The question was asked do you think that anxiety and stress are sins?
My response was: I think that they are indicators we are focusing on the wrong things. Darn it, I just smacked myself between the eyes (over a whole different subject entirely)…
God doesn't stress us out. When I focus on people or things or events that does.
That is extremely difficult for me to hear right now. I am literally so torn up it is making me sick. I don't believe a word they say. I am really being asked to stop caring?
I'm going to have to spend a lot more time praying over this.
A whole lot more time...
a whole lot more time...
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
bring the fire...
One of the best blogs out there is 97 seconds with God.... Jon consistently hit the mark with his thought provoking insight. Currently we are reading through Genesis, a chapter a day...
Today's message is on Genesis, chapter 41.
It reminds me of the “refiner’s fire”
I would never change anything that has happened to me. Or even turn back the “stupid” choices I have made through out my life… none of them.
For I have learned this truth, “in every adversity, there is a seed of equal or greater benefit”.
I pray that I make wiser, Godlier choices in my life.
God doesn’t offer us a life free of suffering. His goal is to make us more like Him.
No one “wants” to suffer, but if it molds me to be more like Him, bring the fire…
I pray that I come forth as gold.
Today's message is on Genesis, chapter 41.
It reminds me of the “refiner’s fire”
I would never change anything that has happened to me. Or even turn back the “stupid” choices I have made through out my life… none of them.
For I have learned this truth, “in every adversity, there is a seed of equal or greater benefit”.
I pray that I make wiser, Godlier choices in my life.
God doesn’t offer us a life free of suffering. His goal is to make us more like Him.
No one “wants” to suffer, but if it molds me to be more like Him, bring the fire…
I pray that I come forth as gold.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
seizures…
It was a long night. My baby dog Puffin had another seizure about 2:30 a.m.
It’s pretty scary. Her symptoms aren’t unusual I found:
1. Paddling of limbs or “running in place”.
2. Jaw movements that look like the dog is trying to chew gum.
3. Pupils in both eyes dilate (become large) and unresponsive.
4. Dog begins salivating or drooling.
5. Crying out in a plaintive howl.
Since she is little I am able to wrap myself around her back and pet her. I talk to her, but she can’t hear because she is deaf.
It only last about 5-10 minutes, but it seems like an eternity.
Afterwards she walks around dazed and confused, bumping headfirst into furniture for about an hour to an hour and a half. I have developed a pattern of grabbing all the pillows I am able to find and creating a little corral for her to safely bump around in. I can’t sleep during this period so consequently I am for a several hours when this happens.
So I am tired today and so is she. Thank goodness for Starbuck’s “Double Shot” to help we wake up in the morning.
Just part of my life. She has given me tons of joy, it’s the least I am able to do for her.
It’s pretty scary. Her symptoms aren’t unusual I found:
1. Paddling of limbs or “running in place”.
2. Jaw movements that look like the dog is trying to chew gum.
3. Pupils in both eyes dilate (become large) and unresponsive.
4. Dog begins salivating or drooling.
5. Crying out in a plaintive howl.
Since she is little I am able to wrap myself around her back and pet her. I talk to her, but she can’t hear because she is deaf.
It only last about 5-10 minutes, but it seems like an eternity.
Afterwards she walks around dazed and confused, bumping headfirst into furniture for about an hour to an hour and a half. I have developed a pattern of grabbing all the pillows I am able to find and creating a little corral for her to safely bump around in. I can’t sleep during this period so consequently I am for a several hours when this happens.
So I am tired today and so is she. Thank goodness for Starbuck’s “Double Shot” to help we wake up in the morning.
Just part of my life. She has given me tons of joy, it’s the least I am able to do for her.
subdermal implants...
Jon Acuff at SCl does it again…He is running a contest on Christian tattoos. Thought it was a great idea, but I had no clue what level it would take me to.
One of the entrants shared a subdermal implants...
People are reacting. I must admit I went "whoa", but then I cried.
I must say I have seen it and gauging for awhile, just never linked it to my calling.
I often say that God calls me to befriend the tattooed, pierced and disenfranchised…this person added a whole new level of meaning to my calling. Thank you…
Saturday, July 5, 2008
celebrating secular holidays in worship...
This may not be popular…
Just so that you know up front:
I am a Vietnam Era Army veteran.
I was in the military police, was on the combat rifle team and I am a female.
Plus I am married to a disabled Viet Nam Navy veteran.
We are very patriotic…
I grew up in the 1960’s traditional, denominational paradigm of doing church. We always centered worship on the holidays and then the rest of the year – the liturgical calendar.
I am now attending a non-denominational, rock style worship. I am blessed to serve on the team that creates and designs the worship experience. I work hard to specifically design in this order: Elements that worship and glorifies God first – then to entice the skeptic, challenge the lukewarm and thrill the believer to a new level.
