Mama Mia
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: PSALM 145:18
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
MAMA MIA
A few weeks ago, Bill and I went to see Mama Mia. The movie did not receive two thumbs up, from the critics, but we enjoyed it. It was colorful. It was fun. I have already told Bill that he can get me the DVD Mama Mia for my birthday. He likes it when I make shopping easy for him.
I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Abba music, but since seeing the movie, I have listened to the Abba Gold over and over and over. To the point that their songs are going around and around in my head. (Some people would say that there would be plenty of empty space for them to bounce around in.) Anyway, one song just keeps returning: Take a Chance on Me.
When I listened to that song for at least the millionth time - okay, that might be stretching it a bit, I figured out why I liked it. It reminded me of God talking to me.
I can hear God saying, "If you change your mind, I'm the first in line. If you need me, I will be around. If you have no place to go. If you are feeling down. Take a chance on me."
"If you are all alone, I will do my very best. Put me to the test. If you will let me try. Take a chance on me."
"I will be there when you dance, walk or listen to music. I just want us to be together. To get to know each other better. Take a chance on me."
God would then assure me, "I cannot let go. I am in no hurry. Take a chance on me. My love is strong enough to last when things are rough."
There are so many wonderful Christian songs, but the surprise is when we find God in an unexpected song. Take a Chance on Me is not a Christian song, but isn't that what God is asking us to do?
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
When do you take a chance on God? When you are alone? When you are feeling down?
Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.
LET US PRAY
To the God whose love is strong enough when my times get rough. To the God who allows me to change my mind and turn to Him. To the God who welcomes me with open arms when I am at my lowest and have no place to go. To the God who wants me to know Him better. To the God who has taken a chance on me. Thank you for being in unusual places where I can be reminded that You are always there for me to turn to. Amen
Friday, September 26, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
CLEAN WINDOWS
TODAY'S SCRIPTURES ACTS 9: parts of 8-18
Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.
The Lord told him (Ananias), "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord-- Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately something like scales fell from Saul's eyes and he could see again. he got up and was baptized.
CLEAN WINDOWS
The windows are finally clean. We kept putting this off for a number of reasons, one of which is that I feel so frustrated when I wash windows. I have tried every suggestion and I am still the queen of streaked windows. Also, the window washing had to wait. We were getting the house pressure washed to get rid of that yucky gree stuff decorating the siding and did not want to wash the windows until that was done. The house received a bath, so there were no more excuses. It was time to attack the windows.
Know what I found out? There is a very nice man who has a window washing service. He and his daughter washed our windows--all of them--in the time it would have taken me to get the ladder out. One of the things I really, really, really like about our house is the the big windows. One of the things I really, really, really like about a window cleaning service is that someone else got on top of a very tall ladder (and on the roof) to wash those windows.
Boy do our windows look better. You can actually see out without looking through smudges. WE have a completely new outlook on life. We can see!
Sorta like Saul. He had an eye problem. He saw the world through the eyes of hate. Then Saul encountered Jesus. Then he really had an eye problem--he could not see at all. What to do? Enter Ananias. With the touch of his hand, Saul could see. Ananias, like our window washer, cleaned Saul's eyes so he could see. So he could see with new vision. The vision of Jesus.
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
Do you have anything covering your eyes? Are you willing to allow others help you see?
Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.
LET US PRAY
Jesus, I know sometimes that my vision is blurry. I allow the world to cloud my vision. And sometimes I just close my eyes so I don't see. Touch my eyes. Clear my vision. Clear my vision so I can see the wonders of your creation. So I can see the vision of Jesus. So I can see.....Amen
TODAY'S SCRIPTURES ACTS 9: parts of 8-18
Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.
The Lord told him (Ananias), "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord-- Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately something like scales fell from Saul's eyes and he could see again. he got up and was baptized.
CLEAN WINDOWS
The windows are finally clean. We kept putting this off for a number of reasons, one of which is that I feel so frustrated when I wash windows. I have tried every suggestion and I am still the queen of streaked windows. Also, the window washing had to wait. We were getting the house pressure washed to get rid of that yucky gree stuff decorating the siding and did not want to wash the windows until that was done. The house received a bath, so there were no more excuses. It was time to attack the windows.
