The strangest thing happened over the Thanksgiving holiday. I found a Barbie that was wearing clothes. Those of you who have raised girls know what's so strange about this already. I did not even know Barbie could wear clothes! I mean, sure, she has clothes on in the store when you buy her and in the packaging before she's unwrapped, but as soon as she gets to my house the clothes are coming off! And then they get lost. Never to be found again. I kind of felt sorry for this Barbie. She seemed so out of place amongst the Barbie Nudist Colony that lives in my house. Now, I know I'm weird, but I have never allowed my girls to take their nude Barbies to church. They have to be dressed! I don't get to go to church naked, why should they get to! I was getting pretty excited when I first started reading my friend Sonia's blog post about cutting back because of the economy and becoming nudist's. (I don't know the exact address to her blog, but I follow it. It's under the blogs I follow. It's called My First Launch.). I thought, "Yes, maybe now my Barbies can finally go to church!" But no such luck. As you read the post to the end, she ends up deciding that being a nudist isn't going to work. No kidding! Maybe if we lived in Hawaii! We live in Idaho! I don't know if you've been outside lately, Sonia, but it's COLD out there. It got down to -8 during Thanksgiving Break! It's bad enough that my husband and son were camping in that weather, but I'm pretty sure their would be no men left in my family if they weren't wearing clothes! It was cold even with clothes on! I, for one, stayed snuggled up in my nice cozy bed until it climbed up to at least zero! And I was wearing pajamas at that! I'm sure you're glad to know that!
Anyway, back to the Barbies. They weren't going to church nude until I went to church nude! So if you ever hear about a little church in Moscow, Idaho having to call the police cause some woman showed up to church nude, you know what happened. Me and my girls made a compromise! (Don't worry. That'll never happen! We live in Idaho, remember?)
I once heard Beth Moore talk about her young friend bringing her Barbies to church. She said she always wore her most modest outfits, but once they did have to wrap a bulletin around her waste to make her decent. I'm not sure I heard much after that! I was in such shock that her young friend had Barbies with CLOTHES! I was however blessed to know that there was someone else in the world who had an obsession with what Barbie could wear to church. Yes, I have modesty issues (another reason why the situation above will never occur!). My mother tried to buy me skimpy clothes when I was in college, but I refused to wear them. She barely managed to get them on me in the store. She couldn't believe I wouldn't dress that way, when I had such a slender figure. She was like, "Come on. You can get away with it. I can't."
Excuse me, I didn't want to get away with it! I had a problem with the way I grew up surrounded by pornography as it was. Apparently, I'm the only one who was uncomfortable with it. I didn't even want to be a woman, if that's what women were for! I was so relieved when I became a Christian and realized that's NOT what we're for! Only then, could I learn to enjoy being a woman. I still don't think I was comfortable in my own skin until I read a wonderful book I'd like to recommend to all my female readers. It's called "Captivating" by Staci Eldredge (not sure I spelled her name correctly). It gave me a whole new perspective on who God created me to be. A wonderful one!
So, in conclusion, Barbie will not be going to church anytime soon!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Yet Another Book Segment
1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Okay, now this is a passage we are way too familiar with. You need to read it with fresh eyes, not thinking, “Oh, yeah, this is the love chapter. I know all about this one.” I tend to think like that a lot. But there is always something to be gleaned from scripture, even the ones that we've read a thousand or more times! The Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). I believe part of the meaning of that is that it continues to speak to us in different ways no matter how many times we read it. It's not like other books that we can read once and get all we can get from it. The bible can be read over and over again and you still will never get all that can be gleaned from it! I love that about the bible! It's one of the many reasons why I love God's Word so much!
The main point of this passage is that if we do not love others and love God, nothing we do matters. Our highest calling is to love those around us. Not always the easiest thing to do. I believe some site verse 8 when they claim that speaking in tongues no longer happens in the Spirit. I believe you have to take this way out of context to make it mean that. It is saying that in the end, when Jesus returns that will be no longer. There will be no need for speaking in tongues or prophesying at that point. What will remain is our love for people.
