Natalie Grant Christmas Tour!
When: Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 7pm
Where: Syracuse Alliance Church
3112 Midland Ave
Syracuse, NY 13202
Price: $18 in advance, $20 at the door
For more info, go to http://www.cnycrossroads.com/.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Cost of Being a Disciple of Christ
If I tell you that you will be laughed at by everyone, a weirdo in people's eyes, can never have what you want in any areas of your life, Satan will target you for every attack possible none stop, and all your hard work on earth will be rewarded only in heaven because that is what will happen if you follow Christ, will you still follow Him?
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sens de Vie!
Meaning of Life Tour
Central New Yorkers, this event is for you!! An evening of music, mystery, and illusions, Master Illusionist BJ Harris, together with recording artists Tal & Acacia and Don B. formally of the Ringling Bros. Circus, will leave you and your family breathless with amazement and wonder! Join us for a night you’ll never forget!
Where: The Palace Theater
When: 10/25/2008
Time: 7:00PM
Tickets: $10 Adults / $5 Kids
For more information, go to http://www.cnycrossroads.com/.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
You are God of me
I praise You, O LORD!
I praise You!!!
Thank You for a beautiful day, O LORD.
And to think that You're so much more beautiful than my eyes have seen...
Just unfathomable...
You are God of me
You are God of the heavens
God of the earth.
And You are God of me.
Who am I that You are mindful of me?
You, the Creator of the universe.
You are so holy.
You are so magnificent.
You are who You are.
You are the great I AM.
O God, my heart is so full.
It can't contain You.
It can't grasp all that You are.
You are in every fiber of my soul.
Your Spirit fills the whole earth.
You, O LORD, are my God.
I'm so in awe of You.
I praise You!!!
Thank You for a beautiful day, O LORD.
And to think that You're so much more beautiful than my eyes have seen...
Just unfathomable...
You are God of me
You are God of the heavens
God of the earth.
And You are God of me.
Who am I that You are mindful of me?
You, the Creator of the universe.
You are so holy.
You are so magnificent.
You are who You are.
You are the great I AM.
O God, my heart is so full.
It can't contain You.
It can't grasp all that You are.
You are in every fiber of my soul.
Your Spirit fills the whole earth.
You, O LORD, are my God.
I'm so in awe of You.
I'm so in love with You...
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Can we have integrity apart from Christ?
It's not about being perfect - no one is. But it's being consistent about who we are no matter where we are.
Now, if we just stop right there, many people may claim they have integrity even those who are consistently bad. So here is how Merriam-Webster define "Integrity":
1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility
2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness
3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness
This is how this society defines integrity. It's not from the Bible. It's not "Christian". It's from the dictionary.
For this post, we are trying to determine the moral side of integrity. So we will take definition #1.
So let's get a show of hands - who has the "especially" moral values down? Not many of you raised your hands. But some of you did. It's so relative, isn't it? My moral values are probably not yours. Yours may not be mine. His may be better than mine. Hers may be lower than someone else's. So if we try to determine "integrity" by our own human definition, we get contradictions. There is no absolute.
And in our society right now, that's what we desire. We like that no one can tell us what's right or wrong. We like that no one can tell us what to do. Everyone is different, so everyone can do things their own way. We should all tolerate one another.
This is fine until my way encroaches on your way. Then somehow your moral system seems to be better than mine. And then you become right and I become wrong - even though we agreed at the beginning that my values are just as good as yours.
Do you see this hypocrisy?
So my answer to the question is this: NO, we CANNOT have integrity apart from Christ.
Before you start slamming me, let me say this: NOT all Christians have integrity. Just like not all Buddhists or New Agers or Muslims are perfect either.
BUT if we want consistent moral values across the board, we can only get them from God (who is perfect). Christ came down from heaven to show us the way to God. He said, I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.
But we have to first realize that our denying of our wrongdoings doesn't work - half of the time, we're not even living up to our own standards. Jesus did not come to condemn us. He came to free us from our guilt, from doing the same bad things over and over again. The solution to our guilt is not to bury them or to ask other people to accept the wrong action or to make other people do the same thing so you feel better.
The solution is to admit that it's wrong and turn from it and accept God's forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Doesn't that sound a lot better and simpler than doing it your way? And this is not a man-made religion. A relationship with God is offered from God Himself. We cannot do anything to deserve it. There is no credit to us, period.
So if you're struggling right now with your life and I know you are (even if you have a successful career, wonderful family, big house, or can party all night, you're probably still struggling with something), consider this: Jesus Christ already took your punishment for your crimes (against yourself, against your friends, against your enemies, against your spouse, etc.), all you have to do is to accept this gift from Him. Receive God's forgiveness and follow Him. Stop doing what you were doing (because that didn't get you anywhere). And do what He wants you to do. His way is better because
Now, if we just stop right there, many people may claim they have integrity even those who are consistently bad. So here is how Merriam-Webster define "Integrity":
1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility
2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness
3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness
This is how this society defines integrity. It's not from the Bible. It's not "Christian". It's from the dictionary.
For this post, we are trying to determine the moral side of integrity. So we will take definition #1.
So let's get a show of hands - who has the "especially" moral values down? Not many of you raised your hands. But some of you did. It's so relative, isn't it? My moral values are probably not yours. Yours may not be mine. His may be better than mine. Hers may be lower than someone else's. So if we try to determine "integrity" by our own human definition, we get contradictions. There is no absolute.
And in our society right now, that's what we desire. We like that no one can tell us what's right or wrong. We like that no one can tell us what to do. Everyone is different, so everyone can do things their own way. We should all tolerate one another.
This is fine until my way encroaches on your way. Then somehow your moral system seems to be better than mine. And then you become right and I become wrong - even though we agreed at the beginning that my values are just as good as yours.
Do you see this hypocrisy?
So my answer to the question is this: NO, we CANNOT have integrity apart from Christ.
Before you start slamming me, let me say this: NOT all Christians have integrity. Just like not all Buddhists or New Agers or Muslims are perfect either.
BUT if we want consistent moral values across the board, we can only get them from God (who is perfect). Christ came down from heaven to show us the way to God. He said, I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.
But we have to first realize that our denying of our wrongdoings doesn't work - half of the time, we're not even living up to our own standards. Jesus did not come to condemn us. He came to free us from our guilt, from doing the same bad things over and over again. The solution to our guilt is not to bury them or to ask other people to accept the wrong action or to make other people do the same thing so you feel better.
The solution is to admit that it's wrong and turn from it and accept God's forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Doesn't that sound a lot better and simpler than doing it your way? And this is not a man-made religion. A relationship with God is offered from God Himself. We cannot do anything to deserve it. There is no credit to us, period.
So if you're struggling right now with your life and I know you are (even if you have a successful career, wonderful family, big house, or can party all night, you're probably still struggling with something), consider this: Jesus Christ already took your punishment for your crimes (against yourself, against your friends, against your enemies, against your spouse, etc.), all you have to do is to accept this gift from Him. Receive God's forgiveness and follow Him. Stop doing what you were doing (because that didn't get you anywhere). And do what He wants you to do. His way is better because
- He's ALL powerful.
- He knows everything that's going on in the world and whatever is in your mind.
- He's outside of time and dimension.
- He knows you better than you know yourself.
- He loves you (He's willing to and did die for you).
- He has a plan for you.
Being a Christian is not about being perfect. We don't make all the right decisions. We don't say all the right things. We don't think holy all the time. It is, however, about Jesus. It is about God. It is about what He has done for us. It is about that we are sinners who desperately need to be freed from this prison of sin and guilt. It is about Him setting us free by taking our punishment for us. It is about us following Him humbly and learning about Him with the Holy Spirit's help and the amazing grace and mercy that we call upon for forgiveness when we do sin. It is all about Him.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Authenticity
Authentic Unbeliever: this is who I am, so take it or leave it.
Authentic Believer: this is who I am right now, Christ is who I want to be like. I'm struggling, so help me.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
New baby!!
Okay, not mine. But we now have a nephew! Tim and Heather's new addition, Josiah, was born on July 21, 2008, weighing 6 lb 8oz! And he's such a cutie, too! Congratuations, Tim and Heather!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Obama in Epicenter: Will he admit mistake in opposing the "surge" in Iraq?
Check out this article by Joel Rosenberg:
The race for President of the United States is currently in a dead heat. I have absolutely no idea who is going to win this thing, and anyone who tells you they do is just guessing. Remember: a year ago, the pundits said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was a "sure thing" to win the Democratic nomination, and Sen. John McCain was a "sure thing" not to win the GOP nomination. The pundits were wrong then. I wouldn't put much stock in them now....That said, Sen. Barack Obama faces a very real and daunting hurdle to victory in November. Only 48% of Americans think he would be a strong and decisive enough Commander-in-Chief to lead the U.S. through what could be a tumultous next four years, according to a poll released last week by ABC News. Another 48% are convinced Sen. Obama would specifically not be a good Commander-in-Chief. By contrast, 72% of Americans believe Sen. John McCain would lead our military forces well, while only 25% say he would not. Understand that gap and you'll understand precisely why Obama this week is in the epicenter....With all eyes fixed on Israel and her neighbors and the conflicts that consume them, the junior Senator from Illinois realizes his international record does not inspire confidence. He has no military experience and precious little foreign policy experience, certainly none to compare with to Sen. McCain, a bonafide war hero who has been engaged in every major foreign policy debate of the last quarter century. To win in November, Obama has to close that perception gap. He has to convince more Americans that he is ready for whatever comes next, be it more terrorism from al Qaeda, or an orderly transition of power in Iraq, or -- heaven forbid -- a full blown war with Iran. So he is meeting with foreign leaders as well as U.S. military commanders on the ground in Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan and Israel and hoping at the very least that the pictures Americans see on TV and in the newspapers from his whirlwind tour will cause them to begin to see him as a world leader and ease their many doubts....While it's true that a picture is worth a thousand words, even a week's worth of photos may not be enough. After all, the Senator's core problem is not simply that he lacks the requisite experience. It's the widespread perception that he lacks the necessary judgment when it comes to the most troubling issues of the Middle East. Consider two examples, Iraq and Iran.
