What is sin? I recently heard a preacher define it as "not choosing God's best for you." Really? Is that what sin is? Are we trying not to offend anyone? Heaven forbid! Does that somehow make sin more palatable? Do we feel less guilt if we define it that way? I say call sin what it is: missing the mark, rebellion against God, disobedience. And then I say, "Thank God for His mercy and grace."
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Read, Read, Read!!
"There's no end to the publishing of books..." (Eccleciastes 12:12a (MSG)
I love books! I've loved them since I was a little girl sitting on my father's lap as he read Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, and Tom Sawyer, not to mention stories and poems from World Book Encyclopedia's Childcraft! I got my first library card as soon as I was able to write my own name! My dad took me to the Boise Public Library once a week until I was old enough to walk the 13 blocks by myself. The library had a limit to the number of books you could check out at one time and I ALWAYS checked out the limit! Reading was my life!
I love books! I like the way they feel. I like their colorful jackets. I like owning my own books! Getting a new book to read really excites me! I hope there's never a time when we don't have books! You can have your Kindle and your Nook, I want a real book!
The last few years while I've been raising my daughter I haven't had as much time to read as I would have liked. I'd start a book, set it aside (or misplace it!) and later begin another one! Now that my daughter's away at school I find I have more free time to read! With a daughter in college, there's not much money for books, but I still have a library card! However, before I make a trip to the library to check out my limit of books, I decided I would finish reading some of those books that I started and never finished. So today I rounded up 10 books to read this year. Some of them were started so long ago that I'll probably need to re-read the beginnings! Here's my list:
I love books! I've loved them since I was a little girl sitting on my father's lap as he read Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, and Tom Sawyer, not to mention stories and poems from World Book Encyclopedia's Childcraft! I got my first library card as soon as I was able to write my own name! My dad took me to the Boise Public Library once a week until I was old enough to walk the 13 blocks by myself. The library had a limit to the number of books you could check out at one time and I ALWAYS checked out the limit! Reading was my life!
I love books! I like the way they feel. I like their colorful jackets. I like owning my own books! Getting a new book to read really excites me! I hope there's never a time when we don't have books! You can have your Kindle and your Nook, I want a real book!
The last few years while I've been raising my daughter I haven't had as much time to read as I would have liked. I'd start a book, set it aside (or misplace it!) and later begin another one! Now that my daughter's away at school I find I have more free time to read! With a daughter in college, there's not much money for books, but I still have a library card! However, before I make a trip to the library to check out my limit of books, I decided I would finish reading some of those books that I started and never finished. So today I rounded up 10 books to read this year. Some of them were started so long ago that I'll probably need to re-read the beginnings! Here's my list:
- Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
- Crazy Love - Francis Chan
- Radical Gratitude - Ellen Vaughn
- With My Whole Heart - Karen Mains
- The Story of the World Volume 1: Ancient Times - Susan Wise Bauer
- A Life that Says Welcome - Karen Ehman
- Soul Keeping - Howard Baker
- Enjoying the Presence of God - Jan Johnson
- A Gardener Looks at the Fruits of the Spirit - Phillip Keller
- One Month to Live -Kerry and Chris Shook
Friday, January 4, 2013
Start Now
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." Anne Frank
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Glorify God in Your Body
Wow! It appears that I have sorely neglected this blog during the past year! O well, it's a new year with lots of possibilities!
I gave up making new year's resolutions years ago, but I do like to choose a verse for the year. It helps me to stay focused on things I need to change, improve on, or internalize in my life. For 2013 I've chosen I Corinthians 6:19, 20: "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." Glorify God in your body and in your spirit!! I wonder what that will look like for me in 2013? It might mean losing some weight (always a good idea) or getting my blood sugar under control or letting the gray take over my hair (embracing my age!) It might mean spending more time alone with God, praising Him, or bearing more fruit: more love, more joy, more kindness! Can't wait to see what God has planned for me in 2013 as I glorify God in my body and in my spirit.
I gave up making new year's resolutions years ago, but I do like to choose a verse for the year. It helps me to stay focused on things I need to change, improve on, or internalize in my life. For 2013 I've chosen I Corinthians 6:19, 20: "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." Glorify God in your body and in your spirit!! I wonder what that will look like for me in 2013? It might mean losing some weight (always a good idea) or getting my blood sugar under control or letting the gray take over my hair (embracing my age!) It might mean spending more time alone with God, praising Him, or bearing more fruit: more love, more joy, more kindness! Can't wait to see what God has planned for me in 2013 as I glorify God in my body and in my spirit.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Random Thoughts on Christmas
1. I refuse to be offended if someone says, "Happy Holiday!" instead of, "Merry Christmas!" Life's too short, folks!
2. I refuse to be offended if someone uses "Xmas" instead of "Christmas" because I understand the Greek origins of the X.
3. "Jesus is the reason for the season" is a clever use of rhyming words, but I wonder about the theology of the statement. I tend to believe that I'M the reason for the season. After all, if it weren't for my sin and yours (for ALL have sinned) there would have been no reason for Him to come. Isaiah 53 makes that pretty clear! Just saying!
4. Jesus didn't ask us to remember His birth (although I don't think He minds that we do), but He did ask us to remember His death and resurrection. Shouldn't we celebrate that at Christmas as well?
Just thinking out loud.
2. I refuse to be offended if someone uses "Xmas" instead of "Christmas" because I understand the Greek origins of the X.
3. "Jesus is the reason for the season" is a clever use of rhyming words, but I wonder about the theology of the statement. I tend to believe that I'M the reason for the season. After all, if it weren't for my sin and yours (for ALL have sinned) there would have been no reason for Him to come. Isaiah 53 makes that pretty clear! Just saying!
4. Jesus didn't ask us to remember His birth (although I don't think He minds that we do), but He did ask us to remember His death and resurrection. Shouldn't we celebrate that at Christmas as well?
Just thinking out loud.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Dark Clouds
We took a little day trip to southern Arizona a few weeks ago. On the drive home, the sky turned gray and we anticipated a nice rainstorm. Then the sun started to shine through the clouds. It was beautiful! The sun's rays shone through and the clouds were outlined in beautiful silver. I was reminded of an old song that my Dad used to sing. I could only remember two lines so I looked it up (isn't the internet grand?)
"Back of the Clouds"
Never fear tho' shadows dark around your path may fall;
Do not let your heart be troubled;
From His throne in heaven,
God is watching one and all,
He will ever care for you.
Back of the clouds the sun is always shining,
After the storms your skies will all be blue;
God has prepared a rosy-tinted lining,
Back of the clouds it's waiting to shine thru.
Carolyn R. Freeman
God is not far away. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. I choose to put my hope in Him, even when the way is dark.
"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:5
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Only One Life
"Only one life
'twill soon be past
Only what's done
for Christ
will last."
"for to me to live is Christ." Philippians 1:21
I don't know the origins of this quote, but it was one of my mom's favorites. I came across it today and it brought back memories of one of our last conversations. It's a good quote to remember;puts life into perspective.
'twill soon be past
Only what's done
for Christ
will last."
"for to me to live is Christ." Philippians 1:21
I don't know the origins of this quote, but it was one of my mom's favorites. I came across it today and it brought back memories of one of our last conversations. It's a good quote to remember;puts life into perspective.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)