Computer woes and thoughts on being Spiritual.

I have decided that the internet plays a huge part in my life. I know this because this week I have been without it in my home and it has driven me a little crazy, sort of like a broken car. I don't know how to fix it and am beginning to wonder if I ever will and have been reduced to just having access at work. It is funny how discontented I became over not being able to go on the web, how it irritated me and affected my mood and with it my week. Today I finally calmed down and feel at relative peace with it. I have access at work and someday it will get fixed.

I have thought about how God is a part of everything and how everything is spiritual. We don't have a spiritual side or do spiritual things. The truth is, that God made us spiritual beings. It states in Genesis 1:27 that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him." It also says that we are the "ambassadors of Christ." That is to say we are the representation of Him upon the earth. If we are in His image and likeness and are His representation then it follows that every act has divine implications. Like what time I go to bed as an example. If I refuse to get enough sleep or rest that has implications on my mood, on what I feel like doing, even in how much time I waste or in how I choose to serve God. How about a smaller item like brushing my teeth. I think you would all agree that not brushing my teeth has divine implications. Do any of you want to be around me if I don't? Don't I limit my usefulness by choosing not to do that simple act. Likewise every decision from choosing to wisely discipline our children or spending money on a latte has a divine implication and needs some care in the making. Now, some decisions don't need a great deal of thought, such as the tooth brushing one, while others do, like making a major purchase or taking on a responsibility. It is up to me to take the appropriate thought for each one. This is not to say that everything is serious. Sometimes I am guilty of making things too serious. It just means that God is in the details, as well as the big stuff. God loves joy and desires us to be a happy, joyous, people. So that is also part of our image and likeness. God loves us to act in our design, as He does. Whatever He is, we should take after. He is good, He is joy, He is peace, He endures, He is love, He is all good, He is creative, He is life itself. That is what it is to be spiritual. It is to be like Him.

Hi Friends, This post feels like it will be a little random but we'll see where it goes. As most of you know, three of our churches got hit with vandalism. It was pretty disconcerting to see the broken windows on Sunday but it turns out we were hit lightly compared to the others. They did not get in the building. Tonight there was a prayer meeting at the Baptist church with all the pastor's in town and anyone who could come. What a sweet time. It was so hard after working all day and then grocery shopping to leave the house. I tried so hard to talk myself out of it. But I could hear God asking me what I would be doing at home anyway. Doing housework or watching TV or here at the computer, all of which will wait. I could have missed it and I am so glad I didn't . Pastor Dale is a gifted speaker and I so enjoyed the reminder that we are not at home here, this is an alien land and we will not be home until we get to heaven. He encouraged us to pray for our community while we are in "exile" here. What wonderful words. I came out feeling more encouraged and energized that if I would have stayed home.

On another note. Grocery shopping Dave Ramsey style stinks. I am trying to get used to half of my former food budget. The last couple weeks we had been using up staples from the pantry but Sunday when I opened the refrigerator I realized it was time to shop. I loved the fact that every purchase was planned and carefully considered. I was thrilled at all the stuff I decided we could live without. I didn't like when I went to the cash register and was over budget by $25. I still have a long way to go on my planning and buying. I am determined to make it work and my heart goes out to you that have several children all week. Mine are only home on the weekend and in the summer. I think sometimes that along with the Dave Ramsey class we should have a Dave Ramsey support group that will last and help us to keep going.

I want to end with the thought that we are so privileged to serve our precious Lord and encourage you all to remember that life is about Him and not us. We live in the land of me and it is easy to forget. Love you all!

Thanks of the Day

I am so thankful . I love that God has given me life, that he has entrusted me with it. I was reminded today that I have a purpose. Sometimes I lose sight of that and get caught up with the weeks to do list and the daily's of life. He says that He will complete the good work that He has started in me. I am in awe of that. For one thing, he sees good in me, crazy huh. He says that I am His workmanship, created for Him for good works. His good works. It says that He prepared tasks for me. I wonder how many of those I have missed. I can see my selfishness, how I want my own way. I see my fear, how I doubt that He will use me. I like to pick my own tasks and shy away from the ones that are hard. This year I have taken more risks, but there are more to be taken. I am thankful for a Pastor who always leaves me feeling pushed and convicted. I am thankful to work with people who inspire me and keep me stretching forward. I am thankful for the body of Christ, especially my family at MCF. I have felt this sadness these past few weeks at one of our families moving, but I was thinking tonight how healthy that is. We love each other, we are family. I think that is a good lesson to learn and so God, I think you should let them stay! I am thankful for a family who loves me and always has my back. I am thankful for hard lessons, for people loving me in the middle of all my imperfections. I am thankful for busy weeks and am thankful for quiet. I am thankful for the prayer room. I am thankful for blessings and eventually I am thankful for storms. I am most thankful for the mercy and sacrifice of my beloved Lord Jesus. Those are some of my thanks for the day.