-----------------------------
IRAQ -- From the moment President Bush announced that he was taking Sen. McCain's advice to send more U.S. troops to Iraq to crush the insurgency and restore order, Sen. Obama has been a fierce critic of the "surge," arguing not only that it would not help, but that it would actually make the situation worse. "I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq are going tosolve the sectarian violence there," Obama said on January 17, 2007. "In fact, I think it will do the reverse." Eighteen months later, the results are in: the "surge" has been an astounding success. Things didn't get worse. They got better. Much better. Violent attacks against U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians are down 80%. More than 90% of Iraqi terroritory is now quite safe. More than 70% of combat operations in Iraq are now led by Iraqi forces, with U.S. assistance. Yet Sen. Obama struggles to acknowlege the success and refuses to describe his decision to vote against the "surge" in Iraq as a mistake, even as he supports a surge of more U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Consider this exchange yesterday with Terry Moran of ABC News.
Moran: "'[T]he surge of U.S. troops, combined with ordinary Iraqis' rejection of both al Qaeda and Shiite extremists have transformed the country. Attacks are down more than 80% nationwide. U.S. combat casualties have plummeted, five this month so far, compared with 78 last July, and Baghdad has a pulse again.' If you had to do it over again, knowing what you know now, would you -- would you support the surge?"
Obama: "No, because -- keep in mind that -"
Moran: "You wouldn't?"
Obama: "Well, no, keep -- these kinds of hypotheticals are very difficult. Hindsight is 20/20. I think what I am absolutely convinced of is that at that time, we had to change the political debate, because the view of the Bush administration at that time was one that I just disagreed with."
Moran: "And so, when pressed, Barack Obama says he still would have opposed the surge."
----------------------------
IRAN -- In May of this year, Sen. Obama told a town hall meeting that he thought of Iran as small and relatively harmless country, hardly a major threat to the United States, Israel or our allies in the Middle East. “I mean think about it.," he told a group of supporters. "Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union. They don't pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us....You know, Iran, they spend one-one hundredth of what we spend on the military." His aides and advisors were horrified. Even Sen. Clinton conceded Iran was a major threat -- particularly given the regime's lust for nuclear weapons --though she refused to offer a plan to neutralize the threat. So the next day, the Senator flip-flopped. He told a new audience a new story, that he actually does believe Iran is a threat. But Obama's original, unscripted remarks were telling. In his heart, Sen. Obama does not actually believe the regime led by the Ayatollah Khameini and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are deeply and inherently dangerous. He sees Iran as a nuisance, not a forthcoming nuclear-armed power. That is why he is so adamant about wanting to sit down and negotiate personally with Ahmadinejad, without preconditions. His official website actually boasts about this position. "Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions," it reads. But to what end?....Has Sen. Obama actually studied the speeches of Khameini and Ahmadinejad? Has he studied their eschatology, or end times theology? Has he been properly briefed on how this eschatology is driving Iranian foreign policy? No one who truly understands what the current Iranian leadership believes could honestly conclude that they can be successfully negotiated with, much less deterred. Ahmadinejad, after all, believes it is his God-given mission to annihilate the U.S., Israel and Judeo-Christian civilization as we know. Why? To create the conditions that will bring the Islamic Messiah known as the Mahdi or the "12th Imam" to earth. Ahmadinejad is not just another power-hungry dictator in the mold of the Soviet or Chinese leaders of yore. He is a Shia Islamic fascist. He believes his life destiny is to kill millions of Jews and Christians and usher in an Islamic caliphate. He believes he is a John-the-Baptist, a forerunner, of the Islamic Messiah. If he dies, he believes he will spend eternity in paradise with 72 virgins. But he doesn't really believe he's going to die. He believes he has been chosen for a divine appointment, and that nothing can stop him. That is what makes him so dangerous. Unfortunately, too many Washington politicians -- Sen. Obama included -- do not understand this....Bottom line: I am glad Sen. Obama and his team are traveling through the epicenter this week. My prayer is that aside from all the lights and cameras and political stagecraft, the Senator is able to hear and discern true wisdom about the actual conditions and trendlines in the region. I hope he is able to come away with a new sense of the high stakes of American failure or success in Iraq, and a palpable sense of the rising threat from Iran. The eyes of the nations are riveted on the Middle East for a reason. The future of the world increasingly depends on what happens there, and the future of America depends a great deal on having a President who understands the times and knows what the U.S. should do.
The race for President of the United States is currently in a dead heat. I have absolutely no idea who is going to win this thing, and anyone who tells you they do is just guessing. Remember: a year ago, the pundits said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was a "sure thing" to win the Democratic nomination, and Sen. John McCain was a "sure thing" not to win the GOP nomination. The pundits were wrong then. I wouldn't put much stock in them now....That said, Sen. Barack Obama faces a very real and daunting hurdle to victory in November. Only 48% of Americans think he would be a strong and decisive enough Commander-in-Chief to lead the U.S. through what could be a tumultous next four years, according to a poll released last week by ABC News. Another 48% are convinced Sen. Obama would specifically not be a good Commander-in-Chief. By contrast, 72% of Americans believe Sen. John McCain would lead our military forces well, while only 25% say he would not. Understand that gap and you'll understand precisely why Obama this week is in the epicenter....With all eyes fixed on Israel and her neighbors and the conflicts that consume them, the junior Senator from Illinois realizes his international record does not inspire confidence. He has no military experience and precious little foreign policy experience, certainly none to compare with to Sen. McCain, a bonafide war hero who has been engaged in every major foreign policy debate of the last quarter century. To win in November, Obama has to close that perception gap. He has to convince more Americans that he is ready for whatever comes next, be it more terrorism from al Qaeda, or an orderly transition of power in Iraq, or -- heaven forbid -- a full blown war with Iran. So he is meeting with foreign leaders as well as U.S. military commanders on the ground in Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan and Israel and hoping at the very least that the pictures Americans see on TV and in the newspapers from his whirlwind tour will cause them to begin to see him as a world leader and ease their many doubts....While it's true that a picture is worth a thousand words, even a week's worth of photos may not be enough. After all, the Senator's core problem is not simply that he lacks the requisite experience. It's the widespread perception that he lacks the necessary judgment when it comes to the most troubling issues of the Middle East. Consider two examples, Iraq and Iran.
-----------------------------
IRAQ -- From the moment President Bush announced that he was taking Sen. McCain's advice to send more U.S. troops to Iraq to crush the insurgency and restore order, Sen. Obama has been a fierce critic of the "surge," arguing not only that it would not help, but that it would actually make the situation worse. "I am not persuaded that 20,000 additional troops in Iraq are going tosolve the sectarian violence there," Obama said on January 17, 2007. "In fact, I think it will do the reverse." Eighteen months later, the results are in: the "surge" has been an astounding success. Things didn't get worse. They got better. Much better. Violent attacks against U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians are down 80%. More than 90% of Iraqi terroritory is now quite safe. More than 70% of combat operations in Iraq are now led by Iraqi forces, with U.S. assistance. Yet Sen. Obama struggles to acknowlege the success and refuses to describe his decision to vote against the "surge" in Iraq as a mistake, even as he supports a surge of more U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Consider this exchange yesterday with Terry Moran of ABC News.
Moran: "'[T]he surge of U.S. troops, combined with ordinary Iraqis' rejection of both al Qaeda and Shiite extremists have transformed the country. Attacks are down more than 80% nationwide. U.S. combat casualties have plummeted, five this month so far, compared with 78 last July, and Baghdad has a pulse again.' If you had to do it over again, knowing what you know now, would you -- would you support the surge?"
Obama: "No, because -- keep in mind that -"
Moran: "You wouldn't?"
Obama: "Well, no, keep -- these kinds of hypotheticals are very difficult. Hindsight is 20/20. I think what I am absolutely convinced of is that at that time, we had to change the political debate, because the view of the Bush administration at that time was one that I just disagreed with."
Moran: "And so, when pressed, Barack Obama says he still would have opposed the surge."
----------------------------
IRAN -- In May of this year, Sen. Obama told a town hall meeting that he thought of Iran as small and relatively harmless country, hardly a major threat to the United States, Israel or our allies in the Middle East. “I mean think about it.," he told a group of supporters. "Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union. They don't pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us....You know, Iran, they spend one-one hundredth of what we spend on the military." His aides and advisors were horrified. Even Sen. Clinton conceded Iran was a major threat -- particularly given the regime's lust for nuclear weapons --though she refused to offer a plan to neutralize the threat. So the next day, the Senator flip-flopped. He told a new audience a new story, that he actually does believe Iran is a threat. But Obama's original, unscripted remarks were telling. In his heart, Sen. Obama does not actually believe the regime led by the Ayatollah Khameini and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are deeply and inherently dangerous. He sees Iran as a nuisance, not a forthcoming nuclear-armed power. That is why he is so adamant about wanting to sit down and negotiate personally with Ahmadinejad, without preconditions. His official website actually boasts about this position. "Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions," it reads. But to what end?....Has Sen. Obama actually studied the speeches of Khameini and Ahmadinejad? Has he studied their eschatology, or end times theology? Has he been properly briefed on how this eschatology is driving Iranian foreign policy? No one who truly understands what the current Iranian leadership believes could honestly conclude that they can be successfully negotiated with, much less deterred. Ahmadinejad, after all, believes it is his God-given mission to annihilate the U.S., Israel and Judeo-Christian civilization as we know. Why? To create the conditions that will bring the Islamic Messiah known as the Mahdi or the "12th Imam" to earth. Ahmadinejad is not just another power-hungry dictator in the mold of the Soviet or Chinese leaders of yore. He is a Shia Islamic fascist. He believes his life destiny is to kill millions of Jews and Christians and usher in an Islamic caliphate. He believes he is a John-the-Baptist, a forerunner, of the Islamic Messiah. If he dies, he believes he will spend eternity in paradise with 72 virgins. But he doesn't really believe he's going to die. He believes he has been chosen for a divine appointment, and that nothing can stop him. That is what makes him so dangerous. Unfortunately, too many Washington politicians -- Sen. Obama included -- do not understand this....Bottom line: I am glad Sen. Obama and his team are traveling through the epicenter this week. My prayer is that aside from all the lights and cameras and political stagecraft, the Senator is able to hear and discern true wisdom about the actual conditions and trendlines in the region. I hope he is able to come away with a new sense of the high stakes of American failure or success in Iraq, and a palpable sense of the rising threat from Iran. The eyes of the nations are riveted on the Middle East for a reason. The future of the world increasingly depends on what happens there, and the future of America depends a great deal on having a President who understands the times and knows what the U.S. should do.
