"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians, 2:2-3 (NIV)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
It's hot...wanna get cooled off?
So it's crazy hot outside...what's with the high of 103? Crazy. My advice to stay alive is:
1. Focus on breathing.
2. Carry water with you like a camel.
3. Come to Sun 'N Fun Waterpark tonight for our party!
It's going down from 5-8pm and all admissions go to our expansion fund for The House FM. Some of us DJ's will be there with great prizes like Guitar Praise, Season passes to Sun 'N Fun, Concert Tickets and 5 cd pack. More info is at http://www.thehousefm.com So come out, get wet, say "Hello" to me, ride some rides, win prizes and support your favorite radio station.
As Andy says, "It's a win, win, win situation."
If you don't come tonight, you'll be kicking yourself and that will only make your body temperature rise. I think the choice is clear.
Info on The House FM-http://www.thehousefm.com
Info on Sun 'N Fun Waterpark-http://www.sunnfunwaterpark.net/
1. Focus on breathing.
2. Carry water with you like a camel.
3. Come to Sun 'N Fun Waterpark tonight for our party!
It's going down from 5-8pm and all admissions go to our expansion fund for The House FM. Some of us DJ's will be there with great prizes like Guitar Praise, Season passes to Sun 'N Fun, Concert Tickets and 5 cd pack. More info is at http://www.thehousefm.com So come out, get wet, say "Hello" to me, ride some rides, win prizes and support your favorite radio station.
As Andy says, "It's a win, win, win situation."
If you don't come tonight, you'll be kicking yourself and that will only make your body temperature rise. I think the choice is clear.
Info on The House FM-http://www.thehousefm.com
Info on Sun 'N Fun Waterpark-http://www.sunnfunwaterpark.net/
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Update from Russia
I have friends in Russia right now. They are hoping to adopt a 16 year old and bring her home. This has been a long time coming, about 4 years. We are watching their third child, Xavier(X-Man) who is 4. Here's the update I got earlier today:
'We finally made it to the orphanage this afternoon after a 5 hour drive on WWII era roads. Anya was very happy to see us. She has grown a lot but still the same in a lot of ways.
The other kids were glad too because we came with 6 cases of chocolates. We took Anya to lunch were cabbage soup was the main course. Afterwards, some ice cream from the store, then some bowling at a 4 lane bowling alley, wrapping up with a walk through a park where the main attraction was the long haired goat monument who's nose you touch while making a wish. Tammy did the wishmaking.
Through the interpreter, we had some good conversations. Nothing too heavy on the first day. Over all she is in good spirits, very glad to see us and looking forward to tomorrow. Time will only tell if she will decide once and for all to come to America. We are praying for God's will in her life first and foremost. She is dealing with the prospect of leaving behind friends in the orphanage as well as a brother only a year older, that is wanting to stay. Anyway, it's tough for her so right now we are just focusing on the reunion. She still has a while to workout the best decision for her.
'We finally made it to the orphanage this afternoon after a 5 hour drive on WWII era roads. Anya was very happy to see us. She has grown a lot but still the same in a lot of ways.
The other kids were glad too because we came with 6 cases of chocolates. We took Anya to lunch were cabbage soup was the main course. Afterwards, some ice cream from the store, then some bowling at a 4 lane bowling alley, wrapping up with a walk through a park where the main attraction was the long haired goat monument who's nose you touch while making a wish. Tammy did the wishmaking.
Tomorrow we will pick her up from the orphanage at 10:00am, 2:00am for you. I don't know what can do to top the goat monument, but we will try by having a birthday party for her with presents we brought from home.
Thanks again for all the help & support.'
Dave & Tammy
Volgograd Region
City of Urpinsk
Russia
Top 10
This is a different kind of Top 10...these are just a few questions I challenge you to answer truthfully. Maybe even print this out and have it as a weekly reality check in your life. This is mainly geared toward kids and teens, but it may be helpful to you as well.
My Weekly Top 10
one - God
Have I spent daily time in the scriptures and prayer?
two - Family
Have I spent any quality time with my family?
three - Friendships
Have I done anything this week to or with my friends
that is not a good reflections of Jesus?
four - Love
Have I blessed somebody or showed the love of Christ
to anyone this week?
five - Pride
Have I told any half truths or lies, trying to make myself
look better to the people around me?
six - Purity
Have I had any flirtatious or lustful attitudes?
