Posts filed under 'Main'
6 Questions Google Answered Quite Well
“Lorna and I decided that what the Bible doesn’t cover, Google does.” I recently wrote this as my Twitter/Facebook status. Below are some things I’ve needed to know.
1. Is it okay for my dog to eat raisins? No. As few as 7 raisins can cause death!
2. What is a Dear Jane Quilt? It is a Civil War quilt designed, sewed and finished by Jane Stickle in 1863. It has 225 different blocks.
3. How to shorten URLs for Twitter. When I want to link to a blog. fan page, website or news article, I need to shorten the URL in order to fit it and my comment into Twitter’s 140 characters. I am currently using Metamark.
4. When does advent start in 2009? I am going to decorate the church before Advent and so needed to know
when that is. If you want to help, call me. Advent starts Sunday, November 29. BTW – This week I will post an Advent Quiz.
5. Define debauchery. Why do I need/want to know what debauchery means? I’ve been memorizing Ephesians 5:18: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
- It means: too much indulgence in pleasures usually considered immoral, especially sexual activity and excessive drinking.
- Debauch means: 1. a. To corrupt morally.b. To lead away from excellence or virtue.2. To reduce the value, quality, or excellence of; debase. See Synonyms at corrupt.
6. Potato Soup. Cooler weather means time to eat soup. Only thing is, I usually cannot make a decent home-made soup. But there are a lot of easy and yummy sounding potato soup recipes out there. I am looking for one that is gluten-, dairy- and egg- free. I think I can modify this cream cheese potato soup recipe quite nicely. (Scroll to the bottom of the post.) I even found a cream cheese alternative (at Whole Foods) that is free from gluten, dairy, and egg. I’ll let you know how it tastes.
What have you Googled lately?
Related Posts
- If Google Doesn’t Have God’s Phone Number, Try This One
- Hello Elizabeth, This Post Is 4 U; Plus Google Reader Warning
- Creating Folders (Labels) in Gmail
- 27 Posts are on Today’s Gratitude List (27 posts I’ve tagged on my Google reader.)
- One Caution When Using Online Cookbooks (WFMW) These days it is so much easier and faster to Google “pancake recipe for one,” “vanilla pudding recipe,” “perfect gravy,” or “What can I do with sweetened condensed milk, coconut and chocolate chips?“ It may be easier and faster, but the results are not always better
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How to Hear God’s Voice
“Have you ever heard God’s voice? How do you know it’s Him who is answering your questions?” A friend recently asked me this.
How would you answer my friend? Below is my answer.
I’ve never heard an audible voice from God. Nor do I have special headphones to detect His voice. But I do hear from Him in several ways.
1. Intuition, a hunch, a small quiet feeling - it almost seems like it’s me. I.e. I couldn’t find papers I needed to do my taxes and I looked and looked to no avail. I finally calmed down enough to ask God for His help. Then I had this “intuition, a hunch, a small quiet feeling” and looked in a place I hadn’t looked before. There they were. I could have ignored that “voice,” but I didn’t. I’ve had enough of these kinds of experiences to know that the answer was from God and not me. I didn’t know the answer before I prayed.
Plus, the Apostle John says that we are God’s sheep and the sheep know their Master’s voice. I think this knowing get’s stronger with practice. In general, if the advice leads to peace, joy, unity, and godliness it is from God.
2. I ask God a question or for help and then I wait for His response. I get God’s response in one of four ways.
- Through His Word – general reading. When I’m waiting for an answer I love reading God’s word. It’s like
I’m on a treasure hunt. Sometimes the answer will pop right off the pages. Like it was just written for me today! As I keep a regular Bible reading schedule, the more often God will “talk” to me through this. As a minimum I read a psalm and a proverb a day. The proverb I read corresponds to the date.
I.e. I’ve been fretting a little about my future. I read Proverbs 16 and it tells me (in a nutshell) “Stop worrying. God’s got it under control.” Click here to read it for yourself. What did God “say” to you from this Proverb?
- Through His Word – specific reading. When I need advice/help/guidance I look to see what the Bible has to say about it. A concordance comes in handy here. I also look over the highlighted portions of my Bible. It’s amazing how helpful this has been for me.
- Through other people. The Bible talks about how wise it is to consult with others (who are wise) when I need direction or help. I talk with the pastors and elders from church. I also talk to a few people who know God and value/follow His priorities for their lives. I look for answers that are uniform from all these people. I look to see if their advice agrees with biblical principles. Finally, I listen to hear if my own “spirit” agrees. All these need to be consistent with each other.