Friday, July 11, 2008
End Times...
How close are we? Are we in it now? Joel Rosenberg - a Messianic Jew, an author known for "prophetic" fictions of last days, and a communications strategist who worked with some of the world's most influential leaders in business, politics, and media - brings us some of the things that are going on in the Middle East that our media doesn't know about (or decides to not cover). Check out his blog: http://joelrosenberg.blogspot.com/
Some of the things he reports are very interesting... The questions we need to ask are: am I ready for Christ to come back? Are the people around us ready? What are we to do about it?
Some of the things he reports are very interesting... The questions we need to ask are: am I ready for Christ to come back? Are the people around us ready? What are we to do about it?
Long Time No Post...
Wow, it has been more than a month since I posted here! Well, by other posts you probably know where I had been. You guessed right! I was busy getting my Project 31 Studio up and running. And recently, in the past 2 days, I posted my first listings on Etsy! Yes, finally! I actually feel a ton of weight off of my shoulders.
Remember a while ago I asked for prayer? Well, thanks for praying! It was a rough time for me to get this Project 31 studio started. It wasn't just the business side of things. It was more spiritual. I knew that God wanted me to do this for Him. This is a ministry not just a business. The point of doing this is to spread the Word in the arts/crafts world. This is not easy. I think God's point of doing this is also for me to learn to depend on Him. And that, I learned. For the past couple of months, all the sermons keep pointing me back to Him and to the original reason of why I'm doing this. During the middle to the end of a week, I would fall back into the trap of running a business to make money. Then God turns my mind around every Sunday. So I struggled with this constantly. Paul said to renew your mind daily. I learned this lesson again. If I don't focus on the LORD and lean on Him, I get selfish and think worldly.
Well, those of you who are reading this blog, I ask that you keep praying for me to lean on Him and do good work and for those who I will come in contact with in the art/craft world to know Him. Thank you!!
Remember a while ago I asked for prayer? Well, thanks for praying! It was a rough time for me to get this Project 31 studio started. It wasn't just the business side of things. It was more spiritual. I knew that God wanted me to do this for Him. This is a ministry not just a business. The point of doing this is to spread the Word in the arts/crafts world. This is not easy. I think God's point of doing this is also for me to learn to depend on Him. And that, I learned. For the past couple of months, all the sermons keep pointing me back to Him and to the original reason of why I'm doing this. During the middle to the end of a week, I would fall back into the trap of running a business to make money. Then God turns my mind around every Sunday. So I struggled with this constantly. Paul said to renew your mind daily. I learned this lesson again. If I don't focus on the LORD and lean on Him, I get selfish and think worldly.
Well, those of you who are reading this blog, I ask that you keep praying for me to lean on Him and do good work and for those who I will come in contact with in the art/craft world to know Him. Thank you!!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Project 31 update
Okay, I think I'm happy with my www.project31studio.com website/blog. I'll continue to post more pictures and improve the website, but for now, it's at least got the basics down. Thanks to Dan for all the efforts in helping set it up! It's nice to have a husband who's an expert in anything computer related. :)
Since I'm satisfied with the website for now, I'm moving on to finish getting my studio set up. We have already moved a few furniture pieces down to the basement with the help of a few other people. There is still a desk and a book shelf to go down. I recently bought a "scratch-and-dent" dining table for a pretty cheap price that Dan helped moved into the basement today. It's a pretty solid piece (heavy!) of furniture. I'm happy that I got it. It's got a nice surface for a work table. :)
So far, everything is moving along pretty well. I'm taking pictures of my creations - getting ready to post them on Etsy. Check out my Flickr badge in the side bar! So stay tuned! My Etsy store should be opening soon!
Since I'm satisfied with the website for now, I'm moving on to finish getting my studio set up. We have already moved a few furniture pieces down to the basement with the help of a few other people. There is still a desk and a book shelf to go down. I recently bought a "scratch-and-dent" dining table for a pretty cheap price that Dan helped moved into the basement today. It's a pretty solid piece (heavy!) of furniture. I'm happy that I got it. It's got a nice surface for a work table. :)
So far, everything is moving along pretty well. I'm taking pictures of my creations - getting ready to post them on Etsy. Check out my Flickr badge in the side bar! So stay tuned! My Etsy store should be opening soon!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Project 31 Studio
Sorry for not posting in a while! I've been busy working on getting my business started! I have now created another website/blog for my business, see www.project31studio.com. It's still under construction. I have to figure out the photo gallery - it's not quite what I wanted. But other than that, I like it. I spent quite a lot of time trying to figure out the banner/logo for my business and that is now the final product. I will be getting some business cards printed soon too. How exciting! :) I still have not posted anything for sale yet on Etsy. But I did write up the store policy and getting the banner and the avatar set. So it's pretty much good to go. I have a few ideas about packaging for my creations, but I have to make sure I have the right shipping options for them. So I'm almost there!
Monday, May 12, 2008
From Proverbs 31 to Project 31
So I guess I need to post how I ended up wanting to have a shop to sell my little creations.
Well, I've always been into arts and crafts and I've drawn, painted, quilted, photographed, printed, sewed, etc. And I've made a lot of gifts for others and things for the home. And upon reading, thinking, and praying about Proverbs 31, I realized that I can do what the excellent wife in that passage did - making and selling her creations in honor of the LORD.
There have been times in my life that I've thought about selling, but many factors stopped me. The task seemed too big for me; I didn't think people would buy my stuff; don't want to part with my art, etc. All of these factors didn't play into my decision this time because I see this more as a ministry opportunity than just selling things and making a name for myself.
I plan on somehow put a verse on my packaging or include something extra that may point customers to the LORD. I don't know what yet. I don't know how yet. But I'm praying and see what God wants me to do.
I know that this can easily turn back into "just selling". So I need your prayers to keep on track in doing this for the LORD. Also pray for how I run this "business/ministry" so that God can be glorified. I appreciate your prayers!
Well, I've always been into arts and crafts and I've drawn, painted, quilted, photographed, printed, sewed, etc. And I've made a lot of gifts for others and things for the home. And upon reading, thinking, and praying about Proverbs 31, I realized that I can do what the excellent wife in that passage did - making and selling her creations in honor of the LORD.
There have been times in my life that I've thought about selling, but many factors stopped me. The task seemed too big for me; I didn't think people would buy my stuff; don't want to part with my art, etc. All of these factors didn't play into my decision this time because I see this more as a ministry opportunity than just selling things and making a name for myself.
I plan on somehow put a verse on my packaging or include something extra that may point customers to the LORD. I don't know what yet. I don't know how yet. But I'm praying and see what God wants me to do.
I know that this can easily turn back into "just selling". So I need your prayers to keep on track in doing this for the LORD. Also pray for how I run this "business/ministry" so that God can be glorified. I appreciate your prayers!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Needle Felted Green Heart Pin
This pin is made of brown Ecospun felt (from 100% recycled plastic bottles - save our environment!) and stuffed with Polyfill. I needle felted green wool roving into a heart onto the brown felt. Then I hand embroidered the green thread on. A pin back is attached to the back. It is about 2.25" long, 1.25" wide, and a little less than .75" deep (not including the pin back). This can be worn on a jacket collar, a shirt, purse, or any where you please.
Embroidered Felt Bracelet
I machine embroidered the two felt pieces together and then finished it with hoops and lobster claw clasp. Very simple design and construction, but I like it. I wear it loose on my wrist. I'll probably come up with several of these for my shop as well.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Now I'm sick too...
Okay, so for the past few days, I've just been taking care of Dan and Abby - yup, they got sick at the same time. I think they planned it. They are better now. Abby's fever is gone. Dan is a little better too. But I started feeling some nasal congestion and sore throat today. I was like... NOOOO! But, oh well. At least I don't have a fever yet.
Today was just not a good day. Abby was teething like crazy and didn't want to take her nap in the afternoon. And I just wanted to rest. Guess who won? Let's just say I'm not a happy camper. Oh, well. Abby's suffering more than me I suppose. Toothache is the worst!
Today was just not a good day. Abby was teething like crazy and didn't want to take her nap in the afternoon. And I just wanted to rest. Guess who won? Let's just say I'm not a happy camper. Oh, well. Abby's suffering more than me I suppose. Toothache is the worst!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Little Birdie prototype
On Wednesday, I just had an idea to make a little birdie from felt. I drew up the template myself and cut out the pieces and sewed them together. I made a little pouch and put rice in it and put it in the belly for weight. I then stuffed it with polyfil. I embroidered the wings and hand sewed the wings and the crown piece on. It's really cute! Dan said he really likes the little birdie. :) It's about 3.25" x 2.5". I should call her My Lady. She just looks like a regal kind of bird. She's going to be the prototype for the the Little Birdie series in my shop. I'm going to make a bigger version too.
Update on curtain
So we still haven't install Abby's curtains yet because the rod was too long and we have to borrow a saw from Dan's dad to cut it. We should be able to do it tomorrow. Hopefully.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Update on craft projects
Okay, so Dan exchanged the curtain rod for me yesterday so we'll probably put Abby's curtain up tonight or tomorrow. I'm almost done with the felt ball for Abby, except I need to find my needles to sew the opening close. I showed Dan the ball, he took it in his hands and said, "can you make me one?" That was kind of cool. :) It does have a good feel to it. It looks nice and mature I guess. I don't know, there is just something about it that attracts you to it. Once I get the opening closed, I'll post a picture of it.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Felt...
