This should qualify for today's Bible reading.
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you"
(1 Peter 5:7).
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 4-7
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
Carry each other’s burdens… Galatians 6:2
Matthew 6:25-34 (New International Version)
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The Dung Gate
I enjoyed our service today. Nehemiah is always a fun book to glean lots of stuff from. It is famous for the rebuilding of the wall, but they couldn't just have walls. They needed gates as well to let people, goods, stuff in and out. Just like our lives, we have a wall of protection with gates to let people, situations, sin, stuff, in and out. One of their gates, the Dung gate, was exactly that, to dump the refuse, not having sophisticated sewer systems, people would go, dump and burn. Often, I need to take inventory and dump my refuse at the Dung gate where it belongs, and allow clean, pure, healthy, worthy stuff in my gates. Only then, I can continue my walk in a lighter manner, without carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, where it does not belong. When I get all weighted down it's time to go to the dump and spiritually leave all the excess stuff at the feet of the cross. I am so thankful that I am able to do that through Jesus Christ.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Close Encounter of the Fire Kind.
As Christa was driving home last night, she past our next door neighbor house and saw flames. Immediately she stopped her car and knocked at their door, then pounded when they didn't respond quickly. They opened the door, confused by being waken up by her, and Christa calmly said "Your house is on fire", and proceeded to call 911. As the firemen arrived 4 minutes later and put out the flames, they told our neighbors that 3 to 4 more minutes they would have lost their house as the fire would have quickly spread through the roof.
Our neighbors were so thankful to Christa that this morning they brought her See's candies, Starbucks and Jamba Juice gift cards. A few things had to work together to make this miracle possible. Christa was supposed to be home earlier but was delayed as the movie run longer than expected. She had to turn her car around to park across the street forcing her to go to the neighbors to maneuver, thus seeing the fire. Had she found a spot on our side of the street she might have missed it. The neighbors said that she saved their house and possibly their lives. Not to mention that if the whole house caught on fire, we were right next to them... and we don't need any more fires in our lives. I believe providence was evident, and God's hand was there helping all of us.
Our neighbors were so thankful to Christa that this morning they brought her See's candies, Starbucks and Jamba Juice gift cards. A few things had to work together to make this miracle possible. Christa was supposed to be home earlier but was delayed as the movie run longer than expected. She had to turn her car around to park across the street forcing her to go to the neighbors to maneuver, thus seeing the fire. Had she found a spot on our side of the street she might have missed it. The neighbors said that she saved their house and possibly their lives. Not to mention that if the whole house caught on fire, we were right next to them... and we don't need any more fires in our lives. I believe providence was evident, and God's hand was there helping all of us.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Challenging Questions
As I continue to learn about wisdom these closing questions in my study were challenging.
~ Are you becoming a woman of excellence?
~ Are you pursuing specific skills in order to increase productivity and enrich those about you?
~ Do you ponder in order to gain insight into God and His wisdom so that you are a treasury?
~ Is your speech wise so that you are able to invite, petition, counsel, reprove and instruct others with maximum effectiveness?
~ Finally, do you fear the Lord? Do you have a stand-alone inner core of strenght and self-possession based on reverence for God?
Wow! If you answered yes to all these, you are my hero! I am still trying to ingest all these meaning, let alone doing all of it. However, I am moving toward it, and that consoles me: knowing that perfection will come the day I stand before Him one day. Meantime, the best I can do is continue moving, and pray that I won't stand still.
~ Are you becoming a woman of excellence?
~ Are you pursuing specific skills in order to increase productivity and enrich those about you?
~ Do you ponder in order to gain insight into God and His wisdom so that you are a treasury?
~ Is your speech wise so that you are able to invite, petition, counsel, reprove and instruct others with maximum effectiveness?
~ Finally, do you fear the Lord? Do you have a stand-alone inner core of strenght and self-possession based on reverence for God?
Wow! If you answered yes to all these, you are my hero! I am still trying to ingest all these meaning, let alone doing all of it. However, I am moving toward it, and that consoles me: knowing that perfection will come the day I stand before Him one day. Meantime, the best I can do is continue moving, and pray that I won't stand still.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Thank You Lord!
Nothing gives me more joy than to see the Lord answering a prayer and (Him) waiting patiently until I realize it WAS indeed an answer to my prayer.
I would say for the last few months, maybe two or three, I have been waking up at 4:00 am EVERY morning. This has happened to me in the past, and I know better than to fight it. It is the time the Lord wakes me up to pray for certain things that are going on in my mind. I have a tendency to run faster than He wants me to, and that makes me restless inside, full of anxiety and worry about the future.
So, at 4:00 am He has my full attention, and in bed, with my eyes closed, I pour out my heart to Him. If you were to see me, I look fast asleep. There were a couple of issues going on in me that were draining my joy. As I prayed for weeks and walked sleep deprived for a while, I am seeing as clear as water, His hand on the situation. Any body else would be rejoicing, and I am, but it isn't easy being me because I begin to wonder about the next step to the equation instead of rejoicing in this victory a little longer.
