Scripture
1Corinthians 9
Verse 25-26a All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step.
Observation
We should have this goal in mind in everything we do. But what is the goal? When we become a Christian God gives us the precious reward of eternal life. But we do not receive it immediately, we have to remain on earth until we die and go to heaven or until Christ returns. So while we are still on earth our goal is to please God.
Application
Steps to pleasing God include prayer, Bible study, worship and using our spiritual gift. These can all be done individually, small groups of 2 or more, or within a Church.
Prayer
Dear Lord, the more I get into your Word the more I am amazed at how you can lead me down a path. Just today the Word has been intertwined through my group Bible Study, Worship service and this evening's study. The discovery of true spiritual gifts has been pressing on my heart, please help me to open my heart to hear where you are taking me on this path.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Hooray! My Mom is here!!!
Late Thursday night I drove to airport and picked up my mom. She decided to come when we found out we would be moving and would have to put our house up for sale. Having her here makes everything so much easier to manage and hopefully will make the move easier.
We are thrilled that she will be here for 6 weeks, and even more thrilled that we actually convinced my dad to come too. He will be here for the last two weeks and then they will fly home together. Their ability to even come visit is a blessing, but I am truly grateful for my mom to be able to be here for 6 weeks. We are Blessed Chaos, but the chaos is more manageable when Mimi is here!
But just in case she gets overwhelmed we always make sure she can take a break. She likes to have a good glass of wine or a nice cold beer, so whenever she is here my hubby always makes sure she has some.
Now those of you who know my mom will appreciate this picture and why she was making sure she got every last drop so none would be wasted. We had a good laugh at her that night, as we often do. She is a constant source of entertainment!
But more importantly, she is a wonderful Mom and Grandma and we love every minute she is with us! I think this is why they call it a "Love Seat"!!
We are thrilled that she will be here for 6 weeks, and even more thrilled that we actually convinced my dad to come too. He will be here for the last two weeks and then they will fly home together. Their ability to even come visit is a blessing, but I am truly grateful for my mom to be able to be here for 6 weeks. We are Blessed Chaos, but the chaos is more manageable when Mimi is here!
But just in case she gets overwhelmed we always make sure she can take a break. She likes to have a good glass of wine or a nice cold beer, so whenever she is here my hubby always makes sure she has some.
Now those of you who know my mom will appreciate this picture and why she was making sure she got every last drop so none would be wasted. We had a good laugh at her that night, as we often do. She is a constant source of entertainment!
But more importantly, she is a wonderful Mom and Grandma and we love every minute she is with us! I think this is why they call it a "Love Seat"!!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
1Corinthians 8
Scripture
1Corinthians 8
verses 2-3 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for.
Observation
Love comes before knowledge. When we love God and follow Him, we are blessed in many ways - one way is with knowledge. When we rely on ourselves we can become too strong in our own opinions and not understand what God is really trying to tell us.
Application
Love God first. He will care for us and provide all our needs including helping us in understanding and knowledge.
Prayer
Dear Lord, it is so easy to go our own way but these verses help us to understand that we must go your way. Thank you for reminding me that the first step in following you is to simply love you.
1Corinthians 8
verses 2-3 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one God knows and cares for.
Observation
Love comes before knowledge. When we love God and follow Him, we are blessed in many ways - one way is with knowledge. When we rely on ourselves we can become too strong in our own opinions and not understand what God is really trying to tell us.
Application
Love God first. He will care for us and provide all our needs including helping us in understanding and knowledge.
Prayer
Dear Lord, it is so easy to go our own way but these verses help us to understand that we must go your way. Thank you for reminding me that the first step in following you is to simply love you.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
1Corinthians 7
Scripture
1Corinthians 7
verse 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be more devoted to the Lord in body and in spirit, while the married woman must be concerned about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.
Observation
This chapter is Paul's instruction on Christian marriage and is so full of depth and we should study it often. But after reflecting on this chapter for a couple of days, I kept coming back to verse 34. When I was single I had soooo much time, I could have and should have been spending much more of that time with the Lord. Unfortunately we cannot change the past - only what we can do now. I have learned that time is so precious as I fight daily to scratch out enough time to get everything done!
Application
This verse tells me that although I am still to be devoted to the Lord, my interests are divided. I must also be devoted to my husband and our children. I think women who are married with children will find it much more difficult to balance and yet it is so incredibly rewarding. I am so blessed with an amazing husband, I am called to please him. We are so blessed with three beautiful children and I can see the Lord working through me to reach them.
