I found this song as I was surfing the net and as soon as I heard it, I wanted to share it with someone else. CLick for video!
(I couldn't figure out how to imbed it myself...)
1.30.2008
1.29.2008
Daily Reading 25
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven." -Matthew 10:32
"If I don't wash your feet, you are not one of my people." - John 13:8
The story of Jesus washing the feet of his followers is in a few of the books of the bible. When I hear this story, the first thing that I think is, Why is he washing their feet? Shouldn't they be washing his? But nope. He takes the servant's robe off of the hook and grabs the water basin and towel.
The next thing that I think about is the nasty, smelliness of feet. Today especially, I know that I would not want Jesus any where near my feet. (I wore socks without shoes, and they are shoes that have been worn LOTS of times without socks. They are out there smelly!) I can totally see why Peter didn't want Jesus to be scrubbing those dirt covered, smelly things!
Some of the other guys were too busy fighting over who was best to even think about what Jesus was doing. Now how dumb is that? Doesn't it seem crazy to you that Jesus wanted to wash all of their feet? None of them would on trial, whipped by Roman guards, carrying their own heavy cross or be killed without reason. None of them.
BUT, this foot washing points out something about each of them and each of us. Some washing needs to be done. We need to confess that there have been times that we have hurt ourselves, others, and God.
Like Jesus said, "If I don't wash your feet, you are not one of my people." - John 13:8
"If I don't wash your feet, you are not one of my people." - John 13:8
The story of Jesus washing the feet of his followers is in a few of the books of the bible. When I hear this story, the first thing that I think is, Why is he washing their feet? Shouldn't they be washing his? But nope. He takes the servant's robe off of the hook and grabs the water basin and towel.
The next thing that I think about is the nasty, smelliness of feet. Today especially, I know that I would not want Jesus any where near my feet. (I wore socks without shoes, and they are shoes that have been worn LOTS of times without socks. They are out there smelly!) I can totally see why Peter didn't want Jesus to be scrubbing those dirt covered, smelly things!
Some of the other guys were too busy fighting over who was best to even think about what Jesus was doing. Now how dumb is that? Doesn't it seem crazy to you that Jesus wanted to wash all of their feet? None of them would on trial, whipped by Roman guards, carrying their own heavy cross or be killed without reason. None of them.
BUT, this foot washing points out something about each of them and each of us. Some washing needs to be done. We need to confess that there have been times that we have hurt ourselves, others, and God.
Like Jesus said, "If I don't wash your feet, you are not one of my people." - John 13:8
Tunes
I found a music player on another blog awhile ago and really wanted to have one for this blog. I noticed a link at the bottom and found that it was a free download! Click on the player below if you want to add a player to your Myspace, Facebook, or blog.
Any songs you'd like to hear on our Love Wins' player?
Any songs you'd like to hear on our Love Wins' player?
Daily Reading 24
"Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." -Luke 5:16
Jesus gets it when we struggle with doing things that are not the best choices. Don't you think that he had lots of times when he was tempted to be the biggest and best? Most of the people that heard him call himself the Messiah wanted him to become a powerful king, an army general, and lead them to blast the other guys that were in power for so long over the people of Israel.
Jesus was tempted by arrogance, but he walked away to be alone.
Another time was when Peter didn't believe that Jesus needed to die. It would have been tempting for me to walk away from that situation.
Jesus shut down Peter's argument and said, "You have no idea how God works."
Another time Jesus was mocked. A little girl was really sick and the family had called for him. When he got there, she was already dead. The crowd taunted him, but Jesus just dismissed them. He told them to go outside. "The child is not dead but sleeping."
Most of the time, our reactions to temptations have to do with lack of impulse control. I know for me, eating a lot of sugar is one of those temptations. I usually try to talk myself out of it, but then I just give in and find something sweet. If I try to look at what Jesus did, I can see that he guarded his heart. He seemed to easily react in the opposite way that I expected. I wonder if he planned his reaction? Probably if I actually sat down and thought about it, I could be prepared with a healthier snack when I am tempted to eat sweets all the time.
I'm tempted by lots of other things too. I think we all are. Today, I'm going to focus on one of those things and try not to let my impulses always win.
Jesus gets it when we struggle with doing things that are not the best choices. Don't you think that he had lots of times when he was tempted to be the biggest and best? Most of the people that heard him call himself the Messiah wanted him to become a powerful king, an army general, and lead them to blast the other guys that were in power for so long over the people of Israel.
