minute) about some part of our weekend that I've got planned in my mind, and he has said, "I didn't know we were going to do that." And I get all bent out of shape and remind him quite pointedly that I told him what we had planned. He's argued that he had no idea. Are you kidding me? Did I just have all of that worked out in my mind and never fill him in? (But trust me...I usually stay on my steady course and try to make him think it's all his fault!) This also explains why I can get upset when Andy gets sleepy when we're supposed to be out having fun---I've already thought through how this evening is supposed to go and he's just not cooperating!
Or you could get angry over shared responsibility---because you had it all mapped out in your mind what each of you were going to do. And he's just not doing what you expected!
The sum of our expectations should be in God--not ourselves and certainly not in others. (Psalm 27:14)
Is this resonating in your mind yet? I think because we can multi-task, we think through so many options and then expect our husbands to fit in the way we think they should. That causes problems.
Those are vain imaginations that God tells us to cast down. (II Corinthians 10:4-5) Oh boy. It all starts in the mind. We're constantly given a choice. Do we submit to God or do we choose to go our own way? Do we choose to entertain thoughts in our minds that are going to lead to life or to death of our families?
Why did God give us women so much responsibility? The power to build our homes or the power to destroy our homes lies in our own hands.
8 to 1
I couldn't believe the responses on the security system question---would you get one if you had the money?!! 8-1....a resounding NO! Wow. I really thought it would be just the opposite. That says a lot about your security. Good job!!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Security System
If you had the money, would you install a security system in your house?
Why or why not?
Why or why not?
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Challenge
I was asked to come speak to our local private Christian school recently. Actually, it was the weekend that Jay & Amy were in town...February 6, to be exact. I was asked to speak on ministry---not necessarily about Living Water---but I was asked to encourage their students to get involved in ministry. I thought and prayed on what to do. I'm a very visual person and I think students respond to something they can see and "get." And I know God gave me this idea---I can take no credit!
First, I asked how many of them were rich. One teacher raised her hand. Then I had 5 students come up and help me. I handed 4 students signs that had names of countries: China, Africa, Mexico & United States. These represented countries who had hungry people. Then I had 1 student hold the Borger sign....the sign of wealth. I told them that just because they went to a private school in Borger, many people even in Borger looked upon them as wealthy! I gave the 4 students part of an orange and I gave the Borger student a large plate of a huge breakfast. Then I went back and took parts of the orange away from some of the hungry countries and gave it to the Borger student and told them I had to redistribute the wealth because they had too much. I told them there are hungry people out there and we have so much. I pointed out that I never told the Borger student he couldn't share his food---but he didn't.
Then I gave them a bunch of statistics. Did you know that 40% of the world lives on $1/day or less? And 80% of the world lives on less than $10/day. 26,500-30,000 children die each day due to poverty. And over 1/2 of the children in the world live in poverty. The world's richest (which is 20% of the world) consume 76.6% of the world's resources. The world's poorest (10% of the world) consume .5% of the world's resources. And globally, $35 billion a year is spent just on entertainment--and 17 billion on pet food!
Living Water then gave each student and each teacher $1.00 (which only cost me $32.00). I told them I knew it wasn't much, but it was what 40% of the world lived on. And then I quickly reminded them of the story of the talents---how God gave a different amount to each and expected a return. I divided them into groups and asked them to talk it out, pray, and ask God how they could make a profit with that $1.00 and return it to Living Water.
I walked out of there so excited!! The kids had gotten it!!!! And there was a buzz in that room as the kids began discussing what they could do to increase it. Well....yesterday, the first group brought in their increase. They had written a letter telling what they were doing and began going door-to-door and telling people that they had matched the $1.00 themselves and asked them to also match the $1.00. They brought in $38.85! (Already more than Living Water gave out to begin with!) I thought their idea was pretty creative. And it was exciting to see the lesson they learned of what could happen when they started with only one dollar--how God could increase it and use it for His kingdom.