Know what I found out? There is a very nice man who has a window washing service. He and his daughter washed our windows--all of them--in the time it would have taken me to get the ladder out. One of the things I really, really, really like about our house is the the big windows. One of the things I really, really, really like about a window cleaning service is that someone else got on top of a very tall ladder (and on the roof) to wash those windows.
Boy do our windows look better. You can actually see out without looking through smudges. WE have a completely new outlook on life. We can see!
Sorta like Saul. He had an eye problem. He saw the world through the eyes of hate. Then Saul encountered Jesus. Then he really had an eye problem--he could not see at all. What to do? Enter Ananias. With the touch of his hand, Saul could see. Ananias, like our window washer, cleaned Saul's eyes so he could see. So he could see with new vision. The vision of Jesus.
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
Do you have anything covering your eyes? Are you willing to allow others help you see?
Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.
LET US PRAY
Jesus, I know sometimes that my vision is blurry. I allow the world to cloud my vision. And sometimes I just close my eyes so I don't see. Touch my eyes. Clear my vision. Clear my vision so I can see the wonders of your creation. So I can see the vision of Jesus. So I can see.....Amen
Friday, September 12, 2008
TIMMY TIME
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 3:9-11
But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; so I hid." And he said, "Who told you that you were naked?"
TIMMY TIME
Timmy is the last of the grandchildren to come for an overnight in the new house. (If you do not remember Timmy and his excitement over the new house, re-read July 11, 2008.) I am excited about Timmy coming too! I never know what to expect out of Timmy. The youngest of four boys, he will try anything he sees his older brothers do. Each of his brothers told him what they did while they were here, so Timmy has a long list of things we are to do: Blow bubbles, read, blow bubbles, play Frisbee, make a craft and play games. I think we are going to be very busy.
One of the biggest challenges, with this be-five-in-February boy is keeping his clothes on him. In the middle of winter, he runs around in shorts. If he had it his way, he would be naked. With absolute abandon, he dances and spins. The other night, Bill and I saw a cell phone commercial that pointed out that a family would not know about the nudist beaches because they had no cell phone coverage. Bill and I looked at each other and laughed. Both thinking, "Timmy's kind of beach." For sure, Timmy feels he has nothing to hide.
Wouldn't it be great to feel that free? Adam and Eve felt that free at first. They had nothing to hide from God. Then things changed, with one little bite of fruit. Did they really think putting on clothes would cover up their sins? Maybe from other people, but not from God.
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
When you feel like dancing and spinning? When do you feel free? When do you want to cover up and hide behind a bush?
Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.
LET US PRAY
Dear God, You created us in your image and you placed us in a perfect place - The Garden of Eden. One little bite and now we hide from you. Let me lay all of my sins, mistakes and just plain bad judgment before you. Let me accept your grace so I can come before you and dance and spin. … Amen
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 3:9-11
But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; so I hid." And he said, "Who told you that you were naked?"
TIMMY TIME
Timmy is the last of the grandchildren to come for an overnight in the new house. (If you do not remember Timmy and his excitement over the new house, re-read July 11, 2008.) I am excited about Timmy coming too! I never know what to expect out of Timmy. The youngest of four boys, he will try anything he sees his older brothers do. Each of his brothers told him what they did while they were here, so Timmy has a long list of things we are to do: Blow bubbles, read, blow bubbles, play Frisbee, make a craft and play games. I think we are going to be very busy.
One of the biggest challenges, with this be-five-in-February boy is keeping his clothes on him. In the middle of winter, he runs around in shorts. If he had it his way, he would be naked. With absolute abandon, he dances and spins. The other night, Bill and I saw a cell phone commercial that pointed out that a family would not know about the nudist beaches because they had no cell phone coverage. Bill and I looked at each other and laughed. Both thinking, "Timmy's kind of beach." For sure, Timmy feels he has nothing to hide.