This chapter always bothered me because it's filled with “always” and “never.” I don't know about you, but I'm never always anything! This is talking about God's love and is only possible in the Spirit. We will never as human beings on this earth be able to live this way all the time with all people. It should be our goal, however.
It certainly isn't saying that we shouldn't ever use our gifts. I think we established that in the last chapter, but it must be done with love for those we are serving.
One of the things Paul says that I would like to highlight is love not keeping a record of wrongs. I don't know about you, but I have been guilty of this a lot! Have you ever gotten in an argument with someone and suddenly found yourself complaining about things they did years earlier? I have, especially with my husband! I've often thought I'd forgiven those things, but when they come up again and again, it's obvious I haven't really. Sometimes I just have way too good of a memory and when he does something that is similar to what he's done before all the memories of the times he's done that before come forward in my mind. I really shouldn't bring them up, but I do. I think that is what Paul is talking about when he says love does not keep a record of wrongs.
I think another one we struggle with in our culture is not self-seeking. We are taught to look after #1. Meaning yourself. Of course, we know (or we should) that #1 is supposed to be God. It isn't always any our lives and our actions and words prove that. Even when dating and getting married, don't we seek after something for ourselves? I think that is why many marriages fail. After a while they are no longer getting what they were seeking. This can happen to friendships and family relationships as well. I'm not saying none of this applies to singles. It absolutely does, cause we are all called to love as God loves us. Think about why you are ending a relationship before you end it. Are you being self-seeking? If you are, you are not loving that person. Now, I'm not saying some relationships (not marriages) don't need to end. I've ended a few relationships where we seemed to only bring out the worst in each other, but if that's the case it's not helping anyone. Codependent relationships often must end.
Persevering is something we also don't learn much in our culture. We're taught to do what feels good, so when something no longer feels good we bail. We need to persevere through trials. This is another reason for divorce and other broken relationships is our lives. We just flat get tired and don't want to love anymore. So we quit loving. Persevere friends! Like I said there is a time for some relationships to end, but we need to pray and continue loving in any relationships God has called us to continue. Keep loving, no matter how hard it gets!
Next, we are going to understand everything completely one day, but until then, just keep loving people! That's all most people really need! Shine the light of Jesus through loving people everywhere you go!
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to love as You love. I need Your power to do this. I can't do it on my own. Help me to love the unlovely. Most of them just need to know they are loved. Help me to share where that love comes from, so they may know You, too. In Jesus' Name. Amen.”
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Okay, now this is a passage we are way too familiar with. You need to read it with fresh eyes, not thinking, “Oh, yeah, this is the love chapter. I know all about this one.” I tend to think like that a lot. But there is always something to be gleaned from scripture, even the ones that we've read a thousand or more times! The Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). I believe part of the meaning of that is that it continues to speak to us in different ways no matter how many times we read it. It's not like other books that we can read once and get all we can get from it. The bible can be read over and over again and you still will never get all that can be gleaned from it! I love that about the bible! It's one of the many reasons why I love God's Word so much!
The main point of this passage is that if we do not love others and love God, nothing we do matters. Our highest calling is to love those around us. Not always the easiest thing to do. I believe some site verse 8 when they claim that speaking in tongues no longer happens in the Spirit. I believe you have to take this way out of context to make it mean that. It is saying that in the end, when Jesus returns that will be no longer. There will be no need for speaking in tongues or prophesying at that point. What will remain is our love for people.
This chapter always bothered me because it's filled with “always” and “never.” I don't know about you, but I'm never always anything! This is talking about God's love and is only possible in the Spirit. We will never as human beings on this earth be able to live this way all the time with all people. It should be our goal, however.
It certainly isn't saying that we shouldn't ever use our gifts. I think we established that in the last chapter, but it must be done with love for those we are serving.