In the last couple of years I have started to feel strange about overlaying secular holidays over worshipping God. I am not sure why exactly… Each time we get to a secular holiday (Veterans Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, 4th of July, Memorial Day) I find myself at odds with the rest of the group. I think I have started to feel both sides of each holiday…
Mother’s and Father’s Day: people have issues. They may have had a biological parent abandon them at a young age, their parent may have died, they may have been abused or adopted or are suffering because they are unable to have children.
Patriotic Holidays: More issues. They may have been scorned when returning from war, lost loved ones, don’t believe in war, would lay down their life for others, have children or grandchildren serving.
I also hear and understand the other side of the coin; that some people will feel ignored during these holidays, if they are not honored.
This year alone for me; the above picture is of my dad receiving his brother's service flag, who died in October. My dad also a veteran, died December 30th, 2007. This year, these holidays were personally painful for many reasons. But, I was feeling all this before his death.
Just so that you know up front:
I am a Vietnam Era Army veteran.
I was in the military police, was on the combat rifle team and I am a female.
Plus I am married to a disabled Viet Nam Navy veteran.
We are very patriotic…
I grew up in the 1960’s traditional, denominational paradigm of doing church. We always centered worship on the holidays and then the rest of the year – the liturgical calendar.
I am now attending a non-denominational, rock style worship. I am blessed to serve on the team that creates and designs the worship experience. I work hard to specifically design in this order: Elements that worship and glorifies God first – then to entice the skeptic, challenge the lukewarm and thrill the believer to a new level.
In the last couple of years I have started to feel strange about overlaying secular holidays over worshipping God. I am not sure why exactly… Each time we get to a secular holiday (Veterans Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, 4th of July, Memorial Day) I find myself at odds with the rest of the group. I think I have started to feel both sides of each holiday…
Mother’s and Father’s Day: people have issues. They may have had a biological parent abandon them at a young age, their parent may have died, they may have been abused or adopted or are suffering because they are unable to have children.
Patriotic Holidays: More issues. They may have been scorned when returning from war, lost loved ones, don’t believe in war, would lay down their life for others, have children or grandchildren serving.
I also hear and understand the other side of the coin; that some people will feel ignored during these holidays, if they are not honored.
This year alone for me; the above picture is of my dad receiving his brother's service flag, who died in October. My dad also a veteran, died December 30th, 2007. This year, these holidays were personally painful for many reasons. But, I was feeling all this before his death.For me it goes back to what is worship about?
I need to do what I feel God calling me to do…
Ultimately, I fall on the side of let’s keep worship about God.
I need to do what I feel God calling me to do…
Ultimately, I fall on the side of let’s keep worship about God.
Let’s keep worship focused on worshipping and glorifying God first – then to entice the skeptic, challenge the lukewarm and thrill the believer to a new level.
Give me my three day weekends, I’ll celebrate it with my family, my flag, my memories…
Give me my three day weekends, I’ll celebrate it with my family, my flag, my memories…
skittle Sunday...
Jon @ SCL is brilliant again...Loved the "RemiX". Had my skittles ready when I read the title...
This "Everyone is on Vacation; so anything goes" Sunday at XC:
1)Back-up preacher...who is a white-paper dude in an rss feed world...
2)Therefore, no creative elements this week at all - except possibly a very weak "Happy 4th of July" canned video from Godtube.com - found at the last moment by our wonderful graphics gal who is in love with "papyrus" font.
3) That's it...
4) Yep! That's all we got (my I sound cranky today)...
Maybe I'll just eat my skittles this Sunday...
shout-out to Stuff Chrisitans Like for another brilliant post..
Friday, July 4, 2008
"handlebar" by Flobot...
Can't get the song “handlebars” by Flobots…(sorry widget not availible) out of my brain...
It has been running through my brain non-stop for a least three days.
I often wonder how in the world can an idea appear in my mind for a worship element... I know it's a God thing, but...
the entire thing, POP! I really don't understand the process myself. It just happens.
I have had two particular times this has happened...
Once, it was listening to "Consuming Fire". I haven't blogged that one yet. In fact I sort of forgot about it. But, if I hear the song, it all comes flooding back...I obviosuly will have to blog about that one soon. So many ideas, too little time.
This week it was the "handlebars" song...to see the full idea....
I wonder sometimes if I will ever run out of ideas. I like it when God explodes in my brain!
It has been running through my brain non-stop for a least three days.
I often wonder how in the world can an idea appear in my mind for a worship element... I know it's a God thing, but...
the entire thing, POP! I really don't understand the process myself. It just happens.
I have had two particular times this has happened...
Once, it was listening to "Consuming Fire". I haven't blogged that one yet. In fact I sort of forgot about it. But, if I hear the song, it all comes flooding back...I obviosuly will have to blog about that one soon. So many ideas, too little time.
This week it was the "handlebars" song...to see the full idea....
I wonder sometimes if I will ever run out of ideas. I like it when God explodes in my brain!
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