That was a very needed 5 mile run even if I did almost fall several times on the ice. It has been a hard two weeks because I haven't gotten much sleep so my runs are probably even more important. Ian is suffering from some respiratory distress (pray for him in the morning) so we didn't think it was a good idea for him to go along this afternoon in the 26 degree air. So Francis Chan kept me company and it was amazing. I love to hear him preach the Word of God. I love the Word of God. It is so great how it cuts right to the heart.
So this afternoons run was really great even though I almost fell and I was very slow (44:39) because of the ice. It was great for my body and my soul!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Suiter Size
My comfort food from last night. My box of Fruit Loops was almost empty so I just ate them all! Now that was a big bowl of cereal!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Money And A Bad Economy
"Tomorrow's needs are getting short shrift because the Great American Majority - the broad middle class - is choosing to consume today rather than save for tomorrow." Peter G. Peterson in The New York Times Magazine
"Prosperity is when people buy things they can't afford; recession is when they stop doing it." H.E. Martz in The Wall Street Journal
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. " Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21
"Prosperity is when people buy things they can't afford; recession is when they stop doing it." H.E. Martz in The Wall Street Journal
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. " Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Hair Cuts!
All my girls except Mary got haircuts today. It was a fun time. Here are some pictures of Brannon and Anna's experience. I do not dare put any pictures up of Becky's haircut. I'll post a finished product of all three later.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Gang Related
I am posting this excerpt from an article about what the church of Jesus Christ is supposed to look like and act like. It was written by Francis Chan and it is good! Enjoy and be challenged!
A while back, an ex-gang member got baptized at our church (Cornerstone Church). He fell in love with Jesus and turned from his old lifestyle. But after several months at the church, he stopped attending. When we asked him why he stopped attending, he answered: "I had the wrong idea of what church was going to be like. When I joined the church, I thought it was going to be like joining a gang. You see, in the gangs we weren't just nice to each other once a week-we were family."
That killed me because I knew that what he expected is what the church was intended to be. It saddened me because I realized that the gangs paint a better picture of loyalty and family than the local church body does.
But what if the church looked like this?
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
That describes what the ex-gang member was looking for. It describes what the world is waiting for.
A while back, an ex-gang member got baptized at our church (Cornerstone Church). He fell in love with Jesus and turned from his old lifestyle. But after several months at the church, he stopped attending. When we asked him why he stopped attending, he answered: "I had the wrong idea of what church was going to be like. When I joined the church, I thought it was going to be like joining a gang. You see, in the gangs we weren't just nice to each other once a week-we were family."
That killed me because I knew that what he expected is what the church was intended to be. It saddened me because I realized that the gangs paint a better picture of loyalty and family than the local church body does.
But what if the church looked like this?
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
That describes what the ex-gang member was looking for. It describes what the world is waiting for.
Monday, January 26, 2009
2nd Coldest Run Of My Life
Well, Ian and I were back on the trails tonight. It has been awhile since Ian has been running with me and it was great having him back. Tonight's run was majorly needed. The stress and spiritual attack level has been pretty high. Since Mary has been born, it has been hard finding the time to break away. So prior to tonight, I had only run one other time since her birth and she is 11 days old. It felt really good to be out running even though it was only 25 degrees. I only ran a little over 4 miles since it has been so long between runs. My total run time was 33:55 and we were back at the car before dark. I guess spring really is on the way even if it doesn't feel like it.
