Thursday, November 30, 2006

Hey Baby It's COLD Outside


Just wanted to share a little idea of how cold it is here today. Hope everyone is staying warm and safe!!!

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Relationship and Sleeping Cute Boys


Holiday time!!!! Food, Food and more Food. The weather has been just lovely almost everyday. So far this season has been GREAT!!!
Here's a cute little pic of John on Turkey Day...

Also, here is an email I recieved today about being in relationship with people. It gets you to thinking about how you interact with people on a daily basis. Does me anyway...

It's all in the relationship by John Fischer
“I try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them so they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:33 NLT)
This is an important question to have in mind whenever we are talking to anyone: “What is best for this person?” It’s a way of both getting out of ourselves and being in a position to truly help someone else. It requires finding out more about the other person – asking lots of questions and paying close attention to the answers. My job is to gain insight into a person’s thinking so as to understand who he is, where he is at, and what he is trusting in. Only then can I have a real relationship with someone. If my primary focus is on me, and what is best for me, that doesn’t even constitute a relationship.
This doesn’t mean I never talk about myself. It means that when I do, it’s for the purpose of identifying with another person. Real relationships reveal holes in our lives that others can relate to. And if Jesus will accept someone like me, surely people can recognize that Jesus will accept them. But this only works when we tell the truth. We have to first introduce our real selves to people before we introduce Jesus; that way they can understand why we need Jesus. Out of real relationships, God has a chance to work.
Paul says that the essence of his impact on people is to introduce himself to them. As he puts it, “We commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:2 NIV) To commend himself is to commend Christ, because Christ is his all in all. It’s all embodied in the relationship. Think of it this way: All our relationships are godly because God is all wrapped up in the people he created. People are God’s priority. They’re ours too, if we are following him.
People can understand relationships, even if they do not trust them. Everyone wants a friend. Everyone wants someone to care. Everyone wants to know he or she can count on someone to be there. This is where Jesus picks up in true and trusted relationships. Our relationship with Jesus and with people is intertwined. Whether they know him or not, Jesus is the essential element in all our relationships. And we’ll know when it’s important for someone to know that. Most likely, they’ll be asking us to tell them.
Aim high. God places a high value on relationships. It is what makes up the stuff of eternity. Aside from God and people and the love that holds us together, what else is there?

Friday, November 17, 2006

Couldn't Resist...


Something about dogs on couches just makes me laugh. Look at these little guys.

Turkey in the Straw...

Well I have to say it's been a long week. I think Tuesday was the longest day of my life so far but things could have been much worse and I'm grateful they weren't. Hopefully this weekend we'll all get some much needed rest.
The weather is suppose to be nice and I'm looking forward to get out for a nice walk at some point.
Thanksgiving is next week too. I can't wait for pecan pie. I truly love this holiday. Family is together, everyone is stuffed to the gills with the best food ever and then there's the parade. I'm not sure why but I love the parade. This year I have a lot to be thankful for.
1.Granny is still with us and healthy to boot
2.The unconditional love that God continuously gives me
3.My wonderful Hubby and Pups
4.Dad, Mom and Gary
5.My job, even though it stresses me out sometimes. At least I have one.
6.My car. It's just so dang cute.
7.Pecan Pie that is to come

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all! (Just a little Paula Dean for everyone)

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Opposites Attract

by John Fischer

How do you become like Christ? Interestingly enough, God is more committed to this than we are. And it’s a good thing, because if it all depended on us, we would never get very far in this process. We would probably be too easy on ourselves.
“And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.” (Philippians 1:6) He started it; he will finish it.
OK, but how does this happen? One of the ways God does this is by letting the opposite thing happen to you. Do you need to learn how to love? Get ready for someone you can’t stand. Need patience? Better prepare for some aggravations to come your way. Looking for peace? Here’s a little chaos you weren’t expecting. Joy? Did I mention sorrow?
Now why is God like this? Is he some kind of killjoy in the sky? Does he get a kick out of kicking us around? Actually he does this for the very reason that he is the one who starts and finishes the work in us. You see, all these qualities really belong to God. Love, joy, peace, patience are actually fruits of God’s Spirit in those who believe. In other words, he’s provided all these things we need, but we don’t find them until we are desperate for them. It’s just the way we were made.
If we could come up with all these qualities on our own, we wouldn’t need God. We would have rules and formulas and steps to go through to better ourselves. In other words, religion would be enough. As it is, we are deeply flawed. Even our best attempts at producing the right things in our lives come up short. Religion is a fine thing; it’s just that it has never made anyone like Christ. In fact, the more religious we become, the further away from Christ we get. You get to be more like Christ by needing him more and more in your life.
You can’t make the right stuff out of the wrong material. Or as Jesus said, you can’t put new wine in old wineskins. So God allows things into our lives that break the old, to bring in the new. The new is beyond us. We are forced to discover it when we are stretched beyond our means. So God brings the opposite to create in us what we really want. That’s when we grow.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

LifeBlood

I was reading this morning in the bible about relationship with God and found this:

Psalms 16:5 The Lord himself is my inheritance, my prize. He is my food and drink, my highest joy!

For some reason it just stuck out to me. Sometimes is helps to think of God so literally, at least for me. The word that always comes to mind, and it's a funny one, is lifeblood. It's so dramatic yet wonderful. I love the strong meaning that helps you to realize just how serious this object is to your life. Thinking of God as your food and drink is much the same. Those are things you just can't live without. This week I had a very honest test of that in my life. You really can't live without eating or drinking. I also find it interesting that you also do these things without a lot of thought. Sure we all spend time trying to figure out what sounds good to us but in the end it doesn't take a lot of brain waves to put the food in your mouth. That is how relationship should be with God. Something you do (not mindlessly) but without serious struggle or turmoil. He loves you and wants you to love and trust Him completely.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Keeping First Thing First

Today's Scripture

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

People who experience the joy, blessings and favor of the Lord are different in one key area: they put the most important things in life at the top of their list where they belong. If you want to experience God's best in your life, stay focused on Him and on the things that truly matter. The Bible says to first aim at and then strive after God's kingdom and righteousness—which simply means to do things God's way. To reach your full potential and be everything God intends you to be, make sure His priorities are your priorities. Doing this will help you make wise use of your time and help you to experiencie God's best.

A Prayer for Today

God, thank You for explaining in Your Word what is really important in life. Help me to get my priorities in life in the right order, and then keep the most important things first. I claim Your power and wisdom today as I seek to make You and Your kingdom the focus of my day. In Jesus' name. Amen.