Have I exposed myself to any explicit materials that do not glorify God?
seven - Actions
Have I taken anything that does not belong to me?
Have I said anything about anyone that I shouldn’t have?
eight - Drugs
Have I eaten, drank or put anything into my body that is not Christ-like?
nine - Focus
Is there anything causing me to stumble or take my eyes off of Jesus?
ten - Honesty
Have I lied on any of the answers to these questions?
My Weekly Top 10
one - God
Have I spent daily time in the scriptures and prayer?
two - Family
Have I spent any quality time with my family?
three - Friendships
Have I done anything this week to or with my friends
that is not a good reflections of Jesus?
four - Love
Have I blessed somebody or showed the love of Christ
to anyone this week?
five - Pride
Have I told any half truths or lies, trying to make myself
look better to the people around me?
six - Purity
Have I had any flirtatious or lustful attitudes?
Have I exposed myself to any explicit materials that do not glorify God?
seven - Actions
Have I taken anything that does not belong to me?
Have I said anything about anyone that I shouldn’t have?
eight - Drugs
Have I eaten, drank or put anything into my body that is not Christ-like?
nine - Focus
Is there anything causing me to stumble or take my eyes off of Jesus?
ten - Honesty
Have I lied on any of the answers to these questions?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Scripture for the Week (Weak)
"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence."
2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)
2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)
Monday, June 22, 2009
Do It
Do It
Marybeth Whalen
"But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."
Matthew 17:27 (NIV)
Devotion:
Sometimes God asks us to do something we don't understand. It might seem unnecessary. It might seem crazy. Or it might seem like something God shouldn't need us to do because He is capable of doing it without our involvement. So why does He require our action?
When Jesus was asked to pay a tax, He told Peter to go catch a fish. Miraculously, the exact amount He needed was found in the mouth of the fish he caught. Peter had a moment where he had to either accept Jesus' methods or question them. In our limited human understanding it's easier to question, "Why didn't He just make that coin appear?" But Peter knew Jesus, and he knew he was better off to just do whatever Jesus had asked of him (Matthew 17:24-27).
Sometimes we have moments like Peter had. We stand there blinking, wondering if we heard Him right. In those moments we have to make a decision to just DO IT:
Deliberate
Obedience
Intentional
Trust
Certainly Jesus could have produced the amount needed in many different ways, but He required Peter to be involved. He required Peter to take action, just as He does with us at times.
When God showed my husband and I that we needed to begin tithing when what we wanted was to get out of debt, it didn't make sense to us at all. We had to simply respond with deliberate obedience and intentional trust.
When God challenged me to stick with my marriage when it seemed over, I wondered if He realized what He was asking. He wanted me to deliberately obey Him and intentionally trust Him. He didn't want me to look for the easy button. He wasn't offering a supernatural rescue. He needed me to walk through the process, learning lessons along the way. Instead of handing me a solution, He allowed me to be involved in it.
Is there something He is asking you to do that doesn't seem right, or normal, or natural from your human perspective? Are you ignoring His still small voice urging you to just trust and obey? Whether it's catching a fish or building an ark, you can rest assured that you are in good company. God has a plan--even when you can't see it. Sometimes you have to DO IT to reveal that plan.
*Dear Lord, I want to learn to respond with obedience to Your requests. When I hear Your voice speaking to me, I want to willingly do it--whatever "it" is. Thank You for reminding me that sometimes You require me to be part of my own solution. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Marybeth Whalen
"But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."
Matthew 17:27 (NIV)
Devotion:
Sometimes God asks us to do something we don't understand. It might seem unnecessary. It might seem crazy. Or it might seem like something God shouldn't need us to do because He is capable of doing it without our involvement. So why does He require our action?
When Jesus was asked to pay a tax, He told Peter to go catch a fish. Miraculously, the exact amount He needed was found in the mouth of the fish he caught. Peter had a moment where he had to either accept Jesus' methods or question them. In our limited human understanding it's easier to question, "Why didn't He just make that coin appear?" But Peter knew Jesus, and he knew he was better off to just do whatever Jesus had asked of him (Matthew 17:24-27).
