Affliction

Psalm 119.67-68

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I obey your word.

You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119.71-72

It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.

The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Psalm 119.75-76

I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous,
and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant.

"Affliction" is always for our benefit, if we love God. Like a good parent God looks at our lives and desires to change habits, attitudes, allegiances, minds sets, dispositions, etc. And he allows us to fall in order to teach us. At times he inflicts discipline upon us, his children. I'm so glad he cares! I'm so glad he doesn't just leave me to my own demise, to my own sinful nature, to my own self destruction!

Father, may I be able to say, with this psalmist, "in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Help me to recognize Your 'affliction' and embrace it, help me to long and learn from it, help me to grow and be grateful from it. May I understand that things don't 'happen TO me' but things 'happen FOR me'!

Here is the process:

1. God's 'affliction' is good for me.
2. I desire to learn God's ways and love him deeply.
3. Without discipline I WILL NOT learn his ways.
4. God gives me what I need. (namely 'affliction')
5. God and his ways become "more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver & gold"!

These thoughts made me think of Peter. (John 21.15-19) Peter was on this same journey. He loved Jesus, but by his own admission it was just an affectionate love, a friendly love. ('phileo' in the Greek) Jesus asked him about his love (twice using 'agapao' the highest form of love in the Greek), I believe to spur him on to the next level (#1). Peter had a deep desire to love Jesus and follow him (#2). Peter becomes hurt in this passage because Jesus asked him a third time about his love (this time using the 'phileo' word). Peter here realizes that his love is not as high as he desires it to be; this is truly revelation to him, I believe because he "is hurt by it". (#3 & 4) Then Jesus tells Peter that his love will grow, it will reach to that 'agapao' love, the love of abandonment. (#5) Peter never would have gone to death for Jesus if he did not love him with 'agapao' love. It is the same process we are all on! Happy journey friend.

Always Adoring

I am always adoring You.
You are amazing and awesome.
Adoration seems inadequate.
Accept acclaim from my lips also.
According to Your account, please,
Accomplish in me Your action.
Allow me admission to You by
Your agreement and affirmation.

i heart faces photo

A Blessed Fresh Annual!

2009
It was a blur!
Fast and furious.
Chaotic and trying.
God am I trusting
To care for my superfluous.

2010
Unknown to me
On bended knee
God knows, he sees.

Blessed Fresh Annual!

ABC's of Praise

Amazing Almighty
Blessing Bestower
Caring Creator
Divine Designer
Everlasting Enlightener
Forgiving Father
Gracious God
Harvesting Healer
Ideal Illustrator
Just Judge
Kind King
Loving Lord
Majestic Maker
Never-ending Name
Outrageous Opener
Personable Peacemaker
Quiet Quintessence
Radical Renewer
Shinning Savior
Tranquil Treasure
Undeniable Unifier
Victorious Virtue
Wonderful Waymaker
"X" treme "X" cellence
Yearning Yahweh
Zion's Zealous

7 Marks of A Servant - 2 Cor. 6.1-18

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about servant hood and what it really means. ‘Diakonos” is the Greek word for servant and it means servant, minister, a person who renders service and help to others, in some contexts with an implication of lower status; also translated as “deacon,” a trusted officer of helps and service in a local church. When I was reading this definition I was reminded that Jesus washed his disciples feet! (John 13) Taking on the role of a servant, he displayed his love in a tangible and moving way. How many of us serve in a manner like that?

1. *URGENCY*

2 Corinthians 6.1-2 “now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

In order to fully understand these verses, one must read them with the passage before (in chapter 5) ---It’s talking about being a new creation in Christ and how we are to share the news of salvation with those around us.
Paul is saying that he doesn’t want the people to become complacent and inactive. We are to devote our very selves to the work of serving God; and not tomorrow or next week but today. Now is the day of God’s grace-we only have today!

2. *CONSISTENCY*

2 Corinthians 6.3-4 “We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path…”

How important this is: that our behavior and attitudes are consistent with the word of God. That we should touch people with the love of God through our lives.

3. *ENDURANCE*

2 Corinthians 6.4-5 “…troubles, hardships, and distresses…”

We as Christians cannot expect to go through life without these things. Jesus himself said it, “In this world you will have trouble…” (John 16.33)
Trouble comes to both the believer and the non-believer, yet there should be a difference: the ability to endure! And this can only come through the grace of God.

4. *GOODNESS*

2 Corinthians 6.6-7 “in purity, understanding, patience, and kindness…

These qualities of goodness, Paul says can be produced only by the Spirit of God within us. If the Holy Spirit is filling us daily, then we will be good servants of our Lord, because we will be led by the Spirit.