One of the things Paul says that I would like to highlight is love not keeping a record of wrongs. I don't know about you, but I have been guilty of this a lot! Have you ever gotten in an argument with someone and suddenly found yourself complaining about things they did years earlier? I have, especially with my husband! I've often thought I'd forgiven those things, but when they come up again and again, it's obvious I haven't really. Sometimes I just have way too good of a memory and when he does something that is similar to what he's done before all the memories of the times he's done that before come forward in my mind. I really shouldn't bring them up, but I do. I think that is what Paul is talking about when he says love does not keep a record of wrongs.
I think another one we struggle with in our culture is not self-seeking. We are taught to look after #1. Meaning yourself. Of course, we know (or we should) that #1 is supposed to be God. It isn't always any our lives and our actions and words prove that. Even when dating and getting married, don't we seek after something for ourselves? I think that is why many marriages fail. After a while they are no longer getting what they were seeking. This can happen to friendships and family relationships as well. I'm not saying none of this applies to singles. It absolutely does, cause we are all called to love as God loves us. Think about why you are ending a relationship before you end it. Are you being self-seeking? If you are, you are not loving that person. Now, I'm not saying some relationships (not marriages) don't need to end. I've ended a few relationships where we seemed to only bring out the worst in each other, but if that's the case it's not helping anyone. Codependent relationships often must end.
Persevering is something we also don't learn much in our culture. We're taught to do what feels good, so when something no longer feels good we bail. We need to persevere through trials. This is another reason for divorce and other broken relationships is our lives. We just flat get tired and don't want to love anymore. So we quit loving. Persevere friends! Like I said there is a time for some relationships to end, but we need to pray and continue loving in any relationships God has called us to continue. Keep loving, no matter how hard it gets!
Next, we are going to understand everything completely one day, but until then, just keep loving people! That's all most people really need! Shine the light of Jesus through loving people everywhere you go!
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to love as You love. I need Your power to do this. I can't do it on my own. Help me to love the unlovely. Most of them just need to know they are loved. Help me to share where that love comes from, so they may know You, too. In Jesus' Name. Amen.”
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Book In Need Of A Title
Hey, guys! I really could use help on the title of my book. I'm onto Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians with only 16 chapters, so please help me come up with a title. I promise I'll thank you in the book if it ever gets published.
Another Very Much In Need Of Editting Segment From My Book
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Basically, we're all different and that's a good thing. I won't speak specifically about spiritual gifts because I did that already in our last session. As you know, I teach. But what if everyone taught? Who would go out and do the full-time missionary work that needs to be done? Who would feed the hungry? Who would drill wells in countries where they don't have clean water? We need people to do those things. I feel that my job is sort of equipping those who will go out to do those things, with faith and the understanding to know when God is speaking. Of course, I feel a little funny saying that, because I also feel that as I am teaching this, I am still learning these things myself. Of course, I suppose that is good, too. If I thought I knew everything I might become arrogant. I am a long ways from knowing everything and in fact, this side of heaven I never will. That doesn't keep me from learning though. I find that the more I study the bible the more I realize how little I know. That's why I've hesitated to use my gift for two years. I thought, “What do I know? What right do I have to teach anybody anything?” The truth I don't know much and I don't have any right to teach anyone anything, but God has called me to this ministry and entrusted me with this gift and I want to honor Him by using the gift He's given me. It's not real glamorous. Especially since I'm not a man and don't feel that it would be appropriate for me as a woman to become a pastor. There are those that feel differently about this and I won't argue that with them. It is just my conviction that I shouldn't be a pastor. It's absolutely appropriate for me to write books to women (which is where my heart is) and to teach a Children's Sunday School class at church, which I also hope to start doing soon. I've volunteered and given my information to the one in charge of the Sunday School ministry at my church. I'm still waiting for a phone call. Probably after the holidays, I would imagine.
Also, we need to recognize that we shouldn't just hang out with people who have similar gifts or callings. We need those people with those other gifts to fill all the needs in our churches and our communities. We need each other, even if we don't fully understand each other.