I just got some felt over the weekend at Jo-ann. They were having a sale and I just decided to get some stuff. It's hard to resist!! So I got 8 colors of felt - all kind of neutral. I was going to make some coasters and cup sleeves with them, but there is another urgent matter I must attend to: make a fabric ball for Abby! So hopefully I'll get one done today. Shouldn't be too hard, right?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Curtain for Abby - finished!
So I finally finished Abby's curtains yesterday. I haven't put them up yet. Will do it later this week - gotta go exchange the rod, it was too short. I will put a picture up when it's installed.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
A Godly Woman
I really want to be a godly woman. How? What does she look like?
Wow, isn't this a wonderful picture of a godly woman? But it seems so hard, doesn't it? The first thing comes to my mind is this, "do I have to do all of these things? I don't think I can do it!"
Well, I will continue to explore this passage for the next however many days. If you want to, you can explore this with me. Read it over and think about it. Pray about it and see what God reveals to you. I will do the same. I may even find a Bible study to go with this. Let's see what God reveals to us.
Proverbs 31:10-31
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.
Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.
She is like a merchant’s
ship, bringing her food from afar.
She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.
Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.
She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.
She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.
She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.
She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.
Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
Wow, isn't this a wonderful picture of a godly woman? But it seems so hard, doesn't it? The first thing comes to my mind is this, "do I have to do all of these things? I don't think I can do it!"
Well, I will continue to explore this passage for the next however many days. If you want to, you can explore this with me. Read it over and think about it. Pray about it and see what God reveals to you. I will do the same. I may even find a Bible study to go with this. Let's see what God reveals to us.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Conviction of the Day - avoiding God
Okay, so being honest again... last week, I haven't really been doing my bible study homework everyday. And you know, it really shows in my life during that week. And don't you find it interesting that my blog posts in that week doesn't really have convictions of sin?
It's so strange. After you have come to know God, you will know if you're not walking with Him. It's not to say that you have to do bible study everyday. But I know where my heart was. And it was not in the right place. I was avoiding the study. I was avoiding God. And it actually made my week very uncomfortable because part of me wants to do bible study and part of me doesn't. So the struggle was definitely there and it ended up with me feeling not settled and just uncomfortable overall. If only I just allotted some time to do the bible study, then I wouldn't feel bad and probably would have a good week and learn something about God and my relationship with Him. Isn't it interesting that we become lazy and want to use that 30 min of our time for "something else" and then it turned out that if we instead use that time for God, it would make our day go better and also accomplish the "something else"?
This week was better. Since I had this conviction last week, I started my study again this week. It does make a difference. My life is full because it is filled with God. How? By the renewing of my mind by studying His Word.
It's so strange. After you have come to know God, you will know if you're not walking with Him. It's not to say that you have to do bible study everyday. But I know where my heart was. And it was not in the right place. I was avoiding the study. I was avoiding God. And it actually made my week very uncomfortable because part of me wants to do bible study and part of me doesn't. So the struggle was definitely there and it ended up with me feeling not settled and just uncomfortable overall. If only I just allotted some time to do the bible study, then I wouldn't feel bad and probably would have a good week and learn something about God and my relationship with Him. Isn't it interesting that we become lazy and want to use that 30 min of our time for "something else" and then it turned out that if we instead use that time for God, it would make our day go better and also accomplish the "something else"?
This week was better. Since I had this conviction last week, I started my study again this week. It does make a difference. My life is full because it is filled with God. How? By the renewing of my mind by studying His Word.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, 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. (Romans 12:1-2)
Thank You LORD!!! You are good!!! You are an amazing God - worthy to be praised!!!!! Hallelujah!!! Hallelujah!!!!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Abby's fever
Abby has been having a fever since yesterday. It went up to 101 so I'm guessing it's just teething fever. It has gone down to 99 as of half hour ago. From my experience of the last tooth that came out, she may have the 2 top front incisors coming out in the next few days. I can't imagine the pain that she's going through. But she is a tough little baby - God really blessed us so much with her.
(I finally started sewing her curtains today! Hope I'll get them done today.)
(I finally started sewing her curtains today! Hope I'll get them done today.)
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Birthday celebration
No time to write this weekend, but here is a short note:
I did not work on Abby's curtains yet but I did set up the sewing machine so it's ready to go tomorrow.
We had dinner at the in-laws for Dan's dad's birthday. Dan did barbeque and it was really good. :) He was nervous about the ribs, but those were the best out of all the dishes. I'm so blessed to have a husband who likes to cook and does it very well! :)
I did not work on Abby's curtains yet but I did set up the sewing machine so it's ready to go tomorrow.
We had dinner at the in-laws for Dan's dad's birthday. Dan did barbeque and it was really good. :) He was nervous about the ribs, but those were the best out of all the dishes. I'm so blessed to have a husband who likes to cook and does it very well! :)
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Curtains for Abby - update 2
Okay, I'm going to make Abby's curtains today. I've been slacking off. But I'm going to do it today. Really.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Daily Matters
I missed Bible Study today! Abby took a long nap this morning so we ended up going straight to Dan's office for lunch. The lunch was good. We had Pavone's Pizza (yum!) And Abby had a few Cheerios until she knocked the bowl off the table. Then we came back so Abby can eat her full lunch and take her afternoon nap. She took a long nap again! (I'm not complaining - more time for me.) When Dan got home he said that Abby's forehead seems warm, so we took her temperature. We found out that she was sleeping more today because she was having a little fever. It's a mild fever, so she's probably getting another tooth. Still... poor Abby!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Curtains for Abby update 1
Okay, so here is what I came up with: blue, yellow, and white flannel fabrics. I got these from the clearance section at Joann's a while back when I was still pregnant with Abby. I didn't know what I was going to do with these, but I bought them just in case. :)
Since her room is a baby blue color with white and tan accents, I decided to use all three of them together in vertical stripes. Hopefully it will come out good. So I'll sew them together... maybe tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
[article] Six of the Fallen, in Words They Sent Home
I just read this from nytimes.com. The entries that some of the fallen soldiers in Iraq posted online or emailed to their loved ones moved me to tears. So much life, so much love, so much camaraderie, so much loyalty, so much responsibility... And like one of them asked, what are WE doing here in the States? We verbally attack ourselves, we watch trash, we get trashed, we like gossip, and I'm sure I can keep going with this list. Think about this... if they're out there to protect us, are we worth protecting? They're dying out there not because of politics, but they're dying for us. Are WE worth them dying for????? Please think about this. Please!
In the same way, Christ died for us when we were still sinners just like we are right now. And yet, God sent Jesus down to die for us even when we hated Him, cursed with His name, broke His laws, laughed at His principles, mocked His divinity, and trashed His reputation. Are WE worth Him dying for?????
No.
But He did it anyway.
Because He actually loves us a lot.
More than you and I will ever know.
And all He asks in return is for us to receive His love.
My God, please protect our soldiers out there. I pray that You'll make Yourself known to the soldiers there through miracles and Your Word. Continue to minister to them, O LORD. Please show them Your amazing love even in the midst of the battles. I pray for extraordinary protection. I pray for extraordinary win. I pray that You would use this for Your glory. And I pray that You would humble us here in the States. I pray that You'll humble us before You and not think ourselves as righteous people, and receive Your Son, Jesus Christ, as the Savior of our soul and the Master of our lives. Thank You, my God. Thank You, O LORD. In my precious Jesus' name, Amen.
In the same way, Christ died for us when we were still sinners just like we are right now. And yet, God sent Jesus down to die for us even when we hated Him, cursed with His name, broke His laws, laughed at His principles, mocked His divinity, and trashed His reputation. Are WE worth Him dying for?????
No.
But He did it anyway.
Because He actually loves us a lot.
More than you and I will ever know.
And all He asks in return is for us to receive His love.
My God, please protect our soldiers out there. I pray that You'll make Yourself known to the soldiers there through miracles and Your Word. Continue to minister to them, O LORD. Please show them Your amazing love even in the midst of the battles. I pray for extraordinary protection. I pray for extraordinary win. I pray that You would use this for Your glory. And I pray that You would humble us here in the States. I pray that You'll humble us before You and not think ourselves as righteous people, and receive Your Son, Jesus Christ, as the Savior of our soul and the Master of our lives. Thank You, my God. Thank You, O LORD. In my precious Jesus' name, Amen.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Curtains for Abby
Abby's room has light-filtering cellular blinds, but not room darkening. And it gets direct sunlight in the morning, so it makes it hard for her to take her morning nap. I've draped a blanket over her crib to cut some light off, but it's still pretty bright on a sunny day. So I've decided to make some curtains for her. I'm going to use the fabrics I already have in my fabric stash. It won't be anything fancy - just very simple curtains that I'm going to hang with clip rings on a rod. So now, I have to decide on a color...
I'll be posting pictures of my past and current art/craft projects soon. Stay tuned!!
I'll be posting pictures of my past and current art/craft projects soon. Stay tuned!!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
HE IS RISEN!
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." - Matt. 28:5-7
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. - 1 Cor. 15:3-8
Oh, yes! Jesus is risen indeed!! Hallelujah!! My Jesus!! You did not die and rot like us humans. NO, LORD. You have shown Yourself to be who You said You are. You are the Son of God. And You and Your Father are one (John 17:20-23). You are God. And You have defeated death! THANK YOU GOD!!!
Go and tell everyone - JESUS HAS RISEN!!!!!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Conviction of the Day - Hypocrisy
So, I guess when it comes down to it, when we really try to be authentic - to be honest, especially to ourselves, the Holy Spirit reveals much to us. If not for this blog and a promise to be authentic, I would probably overlook a lot of these convictions. And I'm sure, I'm still missing a lot of "hints" from God, but this is a start.