Sometimes we have moments like Peter had. We stand there blinking, wondering if we heard Him right. In those moments we have to make a decision to just DO IT:
Deliberate
Obedience
Intentional
Trust
Certainly Jesus could have produced the amount needed in many different ways, but He required Peter to be involved. He required Peter to take action, just as He does with us at times.
When God showed my husband and I that we needed to begin tithing when what we wanted was to get out of debt, it didn't make sense to us at all. We had to simply respond with deliberate obedience and intentional trust.
When God challenged me to stick with my marriage when it seemed over, I wondered if He realized what He was asking. He wanted me to deliberately obey Him and intentionally trust Him. He didn't want me to look for the easy button. He wasn't offering a supernatural rescue. He needed me to walk through the process, learning lessons along the way. Instead of handing me a solution, He allowed me to be involved in it.
Is there something He is asking you to do that doesn't seem right, or normal, or natural from your human perspective? Are you ignoring His still small voice urging you to just trust and obey? Whether it's catching a fish or building an ark, you can rest assured that you are in good company. God has a plan--even when you can't see it. Sometimes you have to DO IT to reveal that plan.
*Dear Lord, I want to learn to respond with obedience to Your requests. When I hear Your voice speaking to me, I want to willingly do it--whatever "it" is. Thank You for reminding me that sometimes You require me to be part of my own solution. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Scripture for the Week (Weak)
Romans 3:23-24, "All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins." (CEV)
Friday, June 12, 2009
Does Your House Have To Be Clean?
Growing up, my Mom always wanted the house to be really clean when guests came over, like sparkling! I liked our house clean as much as the next person, but if things weren't perfect, the joy started to drain out of my family, the peace was gone. Because of that I have become somewhat of a neat freak, cleaning for fun and all that. Recently I've been praying about this and the motive behind it. The following is an article from Crosswalk that really hits home with me and really captures my heart now:
Does Your House Have to be Clean?
Sandy Coughlin
Crosswalk.com Contributor
When I think of hosting in our home, the first thing that comes to mind is all the cleaning I’ll have to do. Sometimes it’s hard to get beyond that issue, so that I just end up dropping the idea of having people over. How can I change my attitude about cleaning so that it doesn’t hinder hospitality in our house?
Last week we had friends over for a dinner, and I didn’t clean my house! It was an internal war inside - do I vacuum, dust and clean - or just let it go?
I’ll admit it. Sometimes I can be pretty lazy when it comes to deep-cleaning my house. A quick pick-up is definitely easier and quicker!
But what will my guests think?
Will they even notice?
Perfectionism
Recently a friend shared her struggles with me, admitting that her house having to be perfect was the main reason she hadn’t had anyone over in months. It’s a shame, too, because she has a cute apartment within walking distance of her church.
She’s afraid to have people over because most of her friends are neat-freaks, and she’s afraid her place won’t meet their standards.
Prioritize
When it comes to hospitality, we often lose our focus as life gets hurried and complicated. We dash around doing things that really don’t matter (like cleaning the house before the guests arrive!), and then our perspective shifts. We get so caught up in our present circumstances, trying to make things so perfect, that we can’t see beyond our difficulties.
Over the years I’ve learned to ask myself this: Would I rather continue on with what had already been a peaceful day - or kick it up a notch, running around crazily trying to make everything look just right? I won’t even mention what kind of mood that puts the whole family in.
I’ve learned to prioritize what the important aspects of entertaining are (obviously getting the food on the table in a timely manner), and I’ve decided that a happy family and a relaxed hostess are way more important to me than having things perfect.
Perspective
We had such a great time with our guests, but it’s so easy to get our perspective out of balance. At one point I found myself looking down at the un-vacuumed carpet. For a split second I was embarrassed. Then I looked up into the faces of those around our table and my perspective shifted back into place.
It’s not about the crumbs on the floor or the disorganized piles around the house. It’s not even that I am lazy when it comes to house cleaning. I definitely don’t fall into the mold of being a neat freak! I just tend to have a very busy, hectic schedule at times and I’m trying to prioritize what really matters.
I’d rather keep strong friendships going than give them up for a clean house.
Does your house have to be perfectly clean before you’ll invite others in?
Does Your House Have to be Clean?