I would also like to point out verses 25 through 26. We do need to show concern for one another. When one member is hurting we should ask them if there is anything we can do for them and pray for them, and when people experience victory, rejoice with them. I have had both of these experiences of a fellow believer listening and praying when I'm hurting and rejoicing with me when I have found victory, often in those same areas of my life where I was suffering. A lot of my healing came from being able to talk to this dear friend. She was willing to suffer with me and rejoice with me. I hope to live up to her example for others. We need each other for support as well. I know that God could heal us and not involve anyone else, but He rarely does that. It usually is done in community with other believers. In fact, I cannot think of a single time in my life that He has ministered to me any other way. I've tried to do it with just me and Him. A lot of times it feels safer that way. But that's not how He works. We turn to Him first, but almost always He will bring someone else alongside us to help us. He put us in community for a reason. We need each other!
Prayer:
“Dear Lord, please help me to always remember that I'm not an island. You have put other people in my life, because I need them. Continue to lead me to the right people when I need them. In Jesus' Name. Amen.”
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Basically, we're all different and that's a good thing. I won't speak specifically about spiritual gifts because I did that already in our last session. As you know, I teach. But what if everyone taught? Who would go out and do the full-time missionary work that needs to be done? Who would feed the hungry? Who would drill wells in countries where they don't have clean water? We need people to do those things. I feel that my job is sort of equipping those who will go out to do those things, with faith and the understanding to know when God is speaking. Of course, I feel a little funny saying that, because I also feel that as I am teaching this, I am still learning these things myself. Of course, I suppose that is good, too. If I thought I knew everything I might become arrogant. I am a long ways from knowing everything and in fact, this side of heaven I never will. That doesn't keep me from learning though. I find that the more I study the bible the more I realize how little I know. That's why I've hesitated to use my gift for two years. I thought, “What do I know? What right do I have to teach anybody anything?” The truth I don't know much and I don't have any right to teach anyone anything, but God has called me to this ministry and entrusted me with this gift and I want to honor Him by using the gift He's given me. It's not real glamorous. Especially since I'm not a man and don't feel that it would be appropriate for me as a woman to become a pastor. There are those that feel differently about this and I won't argue that with them. It is just my conviction that I shouldn't be a pastor. It's absolutely appropriate for me to write books to women (which is where my heart is) and to teach a Children's Sunday School class at church, which I also hope to start doing soon. I've volunteered and given my information to the one in charge of the Sunday School ministry at my church. I'm still waiting for a phone call. Probably after the holidays, I would imagine.
Also, we need to recognize that we shouldn't just hang out with people who have similar gifts or callings. We need those people with those other gifts to fill all the needs in our churches and our communities. We need each other, even if we don't fully understand each other.
I would also like to point out verses 25 through 26. We do need to show concern for one another. When one member is hurting we should ask them if there is anything we can do for them and pray for them, and when people experience victory, rejoice with them. I have had both of these experiences of a fellow believer listening and praying when I'm hurting and rejoicing with me when I have found victory, often in those same areas of my life where I was suffering. A lot of my healing came from being able to talk to this dear friend. She was willing to suffer with me and rejoice with me. I hope to live up to her example for others. We need each other for support as well. I know that God could heal us and not involve anyone else, but He rarely does that. It usually is done in community with other believers. In fact, I cannot think of a single time in my life that He has ministered to me any other way. I've tried to do it with just me and Him. A lot of times it feels safer that way. But that's not how He works. We turn to Him first, but almost always He will bring someone else alongside us to help us. He put us in community for a reason. We need each other!
Prayer:
“Dear Lord, please help me to always remember that I'm not an island. You have put other people in my life, because I need them. Continue to lead me to the right people when I need them. In Jesus' Name. Amen.”
Saturday, November 27, 2010
A Long Thanksgiving Holiday
My Thanksgiving stretched over 3 days unlike the normal one day holiday. We went to our church to spend Thanksgiving with some people from our church who also had no other plans and nothing to do on Thanksgiving Day. It was a wonderful time of good food, good conversation, and fellowship with a few of our Christian brothers and sisters at Bridge Bible Fellowship, which is the church we now proudly call our church home. It does indeed feel like home. I'm as comfortable there and as free to be me as anywhere else in the whole world! Love my family in Christ!