The best I can do is work harder to manage my time so that I can find a balance between serving my Lord, pleasing my husband, and raising our children.
Prayer
Lord, as winter is turning to spring I am awed at your amazing creations, thank you for the unexpected blessing of the beauty of a spring crocus! Thank you for working in my life and providing our family with more than we need. I pray that in the months ahead I can find peace and recognize the blessings you are providing find through all the changes ahead. Please guide me through these changes and help me to keep the balance of serving you and my family.
1Corinthians 7
verse 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be more devoted to the Lord in body and in spirit, while the married woman must be concerned about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.
Observation
This chapter is Paul's instruction on Christian marriage and is so full of depth and we should study it often. But after reflecting on this chapter for a couple of days, I kept coming back to verse 34. When I was single I had soooo much time, I could have and should have been spending much more of that time with the Lord. Unfortunately we cannot change the past - only what we can do now. I have learned that time is so precious as I fight daily to scratch out enough time to get everything done!
Application
This verse tells me that although I am still to be devoted to the Lord, my interests are divided. I must also be devoted to my husband and our children. I think women who are married with children will find it much more difficult to balance and yet it is so incredibly rewarding. I am so blessed with an amazing husband, I am called to please him. We are so blessed with three beautiful children and I can see the Lord working through me to reach them.
The best I can do is work harder to manage my time so that I can find a balance between serving my Lord, pleasing my husband, and raising our children.
Prayer
Lord, as winter is turning to spring I am awed at your amazing creations, thank you for the unexpected blessing of the beauty of a spring crocus! Thank you for working in my life and providing our family with more than we need. I pray that in the months ahead I can find peace and recognize the blessings you are providing find through all the changes ahead. Please guide me through these changes and help me to keep the balance of serving you and my family.
I am finally back - here is what I have been doing!
If you have been following my life you already know that we found out we are transferring in June. Well of course that means we have to put our house up for sale. I think my last post was somewhere around Valentines Day, and it was about then that I sat down to make a plan - and basically panicked! There was so much to do before I would even consider putting the house on the market.
I stopped blogging completely, including reading the regular ones that I follow. I knew that I had to be completly away from it or it is too much of a distraction! Anyway, here is a summary of what I have been doing for the last month. That is, what I have been doing in any spare moment I can find. Most days I have trouble keeping up with the normal everyday activities and cleaning so anything on top of that is a challenge. But thankfully I have had some help from a babysitter and some friends.
one full week I spent grading papers
one weekend I spent painting the bathroom, then sent the rest of the week painting all bathroom trim white (3 coats!) and that included a window that took forever because I had to do it in several stages.
Then I started to tackle one room at a time. First decluttering everything - throwing away, giving away, and putting into storage what we don't need for awhile. Most rooms took at least a day each, except the den which took about 3 days. I also did some yard work and planted flowers. All this took about 2 week to finish!
In between all of that, whenever I have sat down at the computer I have been looking for houses to rent near Baltimore.
So there you go, amazing how quickly 4 weeks can fly by! But the good news is that alot was accomplished in that time and our house is up for sale and ready to show. Well ready to show with 24 hours notice so I can quickly clean it back to showing condition.
Now maybe I can get back to a normal blogging routine and pick up where I left off.
I stopped blogging completely, including reading the regular ones that I follow. I knew that I had to be completly away from it or it is too much of a distraction! Anyway, here is a summary of what I have been doing for the last month. That is, what I have been doing in any spare moment I can find. Most days I have trouble keeping up with the normal everyday activities and cleaning so anything on top of that is a challenge. But thankfully I have had some help from a babysitter and some friends.
one full week I spent grading papers
one weekend I spent painting the bathroom, then sent the rest of the week painting all bathroom trim white (3 coats!) and that included a window that took forever because I had to do it in several stages.
Then I started to tackle one room at a time. First decluttering everything - throwing away, giving away, and putting into storage what we don't need for awhile. Most rooms took at least a day each, except the den which took about 3 days. I also did some yard work and planted flowers. All this took about 2 week to finish!
In between all of that, whenever I have sat down at the computer I have been looking for houses to rent near Baltimore.
So there you go, amazing how quickly 4 weeks can fly by! But the good news is that alot was accomplished in that time and our house is up for sale and ready to show. Well ready to show with 24 hours notice so I can quickly clean it back to showing condition.
Now maybe I can get back to a normal blogging routine and pick up where I left off.
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