Sandy Coughlin
Crosswalk.com Contributor
When I think of hosting in our home, the first thing that comes to mind is all the cleaning I’ll have to do. Sometimes it’s hard to get beyond that issue, so that I just end up dropping the idea of having people over. How can I change my attitude about cleaning so that it doesn’t hinder hospitality in our house?
Last week we had friends over for a dinner, and I didn’t clean my house! It was an internal war inside - do I vacuum, dust and clean - or just let it go?
I’ll admit it. Sometimes I can be pretty lazy when it comes to deep-cleaning my house. A quick pick-up is definitely easier and quicker!
But what will my guests think?
Will they even notice?
Perfectionism
Recently a friend shared her struggles with me, admitting that her house having to be perfect was the main reason she hadn’t had anyone over in months. It’s a shame, too, because she has a cute apartment within walking distance of her church.
She’s afraid to have people over because most of her friends are neat-freaks, and she’s afraid her place won’t meet their standards.
Prioritize
When it comes to hospitality, we often lose our focus as life gets hurried and complicated. We dash around doing things that really don’t matter (like cleaning the house before the guests arrive!), and then our perspective shifts. We get so caught up in our present circumstances, trying to make things so perfect, that we can’t see beyond our difficulties.
Over the years I’ve learned to ask myself this: Would I rather continue on with what had already been a peaceful day - or kick it up a notch, running around crazily trying to make everything look just right? I won’t even mention what kind of mood that puts the whole family in.
I’ve learned to prioritize what the important aspects of entertaining are (obviously getting the food on the table in a timely manner), and I’ve decided that a happy family and a relaxed hostess are way more important to me than having things perfect.
Perspective
We had such a great time with our guests, but it’s so easy to get our perspective out of balance. At one point I found myself looking down at the un-vacuumed carpet. For a split second I was embarrassed. Then I looked up into the faces of those around our table and my perspective shifted back into place.
It’s not about the crumbs on the floor or the disorganized piles around the house. It’s not even that I am lazy when it comes to house cleaning. I definitely don’t fall into the mold of being a neat freak! I just tend to have a very busy, hectic schedule at times and I’m trying to prioritize what really matters.
I’d rather keep strong friendships going than give them up for a clean house.
Does your house have to be perfectly clean before you’ll invite others in?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Are You A Rebel?
The following is the message version of Isaiah 46, titled "This is Serious Business, Rebels."
*Listen to the words and let it sink in...
The god Bel falls down, god Nebo slumps.
The no-good hunks of wood are loaded on mules
And have to be hauled off,
wearing out the poor mules-
Dead weight, burdens who can't bear burdens,
hauled off to captivity.
"Listen to me, family of Jacob,
everyone that's left of the family of Israel.
I've been carrying you on my back
from the day you were born,
And I'll keep on carrying you when you're old.
I'll be there, bearing you when you're old and gray.
I've done it and will keep on doing it,
carrying you on my back, saving you."
"So to whom will you compare me, the Incomparable?
Can you picture me without reducing me?
People with a lot of money
hire craftsmen to make them gods.
The artisan delivers the god,
and they kneel and worship it!
They carry it around in holy parades,
then take it home and put it on a shelf.
And there it sits, day in and day out,
a dependable god, always right where you put it.
Say anything you want to it, it never talks back.
Of course, it never does anything either!"
*Listen to the words and let it sink in...
The god Bel falls down, god Nebo slumps.
The no-good hunks of wood are loaded on mules
And have to be hauled off,
wearing out the poor mules-
Dead weight, burdens who can't bear burdens,
hauled off to captivity.
"Listen to me, family of Jacob,
everyone that's left of the family of Israel.
I've been carrying you on my back
from the day you were born,
And I'll keep on carrying you when you're old.
I'll be there, bearing you when you're old and gray.
I've done it and will keep on doing it,
carrying you on my back, saving you."
"So to whom will you compare me, the Incomparable?
Can you picture me without reducing me?
People with a lot of money
hire craftsmen to make them gods.
The artisan delivers the god,
and they kneel and worship it!
They carry it around in holy parades,
then take it home and put it on a shelf.
And there it sits, day in and day out,
a dependable god, always right where you put it.
Say anything you want to it, it never talks back.