Last night I had a conversation with Dan that made me realize today that I'm a hypocrite. I'm a hypocrite who calls others a hypocrite (isn't that a mouthful?) This is what I mean: I see others say something and then do another and then they go around and talk about others being hypocrites. I then dislike those people and begin to think them hypocrites, all the while, ignorantly saying things and doing the opposite. So basically, I'm a hypocrite of hypocrites. Does that make sense? You know, I think no one is immuned to this. As long as you judge, you will be a hypocrite. As long as you make assumptions, you will be a hypocrite.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-6,
And not only will you be a hypocrite, but that you live in a bondage under your own judgment, especially if you're the kind who tries not to be a hypocrite. Because if you don't want to be a hypocrite, then you'll have to do what you say. So when you criticize other people about a particular issue, you'll try hard to not do the same. Then you become a slave to your own law. Let me give you an example:
And I can even apply it for those around me - my loved ones. What if my child hears me talk about other people like that and he/she realized that I don't like people who are fat, so then they go and try any method to be thin? I didn't mean to direct those comments at them because I love them, but they don't understand that. And then they'll begin to criticize others as well.
Did you get my point? That's harsh, huh? What if I told you that this happens not only in our secular society but also in Christian circles? This hypocrisy concept can be applied to everything you can think of. I work harder and longer than that person in ministry, my way of salvation is the right one, I'm in 3 ministries and she's only in one, spiritually-gifted people criticizing the oppositedly-gifted people, spiritually-gifted people criticizing the people with the same gifts, etc.
The list goes on and on. So what now? I'm one of those who tries not to be a hypocrite. The humbling thing is, the more I try to not be a hypocrite, the more I find myself to be one. It is a battle I have not won and will never win until I'm made perfect in Christ Jesus in heaven. All I can do right now in this life is to try to obey Christ's commands with God's help and with His transforming power. This is a race that I have to continue to run until it's finished in heaven. It's a journey - one with ups and downs, sins and confessions, hurt and repentence, forgiveness and mercy, love and grace.
Oh my God, thank You for saving me. Thank You for sending Your only Son to take my punishment and to wipe my sins away. Thank You for Your love and mercy. Oh, God, who am I that You're mindful of me? I do not deserve this. But I thank You for it. I'm so grateful, LORD. I'm so thankful...
In Jesus' precious name and precious blood I pray, Amen.
Last night I had a conversation with Dan that made me realize today that I'm a hypocrite. I'm a hypocrite who calls others a hypocrite (isn't that a mouthful?) This is what I mean: I see others say something and then do another and then they go around and talk about others being hypocrites. I then dislike those people and begin to think them hypocrites, all the while, ignorantly saying things and doing the opposite. So basically, I'm a hypocrite of hypocrites. Does that make sense? You know, I think no one is immuned to this. As long as you judge, you will be a hypocrite. As long as you make assumptions, you will be a hypocrite.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:1-6,
"Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."
And not only will you be a hypocrite, but that you live in a bondage under your own judgment, especially if you're the kind who tries not to be a hypocrite. Because if you don't want to be a hypocrite, then you'll have to do what you say. So when you criticize other people about a particular issue, you'll try hard to not do the same. Then you become a slave to your own law. Let me give you an example:
I think someone is fat and I criticize him/her for it. Then I would put it on myself to not be fat. I would try very hard to not be fat - probably try any method, maybe even unhealthy ones. And if I do end up being fat, then I would have low self-esteem because I would think that other people think I'm fat and would laugh at me. Then it's a downward spiral.
And I can even apply it for those around me - my loved ones. What if my child hears me talk about other people like that and he/she realized that I don't like people who are fat, so then they go and try any method to be thin? I didn't mean to direct those comments at them because I love them, but they don't understand that. And then they'll begin to criticize others as well.
Did you get my point? That's harsh, huh? What if I told you that this happens not only in our secular society but also in Christian circles? This hypocrisy concept can be applied to everything you can think of. I work harder and longer than that person in ministry, my way of salvation is the right one, I'm in 3 ministries and she's only in one, spiritually-gifted people criticizing the oppositedly-gifted people, spiritually-gifted people criticizing the people with the same gifts, etc.
The list goes on and on. So what now? I'm one of those who tries not to be a hypocrite. The humbling thing is, the more I try to not be a hypocrite, the more I find myself to be one. It is a battle I have not won and will never win until I'm made perfect in Christ Jesus in heaven. All I can do right now in this life is to try to obey Christ's commands with God's help and with His transforming power. This is a race that I have to continue to run until it's finished in heaven. It's a journey - one with ups and downs, sins and confessions, hurt and repentence, forgiveness and mercy, love and grace.
Oh my God, thank You for saving me. Thank You for sending Your only Son to take my punishment and to wipe my sins away. Thank You for Your love and mercy. Oh, God, who am I that You're mindful of me? I do not deserve this. But I thank You for it. I'm so grateful, LORD. I'm so thankful...
In Jesus' precious name and precious blood I pray, Amen.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Passion of the Christ (Matt. 26-27 CEV)
When Jesus had finished teaching, he told his disciples, "You know that two days from now will be Passover. That is when the Son of Man will be handed over to his enemies and nailed to a cross."
At that time the chief priests and the nation's leaders were meeting at the home of Caiaphas the high priest. They planned how they could sneak around and have Jesus arrested and put to death. But they said, "We must not do it during Passover, because the people will riot."
Jesus was in the town of Bethany, eating at the home of Simon, who had leprosy. A woman came in with a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' head. But when his disciples saw this, they became angry and complained, "Why such a waste? We could have sold this perfume for a lot of money and given it to the poor." Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said:
Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me. She has poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial. You may be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will remember what she has done. And they will tell others.
Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples. He went to the chief priests and asked, "How much will you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?" They paid Judas thirty silver coins, and from then on he started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus.
On the first day of the Festival of Thin Bread, Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal?"
Jesus told them to go to a certain man in the city and tell him, "Our teacher says, `My time has come! I want to eat the Passover meal with my disciples in your home.' " They did as Jesus told them and prepared the meal.
When Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples that evening, he said, "One of you will surely hand me over to my enemies."
The disciples were very sad, and each one said to Jesus, "Lord, you can't mean me!"
He answered, "One of you men who has eaten with me from this dish will betray me. The Son of Man will die, as the Scriptures say. But it's going to be terrible for the one who betrays me! That man would be better off if he had never been born."
Judas said, "Teacher, you surely don't mean me!"
"That's what you say!" Jesus replied. But later, Judas did betray him.
During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."
Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and drink it. This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven. From now on I am not going to drink any wine, until I drink new wine with you in my Father's kingdom." Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus said to his disciples, "During this very night, all of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say,
`I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you."
Peter spoke up, "Even if all the others reject you, I never will!"
Jesus replied, "I promise you that before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't know me." But Peter said, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I don't know you."
All the others said the same thing.
Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John. He was very sad and troubled, and he said to them, "I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me." Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want." He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, "Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak."
Again Jesus went to pray and said, "My Father, if there is no other way, and I must suffer, I will still do what you want."
Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open. He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.
Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. Get up! Let's go. The one who will betray me is already here."
Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one of the twelve disciples, and a large mob armed with swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and the nation's leaders. Judas had told them ahead of time, "Arrest the man I greet with a kiss." Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, "Hello, teacher." Then Judas kissed him.
Jesus replied, "My friend, why are you here?" The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. One of Jesus' followers pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
But Jesus told him, "Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting. Don't you know that I could ask my Father, and right away he would send me more than twelve armies of angels? But then, how could the words of the Scriptures come true, which say that this must happen?"
Jesus said to the mob, "Why do you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? Day after day I sat and taught in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. But all this happened, so that what the prophets wrote would come true."
All of Jesus' disciples left him and ran away.
After Jesus had been arrested, he was led off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The nation's leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses were meeting there. But Peter followed along at a distance and came to the courtyard of the high priest's palace. He went in and sat down with the guards to see what was going to happen.
The chief priests and the whole council wanted to put Jesus to death. So they tried to find some people who would tell lies about him in court. But they could not find any, even though many did come and tell lies. At last, two men came forward and said, "This man claimed that he would tear down God's temple and build it again in three days." The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, "Why don't you say something in your own defense? Don't you hear the charges they are making against you?" But Jesus did not answer. So the high priest said, "With the living God looking on, you must tell the truth. Tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?" [j] "That is what you say!" Jesus answered. "But I tell all of you,
`Soon you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of God All-Powerful and coming on the clouds of heaven.' "
The high priest then tore his robe and said, "This man claims to be God! We don't need any more witnesses! You have heard what he said. What do you think?"
They answered, "He is guilty and deserves to die!" Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, "You think you are the Messiah! So tell us who hit you!"
While Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to him and said, "You were with Jesus from Galilee."
But in front of everyone Peter said, "That isn't so! I don't know what you are talking about!"
When Peter had gone out to the gate, another servant girl saw him and said to some people there, "This man was with Jesus from Nazareth."
Again Peter denied it, and this time he swore, "I don't even know that man!"
A little while later some people standing there walked over to Peter and said, "We know that you are one of them. We can tell it because you talk like someone from Galilee."
Peter began to curse and swear, "I don't know that man!"
Right then a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered that Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me." Then Peter went out and cried hard.
Early the next morning all the chief priests and the nation's leaders met and decided that Jesus should be put to death. They tied him up and led him away to Pilate the governor.
Judas had betrayed Jesus, but when he learned that Jesus had been sentenced to death, he was sorry for what he had done. He returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and leaders and said, "I have sinned by betraying a man who has never done anything wrong."
"So what? That's your problem," they replied. Judas threw the money into the temple and then went out and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the money and said, "This money was paid to have a man killed. We can't put it in the temple treasury." Then they had a meeting and decided to buy a field that belonged to someone who made clay pots. They wanted to use it as a graveyard for foreigners. That's why people still call that place "Field of Blood." So the words of the prophet Jeremiah came true,
"They took the thirty silver coins, the price of a person among the people of Israel. They paid it for a potter's field, as the Lord had commanded me."