Wouldn't it be great to feel that free? Adam and Eve felt that free at first. They had nothing to hide from God. Then things changed, with one little bite of fruit. Did they really think putting on clothes would cover up their sins? Maybe from other people, but not from God.
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
When you feel like dancing and spinning? When do you feel free? When do you want to cover up and hide behind a bush?
Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.
LET US PRAY
Dear God, You created us in your image and you placed us in a perfect place - The Garden of Eden. One little bite and now we hide from you. Let me lay all of my sins, mistakes and just plain bad judgment before you. Let me accept your grace so I can come before you and dance and spin. … Amen
Friday, September 05, 2008
GETTING READY
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9
However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"
GETTING READY
Can you believe it is September? I am not sure where this year has gone, but it has gone fast. I think it is because this has been and will continue to be a year of getting ready and making decisions. So many decisions.
I am not sure if I mentioned this: We are retiring at the end of this year. Actually, sorta retiring. Bill manages farms and I do the office work. That part of our work we will turn over to others in the company. Bill will continue to sell farm real estate and do farm appraisals. He has also looked into part time jobs. Oh, more decisions.
I will spend more time with the children and grandkids, continue to cashier auctions, write and read. So, don't worry. We will be busy. We will just be getting rid of a LOT of responsibilities. We are getting ready to retire.
Part of this year was spent getting ready to move. We are very comfortable in our new home and most of the boxes are unpacked. There are still some in the back of a closet that will get unpacked someday -- maybe. We moved and now we are getting ready to do all those little things to the house you discover after you move in.
September is such a wonderful time to take a vacation. September 13 we are heading to Colorado and Yellowstone National Park so we are thinking about what to pack. Again, getting ready.
There have already been hints about Christmas gifts. So I am also getting ready for Christmas.
So many things in life to get ready for -- just plain ole growing up and all those life decisions: higher education, jobs, marriage, children, where to live. Come to think of it, getting ready has been going on my whole life, not just this year. Since I was born, I have been getting ready.
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What are you getting ready for?
Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.
LET US PRAY
My dear God, Right now my life is consumed by the demands of day-to-day living. It seems there is never enough time. I have to ______________________________. This person and that person needs me to ________________________. Dear God, give me time each day to get ready. Time to prepare for the most important part of my life. Give me time for You. Time to get ready so my eyes will see, by ears will hear and my mind will conceive all you have prepared for me. Amen.
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9
However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"
GETTING READY
Can you believe it is September? I am not sure where this year has gone, but it has gone fast. I think it is because this has been and will continue to be a year of getting ready and making decisions. So many decisions.
I am not sure if I mentioned this: We are retiring at the end of this year. Actually, sorta retiring. Bill manages farms and I do the office work. That part of our work we will turn over to others in the company. Bill will continue to sell farm real estate and do farm appraisals. He has also looked into part time jobs. Oh, more decisions.
I will spend more time with the children and grandkids, continue to cashier auctions, write and read. So, don't worry. We will be busy. We will just be getting rid of a LOT of responsibilities. We are getting ready to retire.
Part of this year was spent getting ready to move. We are very comfortable in our new home and most of the boxes are unpacked. There are still some in the back of a closet that will get unpacked someday -- maybe. We moved and now we are getting ready to do all those little things to the house you discover after you move in.
September is such a wonderful time to take a vacation. September 13 we are heading to Colorado and Yellowstone National Park so we are thinking about what to pack. Again, getting ready.
There have already been hints about Christmas gifts. So I am also getting ready for Christmas.
So many things in life to get ready for -- just plain ole growing up and all those life decisions: higher education, jobs, marriage, children, where to live. Come to think of it, getting ready has been going on my whole life, not just this year. Since I was born, I have been getting ready.
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What are you getting ready for?
Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.
LET US PRAY
My dear God, Right now my life is consumed by the demands of day-to-day living. It seems there is never enough time. I have to ______________________________. This person and that person needs me to ________________________. Dear God, give me time each day to get ready. Time to prepare for the most important part of my life. Give me time for You. Time to get ready so my eyes will see, by ears will hear and my mind will conceive all you have prepared for me. Amen.
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