So I just had to share this story and post the picture they took yesterday as they presented their gift to Living Water.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Ryan's photos
I was downloading photos from the weekend and found pics that Ryan took with my camera. The first 3 photos, I took. The first 2 are Ryan and the 3rd is his sister, Addie. (They love to put my reading glasses on!) My favorite moment of the weekend was this: Addie stood on my bed and declared, "I am the Princess!" (heavy emphasis on the P) Ryan rose up next to her and said, "I am the knight." Addie immediately looked at him and adoringly said, "Awwww...you're so cute!" And then Ryan leaned over and kissed her. Enjoy this budding photographer's work.
Oswald Chambers
From My Utmost For His Highest
February 23
Jesus also said, "Yet I am among you as the One who serves" (Luke 22:27). Paul's idea of service was the same as our Lord's--"...ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake" (2 Corinthians 4:5). We somehow have the idea that a person called to the ministry is called to be different and above other people. But according to Jesus Christ, he is called to be a "doormat" for others---called to be their spiritual leader, but never their superior. Paul said, "I know how to be abased..." (Philippians 4:12). Paul's idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others. And whether he received praise or blame made no difference. As long as there was one human being who did not know Jesus, Paul felt a debt of service to that person until he did come to know Him. But the chief motivation behind Paul's service was not love for others but love for his Lord. If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another.
Paul's understanding of how Christ had dealt with him is the secret behind his determination to serve others. "I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man..." (I Timothy 1:13). In other words, no matter how badly others may have treated Paul, they could never have treated him with the same degree of spite and hatred with which he had treated Jesus Christ. Once we realize that Jesus has served us even to the depths of our meagerness, our selfishness, and our sin, nothing we encounter from others will be able to exhaust our determination to serve others for His sake.
February 23
Jesus also said, "Yet I am among you as the One who serves" (Luke 22:27). Paul's idea of service was the same as our Lord's--"...ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake" (2 Corinthians 4:5). We somehow have the idea that a person called to the ministry is called to be different and above other people. But according to Jesus Christ, he is called to be a "doormat" for others---called to be their spiritual leader, but never their superior. Paul said, "I know how to be abased..." (Philippians 4:12). Paul's idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others. And whether he received praise or blame made no difference. As long as there was one human being who did not know Jesus, Paul felt a debt of service to that person until he did come to know Him. But the chief motivation behind Paul's service was not love for others but love for his Lord. If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another.
Paul's understanding of how Christ had dealt with him is the secret behind his determination to serve others. "I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man..." (I Timothy 1:13). In other words, no matter how badly others may have treated Paul, they could never have treated him with the same degree of spite and hatred with which he had treated Jesus Christ. Once we realize that Jesus has served us even to the depths of our meagerness, our selfishness, and our sin, nothing we encounter from others will be able to exhaust our determination to serve others for His sake.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Pops Movie--Post III
Addie then began to show us several movies. This was The Pops Movie---which Pops tried to interpret. You can hear her response at the end.
Addie & the Calculator--Post II
Still in her Benji character (see first post), Addie had the calculator and was using it as her iPhone to talk to Mr. Kitty (Pops). They had several conversations before I decided to try to get it on video. By then, the calculator had become a remote control and she was in control of the movies we could watch.
Benji
Ryan & Addie came to stay with us tonight while David & Lindsey went to Kansas. We watched an OLD 70's rendition of Benji (pretty cheesy!!), but the kids loved it. Afterwards, Addie decided she was a doggy---Benji, to be specific. She came and began licking my feet and whining. I was about to get hysterical!! Then she came to me and woofed that she was hungry. So......
We went and got Benji some dog food. You can see she very much remained in character.
Then Benji got thirsty. (By this time I was about to wet my pants!) So I eagerly got her a bowl of water---wondering what she was going to do with it. It didn't work so well....
So we found a new way for a puppy to drink.
She was one happy puppy!! (You can't tell, but her tail was wagging....) She made my night.
We went and got Benji some dog food. You can see she very much remained in character.
Then Benji got thirsty. (By this time I was about to wet my pants!) So I eagerly got her a bowl of water---wondering what she was going to do with it. It didn't work so well....
So we found a new way for a puppy to drink.