5. *REALISM*

2 Corinthians 6.8-10 “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, yet possessing everything.”

It’s a tough road to follow!! Any faithful servant of Jesus will have difficulties. Perhaps that is why Jesus said, “Few will find the narrow path that leads to life.” (Matthew 7.14)
We must be realistic about the path we have chosen to take because if we think that following Christ means ‘all roses and pansies’ then the disappointment may cause us to quit. To follow Jesus means we will suffer.

6. *AFFECTION*

2 Corinthians 6.11-13 “open wide your hearts also.”

Paul told the Corinthians that effective ministry is not just about the open word, but an open heart too. It’s about building relationships with people and truly caring about their needs.

7. *HOLINESS*

2 Corinthians 6.14-18 “Do not be yoked together with nonbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?”

Paul is saying that in order to serve Christ one must be holy. We are called to be separate from the world. How effective can I be, in any ministry, if I act just as the world acts!?! If there is no difference in my life then what is the point?
We should not try to be partly committed to Christ while at the same time trying to remain partly committed to the world.

do you ever wonder if anyone cares? do you feel like you are alone in the world at times? do you sit back thinking i've lost my mind? do you need someone to tell you they understand? do you need help? do you look at your life and think what am i doing? do you talk to yourself a lot? do you say no a thousand times a day? do you get sick of hearing whining and crying? do you feel shut down emotionally? do you wonder how you are going to make it? do you cry?

PRAYER

Praise God for who he is; exalt and adore him. Give him glory all you people.

Rest in God; find peace and calm in him. Be directed and fixed in your Lord, find rest for your souls.

Anoint your life for God; set it apart as holy unto him. Devote all you have and all you are to him. Dedicate yourself to his service and purpose.

Yearn for God; be filled with desire for him and his will. Long to love the Lord and be in close relationship with him. Then desire these things for those around you.

Examine your life; look critically at yourself to see your condition. Inspect your habits and beliefs, scrutinize your practices and thoughts, investigate your actions and words. Bring all under the Lordship of Jesus.

Renew your commitment to God and allow him to revive you. Begin again, each day with God. Ask him to make you strong. Anticipate and accept a refreshing of your spirit and a refilling of his.

-AH

March is Over!

Can you believe that March is over and April is here tomorrow??? More and more I find myself seeing time flash more quickly! My kids are growing so fast. I'm astounded at how much they change in a short period of time. God, teach me to teach them. Amen.

TEST

I wanted to see how to see Microsoft Office to post blogs.

Creative Cropping

Here's my entry in the i heart faces creative cropping contest! Check out their web site for lots of great ideas on cropping and other photo techniques.

This first one is the original photo.








This photo is the new and improved one. My son loves to say "cheeeeeeeeese"

Messy Face

This is my entry this week (week 8 for the kids category) in the i heart faces photo blog. Check out their web site it's fun and I've already gotten some great ideas for my photos. Thanks!

I took this when my daughter turned 1.

March Madness Indeed!

There is something incredibly humbling in realizing that you sometimes treat God the same way that your children sometimes treat you! I am often reminded that I have ignored God’s instruction and commands the way my children ignore mine. I am faced with the task of training my children to follow God’s instruction and I often fail to do the same in my own life.

How am I to do this?

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 5.1-2 as dearly loved children! Wow! I know that most of us have been told that “we are God’s children” but how many of us actually consider ourselves his children? Furthermore, how many of us consider ourselves as dearly loved?

Dictionary.com defines dear as: beloved or loved; precious in one's regard; cherished; heartfelt; earnest; high-priced; expensive; an affectionate or familiar term of address; fondness; a beloved one! You are precious in God’s regard! Not only that, but he considers you to be high-priced! You are worth a great deal to him. Let that fact sink over you for a moment.

It’s been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, but I would say it’s the ultimate response we can give to God for his love toward us. He loves us and we should reciprocate by loving others (including our children), in the same manner.

As I think about these things, I am reminded of how God’s forgiveness continues to wash over me and how I must continue to extend that same forgiveness to my children when they just seem to not “get it”. They are learning, as am I, to follow closely the One who “gave himself up for [me] as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

How can I not imitate that love for my own children? Even when I am ready to pull my hair out from the insanity and frustration!

Put your name in the blank and remember it as often as your children disobey:

Be an imitator of God’s love, _____________, because you are a dearly cherished and valued daughter of the king!

101 Ways to Praise...Part 4

16. 5 minuets per day - get a timer and use it to pray for 5 minuets for your family, spouse, kids, work, church, President, Congressmen, etc. This can be a time packed with powerful prayer.

17. 7 x 7 - this one comes from the National day of Prayer Task Force: Set aside time in your day, everyday, to pray for the 7 seats of power and influence in our nation. They are, government, military, media, business, education, church, and family. Visit www.ndptf.org for more information, tips, and scriptures for participating in 7 x 7.