Jesus was brought before Pilate the governor, who asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
"Those are your words!" Jesus answered. And when the chief priests and leaders brought their charges against him, he did not say a thing.
Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear what crimes they say you have done?" But Jesus did not say anything, and the governor was greatly amazed.
During Passover the governor always freed a prisoner chosen by the people. At that time a well-known terrorist named Jesus Barabbas was in jail. So when the crowd came together, Pilate asked them, "Which prisoner do you want me to set free? Do you want Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" Pilate knew that the leaders had brought Jesus to him because they were jealous. While Pilate was judging the case, his wife sent him a message. It said, "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man. I have had nightmares because of him."
But the chief priests and the leaders convinced the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be set free and for Jesus to be killed. Pilate asked the crowd again, "Which of these two men do you want me to set free?"
"Barabbas!" they replied.
Pilate asked them, "What am I to do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?"
They all yelled, "Nail him to a cross!"
Pilate answered, "But what crime has he done?"
"Nail him to a cross!" they yelled even louder.
Pilate saw that there was nothing he could do and that the people were starting to riot. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of them and said, "I won't have anything to do with killing this man. You are the ones doing it!" Everyone answered, "We and our own families will take the blame for his death!"
Pilate set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.
The governor's soldiers led Jesus into the fortress and brought together the rest of the troops. 28They stripped off Jesus' clothes and put a scarlet robe on him. They made a crown out of thorn branches and placed it on his head, and they put a stick in his right hand. The soldiers knelt down and pretended to worship him. They made fun of him and shouted, "Hey, you king of the Jews!" Then they spit on him. They took the stick from him and beat him on the head with it.
When the soldiers had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him and led him off to be nailed to a cross. On the way they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross.
They came to a place named Golgotha, which means "Place of a Skull." There they gave Jesus some wine mixed with a drug to ease the pain. But when Jesus tasted what it was, he refused to drink it. The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes. Then they sat down to guard him. Above his head they put a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.
People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and shouted, "So you're the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days! If you are God's Son, save yourself and come down from the cross!"
The chief priests, the leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses also made fun of Jesus. They said, "He saved others, but he can't save himself. If he is the king of Israel, he should come down from the cross! Then we will believe him. He trusted God, so let God save him, if he wants to. He even said he was God's Son." The two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus.
At noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until three o'clock. Then about that time Jesus shouted, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?" Some of the people standing there heard Jesus and said, "He's calling for Elijah." One of them at once ran and grabbed a sponge. He soaked it in wine, then put it on a stick and held it up to Jesus. Others said, "Wait! Let's see if Elijah will come and save him." Once again Jesus shouted, and then he died. At once the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart. Graves opened, and many of God's people were raised to life. Then after Jesus had risen to life, they came out of their graves and went into the holy city, where they were seen by many people. The officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything else that happened. They were frightened and said, "This man really was God's Son!"
Many women had come with Jesus from Galilee to be of help to him, and they were there, looking on at a distance. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John were some of these women.
That evening a rich disciple named Joseph from the town of Arimathea went and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate gave orders for it to be given to Joseph, who took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. Then Joseph put the body in his own tomb that had been cut into solid rock and had never been used. He rolled a big stone against the entrance to the tomb and went away. All this time Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb.
On the next day, which was a Sabbath, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate. They said, "Sir, we remember what that liar said while he was still alive. He claimed that in three days he would come back from death. So please order the tomb to be carefully guarded for three days. If you don't, his disciples may come and steal his body. They will tell the people that he has been raised to life, and this last lie will be worse than the first one." Pilate said to them, "All right, take some of your soldiers and guard the tomb as well as you know how." So they sealed it tight and placed soldiers there to guard it.
At that time the chief priests and the nation's leaders were meeting at the home of Caiaphas the high priest. They planned how they could sneak around and have Jesus arrested and put to death. But they said, "We must not do it during Passover, because the people will riot."
Jesus was in the town of Bethany, eating at the home of Simon, who had leprosy. A woman came in with a bottle of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' head. But when his disciples saw this, they became angry and complained, "Why such a waste? We could have sold this perfume for a lot of money and given it to the poor." Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said:
Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. You will always have the poor with you, but you won't always have me. She has poured perfume on my body to prepare it for burial. You may be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will remember what she has done. And they will tell others.
Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples. He went to the chief priests and asked, "How much will you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?" They paid Judas thirty silver coins, and from then on he started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus.
On the first day of the Festival of Thin Bread, Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal?"
Jesus told them to go to a certain man in the city and tell him, "Our teacher says, `My time has come! I want to eat the Passover meal with my disciples in your home.' " They did as Jesus told them and prepared the meal.
When Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples that evening, he said, "One of you will surely hand me over to my enemies."
The disciples were very sad, and each one said to Jesus, "Lord, you can't mean me!"
He answered, "One of you men who has eaten with me from this dish will betray me. The Son of Man will die, as the Scriptures say. But it's going to be terrible for the one who betrays me! That man would be better off if he had never been born."
Judas said, "Teacher, you surely don't mean me!"
"That's what you say!" Jesus replied. But later, Judas did betray him.
During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."
Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and drink it. This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their sins forgiven. From now on I am not going to drink any wine, until I drink new wine with you in my Father's kingdom." Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
Jesus said to his disciples, "During this very night, all of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say,
`I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you."
Peter spoke up, "Even if all the others reject you, I never will!"
Jesus replied, "I promise you that before a rooster crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't know me." But Peter said, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I don't know you."
All the others said the same thing.
Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. When they got there, he told them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Jesus took along Peter and the two brothers, James and John. He was very sad and troubled, and he said to them, "I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me." Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want." He came back and found his disciples sleeping. So he said to Peter, "Can't any of you stay awake with me for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak."
Again Jesus went to pray and said, "My Father, if there is no other way, and I must suffer, I will still do what you want."
Jesus came back and found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open. He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.
Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. Get up! Let's go. The one who will betray me is already here."
Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one of the twelve disciples, and a large mob armed with swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and the nation's leaders. Judas had told them ahead of time, "Arrest the man I greet with a kiss." Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, "Hello, teacher." Then Judas kissed him.
Jesus replied, "My friend, why are you here?" The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. One of Jesus' followers pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.
But Jesus told him, "Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting. Don't you know that I could ask my Father, and right away he would send me more than twelve armies of angels? But then, how could the words of the Scriptures come true, which say that this must happen?"
Jesus said to the mob, "Why do you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? Day after day I sat and taught in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. But all this happened, so that what the prophets wrote would come true."
All of Jesus' disciples left him and ran away.
After Jesus had been arrested, he was led off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The nation's leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses were meeting there. But Peter followed along at a distance and came to the courtyard of the high priest's palace. He went in and sat down with the guards to see what was going to happen.
The chief priests and the whole council wanted to put Jesus to death. So they tried to find some people who would tell lies about him in court. But they could not find any, even though many did come and tell lies. At last, two men came forward and said, "This man claimed that he would tear down God's temple and build it again in three days." The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, "Why don't you say something in your own defense? Don't you hear the charges they are making against you?" But Jesus did not answer. So the high priest said, "With the living God looking on, you must tell the truth. Tell us, are you the Messiah, the Son of God?" [j] "That is what you say!" Jesus answered. "But I tell all of you,
`Soon you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of God All-Powerful and coming on the clouds of heaven.' "
The high priest then tore his robe and said, "This man claims to be God! We don't need any more witnesses! You have heard what he said. What do you think?"
They answered, "He is guilty and deserves to die!" Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, "You think you are the Messiah! So tell us who hit you!"
While Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to him and said, "You were with Jesus from Galilee."
But in front of everyone Peter said, "That isn't so! I don't know what you are talking about!"
When Peter had gone out to the gate, another servant girl saw him and said to some people there, "This man was with Jesus from Nazareth."
Again Peter denied it, and this time he swore, "I don't even know that man!"
A little while later some people standing there walked over to Peter and said, "We know that you are one of them. We can tell it because you talk like someone from Galilee."
Peter began to curse and swear, "I don't know that man!"
Right then a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered that Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me." Then Peter went out and cried hard.
Early the next morning all the chief priests and the nation's leaders met and decided that Jesus should be put to death. They tied him up and led him away to Pilate the governor.
Judas had betrayed Jesus, but when he learned that Jesus had been sentenced to death, he was sorry for what he had done. He returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and leaders and said, "I have sinned by betraying a man who has never done anything wrong."
"So what? That's your problem," they replied. Judas threw the money into the temple and then went out and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the money and said, "This money was paid to have a man killed. We can't put it in the temple treasury." Then they had a meeting and decided to buy a field that belonged to someone who made clay pots. They wanted to use it as a graveyard for foreigners. That's why people still call that place "Field of Blood." So the words of the prophet Jeremiah came true,
"They took the thirty silver coins, the price of a person among the people of Israel. They paid it for a potter's field, as the Lord had commanded me."
Jesus was brought before Pilate the governor, who asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
"Those are your words!" Jesus answered. And when the chief priests and leaders brought their charges against him, he did not say a thing.
Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear what crimes they say you have done?" But Jesus did not say anything, and the governor was greatly amazed.
During Passover the governor always freed a prisoner chosen by the people. At that time a well-known terrorist named Jesus Barabbas was in jail. So when the crowd came together, Pilate asked them, "Which prisoner do you want me to set free? Do you want Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" Pilate knew that the leaders had brought Jesus to him because they were jealous. While Pilate was judging the case, his wife sent him a message. It said, "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man. I have had nightmares because of him."
But the chief priests and the leaders convinced the crowds to ask for Barabbas to be set free and for Jesus to be killed. Pilate asked the crowd again, "Which of these two men do you want me to set free?"
"Barabbas!" they replied.
Pilate asked them, "What am I to do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?"
They all yelled, "Nail him to a cross!"
Pilate answered, "But what crime has he done?"
"Nail him to a cross!" they yelled even louder.
Pilate saw that there was nothing he could do and that the people were starting to riot. So he took some water and washed his hands in front of them and said, "I won't have anything to do with killing this man. You are the ones doing it!" Everyone answered, "We and our own families will take the blame for his death!"