Those who knew me years ago would have a hard time believing that I have become so...impatient? or lacking trust? or faithless? in what He can do. I used to rest in his arms and not have a care in the world. He is teaching me to renew my rest and trust and faith in all things. I want to go back to a childlike faith, where my walk is like a new daily experience of wonder and anticipation. I want to feel His love again, not just know it in my mind.
It all happens for a reason, and this earth is what He uses to train us. Life is one trial after another with some reprieve in between. He had taken me places that had I known before I would visit, I might resisted and turned around. But He knew when and how to take me there. And it wasn't always in a gentle way, but it was the way I would listen. And I am glad we went there together. I am glad I wake up at 4:00 am. to chat with my Daddy, and I am glad He loves me enough to tell me my faults and help me overcome them.
I am seeing the fruits of my prayers before my eyes this very day, and I rejoice in that. Thank you Lord, because I matter to you so much. And forgive my unbelief, I am still a work in progress until the day you take me home.
I would say for the last few months, maybe two or three, I have been waking up at 4:00 am EVERY morning. This has happened to me in the past, and I know better than to fight it. It is the time the Lord wakes me up to pray for certain things that are going on in my mind. I have a tendency to run faster than He wants me to, and that makes me restless inside, full of anxiety and worry about the future.
So, at 4:00 am He has my full attention, and in bed, with my eyes closed, I pour out my heart to Him. If you were to see me, I look fast asleep. There were a couple of issues going on in me that were draining my joy. As I prayed for weeks and walked sleep deprived for a while, I am seeing as clear as water, His hand on the situation. Any body else would be rejoicing, and I am, but it isn't easy being me because I begin to wonder about the next step to the equation instead of rejoicing in this victory a little longer.
Those who knew me years ago would have a hard time believing that I have become so...impatient? or lacking trust? or faithless? in what He can do. I used to rest in his arms and not have a care in the world. He is teaching me to renew my rest and trust and faith in all things. I want to go back to a childlike faith, where my walk is like a new daily experience of wonder and anticipation. I want to feel His love again, not just know it in my mind.
It all happens for a reason, and this earth is what He uses to train us. Life is one trial after another with some reprieve in between. He had taken me places that had I known before I would visit, I might resisted and turned around. But He knew when and how to take me there. And it wasn't always in a gentle way, but it was the way I would listen. And I am glad we went there together. I am glad I wake up at 4:00 am. to chat with my Daddy, and I am glad He loves me enough to tell me my faults and help me overcome them.
I am seeing the fruits of my prayers before my eyes this very day, and I rejoice in that. Thank you Lord, because I matter to you so much. And forgive my unbelief, I am still a work in progress until the day you take me home.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Heart Warming Story
This is a true story from a family from our church. Beautiful!!
"Here is a story of waiting from Tony and Kelsey Thompson, a young couple from our church who have saved money to literally travel around the world for the purpose of giving it away and helping people in need. Here is one of their amazing stories from Tanzania which I've abridged but not edited...
It started off like any other day. Kelsey and I walked over from our hotel room to the tour company across town. When we arrived our tour guide was late so we sat outside & waited for him. We had only been waiting about 5 minutes when we saw a group of about 25 people dragging his man into a side street/ally... they were slapping his face & kicking him... we asked some onlookers what was going on... he had stolen a cell phone & the mob was trying to get it back. Slaps turned to punches & kicks got harder. Soon the man was really beaten & bleeding... the mob size had grown to maybe 35 now... Our tour guide had arrive by now & we asked him to find out more... 5 minutes later he came back..."He doesn't have the cell phone anymore so now they are going to kill him."...at this point we knew we had to do something... We walked over with our guide as a translator & asked the head of the mob, "How much is this cell phone worth to you?" He quickly replied, "$40." I took out $40 & told the mob, "I am paying this man's debt. I want your assurance that he will not be harmed after this." ... the head mob guy nodded, took the money & walked away. The beaten man in front of me broke down, embraced my ankles and wept. I knelt down with him & in front of 40 people I prayed & thanked God for his grace... we prayed... we walked him to a grocery store to get him something to eat... there was a guy sitting next to him about our age. He introduced himself as Julius... is a Christian and would be happy to take in the street person for as long as he could... it turned out his name is Stephen... a kid of 16! His parents died recently... There was a cloths market nearby so we shopped for "all" new cloths for him... went back to Julius' house so Stephen could have a shower...Julius thought it would be a good idea to introduce him to his pastor to see if he could help him get a job...Oh yeah, we we also paid for three months rent for the both of them ($13 a month!)... Stephen spoke up and said he knew how to cut hair... we bought all the supplies while the pastor looked for a business place nearby to keep an eye on him... Business space was $20 a month so we paid for 3 to start off with... we prayed with them and explained to Stephen that it was Christ giving him a second chance and not us. He cried tears of joy & promised that he would work hard & tell people what Christ had done for him. AMEN!
When we met Stephen he had no food, was dirty, was being beaten to death, had no home or friends. In about 24 hours time his debt had been paid, life ad been saved, he was fed & clothed, he had a roommate, pastor & friends & at the age of 16 was the proud owner of a barber shop... All in all to change the life of Stephen it cost about $450 and it was worth every penny.
