Yesterday I was cleaning my room. *insert applause here* (yes, my room is no longer an obstacle course. :-D) And while I was cleaning my room, I was listening to a sermon by one of my favorite preachers, Pastor Al Cortez (of Family Life Assembly of God) in preparation for some Bible study lessons I've been working on. It's an excellent sermon and takes II Cor 6:14 beyond the often heard application of choosing a marriage partner, to the far reaching decisions of who we yoke with in our everyday adult life. Give it a listen, I think you'll like it. Pastor Cortez tells it like it is, but with lots of humor. ;)
"Do Not Be Unequally Yoked Together!"
For more sermons by Al Cortez, check out: http://www.sermon.net/directoryDetail/c/15433
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
"Entryatizing"
So... my baby sister, Becs, asked me this morning "what is going on with your blog", and was I ever going to "entryatize" it again. So, I figured I had better "entryatize" my little corner of cyberspace, that I'm not sure if anyone reads... and if they don't, I wouldn't blame them, because of my lack of informative and witty things to say. I told you, I've had a bad case of the blog-blues for the past year and a half. I need to shake myself out of it, with a rigorous disciplined schedule of making myself sit down and blog (not sayin' I will... just sayin' I should). It's just that usually when I'm sitting down at my computer, it's because I'm doing some form of work, or correspondence, or preparation. I'm doing one of the three things so often (mainly the first), that I get tired of being at my computer, and the luxury of sitting down to do something other than obligatory computer work (not that writing back friends is obligatory, that's the fun stuff) seems unattainable. Or even undesirable, at times. Especially when I can sit down and say quite a lot, and not really say anything at all. I want to say something if I'm going to say anything. Like this paragraph, for example. ahem. What's the point of this entry anyway? I don't even know myself yet. But, be of good cheer, it will come. The point that is. It always does.
Anyway, I'm learning to keep my eyes on Jesus. No matter what. To trust Him. No matter what. To remember that He is the Worker. Not me. That when I get my eyes on the work that's to be done, rather than the Worker Who accomplishes it, I get burnt out, tired out, and frustrated. I'm not responsible in a sense, for what happens when I do my part in furthering the Kingdom. I'm like a pipe. A pipe just does what it's supposed to do; it delivers the water. It doesn't make the water, it doesn't worry about the water, it just delivers it. Today, I want the Lord to deliver through me. Not because of me, but despite me and my weaknesses. That's another thing, I'm learning to glory and rejoice in my weaknesses. Blessed are the poor, but the rich He sends away empty handed, is what the Bible says. If I were rich in my own ability, I wouldn't need Him. But I'm not rich in my own ability. Most of the things I do in my every day life, I feel very unqualified to be doing. But He calls my poorness blessedness, and I'm learning to be thankful for that. He must increase, and I must decrease.
These days I'm like a tightrope walker, placing one foot in front of the other, not looking to the right or to the left, keeping my gaze steady on the One who is worthy to be trusted. And if I do fall, underneath are the Everlasting Arms. With that knowledge, I can walk steady on, rejoicing with each step. He is worthy to be trusted. I can bank on that.
See? I knew the point of this entry would come, if I kept rambling long enough. :)
And now, Becs, I am officially "entryatized." :)
Anyway, I'm learning to keep my eyes on Jesus. No matter what. To trust Him. No matter what. To remember that He is the Worker. Not me. That when I get my eyes on the work that's to be done, rather than the Worker Who accomplishes it, I get burnt out, tired out, and frustrated. I'm not responsible in a sense, for what happens when I do my part in furthering the Kingdom. I'm like a pipe. A pipe just does what it's supposed to do; it delivers the water. It doesn't make the water, it doesn't worry about the water, it just delivers it. Today, I want the Lord to deliver through me. Not because of me, but despite me and my weaknesses. That's another thing, I'm learning to glory and rejoice in my weaknesses. Blessed are the poor, but the rich He sends away empty handed, is what the Bible says. If I were rich in my own ability, I wouldn't need Him. But I'm not rich in my own ability. Most of the things I do in my every day life, I feel very unqualified to be doing. But He calls my poorness blessedness, and I'm learning to be thankful for that. He must increase, and I must decrease.
These days I'm like a tightrope walker, placing one foot in front of the other, not looking to the right or to the left, keeping my gaze steady on the One who is worthy to be trusted. And if I do fall, underneath are the Everlasting Arms. With that knowledge, I can walk steady on, rejoicing with each step. He is worthy to be trusted. I can bank on that.
See? I knew the point of this entry would come, if I kept rambling long enough. :)
And now, Becs, I am officially "entryatized." :)
Sunday, January 3, 2010
update schnupdate.
Oh dear... I'm afraid getting a new blog hasn't helped me to be a better blogger y'all. :P In my defense, life has been downright busy lately with the holiday season. But still, I really am trying to get back into the swing of blogging.