That evening me and the girls returned home to relax and digest while the boys went out to stay with Josh's sister and brother-in-law and their kids, so they could return to the woods for more hunting the next morning. Josh called me the next morning to tell me he would be returning to get me and the girls and we would be spending the night at his brother, Raymond's house, with his brother and sister-in-law and their little boy, Danyole. (One of the cutest kids I've ever known!) Candy would be going there to spend the night with her six kids as well. (That's Josh's sister. I know this is all very confusing.) Her husband, Danny had to work the next morning, so unfortunately he was unable to join us. The reason we were all gathering at Raymond and Kaci's was that because others had plans with other family members on Thanksgiving Day, in order to get everybody together they opted to have it on Saturday instead. They regularly do this and it seems to work out well, so Josh's mom can get everyone together. Or most, anyway, of her children. Roger and Lis, Josh's other brother and sis-in-law couldn't make it. They live in Spokane. I got to stay with them when I went to Living Proof Live last month. Really wonderful people. Wouldn't even have been able to go without them. No way we could pay for a hotel, so I praise God for them. It was an amazing event for me. God did such a huge work in me, I'm not sure even I can fully comprehend what He did there. Also they are just nice people. Glad to know them and have them in my life.
Anyway, it was like one big sleepover in a little house! Loads of fun, but exhausting! Ten kids in basically like a trailer house size place! Not to mention the five parents, but we were seriously outnumbered. We had a great time, though. Me and my family slept in the living room with me and Josh on a big air mattress that seriously needed more air. (I rolled around in that thing like it was a water bed everytime Josh moved. Then he got out and slept on the couch and I was pretty much on the floor. The whole thing just sunk to the floor. It was crazy but fun! I was so tired and I'm not sure I slept a wink. Certainly not a minute of deep sleep. I kept hearing kids wake up and cry and cough and stuff like that. Normal stuff. Nothing I didn't expect, so my attitude remained positive. You know....oh, I'll save that for another time. Okay, fine. I won't. If we only expected that almost always there will be disrupted in life, it woulnd't affect our attitude. That's our problem most of the time, I think. We get frustrated because we expect things to go just right and they almost never do!
Anyway, back to my story. I had a fun morning playing with several of the kids in my bed before I got up. As always, I was the last one up. Have I mentioned that I don't do mornings! Anyway, we had cinnamon rolls, compliments of Candy and Kaci, that morning. Yum! Like the hard work of getting ready for a huge feast was not enough for them! Talk about motivated. Josh, Jeremiah, and Raymond once again had disappeared early in the morning to go hunting. They soon arrived back at the house with Josh's and Raymond's (and Candy's and Amy's and Roger's) mom in tow! They had to pick her up. She doesn't drive in snow at this point in her life and in case you didn't know, the northwest has gotten dumped on this week! Fifteen miles an hour is the norm for me these days and I'm sort of used to it, having driven on these roads the last 2 years, since I got my license. It's mighty slick out there, and doesn't seem to want to stop snowing! Anyway, Amy and Mike and their three girls showed up shortly after, but boy did the boys have a story to tell! Josh apparently had gotten attacked by coyotes! Thankfully, he's fine. I can't speak for the coyotes, but he's fine. He was a little scared cause his first thought when he noticed the attack coming, of course, was wolves! That might not have ended so well! Needlesss to say, that cut their hunting trip short. It was a great dinner and great pie and great company! But oh, boy, am I tired and ready for a good night's sleep in my own bed! Unfortunately, no meat for my freezer this season I suppose. That was pretty much Josh's last chance to go hunting. Back to insane work hours and no time for hunting for him for a while!