18. Sing - this sounds elementary and even silly, but go with me for a second. When you're praying (for most of us it's silent prayer, right?) do songs or choruses ever come to mind? The next time that happens, sing it out. Allow God's Spirit to lead you in your prayer time, and just see what he brings to your mind.

19. Sing a new Song! - God's word often encourages us to sing to him a new song. After you're tried singing songs that come to mind try allowing God to lead you in a new song of praise to him. Open up your heart to him and just let it out.

101 Ways to Pray & Praise...Part 3

11. Pray with your children. Children are so open spiritually. Teach and guide them into a life of prayer and praise.

12. Silence. Listen for and to God. This can be very difficult but very rewarding. Try to spend an hour or more in silence and contemplation. See how God will bless you.

13. Meet with a prayer partner and share your joys and sorrows. Remember where two or three are gathered the Lord is there!

14. Pray your schedule. Give God your past week, month, quarter and ask for his perspective and comments. Do the same with your coming day and week. Ask him for insight into the things he wants you to do and not to do, accomplish, pray for, and people to meet with. Ask him to permeate your plans.

15. Minister to God. God is seeking worshipers who will worship him in spirit and in truth. In stead of asking for anything give him worship. Praise him for who he is and what he has done for you.

What are you waiting for?

From the One-Minuet Writer

I would like to say that I am waiting on the Lord. Hoping in his salvation and eternal life. There are days when I forget to do this, days when I forget that this physical world I see is not all there is to reality. And I must say that those days are the ones when I am most frustrated with my kids, others, and myself. I would rather spend my time basking in the peace that surpasses all understanding than running in "the rat race". Amen

If you could live for a year at a different time in history, what time would you choose?

From the One-Minuet Writer

Definitely, 1950s! This one's easy for me because I've always loved the fifties: the music, the cars, the saddle shoes and poodle skirts. I love it all. I think it was also a time before things really started to change for the worse in our country. With all of our amenities and affluence I thin we've gotten worse at treating each other with respect and concern. You know the things you see in the old movies. A time when people were courteous to each other for no reason at all just because they respected each other as human beings. I'm not saying things were perfect just better in that regard.

If I Had A Nickle For...

From One-Minuet Writer

If I had a nickle for every toy I pick up I'd be pretty well off.

If I had a nickle for every dish I wash I'd be a millionaire.

If I had a nickle for every time I say "Don't do that." or "Stop doing that." (to my kids) I'd be a billionaire!

Where Do Your Affections Lie?

I once heard worship defined as, “ the object or person on which your affection lies.” Does your affection lie with the Great I AM, the Creator God or is it resting on something or someone else. Over the past couple of years I’ve learned a few ‘litmus’ tests to discover where your affection lies. I’d like to share them with you and I hope that you consider where your affection is placed because Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “love the LORD your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind, and all your strength.”
(Mk. 12.30)

1. Where and on what do you spend your free time? Do you spend your free time doing things that have kingdom value? Are you using your time wisely or do you simply waste away in front of the tv or computer? This is not to say that television or computer play is bad. Just check yourself in how much of your free is spent doing this or something of spiritual significance.

2. Where and on what do you spend your money? Is it easy for you to give freely? In case I haven’t meddled enough, the things you spend your money on can tell you a lot about your affection. Do you constantly spend money on yourself and those who are closest to you? Do you use funds to share with ‘the least’, ‘the poor’, or those who aren’t in your circle of friends? Do you spend more money accessorizing (home, vehicle, self) then you do on kingdom business?

3. Where are your thoughts concentrated? Do your thoughts center on worrying about “what ifs”? Are you constantly thinking about someone, so that they become an obsession (husband, children, parents, etc.)? What do you day dream about?

Our Father is seeking true, spiritual worshipers (Jn. 4.23 emphasis added). He desires the “valentine” of your heart rather than mere lip service. I’ll leave you with the words of Paul found in Romans 12.1-2:

I urge you, brothers (sisters), in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

101 Ways to Pray & Praise...Part 2

6. I love to sing old hymns. My children and I belt them out when we're doing chores and the like. Hymns are full of wonderful praise!

7. I love to use the ABCs. One thing I'm glad God gave me for each letter. This can also be a great mental exercise, trying to think of different things each time I go through the alphabet.

8. Write a psalm to God and then pray it back to God.

9. Use an address book to keep track of the people and situations you are praying for. Everyday pray through a couple of letters.

10. Pray T.H.U.M.B. I got this one from Pray! mag. it stands for: T is for Tribal people and animists; H for Hindus; U is for the unreached, unreligious, and unconvinced; M for Muslims; and B for Buddhists.