Sunday, January 30, 2011

The Good Fight

A girl I used to baby - sit, Kristen Hester Hicks, started a Blog Bible Study or she calls it Inductive Bible Study. Each week she is presenting a challenge for us to study. I've been wanting to do a Bible study own my own for awhile now, but always put "life" first...shame on me! But when I reconnected with Kristen on facebook and started following her blogs, I decided this was a challenge God had placed before me saying "hello...act on what you've been saying, woman"! So here it goes.

2 Timothy 4:1-8
(Easy to Read Version)
Before God and Jesus Christ I give you a command. Christ Jesus is the one who will judge all people - those who are living and those who have died. He is coming again to rule in His kingdom. So I give you this command.
2 Tell everyone God's message. Be ready at all times to do whatever is needed. Tell people what they need to do, tell them when they are doing wrong and encourage them. Do this with great patience and careful teaching.
3 The time will come when people will not listen to the true teaching. But people will find more and mroe teachers who please them. They will find teachers who say what they want to hear.
4 People will stop listening to the truth. They will begin to follow the teaching in false stories.
5 But you should control yourself at all times. When troubles come, accept them. Do the work of telling the Good News. Do all the duties of a servant of God.
6 My life is being given as an offering for God. The time has come for me to leave this life here.
7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have served the Lord faithfully.
8 Now a prize is waiting for me - the crown - that will show I am approved by God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly will give it to me on that Day. Yes, he will give it to me and everyone else who is eagerly looking forward to His coming.
In other words...
Always be ready to let others see Christ in You. Let others see Christ by your teaching and example. Always be ready to encourage or rebuke with love and with patience. People will always be looking for answers that they want, answers that will justify their actions / thoughts and we need to make sure we stand frim and grounded in Christ so we are not pulled away. It's a daily fight for the life Christ wants us to live for Him, but if we keep our eyes fixed on Him and serve Him faithfully, we will be rewarded with the promise of heaven.
My thoughts...
Always be ready! I think not only do I need to be ready with answers, but also by my actions and my attitude. I can always give an answer, but if I am not living my FAITH out loud, what I say has no meaning. I have to teach and live my life with unwavering diligence. I need to guard my heart and thoughts from false teachers and the world - daily. I want to look back at the scars for Christ (and I hope I have many when my life on earth is done) and hear Jesus say, "well done my good and FAITHFUL servant".
Well, that is my first blog Bible study! I'm ready for the next one :)
Grace and Peace

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Just for Today

While Cathy and I were on one of our many girlfriend trips, I came acorss a plaque hanging in the bathroom of the condo, called "A B C's for Today". I first fell in love with the plaque because it was all decorated in shabby art, very, very cute. It was after a day or two that I paused long enough to read it...my mind was on how fast can I get to the beach each day! So glad when I slowed down one morning long enough to read it and then copy it before I went to bed that night. Enjoy!

Attitude is everything
Bloom Late
Clelebrate Everything
Dance at Weddings
Excel at What You Set Out to Do
Fall in Love Again
Go Green
Hold Hands
Inspire
Jump with Both Feet
Kiss Like You Mean It
Laugh!
Mend Fences
Nature Friendships
Open Doors
Plant Flowers
Quit Whinning
Rekindle Romance
Spoil Babies
Teach with Your Actions
Volunteer
Wear Red
eXpect Nothing
Yield Gracefully
ZING!!

No, there is nothing really profound in this.I think it's the very SIMPLE things that matter in day to day life. What you put into the day, it what you will get out of it. I hope at the end of the day, my actions, my attitude, my conversations, made someones day just a little better and brighter.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Today is Mark's birthday. His 49th birthday...the last year before the BIG 50! It's hard to believe we are facing the end of the 40's. Mark and I have celebrated more birthday's together (dating and married) as we did as "single". He is the greatest husband and Daddy! He has given us more than I ever dreamed. He always has is girls (and that includes me) first, always thinking what's best for our family rather than what is best for him. He has led our family as a God - fearing man, gentle and loving. The card I got for him this year, yes it was more sappy than what I usually give, said "I'm sure of you...I'm sure of US". I'm so blessed by how you have loved me and I'm so thankful to have spent another birthday with you. Happy Birthday Honey, may you have many many more.