Short Shrift

Today is Shrove Tuesday, also known as National Pancake Day. Don't worry if you don't know much about it and don't celebrate it. Is is an English holiday. It is a day where Christians are to examine their lives and see what they need to change. Shrove is to shrive, or to take counsel with a spiritual advisor to help you in what you need to change. To get short shrift is to get a counselor that will not pay attention to your excuses. It doesn't mean that they don't help you. In fact, short shrift may be just what a person needs. I know that I often get too defensive and, at least in my mind, have excuses for my bad moods, my lack of devotion, all of my way too many shortcomings. I need someone to cut through the excuses and give me good shrift, or advice. I like the idea of Shrove Tuesday and will be spending some time today examining my own walk and hopefully getting some short shrift. Where do the pancakes come in? Well, tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and Christians used to put away all fat during the Lenten season. Some also gave up dairy. Thrifty housewives made pancakes to use up the dairy and fat in the house before the fasting of Lent. Come to think of it, I could use a lot less fat also. In our family, we each give up something we love for the season of Lent, to remind us of the sacrifice of Christ. Then, on Easter, we joyfully get it back celebrating the ressurection. My girls, especially Karly, love this practice and will be busy contemplating what they will want to give up for Lent. I have not yet decided, but I know it will be something I love on at least an almost daily basis. In the past I have given up chocolate, caffeine, television, movies,etc. You get the idea. It is a good thing and reminds us of just how spoiled we are by our heavenly Father and just how much He sacrifice for us.

FPU thoughts

I feel strangely hopeful tonight. This after going to FPU. I am seated at a great table. I am able to be honest about my mistakes and failures and not feel foolish about it. This week we have to make the big cash flow budget. If you haven't heard of FPU it's the cash flow budget is a budget where every dollar of the month is spent before it is spent. In other words you know where your money is going. What a concept! It sounds hard and scary and one more place where I open myself up for failure but I'm going to do it. Whats more I feel like I can. I honestly do. Last week I was feeling less hopeful about it all. It seemed like we weren't getting started very fast but I can see the reason for preparation before starting now. Baby steps. They are important. Now I feel like we are going to start. On another note I am praying that this will be a better week. I have been sick more often this winter and for some reason have been battling some slight depression. Not major but I covet your prayers if you think of me. Also pray that I will be able to get this budget figured out. When they announced the average debt per person in the room this week I realized that I have to get my act together and that God is so good to give us this chance.

Happy Birthday Brian

This post is dedicated to my brother. It is his birthday. I haven't talked to him but I heard he caught a really big fish and had a great day and I am so glad. My brother has always been an inspiration to me. He loves God, pure and simple. He serves in his church, is amazingly talented and is kind. What a combination! He always makes you feel important when you are having a conversation with him and listens to every word. He is very special. I was listening to a song that reminded me of him and thought I would post the words for him and for all of us. Happy Birthday Brian!

The Blessing by John Waller

Let it be said of us

While we walked among the living

Let it be said of us

By the ones we leave behind

Let it be said of us

That we lived to be a blessing for life

Let it be said of us

that we gave to reach the dying

Let it be said of us

By the fruit we leave behind

let it be said of us that our legacy is blessing for life

This day you set life, you set death right before us

This day every blessing and curse is a choice now

And we will choose to be a blessing for life

Let it be said of us

That our hearts belonged to Jesus

Let it be said of us that we spoke the words of life

Let it be said of us that our heritage is blessing for life

For your Kingdom

For your Children

For the sake of every Nation

We will choose to be a blessing for life

How Can I?

More than anything, I want to be used of God. It is my driving force.It is with this mind that I approached my class at Life Trek tonight. How can I bring them Christ? So often I go home in despair because they don't seem to care, won't listen, and seem so far away. I have such grand ideas at times, to break through, to have just the right words. It happens sometimes, but not often enough. I love these kids so much and want them saved so deeply my heart aches at times. I was reading in Mark, chapter 10 last night, about the rich man told to sell his possessions and give them to the poor. How he left sad. We all know what Jesus said right after. He said, "How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." But Jesus other words struck a chord with me. He looked at His amazed disciples and declared" Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!" It is not just the rich who need to give there all. It is not just the rich who have a struggle to enter. Jesus calls us to a life of radical service and obedience, a life of sacrifice, a life of relationship, and a life of struggle. This is where all of the emotions of the week come in. The joy of the Lord which is our strength comes in livin this life of service, obedience, sacrifice, and relationship. When I leave out part of the package, when I try to "save" my life instead of giving it, live on the fence, I waver. When these kids on Wednesday nights see too many adults wavering, too many adults living for themselves or their homes and families instead of living sold out to Christ and growing in Him, it makes it hard to interest them in a life of faith. I need to make sure the words I speak on Wednesday night are borne out in my life every day. These students are watching us, they are counting us. The Holy Spirit will draw them, our part is to be the best representation of Christ on the earth that we possibly can, to draw near to the God we are presenting, to be a picture worth emulating.