- Through circumstances. This is also called the open door or closed door answer. I.e. When I moved to
CA in June 2002 I knew I needed to go back and finish my BA so that I could get a job that would support me. I prayed and asked God to show me which school. I made phone calls to various schools about counseling. Sac State was not taking any more students. The other 5 or 6 places I called didn’t return my call even though I left several messages. Then my sister said she heard an advert on the radio for William Jessup University and maybe I should call them. I did. The next day I went for a campus tour. By the end of the tour I was signed up and ready to start school in October in a Christian leadership/theology program. They didn’t have a counseling program (then).
God wants to communicate with/to you. As you seek Him, He will make Himself known to you.
- Psalm 9:10: Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
- Proverbs 8:17: I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
- Lamentations 3:25
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.
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I Help Because I am a Parent, Auntie & Missionary
When I participate in Operation Christmas Child, I do so as a parent on behalf of the children in my life: my 2 adult kids and my 5 nieces. I fill a box because I’d hope someone would do the same if one of my children was in the same situation.
Each year I participate in Operation Christmas Child on behalf of a child in my life. Like one year, I donated 2 shoeboxes to a boy and girl the same ages as my children. Another year I made up boxes with my three nieces who attend CNC. As I fill a box, I pray for God’s help in picking the items. I also ask God to bless the child and bring joy and salvation to him or her.
One word that describes the situation of the children who receive these boxes is lack. Because of things like famine, drought, earthquakes and war these innocents lack adequate housing, healthcare, water, food, family support, toys, and school supplies. I can’t do anything about most of these lacks, but I can help by providing toys, school supplies and hygiene products.
So I join with others in Operation Christmas Child because I am a parent.
I also do so because I am a missionary. A missionary is a person who intentionally spreads a faith often accompanied by charitable work, usually in a foreign country. Operation Christmas Child fits that bill. They consider each person who fills a box as a missionary because our work of filling a box provides an opportunity for a child to learn that God is good and that salvation is available to them.
As you fill boxes with your children let them know that they too are missionaries.
Franklin Graham, founder of Operation Christmas Child, says one of the most important things we (missionaries) can do is to pray as we fill our boxes. Let’s ask God that the child who receives the box and discipleship material that Operation Christmas Child includes will lead the child to know God’s love and salvation.
These boxes go into remote locations and are delivered by dog sled, bicycles, donkeys, and camels. This gift of a shoe box opens the way for the gospel to be shared which leads to hope. These children who experience so much lack desperately need hope. Our boxes provide that hope.
Consider today how blessed you and your families are. I know that for some of us, filling a box is a sacrifice. Maybe some of us can get together to fill a box? But do consider what a huge impact that sacrifice will have in the life of a child who knows lack in so many areas.
Here’s my prayer.
Father, Thank you that Operation Christmas Child is one way we can bring joy, hope and salvation to children living in hard circumstances. Help us to discern what to put in the box and how much to spend.
Father, we ask that you would bring extra money our way so we can participate generously in this missionary opportunity. Thank you for the many blessings you have given us. Help us to give in response to those blessings. I ask that you would pour your love into our hearts so that they are captured by the fervor of spreading the gospel. Amen.
Related Posts
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November 11 – Photo of the Day = Gratitude
Sisters. I’m grateful for sisters in the Lord.
Last night’s meeting with some of my women’s ministry sisters was productive & encouraging. We shared our concerns and gratitudes & ended with prayer.
I am grateful for their friendship AND prayer support.
To all my sisters, you’ve got a friend in me. I’ll be there winter, spring, summer or fall. Call me.
Previous Photos
- Day 1 Photo: Christmas Tree with Broken, Tangled Lights
- Day 2 Photo: Birthday Boy
- Day 3 Photo: Mums at the Church Entrance
- Day 4 Photo: Simple Technology
- Day 5 Photo: Mystery Ice Cream Gift
- Day 6 Photo: Rocking Godson
- Day 7 Photo: Spontaneous Friends
- Day 8 Photo: Children’s Influence
- Day 9 Photo: Shoebox Gifts
- Day 10 Photo: Changing the Woman in the Mirror
Other Related Posts:
- 11 Things That Give Me Joy Today
- Grateful for 11 Items, Like …
- Choosing 2 Express Gratitude During November
- Feeling Full On Gratitude
- We Cannot Be Grateful Without Being Thoughtful
P.S. Ann Tatum is hosting 30 Days of Thanksgiving. She encourages us to daily share our gratitude. Click here and be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post and click on Mister Linky. Then you’ll be able to read other participants on this thankful journey.
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Seven Reasons I am Grateful for Music
Music can . . .
- Support my effort to focus on a positve feeling or a thought.