That evening me and the girls returned home to relax and digest while the boys went out to stay with Josh's sister and brother-in-law and their kids, so they could return to the woods for more hunting the next morning. Josh called me the next morning to tell me he would be returning to get me and the girls and we would be spending the night at his brother, Raymond's house, with his brother and sister-in-law and their little boy, Danyole. (One of the cutest kids I've ever known!) Candy would be going there to spend the night with her six kids as well. (That's Josh's sister. I know this is all very confusing.) Her husband, Danny had to work the next morning, so unfortunately he was unable to join us. The reason we were all gathering at Raymond and Kaci's was that because others had plans with other family members on Thanksgiving Day, in order to get everybody together they opted to have it on Saturday instead. They regularly do this and it seems to work out well, so Josh's mom can get everyone together. Or most, anyway, of her children. Roger and Lis, Josh's other brother and sis-in-law couldn't make it. They live in Spokane. I got to stay with them when I went to Living Proof Live last month. Really wonderful people. Wouldn't even have been able to go without them. No way we could pay for a hotel, so I praise God for them. It was an amazing event for me. God did such a huge work in me, I'm not sure even I can fully comprehend what He did there. Also they are just nice people. Glad to know them and have them in my life.
Anyway, it was like one big sleepover in a little house! Loads of fun, but exhausting! Ten kids in basically like a trailer house size place! Not to mention the five parents, but we were seriously outnumbered. We had a great time, though. Me and my family slept in the living room with me and Josh on a big air mattress that seriously needed more air. (I rolled around in that thing like it was a water bed everytime Josh moved. Then he got out and slept on the couch and I was pretty much on the floor. The whole thing just sunk to the floor. It was crazy but fun! I was so tired and I'm not sure I slept a wink. Certainly not a minute of deep sleep. I kept hearing kids wake up and cry and cough and stuff like that. Normal stuff. Nothing I didn't expect, so my attitude remained positive. You know....oh, I'll save that for another time. Okay, fine. I won't. If we only expected that almost always there will be disrupted in life, it woulnd't affect our attitude. That's our problem most of the time, I think. We get frustrated because we expect things to go just right and they almost never do!
Anyway, back to my story. I had a fun morning playing with several of the kids in my bed before I got up. As always, I was the last one up. Have I mentioned that I don't do mornings! Anyway, we had cinnamon rolls, compliments of Candy and Kaci, that morning. Yum! Like the hard work of getting ready for a huge feast was not enough for them! Talk about motivated. Josh, Jeremiah, and Raymond once again had disappeared early in the morning to go hunting. They soon arrived back at the house with Josh's and Raymond's (and Candy's and Amy's and Roger's) mom in tow! They had to pick her up. She doesn't drive in snow at this point in her life and in case you didn't know, the northwest has gotten dumped on this week! Fifteen miles an hour is the norm for me these days and I'm sort of used to it, having driven on these roads the last 2 years, since I got my license. It's mighty slick out there, and doesn't seem to want to stop snowing! Anyway, Amy and Mike and their three girls showed up shortly after, but boy did the boys have a story to tell! Josh apparently had gotten attacked by coyotes! Thankfully, he's fine. I can't speak for the coyotes, but he's fine. He was a little scared cause his first thought when he noticed the attack coming, of course, was wolves! That might not have ended so well! Needlesss to say, that cut their hunting trip short. It was a great dinner and great pie and great company! But oh, boy, am I tired and ready for a good night's sleep in my own bed! Unfortunately, no meat for my freezer this season I suppose. That was pretty much Josh's last chance to go hunting. Back to insane work hours and no time for hunting for him for a while!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
I'm Not Sure This Is Very Good: Ugh!
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.