She was one happy puppy!! (You can't tell, but her tail was wagging....) She made my night.Friday, February 20, 2009
Friends
This past week, Tammy asked us what gave us joy. One of my first responses (of many) was that I found joy eating a great dinner with friends and laughing my head off over a funny conversation. I got to do that tonight and it's true----it really does bring me joy!
I am so blessed. I have such great friends!! Some of these friends have overseen the remodeling of our new pastor's new house in Borger. They've had a crew of church people working on it for 3 weeks. It's been awesome watching our church come together for this project. I jokingly told my friends that I had them over tonight so they could come and enjoy a "finished project." (They redecorated my house when I was in China last year--the whole stinkin' house!!)
It was a great opportunity to tell them again what my redecorated house means to me. It's like sitting in a big hug and it's so peaceful. It's beautiful, really. I absolutely love it! Yep, I have great friends. I wish everyone was as blessed as I am.
I am so blessed. I have such great friends!! Some of these friends have overseen the remodeling of our new pastor's new house in Borger. They've had a crew of church people working on it for 3 weeks. It's been awesome watching our church come together for this project. I jokingly told my friends that I had them over tonight so they could come and enjoy a "finished project." (They redecorated my house when I was in China last year--the whole stinkin' house!!)
It was a great opportunity to tell them again what my redecorated house means to me. It's like sitting in a big hug and it's so peaceful. It's beautiful, really. I absolutely love it! Yep, I have great friends. I wish everyone was as blessed as I am.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
How Many Can You Guess?
I'm so worried about my sisters with blogger's block! So I decided to help them out. I'm having a contest. Who can guess what each photo really is? The person who correctly guesses all five first, will win a prize!! And then they must post 5 photos for the rest of us to figure out. Let the games begin!!
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Pray for Mandy
Remember me telling you about Mandy? She showed up today at Living Water needing prayer. Her dad had surgery and because he has no insurance, they sent him to a nursing home for rehab. She was distraught. Everything that could have gone wrong, did. But you know what she did when she got overwhelmed? She came to Living Water to volunteer. Of course, we prayed together, too, but then she got the vacuum sweeper out and began cleaning all of our floors. And you know what? There was a visible difference in her countenance when she left. Such a lesson...
Please pray for Mandy & her dad. Praise God she didn't turn to drugs in her desperation!!
Please pray for Mandy & her dad. Praise God she didn't turn to drugs in her desperation!!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Wow!
I just finished this book---the last in a series of five books. And all I can say is, "WOW!" If you get the chance, you must read this series!
Change of Polarity
I told you that I gain so much insight with the Living Water guys on Wednesday. Today was no exception. It's like having a living, breathing devotional. Let me share....
Gib, George & Cairl were talking about how sin attracts us. Our flesh and sin are 2 magnets attracting one another. The closer we get to sin, the stronger the attraction and ultimate connection.
BUT....when we confess our sins, the polarity of those magnets change. We're repelled from sin. Gib quoted this, James 4:7 "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." When we submit to God (confess our sins, walk in obedience), then we resist the devil. I looked "resist" up in the online Greek Bible dictionary and here's what it said:
to set one's self against, to withstand, resist, oppose, to set against.
Do you think when we confess our sins that the magnetic polarity changes and there is an instantaneous resistance?
These guys have great insight and send me into some deep-thinking.
Gib, George & Cairl were talking about how sin attracts us. Our flesh and sin are 2 magnets attracting one another. The closer we get to sin, the stronger the attraction and ultimate connection.
BUT....when we confess our sins, the polarity of those magnets change. We're repelled from sin. Gib quoted this, James 4:7 "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." When we submit to God (confess our sins, walk in obedience), then we resist the devil. I looked "resist" up in the online Greek Bible dictionary and here's what it said:
to set one's self against, to withstand, resist, oppose, to set against.
Do you think when we confess our sins that the magnetic polarity changes and there is an instantaneous resistance?
These guys have great insight and send me into some deep-thinking.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Ryan turns 5!
I got to go to Amarillo tonight to Jump 'N Jive for a special boy's 5th birthday party. When I got there, I asked Ryan, "How old are you?!?" And he held up 4 fingers and said, "FOUR!" Such a literalist. So I had to ask him, "How old will you be tomorrow?" "FIVE!!!"