- Help me learn something.
- Lift my sour, trapped, or depressed mood into one of peace, truth or even laughter.
- Expose me to beauty and creativity
- Motivate me to move it, move it.
- Reduce my level of physical pain and increase relaxation.
- Provide a medium to worship God.
I’m very grateful for the above. Why are you grateful for music?
Related Posts
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November 3 – Photo of the Day = Gratitude
These lovely flowers were planted by Shula.
She diligently keeps this front door flower bed looking cheery for visitors and regular attenders at our church. I am grateful for this bit of beauty. I am also grateful for Shula’s faithfulness.
Day 1 Photo: Christmas Tree with Broken, Tangled Lights
Day 2 Photo: Birthday Boy
Related Posts
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November 2 – Photo of the Day = Gratitude
Today is my bil’s birthday. Of course we celebrated with the traditional waffle and ice cream breakfast. Happy 50th to a caring, godly, fun man!
Oh, he loves preparing great fires. Check out the automated equipment. 
I am grateful for the role M plays in the lives of my 2 kiddos. Besides being a great role model, he is consistently interested in their lives.
I’m also thankful for the many ways M has helped me: insightful advice, moving furniture, and a calming influence (to name a few things).
Day 1 Photo: Christmas Tree with Broken, Tangled Lights
Related Posts:
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November 1 – Photo of the Day = Gratitude
- I may or may not have a theme.
- I may or may not tell the back story.
- I may or may not post only one photo.
I don’t know where this will lead, but I hope I am more grateful and more aware of my surroundings by the end of the month.
How did you spend your “extra” hour today? I spent my “extra” hour (daylights savings) cutting off the broken lights from this artificial, 4 foot, pencil tree. The tree was needed to showcase ornaments that kiddos from CNC’s children’s ministry made.
These ornaments will be sold mid-December. The money will go towards off-setting costs of the summer 2010 sport’s camp.
I am grateful for Lori, the Director of CNC’s Children’s Ministry K-5th grade. She is providing a creative outlet for the children, letting them participate in a fundraiser that will benefit them, and is allowing plenty of time to raise the necessary funds for this awesome summer event.
Related Posts
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4 Secrets to Contentment
How content are you? Always? Never? Sometimes?
Pastor Mike is doing a series on Generosity in a World of Greed. Sunday’s message was titled, “The Lost Art of Doing Without.” One of the gems from the sermon was how to be content.
The most important step to contentment is . . .
. . . Seek the Lord above all else and you will have what you need
- How do you fare in this area on a scale of 1-10?
- Do you seek God before seeking goods?
- How will you seek the Lord today…Prayer…Read Scripture…Obey Scripture…Other?
- Make a list of your needs. Share this list with a friend. Would s/he agree these are needs? Share this list with God in prayer. Compare it to Scripture (I.e. Matthew 6:33). Are they truly needs or are wants mixed in there too?
“At one time or another, we’re all guilty of allowing wants to live in our hearts as needs.” Jim Fay & Charles Fay
Pastor shared 3 more secrets to being content. Read the 3 following statements. Pick the correct answer.
Fight the impulse to . . .
(a) “have it now!” (b) shop. Shopping is evil. (c) share.
Don’t buy things . . .
(a) you can’t afford. (b) ever. (c) that are cheaply made.
Remember your most important needs are . . .
(a) food, clothing and shelter. (b) good quality chocolate. (c) to be put on hold until you tithe.
The correct answer for each statement of truth is letter (a). Delayed gratification and correctly identifying/buying needs versus wants are actions that lead to contentment.
How are you doing with the above secrets? Is there a change you will make today? What is that change?
Pastor based his sermon on 1 Timothy 6: 3-19. Read and ponder these Scriptures. What is the Holy Spirit saying to you from these verses? Share what you learned/heard with at least one person today.
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Falling Into Place
Falling into Place by The Afters could be my theme song right now. The divorce shook up my image of who I thought I was, my path in life, my usefulness, and my likability. Was I even any “good”? The world didn’t make sense; God didn’t make sense; I didn’t make sense.The ground beneath my feet was crumbling
Day and Night had come undone
It was the season of my wandering
You found me there
It was the moment that it all became clear
Of a distant world
A shattered life
With no where left to turn
Till I saw you there
And everything I thought had gone to waste
Was falling into place
As I lay the pieces at your feet
It’s finally starting to make sense
I guess I found the missing part of me
Of a distant world
A shattered life
With no where left to turn
Till I saw you there
And everything I thought had gone to waste
Was falling into place
I had to lose it all
Just so I could find out you were there to break my fall