Pilate set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.
The governor's soldiers led Jesus into the fortress and brought together the rest of the troops. 28They stripped off Jesus' clothes and put a scarlet robe on him. They made a crown out of thorn branches and placed it on his head, and they put a stick in his right hand. The soldiers knelt down and pretended to worship him. They made fun of him and shouted, "Hey, you king of the Jews!" Then they spit on him. They took the stick from him and beat him on the head with it.
When the soldiers had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the robe. They put his own clothes back on him and led him off to be nailed to a cross. On the way they met a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross.
They came to a place named Golgotha, which means "Place of a Skull." There they gave Jesus some wine mixed with a drug to ease the pain. But when Jesus tasted what it was, he refused to drink it. The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes. Then they sat down to guard him. Above his head they put a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.
People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and shouted, "So you're the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days! If you are God's Son, save yourself and come down from the cross!"
The chief priests, the leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses also made fun of Jesus. They said, "He saved others, but he can't save himself. If he is the king of Israel, he should come down from the cross! Then we will believe him. He trusted God, so let God save him, if he wants to. He even said he was God's Son." The two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus.
At noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until three o'clock. Then about that time Jesus shouted, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?" Some of the people standing there heard Jesus and said, "He's calling for Elijah." One of them at once ran and grabbed a sponge. He soaked it in wine, then put it on a stick and held it up to Jesus. Others said, "Wait! Let's see if Elijah will come and save him." Once again Jesus shouted, and then he died. At once the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart. Graves opened, and many of God's people were raised to life. Then after Jesus had risen to life, they came out of their graves and went into the holy city, where they were seen by many people. The officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus felt the earthquake and saw everything else that happened. They were frightened and said, "This man really was God's Son!"
Many women had come with Jesus from Galilee to be of help to him, and they were there, looking on at a distance. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of James and John were some of these women.
That evening a rich disciple named Joseph from the town of Arimathea went and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate gave orders for it to be given to Joseph, who took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. Then Joseph put the body in his own tomb that had been cut into solid rock and had never been used. He rolled a big stone against the entrance to the tomb and went away. All this time Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb.
On the next day, which was a Sabbath, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate. They said, "Sir, we remember what that liar said while he was still alive. He claimed that in three days he would come back from death. So please order the tomb to be carefully guarded for three days. If you don't, his disciples may come and steal his body. They will tell the people that he has been raised to life, and this last lie will be worse than the first one." Pilate said to them, "All right, take some of your soldiers and guard the tomb as well as you know how." So they sealed it tight and placed soldiers there to guard it.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Conviction of the Day - selfishness
After the Bible study today (after hearing Beth Moore's passionate teaching), I feel like I have to confess something. The last post I wrote focused on my desire to be an artist, my desire to be appreciated, my desire to be free of my feelings and emotions - me, me, me, me. Well, as much as I like to say I have a right to be free and do all these things, I can't. You see, I realized something today during Bible study, I was bought by Christ's blood. He owns me. He is my savior, master, my God. He did not just one day woke up and say, "hey, I think I'll go through all the mocking, whipping, broken skin and flesh, nailing up on the cross just for fun." He did it all for me because He loves me!!! His blood was shed for me so I can have my sins washed away. He took my punishment so that I don't have to. Just reflecting on this, makes me sick to the stomach that all I cared about in my last post was me. And get this, the things I was caring about couldn't even compare with what He went through.
Oh my God, how can You even stand me?
My attention was on myself only.
If I had just lifted my eyes to You, even for a second,
I would have known my thoughts were unjustified.
Oh, Jesus, You have every right to demand me to serve You.
But you don't.
You love me for me and I WANT to serve You.
Oh, my precious LORD, Your amazing love is more than I can fathom.
Why do You love me so? I do not deserve it.
But that's the beauty of Your grace.
I bow before You, LORD. I bow and worship You....
Oh my God, how can You even stand me?
My attention was on myself only.
If I had just lifted my eyes to You, even for a second,
I would have known my thoughts were unjustified.
Oh, Jesus, You have every right to demand me to serve You.
But you don't.
You love me for me and I WANT to serve You.
Oh, my precious LORD, Your amazing love is more than I can fathom.
Why do You love me so? I do not deserve it.
But that's the beauty of Your grace.
I bow before You, LORD. I bow and worship You....
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
What is an Artist?
What is an artist? Who can be an artist? When can you call yourself an artist? These are the questions I'm struggling with every now and then. I think I'm scared to be myself sometimes. I guess I'm scared to let parts of myself out. What you see on the outside IS who I am, but there is also a lot more underneath.
I've painted and sewed. I've made cards and drawn. But I feel like those are not art as expressed by me. They were pretty well done creations, but they lacked something. That "something" is what's underneath - what's inside me. I'm an emotional person by nature, but I think I've been taught to not be emotional. I mean, I like that I'm logical too. But there is something inside of me that just wants to get out. Right now, it's on a short leash. I haven't really let it go yet. I've taken it on walks and it has experienced different things out there, but I'm kind of afraid to release the rope. What if people don't like it? What if people criticize? See, what people don't know is that when they criticize an artist's work, they're criticizing him personally.
I'm surrounded by people who criticize. I guess that's our society. Sometimes with words, sometimes with a look in their eyes, sometimes with their tone of voice. They don't usually criticize me (not that I have heard), but when I hear them do that to others, I think they would do that to me. Because why wouldn't they? They may not say it in front of me, but they may say it to others or just think that in their head. People don't change. At least not until they repent and let Christ change them.
By now, you probably suspect that I'm a very sensitive person. And I think I am. I didn't realize it until recently. I'm very empathetic, so I'm very sensitive to emotions and thoughts of others. But I have always discounted my own emotions and thoughts. Thereby, hiding my true feelings and gliding over them.
Anyways, I think I just need to be bolder. Not necessarily in myself, but definitely in Christ. I want to be like Him - not to be perfect in this life, but to be balanced in logic and self-control and emotion as much as possible. Jesus was full of justice and righteousness. He was also full of emotion, compassion, love, and mercy. Being a Christian is not only about knowledge. It is life. And life has wonderful experiences that requires you to immerse yourself in the vast range of emotions that God has given us.
Maybe I'm just too controlled. Maybe I need to loosen up a little. Don't worry, I'll do it in Christ, not on my own. What He wants me to do, I'll do because Jesus loves me unconditionally - just as I am. I don't have to worry about criticisms from Him, only convictions.
Maybe I can leave with this: live life, live Christ.
I've painted and sewed. I've made cards and drawn. But I feel like those are not art as expressed by me. They were pretty well done creations, but they lacked something. That "something" is what's underneath - what's inside me. I'm an emotional person by nature, but I think I've been taught to not be emotional. I mean, I like that I'm logical too. But there is something inside of me that just wants to get out. Right now, it's on a short leash. I haven't really let it go yet. I've taken it on walks and it has experienced different things out there, but I'm kind of afraid to release the rope. What if people don't like it? What if people criticize? See, what people don't know is that when they criticize an artist's work, they're criticizing him personally.
I'm surrounded by people who criticize. I guess that's our society. Sometimes with words, sometimes with a look in their eyes, sometimes with their tone of voice. They don't usually criticize me (not that I have heard), but when I hear them do that to others, I think they would do that to me. Because why wouldn't they? They may not say it in front of me, but they may say it to others or just think that in their head. People don't change. At least not until they repent and let Christ change them.
By now, you probably suspect that I'm a very sensitive person. And I think I am. I didn't realize it until recently. I'm very empathetic, so I'm very sensitive to emotions and thoughts of others. But I have always discounted my own emotions and thoughts. Thereby, hiding my true feelings and gliding over them.
Anyways, I think I just need to be bolder. Not necessarily in myself, but definitely in Christ. I want to be like Him - not to be perfect in this life, but to be balanced in logic and self-control and emotion as much as possible. Jesus was full of justice and righteousness. He was also full of emotion, compassion, love, and mercy. Being a Christian is not only about knowledge. It is life. And life has wonderful experiences that requires you to immerse yourself in the vast range of emotions that God has given us.
Maybe I'm just too controlled. Maybe I need to loosen up a little. Don't worry, I'll do it in Christ, not on my own. What He wants me to do, I'll do because Jesus loves me unconditionally - just as I am. I don't have to worry about criticisms from Him, only convictions.
Maybe I can leave with this: live life, live Christ.
Congratulations, Bob!
Congratulations to Bob Oberst in being recognized by the City of Syracuse on St. Patrick's Day! We appreciate all you've done, not only at Tipp Hill, but also at our church.
Click on the Post title to read the article about him.
Teething
Abby is crying a lot recently. She's teething. Poor baby. She's got the two lower central incisors (bottom front) out already. And now her gum where the upper central incisors (top front) are is swollen. She also has a low grade fever. I hope she gets those soon. It's hard to see her suffer. I guess it's just one of those growing pains.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Silly thoughts - ducks
Yeah... so when we were driving to church yesterday, I noticed a bunch of ducks swimming in a pond on the side of the road. I started to wonder if they needed to keep paddling their feet to stay afloat and whether or not they can sleep on the water. Now, I know that they can because I've seen them (I think), but somehow I started to wonder if that's true because humans can't float and sleep at the same time (right?). So I turned and asked Dan. He said no, the ducks don't need to paddle to float and that they can sleep on the water. I said, oh, okay...
Conviction of the Day - Prayer
Yesterday, as I was talking with Dan, I realized I have been very selfish in my prayer life. I've been praying about me and Abby and occasionally some people who needed urgent prayer and that was it. I was not praying for the unsaved people in my life. I was not praying for the pastor and church leadership. I was not praying for church ministries. And the biggest thing - I was not praying for my husband. What kind of wife am I? What kind of prayer warrior am I? Like the pirates who don't do anything, I'm a prayer warrior who don't do anything - not even praying.