Don't you love this age---when they still don't get it that you actually need to put money in the machines in order for them to really work?
Big boy blowing out the candles on his Captain Hook cake.
Good cake, Dad! And the very next bite was all icing!
Don't you love this age---when they still don't get it that you actually need to put money in the machines in order for them to really work?
Miss Blue Eyes was in attendace at her brother's birthday party.
Shootout at the OK Corral with Dad.
Big boy blowing out the candles on his Captain Hook cake.
Good cake, Dad! And the very next bite was all icing!
Where have you pitched your tent?
"...and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom." Genesis 13:12
Thank you to all who have missed me! I'm back!
Mr. Gib & I had this discussion last week---about Lot pitching his tent toward Sodom. I've been thinking, meditating and dwelling on this thought for a week. And I'm ready to share my wisdom with you. (Surely you know I'm just kidding!)
The earlier verses tell how Abram gave Lot the choice of the land---they were parting ways because their flocks had grown so large that their servants were fighting over watering holes. So Lot chose the Jordon valley because it was like the Garden of Eden. And then he pitched his tents by Sodom. And the rest is history.
Don't you think Lot regretted that decision? Do you think his decision was made out of greed? Mr. Gib pointed out that he'd heard a preacher say Lot was a righteous man, so maybe we shouldn't be so hard on him. And that is found in II Peter 2:7-8, "And He rescued righteous Lot, greatly worn out and distressed by the wanton ways of the ungodly and lawless--For that just man, living [there] among them, tortured his righteous soul every day with what he saw and heard of [their] unlawful and wicked deeds."
Why did he stay in Sodom? Why put up with those wanton ways? I contend it had to do with one woman---his wife. Maybe she was materialistic--and she had it all in Sodom. Maybe she lived on the edge and enjoyed those wanton ways. Maybe she thought that cute young man was perfect for her daughter. And maybe it was because she just got comfortable there. But the reason I think it had to do with that one woman is because she was the one who looked back and turned into a pillar of salt as a result. And why a pillar of salt? Maybe because she was supposed to be the salt of the earth while she lived--and wasn't--so God was making a point. And maybe you have a better idea. (I don't think we realize what power we have as women in our husband's lives...or maybe we do!)
I guess my point in thinking on this (and maybe overthinking!) is this: I don't want to live life on the edge in Sodom. I don't even want to pitch my tent towards Sodom. Because I know I could get very comfortable there. And I also don't want to live with a tortured soul.
And just maybe we're already living in Sodom. There are some pretty wanton ways, ungodlessness and lawlessness around us---and I think it's only going to get worse. If we are...is our soul tortured? How can we be salt by choice instead of by the hand of God?
And if you want a good laugh, go here to hear about pitching your tents!
Thank you to all who have missed me! I'm back!
Mr. Gib & I had this discussion last week---about Lot pitching his tent toward Sodom. I've been thinking, meditating and dwelling on this thought for a week. And I'm ready to share my wisdom with you. (Surely you know I'm just kidding!)
The earlier verses tell how Abram gave Lot the choice of the land---they were parting ways because their flocks had grown so large that their servants were fighting over watering holes. So Lot chose the Jordon valley because it was like the Garden of Eden. And then he pitched his tents by Sodom. And the rest is history.
Don't you think Lot regretted that decision? Do you think his decision was made out of greed? Mr. Gib pointed out that he'd heard a preacher say Lot was a righteous man, so maybe we shouldn't be so hard on him. And that is found in II Peter 2:7-8, "And He rescued righteous Lot, greatly worn out and distressed by the wanton ways of the ungodly and lawless--For that just man, living [there] among them, tortured his righteous soul every day with what he saw and heard of [their] unlawful and wicked deeds."
Why did he stay in Sodom? Why put up with those wanton ways? I contend it had to do with one woman---his wife. Maybe she was materialistic--and she had it all in Sodom. Maybe she lived on the edge and enjoyed those wanton ways. Maybe she thought that cute young man was perfect for her daughter. And maybe it was because she just got comfortable there. But the reason I think it had to do with that one woman is because she was the one who looked back and turned into a pillar of salt as a result. And why a pillar of salt? Maybe because she was supposed to be the salt of the earth while she lived--and wasn't--so God was making a point. And maybe you have a better idea. (I don't think we realize what power we have as women in our husband's lives...or maybe we do!)