Of course, it never does anything either!"
"Think about this. Wrap your minds around it. This is serious business, rebels. Take it to heart. Remember your history, your long and rich history. I am God, the only God you've eve had or will have-incomparable, irreplaceble-From the very beginning telling you what the ending will be, All along letting you in on what is going to happen, Assuring you, 'I'm in this for the long haul, I'll do exactly what I set out to do, 'Calling that eagle, Cyrus, out of the east, from a far country the man I chose to help me. I've said it, and I'll most certainly do it. I've planned it, so it's as good as done."
"Now listen to me: You're a hard-headed bunch and hard to help. I'm ready to help you right now. Deliverance is not a long-range plan. Salvation isn't on hold. I'm putting salvation to work in Zion right now, and glory in Israel."
Monday, June 8, 2009
Song of the Week
My current fav song we're playing on The House FM (http://www.thehousefm.com/thehouse.asp)
"You Can't Take Away" Mikeschair
All alone, All of us
Fear has come and so we must
Ask ourselves in who we trust
Or we have fear it's not enough
To let it bring, in freedom sing
(chorus)
You can take away
Everything that I've been holding
You can take away the sun
You can take away the very air that I've been breathing
But you can't take away my God
Waves will come, winds will blow
But it's not here, I've found my hope
My beating heart, my weary soul
Is held by one who won't let go
And so I'll cling to you my king
(chorus)
A hope that can't be lost
A love that can't be bought
You can't take away my God
Nothing high or low
Nothing you can control
You can't take away my God
(chorus)
*To listen to the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nby-BPrTyPw
"You Can't Take Away" Mikeschair
All alone, All of us
Fear has come and so we must
Ask ourselves in who we trust
Or we have fear it's not enough
To let it bring, in freedom sing
(chorus)
You can take away
Everything that I've been holding
You can take away the sun
You can take away the very air that I've been breathing
But you can't take away my God
Waves will come, winds will blow
But it's not here, I've found my hope
My beating heart, my weary soul
Is held by one who won't let go
And so I'll cling to you my king
(chorus)
A hope that can't be lost
A love that can't be bought
You can't take away my God
Nothing high or low
Nothing you can control
You can't take away my God
(chorus)
*To listen to the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nby-BPrTyPw
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
I'm lovin Romans 12:2 right now
"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to it's level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."
I hope that encourages you this week. Purpose to rely FULLY on God and look to Him for direction. Allow Him to bring about 'well-formed maturity'.
I hope that encourages you this week. Purpose to rely FULLY on God and look to Him for direction. Allow Him to bring about 'well-formed maturity'.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Lyrics of the Week
Drum roll.......here's the current song playing on my ipod:
Francesca Battistelli from her album My Paper Heart
"Someday Soon"
I wanna be the one who knows everything about you
I wanna be the one who’s always on your mind
I wanna be the one to get all of your affection and attention
You’re the one that I’ve been waiting for, for all this time
And I can’t imagine anything, anything better than
(Chorus)
Someday falling in love with you
Holding your hand
Making our plans all come true
Someday under a sky so blue
I’ll give you my heart
Our story will start someday soon
I wanna be the one who does everything with you
Watching stars, washing cars, taking walks, going to the store
I wanna be the one who gets to change her last name someday
To something that sounds something more like yours
(Chorus)
Yeah I’ll be telling you I love you
On a picture perfect day
And those words inside my head
They sound like angels singing praise
It’s what I was made to say
*Now go listen to it!
Francesca Battistelli from her album My Paper Heart
"Someday Soon"
I wanna be the one who knows everything about you
I wanna be the one who’s always on your mind
I wanna be the one to get all of your affection and attention
You’re the one that I’ve been waiting for, for all this time
And I can’t imagine anything, anything better than
(Chorus)
Someday falling in love with you
Holding your hand
Making our plans all come true
Someday under a sky so blue
I’ll give you my heart
Our story will start someday soon
I wanna be the one who does everything with you
Watching stars, washing cars, taking walks, going to the store
I wanna be the one who gets to change her last name someday
To something that sounds something more like yours
(Chorus)
Yeah I’ll be telling you I love you
On a picture perfect day
And those words inside my head
They sound like angels singing praise
It’s what I was made to say
*Now go listen to it!
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