So, let's see... where are we? Ah yes... 2010. It sounds so spaceageish... but it's not as weird as it sounds... at least not yet anyway. We'll see what the rest of the year holds. :P
New Years Resolutions, anyone? Every year I make a nice list of things I need to work on or do... this year was no different, although the list was quite long. Unfortunately, when I was writing my list this year, I was in a very rested and energetic mood (unlike last year, where I penned down about four things and gave up in weary exhaustion at the thought of having to work on one. more. thing.) and made my list quite long.. but as I wrote, and the list got longer, I started freaking myself out- "oh dear, Self, how are we going to get all this stuff done? Time is never enough as it is..." But then... it was brought to mind, the words of Jesus to Martha... "one thing you have need of." There is only one thing I really need to concentrate on accomplishing: sitting at His feet daily and hearing His words. Aaah yes. Suddenly, doing the whole grown up life thing seemed so much more doable. :)
My mom gave me a devotional book for Christmas that I am really enjoying; it's called "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young I highly recommend it! Also, from my mom, a beautiful journal that I've dedicated soley to using during my morning devotion time to record whispers of the Still Small Voice. Friends, it's been such a refreshing thing, lately, to quiet my heart and mind before Him and just receive His love, instruction, and encouragement. Relationship is a two way street, and it's so important that we slow down our inner pace and hear what He has to say to us... I've shared with many of you how I've struggled recently with slowing down my inner pace- even when my body is still and quiet, my mind is often still going sixty miles a minute... Sitting expectantly before the Lord with a pen and journal in my hand has really helped me with that. My time with Him is the very best part of every day. :)
Okay, I was going to write more here, but I think I've said enough for today. I need to get some reading, sewing, and letting writing done this afternoon yet... yup- those are some of my resolutions of things I need to work on, and I think I would do well if I could keep up some acceleration till at least January 3rd, don't you think? ;)
a few Christmas pics below~
Christmast Eve...
Mom and us...
Mom and Dad~
From Lea, to me... it's kinda one of those presents that you just had to be there... ;)
My two grandmas~ Mom's mom on the left, Dad's mom on the right. :)
I.. uh... kinda helped my grandma become the Christmas Queen with the help of her new Snuggie. ;)
Dad got jealous and wanted to try it on too...
Every year, it is traditional that my Aunt Olivia and I pass out the presents.. It's an honored job (in my mind) and it's the closest I ever get to being an elf... haha
Dad and his gals...
Wishing you all a happy and blessed new year. :)
So, let's see... where are we? Ah yes... 2010. It sounds so spaceageish... but it's not as weird as it sounds... at least not yet anyway. We'll see what the rest of the year holds. :P
New Years Resolutions, anyone? Every year I make a nice list of things I need to work on or do... this year was no different, although the list was quite long. Unfortunately, when I was writing my list this year, I was in a very rested and energetic mood (unlike last year, where I penned down about four things and gave up in weary exhaustion at the thought of having to work on one. more. thing.) and made my list quite long.. but as I wrote, and the list got longer, I started freaking myself out- "oh dear, Self, how are we going to get all this stuff done? Time is never enough as it is..." But then... it was brought to mind, the words of Jesus to Martha... "one thing you have need of." There is only one thing I really need to concentrate on accomplishing: sitting at His feet daily and hearing His words. Aaah yes. Suddenly, doing the whole grown up life thing seemed so much more doable. :)
My mom gave me a devotional book for Christmas that I am really enjoying; it's called "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young I highly recommend it! Also, from my mom, a beautiful journal that I've dedicated soley to using during my morning devotion time to record whispers of the Still Small Voice. Friends, it's been such a refreshing thing, lately, to quiet my heart and mind before Him and just receive His love, instruction, and encouragement. Relationship is a two way street, and it's so important that we slow down our inner pace and hear what He has to say to us... I've shared with many of you how I've struggled recently with slowing down my inner pace- even when my body is still and quiet, my mind is often still going sixty miles a minute... Sitting expectantly before the Lord with a pen and journal in my hand has really helped me with that. My time with Him is the very best part of every day. :)
Okay, I was going to write more here, but I think I've said enough for today. I need to get some reading, sewing, and letting writing done this afternoon yet... yup- those are some of my resolutions of things I need to work on, and I think I would do well if I could keep up some acceleration till at least January 3rd, don't you think? ;)
a few Christmas pics below~
Christmast Eve...
Mom and us...
Mom and Dad~
From Lea, to me... it's kinda one of those presents that you just had to be there... ;)
My two grandmas~ Mom's mom on the left, Dad's mom on the right. :)
I.. uh... kinda helped my grandma become the Christmas Queen with the help of her new Snuggie. ;)
Dad got jealous and wanted to try it on too...
Every year, it is traditional that my Aunt Olivia and I pass out the presents.. It's an honored job (in my mind) and it's the closest I ever get to being an elf... haha
Wishing you all a happy and blessed new year. :)
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