I guess my point in thinking on this (and maybe overthinking!) is this: I don't want to live life on the edge in Sodom. I don't even want to pitch my tent towards Sodom. Because I know I could get very comfortable there. And I also don't want to live with a tortured soul.
And just maybe we're already living in Sodom. There are some pretty wanton ways, ungodlessness and lawlessness around us---and I think it's only going to get worse. If we are...is our soul tortured? How can we be salt by choice instead of by the hand of God?
And if you want a good laugh, go here to hear about pitching your tents!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Grandparents & 7 Grandkids---3rd Post
I love the different antics and looks of the grandkids in each photo. They're great!!
Dietz Family--Post 2
Andy & I with our 7 grandchildren! Aren't they beautiful??
Our oldest granddaughter, Caitlin (right) came up with this arrangement of all the kids and had us come out and take the picture! Pretty creative! Our nephew, Benjamin, in the red shirt. He's our kids' first cousin, but feels more like cousins to our grandkids!
4 Beautiful Dietz Women! Amy, Lindsey (David's wife), Lisa (Matt's wife) and Shanna (Zach's wife)
Cousins
Cousins greeting one another
Cousins watching tv
Olivia immediately took to her Um-D
Buff (or Pops) and his 3 grandsons--Ryan, Josiah & Isaac
Beautiful girls---cousins Alexis & Addie BelleSaturday, February 7, 2009
Fun Weekend!
How disappointing! I took about 360 photos over the weekend while Jay & Amy were here and had my camera on the auto adjustment setting the whole time and got very few good shots as a result. Oh my. But after going through all 360 photos, I thought I'd get started and upload some of my favorites of when the Wrights got to Borger. Tomorrow I'll try to upload the good ones of when all 7 grandkids were here. We loved having them here---it was hard to see them go!
Fireman Isaac showing off his own handmade tattoos he created while flying to Texas!
Amy & Olivia
Sweet, happy Olivia! I told Amy the thing that surprised me was how tiny Olivia really is---her chubby cheeks made her seem bigger in her pictures!
Josiah & his football pose.
3 Kids & a Movie
Fireman Isaac showing off his own handmade tattoos he created while flying to Texas!
Amy & Olivia
Sweet, happy Olivia! I told Amy the thing that surprised me was how tiny Olivia really is---her chubby cheeks made her seem bigger in her pictures!
Josiah & his football pose.
3 Kids & a MovieThursday, February 5, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Ode to My Whirlpool Tub
My poor feet
My aching head
Thoughts of my tub
while on my bed.
Running water
Hot as can be
Steam is rising
Oh how sweet!
Sinking, sinking
Into that tub
Jets are shooting
A good foot rub.
Muscles relaxing
Head is clearing
One more minute
Now I'm tearing...
I love my tub!
It feels so good
You must get one
It'll change your mood.
My aching head
Thoughts of my tub
while on my bed.
Running water
Hot as can be
Steam is rising
Oh how sweet!
Sinking, sinking
Into that tub
Jets are shooting
A good foot rub.
Muscles relaxing
Head is clearing
One more minute
Now I'm tearing...
I love my tub!
It feels so good
You must get one
It'll change your mood.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Book Report
I don't know how many of you like to read, but I highly encourage you to read this book!! Wow! I saw Larry Bates on a Christian t.v. program and was hooked! I went out and bought his book the next day and then read it in one night. I even read 5 chapters out loud to Andy---it's stuff Andy's been saying for over 20 years! Dr. Larry Bates is an economist and publisher and editor of Monetary and Economic Review. He is a former member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and chairman of its Committee on Banking and Commerce. He's a former bank CEO. He's an internationally recognized speaker on political systems and the Federal Reserve and how they affect the economy and your finances.
Buy this book for your husband and read it together. Ask your church library to get it! It's a must read for these days.
I have to tell you that God seems to be speaking to me from so many different directions about the days we're in and how to prepare for the days ahead. This is one of those sources.
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