Oh, God, I confess my sin of not coming to you more often - just to be with you and to lift up the requests of others. There is no excuse. Please forgive me and help me to make time to and have desire to pray. I want to be close to You. And not just doing Bible studies and praying, but in thought, attitude, and action. Transform me, oh LORD. Thank you, Jesus. In His name I pray, Amen.
(p.s. I will not post my prayers for my husband and others here for privacy reasons.)
Oh, God, I confess my sin of not coming to you more often - just to be with you and to lift up the requests of others. There is no excuse. Please forgive me and help me to make time to and have desire to pray. I want to be close to You. And not just doing Bible studies and praying, but in thought, attitude, and action. Transform me, oh LORD. Thank you, Jesus. In His name I pray, Amen.
(p.s. I will not post my prayers for my husband and others here for privacy reasons.)
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Crochet Dolls
I'm very happy to introduce my friend Celia's Etsy shop to you all! It's called Homemade Zen. She makes the cutest crochet dolls/animals! (Just look at this darling elephant!) Check it out at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5687712.
New Baby!!!
Congratulations to our friends, Eugene and Carissa!!
Their 2nd baby boy was born yesterday at 6:15pm @ 7lb. 14oz.
We heard it was a quick labor and delivery!
I'm sooooo excited!!! :D
Their 2nd baby boy was born yesterday at 6:15pm @ 7lb. 14oz.
We heard it was a quick labor and delivery!
I'm sooooo excited!!! :D
Friday, March 14, 2008
Crazy...
I created this blog intended to help others, but so far, God has been speaking to me. Writing my thoughts down really has gelled them together into convictions. And since I promised to be authentic on this blog, I keep getting hits from God. That's one thing about this pilgrimage we're on as Christ followers - you never know what's going to come your way. Just when you think you're good, God taps you on your shoulder and holds up a big sign that says: "I DON'T THINK SO."
Here is a link to the website that convicted me of my love for God and my love for the lost:
http://www.wayofthemaster.com/lovetest.shtml
Let's just say, I didn't pass. Wow. What a reality check. There are so many things that I just glide over, refusing to admit. Thank you LORD for the conviction. I pray that You'll help me to change, please. In His name, Amen.
Here is a link to the website that convicted me of my love for God and my love for the lost:
http://www.wayofthemaster.com/lovetest.shtml
Let's just say, I didn't pass. Wow. What a reality check. There are so many things that I just glide over, refusing to admit. Thank you LORD for the conviction. I pray that You'll help me to change, please. In His name, Amen.
Conviction of the Day - Gossip
Well, we just got home from church (young adults fellowship) and just put Abby down for the night. Finally got some time to relax and here I am in front of my computer, typing away another entry into my blog (yes! I'm on a roll!)
Okay, so God convicted me this evening just as we were leaving church. My husband knew something that I didn't know and that I'm not supposed to know. And he was being a godly husband to not tell me. Now... I know, I really know, that I shouldn't ask him about it. The first thought that came to my mind was "oh okay". Then all of a sudden, a second thought came in: "maybe you can ask a couple questions - nothing too deep or revealing, but just enough for you to have an idea of what it is." [Wow, can you believe that??] And guess what? I actually debated with this "thought" in my head. I was like, no, I shouldn't. Then I was like, it's okay to know a little bit - shows that you care. Then I was like, no.... This went on for a while in my head until we got home.
Isn't this scary? I was actually justifying gossip!!! And I, who knew what gossip is, I was trying to talk myself into sinning and possibly my husband also. Oh, the temptation was HUGE! I had such strong urges to ask him. In the end, I didn't. Not because I was strong spiritually. But there were "distractions" - ways out of the situation, like changing of topic, taking care of Abby, etc. Each time I wanted to ask him, something happens. Now, I could have still gave in to the temptation and asked, except I fought it with all my life to take those ways out. And in the end, it was won with God's provision.
Okay, so God convicted me this evening just as we were leaving church. My husband knew something that I didn't know and that I'm not supposed to know. And he was being a godly husband to not tell me. Now... I know, I really know, that I shouldn't ask him about it. The first thought that came to my mind was "oh okay". Then all of a sudden, a second thought came in: "maybe you can ask a couple questions - nothing too deep or revealing, but just enough for you to have an idea of what it is." [Wow, can you believe that??] And guess what? I actually debated with this "thought" in my head. I was like, no, I shouldn't. Then I was like, it's okay to know a little bit - shows that you care. Then I was like, no.... This went on for a while in my head until we got home.
Isn't this scary? I was actually justifying gossip!!! And I, who knew what gossip is, I was trying to talk myself into sinning and possibly my husband also. Oh, the temptation was HUGE! I had such strong urges to ask him. In the end, I didn't. Not because I was strong spiritually. But there were "distractions" - ways out of the situation, like changing of topic, taking care of Abby, etc. Each time I wanted to ask him, something happens. Now, I could have still gave in to the temptation and asked, except I fought it with all my life to take those ways out. And in the end, it was won with God's provision.
Thank You, LORD, for providing those ways out. I could not have won that battle myself. My selfish desires are still there. But I'm so grateful for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit. Continue to strengthen and equip me spiritually so I can fight a good fight against the prince of this world. Thank You, LORD! In Jesus' sweet name I pray, Amen.No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. - 1 Cor. 10:13
Kutless Concert in Syracuse NY
Hey, for those of you who are into Christian contemporary music in Upstate NY, check out the Kutless concert coming up this weekend:Kutless Acoustic Worship Tour
featuring Esterlyn and Chris Taylor
Sunday, March 16, 08
7pm - 10pm
@ The Syracuse Alliance Church
3112 Midland Ave
Syracuse, NY
Tickets:
Online @ http://www.itickets.com/events/200488.html
By Phone @ 315-214-7333 or
In Person @ Sacred Melody Bookstore
$15 for groups of 10+ and students,$17 advance, $20 door
Watch the first video in the video bar for a sneak peek!!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
First blog, First post
Even though the title of this post says "First blog", it is technically not my first blog...
I had a blog a few years back when I first heard that many of my friends at church had a blog. I thought, hey, I should try it and see if that's something worth doing. So I asked my husband for a blog on his server - all the while getting excited that I'm going to have my own blog. Now, in the back of my mind, I was not sure that I had all that much to say. Is my life exciting enough to post on a website? Would anyone want to read what's going on with me? What can I really offer to people? Do I have TIME to write?
So anyways, as it turned out, the little voice in the back of my mind was right. I wrote one post (maybe another one - can't remember) and that was it. I made a couple of comments on other people's posts and that was it, too. Really. So I don't really count that as a blog - at least, not a successful blog, anyways.
So what's going to be different this time? Well, I was reading about AdSense on other people's websites and thought, hey, that's kind of cool - to make a little money on the side and all I have to do is write. But when I remembered what happened last time I had a blog, I realized that money is not going to make me want to blog. I'm just not that enthusiastic about spending so much time just trying to think of something to say. So I kind of gave up on the idea. Then, I had a few conversations with new mothers at church about the difficulties of new motherhood, I thought it would be convenient if I can write down my own experience somewhere and they can read it as an encouragement if they want to. Then, I was thinking about how to share the reality of God's love without getting in people's faces. Both of these thoughts seemed to point to letting people come to me on their own terms. So, guess what? There is no better way than a blog.
So my hope is, that since the goal of this blog is more than just finger exercise or make money, that it will go on to be an encouragement to some and introduce eternal life to others. I will try to be as authentic as possible, so for those who know me, you may see some ugly warts coming out. And I'm preparing my heart, also, because it's hard for me to tell it all. But I'm excited, not because I'm blogging, but because I'm dying to see how God is going to use it.
Feel free to comment but no inappropriate language, please. Prayers and prayer requests are welcome. I will try to answer any questions about Christianity. I don't know everything there is to know about the Bible. So if I don't know, I will say so and/or ask someone about it. I'm hoping to learn more from you guys, too.
Thank you, LORD, for this opportunity. I lift up this blog to You. I pray that You'll use it to teach and bless me and others. In Jesus' name, Amen.
I had a blog a few years back when I first heard that many of my friends at church had a blog. I thought, hey, I should try it and see if that's something worth doing. So I asked my husband for a blog on his server - all the while getting excited that I'm going to have my own blog. Now, in the back of my mind, I was not sure that I had all that much to say. Is my life exciting enough to post on a website? Would anyone want to read what's going on with me? What can I really offer to people? Do I have TIME to write?
So anyways, as it turned out, the little voice in the back of my mind was right. I wrote one post (maybe another one - can't remember) and that was it. I made a couple of comments on other people's posts and that was it, too. Really. So I don't really count that as a blog - at least, not a successful blog, anyways.
So what's going to be different this time? Well, I was reading about AdSense on other people's websites and thought, hey, that's kind of cool - to make a little money on the side and all I have to do is write. But when I remembered what happened last time I had a blog, I realized that money is not going to make me want to blog. I'm just not that enthusiastic about spending so much time just trying to think of something to say. So I kind of gave up on the idea. Then, I had a few conversations with new mothers at church about the difficulties of new motherhood, I thought it would be convenient if I can write down my own experience somewhere and they can read it as an encouragement if they want to. Then, I was thinking about how to share the reality of God's love without getting in people's faces. Both of these thoughts seemed to point to letting people come to me on their own terms. So, guess what? There is no better way than a blog.
So my hope is, that since the goal of this blog is more than just finger exercise or make money, that it will go on to be an encouragement to some and introduce eternal life to others. I will try to be as authentic as possible, so for those who know me, you may see some ugly warts coming out. And I'm preparing my heart, also, because it's hard for me to tell it all. But I'm excited, not because I'm blogging, but because I'm dying to see how God is going to use it.
Feel free to comment but no inappropriate language, please. Prayers and prayer requests are welcome. I will try to answer any questions about Christianity. I don't know everything there is to know about the Bible. So if I don't know, I will say so and/or ask someone about it. I'm hoping to learn more from you guys, too.
Thank you, LORD, for this opportunity. I lift up this blog to You. I pray that You'll use it to teach and bless me and others. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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