What would have happened to Stephen if Tony and Kelsey were not waiting outside for their tour guide?
When we wait... we become.
The Question... What are you becoming?"
"Here is a story of waiting from Tony and Kelsey Thompson, a young couple from our church who have saved money to literally travel around the world for the purpose of giving it away and helping people in need. Here is one of their amazing stories from Tanzania which I've abridged but not edited...
It started off like any other day. Kelsey and I walked over from our hotel room to the tour company across town. When we arrived our tour guide was late so we sat outside & waited for him. We had only been waiting about 5 minutes when we saw a group of about 25 people dragging his man into a side street/ally... they were slapping his face & kicking him... we asked some onlookers what was going on... he had stolen a cell phone & the mob was trying to get it back. Slaps turned to punches & kicks got harder. Soon the man was really beaten & bleeding... the mob size had grown to maybe 35 now... Our tour guide had arrive by now & we asked him to find out more... 5 minutes later he came back..."He doesn't have the cell phone anymore so now they are going to kill him."...at this point we knew we had to do something... We walked over with our guide as a translator & asked the head of the mob, "How much is this cell phone worth to you?" He quickly replied, "$40." I took out $40 & told the mob, "I am paying this man's debt. I want your assurance that he will not be harmed after this." ... the head mob guy nodded, took the money & walked away. The beaten man in front of me broke down, embraced my ankles and wept. I knelt down with him & in front of 40 people I prayed & thanked God for his grace... we prayed... we walked him to a grocery store to get him something to eat... there was a guy sitting next to him about our age. He introduced himself as Julius... is a Christian and would be happy to take in the street person for as long as he could... it turned out his name is Stephen... a kid of 16! His parents died recently... There was a cloths market nearby so we shopped for "all" new cloths for him... went back to Julius' house so Stephen could have a shower...Julius thought it would be a good idea to introduce him to his pastor to see if he could help him get a job...Oh yeah, we we also paid for three months rent for the both of them ($13 a month!)... Stephen spoke up and said he knew how to cut hair... we bought all the supplies while the pastor looked for a business place nearby to keep an eye on him... Business space was $20 a month so we paid for 3 to start off with... we prayed with them and explained to Stephen that it was Christ giving him a second chance and not us. He cried tears of joy & promised that he would work hard & tell people what Christ had done for him. AMEN!
When we met Stephen he had no food, was dirty, was being beaten to death, had no home or friends. In about 24 hours time his debt had been paid, life ad been saved, he was fed & clothed, he had a roommate, pastor & friends & at the age of 16 was the proud owner of a barber shop... All in all to change the life of Stephen it cost about $450 and it was worth every penny.
What would have happened to Stephen if Tony and Kelsey were not waiting outside for their tour guide?
When we wait... we become.
The Question... What are you becoming?"
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Life is Getting Busy
It is kinda funny to me because I have worked very hard to have a simplified life. I did just that last year, and now I'm ready to come back to the land of the living. Not that I wasn't living, it's more like everybody else seemed to be busier than me. Anyway, as I am determined to begin a couple of things, others seem to add themselves to my schedule, and it is getting pretty full!! For starters I feel DONE with some things I started last year, and my heart is not in them anymore, but I have committed to them for the rest of the school year. I am ready to move on to my new things that I really want to do.
OK, here are my new things in life:
1) My mediation internship with the Santa Clara County. I am now doing my own mediations, both, in small claims court and victim/offender cases. Learning as I go really. When they tell you hands-on learning, it really means: there is nobody to train you for long, so go at it, make mistakes, and learn from them.
2) My new Spanish class twice a week besides the one I already teach. Yikes!
3) My good friend inviting me to co-teach an Anxiety Management class. This is something I have been praying to do for a long time, am excited about, and I know I am supposed to do, but I wish it had come before I'd committed to more Spanish classes. Oh, well, life will be busy for a few months, then I would need to rearrange my schedule again.
I am getting excited about the future. For a while there I was having a hard time being almost done as a mommy, after having mothered for so many years, a lot of my identity was in that. And even though I am not done yet, I wanted something to look forward to besides grandchildren :)
OK, here are my new things in life:
1) My mediation internship with the Santa Clara County. I am now doing my own mediations, both, in small claims court and victim/offender cases. Learning as I go really. When they tell you hands-on learning, it really means: there is nobody to train you for long, so go at it, make mistakes, and learn from them.
2) My new Spanish class twice a week besides the one I already teach. Yikes!
3) My good friend inviting me to co-teach an Anxiety Management class. This is something I have been praying to do for a long time, am excited about, and I know I am supposed to do, but I wish it had come before I'd committed to more Spanish classes. Oh, well, life will be busy for a few months, then I would need to rearrange my schedule again.
I am getting excited about the future. For a while there I was having a hard time being almost done as a mommy, after having mothered for so many years, a lot of my identity was in that. And even though I am not done yet, I wanted something to look forward to besides grandchildren :)
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