It's A Wonderful Life
I was blown away last night that I can go to my kitchen and get milk out of my refrigerator and eat cereal anytime I want. Talk about luxury! You may think I am crazy, but I think like this all the time. I never want to take for granted all that we have available to us. We complain about so many things in our lives and the reality is that we live in the best time period ever. We should not be complaining. We should be ecstatically grateful for everything that we have and that is available to us. I would love to make a list here, but there are just too many to list, but I do want to provide you with a must read link. http://www.rd.com/advice-and-know-how/10-reasons-to-be-thankful/article117676.html It is an article that I read last night in Reader's Digest. It is really good stuff. Take the time and check it out. You are not as busy as you think you are. If you were, you wouldn't be reading my blog right now. After you get done with the article, get down on your knees and thank God for allowing you to experience life at this moment in time. Count your blessings! It really is a wonderful life!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Two Most Important Things
When everything in life is boiled down to the essential, what are the most important things that we can do in life. I know someone will disagree with me (you just gotta love how we all have our opinions and we all think we are right), but I have come up with what I believe are the two most important things in the whole world. Here they are:
1. Sleep. No matter what comes at you, good or bad, you can always deal with it better if you are well rested. In your relationships with others, you will always respond better to people if you have had plenty of sleep. When your body is not run down, you can think more clearly and you are just a better person in everything that you do. When you get enough sleep, you can hear and respond better to the Holy Spirit as well which leads to the second most important thing in life which is
2. Prayer. Anytime, I think I can handle things on my own, I am in trouble. Anytime I go a season without talking intimately with God, I am done. My focus turns quickly to myself and my struggles seem like huge mountaintops. I find that when I am overwhelmed or just in a dark spot, the best place for me to be is on my knees. When I get up off my knees, my circumstances have not changed but my heart and attitude have. Prayer changes me. And the cool thing about prayer is that if our hearts are pure, then our prayers are "powerful and effective" (James 5:16) to bring about the purposes and plans of God. That is so awesome. Prayer is good for me and good for others. Check out this quote from Theresa of Avila (1515-1582) about prayer - "Prayer is the way to open ourselves to God, and the way in which He shows us our unstable hearts and begins to strengthen them....If you ever find yourself in this spiritual state - feeling wayward, unstable in heart, confused as to why you are not growing and changing in the Lord - I say this: keep turning from sin, and cling to the Lord in prayer!"
If I do both of these things well, my life and walk with God are on track and going places. If I do neither well, then forget about it. I will be having a pity party within 48 hours but probably sooner. My life cannot be on track when I do not spend plenty of time resting my body and feeding my soul! These two things are essential! A lot of the things that we think are so important and that we spend so much time on need to take a back seat to the two "most important things". Our lives would be more balanced and productive in the temporal and the eternal.
1. Sleep. No matter what comes at you, good or bad, you can always deal with it better if you are well rested. In your relationships with others, you will always respond better to people if you have had plenty of sleep. When your body is not run down, you can think more clearly and you are just a better person in everything that you do. When you get enough sleep, you can hear and respond better to the Holy Spirit as well which leads to the second most important thing in life which is
2. Prayer. Anytime, I think I can handle things on my own, I am in trouble. Anytime I go a season without talking intimately with God, I am done. My focus turns quickly to myself and my struggles seem like huge mountaintops. I find that when I am overwhelmed or just in a dark spot, the best place for me to be is on my knees. When I get up off my knees, my circumstances have not changed but my heart and attitude have. Prayer changes me. And the cool thing about prayer is that if our hearts are pure, then our prayers are "powerful and effective" (James 5:16) to bring about the purposes and plans of God. That is so awesome. Prayer is good for me and good for others. Check out this quote from Theresa of Avila (1515-1582) about prayer - "Prayer is the way to open ourselves to God, and the way in which He shows us our unstable hearts and begins to strengthen them....If you ever find yourself in this spiritual state - feeling wayward, unstable in heart, confused as to why you are not growing and changing in the Lord - I say this: keep turning from sin, and cling to the Lord in prayer!"
If I do both of these things well, my life and walk with God are on track and going places. If I do neither well, then forget about it. I will be having a pity party within 48 hours but probably sooner. My life cannot be on track when I do not spend plenty of time resting my body and feeding my soul! These two things are essential! A lot of the things that we think are so important and that we spend so much time on need to take a back seat to the two "most important things". Our lives would be more balanced and productive in the temporal and the eternal.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
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