This is a familiar passage to most of us, because portions of it are frequently quoted when we participate in the Lord's Supper or Communion in our churches. Some of this we have a hard time relating to, because the way we practice this today does not involve a full meal as it did for them. I am sure some churches have a full meal with the Lord's Supper, but most now-days do not. However, I think the basic principles here can be applied. We should not partake in the Lord's Supper as a snack, because we forgot to eat breakfast or something. It's ultimate purpose is not for food. It is to proclaim the Lord's death. It is, as this passage proclaims, a remembrance. We do, also need to examine ourselves before taking the Lord's Supper. Make sure that you are right with the Lord first. I have at times in my life, let the cup and the plate pass and have not taken from it, because I knew me and God had some issues between us. Of course, the issue was mine, not God's, but there is no shame in that. If you know that you have something between you and your God don't participate. Deal with what you need to deal with between you and God before you do that. This is why we don't allow our children to partake in the Lord's Supper until they have received Christ, either. Obviously if they do not yet have a personal relationship with Christ than they are not yet right with God and shouldn't partake. My husband once pointed out to me that as far as them eating and drinking judgment on themselves, they are already under judgment because they don't know Christ. That is true, but I wonder if maybe God then puts that judgment on us, as their parents when we offer them the bread and the cup knowing that they do not yet have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Just something to think about. That's not the gospel truth, but I think God does hold us responsible for many of the things we allow our children to do, so why wouldn't He hold us responsible for this as well.
In closing, I sure would have loved to have been privy to the “further directions” Paul gave when he came to them, wouldn't you? I wonder what he might have said?
Prayer:
“Dear Father, please help me to always examine myself before I partake in the Lord's Supper. Help me to stay in a right relationship with You, so that I can always enjoy Your fellowship. It's a very painful thing to be out of fellowship with You. I know that feeling all too well and never want to experience it again. In Jesus' Name. Amen.”
Please comment. I need to know if my writing is something plenty of people would want to read. Be honest, but gentle! If I totally suck, I want to know!
In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.
This is a familiar passage to most of us, because portions of it are frequently quoted when we participate in the Lord's Supper or Communion in our churches. Some of this we have a hard time relating to, because the way we practice this today does not involve a full meal as it did for them. I am sure some churches have a full meal with the Lord's Supper, but most now-days do not. However, I think the basic principles here can be applied. We should not partake in the Lord's Supper as a snack, because we forgot to eat breakfast or something. It's ultimate purpose is not for food. It is to proclaim the Lord's death. It is, as this passage proclaims, a remembrance. We do, also need to examine ourselves before taking the Lord's Supper. Make sure that you are right with the Lord first. I have at times in my life, let the cup and the plate pass and have not taken from it, because I knew me and God had some issues between us. Of course, the issue was mine, not God's, but there is no shame in that. If you know that you have something between you and your God don't participate. Deal with what you need to deal with between you and God before you do that. This is why we don't allow our children to partake in the Lord's Supper until they have received Christ, either. Obviously if they do not yet have a personal relationship with Christ than they are not yet right with God and shouldn't partake. My husband once pointed out to me that as far as them eating and drinking judgment on themselves, they are already under judgment because they don't know Christ. That is true, but I wonder if maybe God then puts that judgment on us, as their parents when we offer them the bread and the cup knowing that they do not yet have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Just something to think about. That's not the gospel truth, but I think God does hold us responsible for many of the things we allow our children to do, so why wouldn't He hold us responsible for this as well.
In closing, I sure would have loved to have been privy to the “further directions” Paul gave when he came to them, wouldn't you? I wonder what he might have said?
Prayer:
“Dear Father, please help me to always examine myself before I partake in the Lord's Supper. Help me to stay in a right relationship with You, so that I can always enjoy Your fellowship. It's a very painful thing to be out of fellowship with You. I know that feeling all too well and never want to experience it again. In Jesus' Name. Amen.”
Please comment. I need to know if my writing is something plenty of people would want to read. Be honest, but gentle! If I totally suck, I want to know!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Snow, Snow, Snow!
It's been snowing like crazy here ever since last night, off and on. My kids are playing out in it right now! Even in the dark they can't stand not to be out in it! It's supposed to snow a whole lot more tonight and tomorrow morning! I'd love to share with you more about my girls, but I'm a little distracted right now with kids and everything! It will be bedtime soon and I'm wondering if the kids will even have school tomorrow! Their five day vacation may be a six day vacation, because in addition to the snow there are going to be 20 to 25 MPH winds, so there will be drifts more than likely. I'm glad I don't have anywhere I need to go!
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