Jesus was tempted by arrogance, but he walked away to be alone.
Another time was when Peter didn't believe that Jesus needed to die. It would have been tempting for me to walk away from that situation.
Jesus shut down Peter's argument and said, "You have no idea how God works."
Another time Jesus was mocked. A little girl was really sick and the family had called for him. When he got there, she was already dead. The crowd taunted him, but Jesus just dismissed them. He told them to go outside. "The child is not dead but sleeping."
Most of the time, our reactions to temptations have to do with lack of impulse control. I know for me, eating a lot of sugar is one of those temptations. I usually try to talk myself out of it, but then I just give in and find something sweet. If I try to look at what Jesus did, I can see that he guarded his heart. He seemed to easily react in the opposite way that I expected. I wonder if he planned his reaction? Probably if I actually sat down and thought about it, I could be prepared with a healthier snack when I am tempted to eat sweets all the time.
I'm tempted by lots of other things too. I think we all are. Today, I'm going to focus on one of those things and try not to let my impulses always win.
1.27.2008
An Ongoing Conversation
For the past 6 months or so, I've been talking with my friend, Emily about lots of things. Some things have been personal, some goofy, and some have been spiritual.
A long time ago, when I talked to people about spiritual things, it was a lot of, "Don't do that" and "Quit or else..." I remember seeing people I loved doing things that I thought they shouldn't and telling that it was wrong. I was trying to PUSH my beliefs onto them. Or at least what push onto them what I thought were beliefs. They were really just self imposed rules that I thought meant a person was okay with God. It was a simplistic way to try and fix everyone around me. It took me a bit to realize that my approach was WAY off. You see, I am naturally bossy and SOMETIMES people don't like it. (I know, I know, no one actually likes it.) I was obviously pushing them away.
My sister Casey has said that the way I behave toward people has changed A LOT. The way I see it, people really just want to know if you believe what you're saying. They don't want you to tell them that you believe it, they want you to SHOW them. AND it's not about following a list of DOs and DON'Ts. It's about allowing yourself to be imperfect and still be loved. That is the message that Jesus told. That is the kind of person that I want to be. One that loves God and others. One that loves without condition.
For several months, Emily pushed with lots of questions. She laughed about lots of things that I told her. She couldn't believe that I thought that God had a plan even though so much crap was happening around us and to us. She couldn't believe anything that I was saying for awhile. Then something changed... I'll let you read her thoughts about all of this on another blog.
A long time ago, when I talked to people about spiritual things, it was a lot of, "Don't do that" and "Quit or else..." I remember seeing people I loved doing things that I thought they shouldn't and telling that it was wrong. I was trying to PUSH my beliefs onto them. Or at least what push onto them what I thought were beliefs. They were really just self imposed rules that I thought meant a person was okay with God. It was a simplistic way to try and fix everyone around me. It took me a bit to realize that my approach was WAY off. You see, I am naturally bossy and SOMETIMES people don't like it. (I know, I know, no one actually likes it.) I was obviously pushing them away.
My sister Casey has said that the way I behave toward people has changed A LOT. The way I see it, people really just want to know if you believe what you're saying. They don't want you to tell them that you believe it, they want you to SHOW them. AND it's not about following a list of DOs and DON'Ts. It's about allowing yourself to be imperfect and still be loved. That is the message that Jesus told. That is the kind of person that I want to be. One that loves God and others. One that loves without condition.
For several months, Emily pushed with lots of questions. She laughed about lots of things that I told her. She couldn't believe that I thought that God had a plan even though so much crap was happening around us and to us. She couldn't believe anything that I was saying for awhile. Then something changed... I'll let you read her thoughts about all of this on another blog.
1.26.2008
Favorite Gift
My favorite gift ever was a framed piece of poetry that my husband, Donnie had written. He actually gave it to me when we were still dating. I think we were celebrating an anniversary. It could have been the anniversary of our first date. Actually, on Monday it will have been 10 years since that night.
This man is a person who is Jesus to me. What I first noticed about him was his compassion for others. I was impressed by how he had gotten a call from someone in our class who had car trouble, and went to help, even though he was pressed for time with practice and studies. And no, he wasn't doing it because he was trying to get a date with anyone! He is also passionate about following Christ. He wants God's best for his life and for others around him. Lots of people have told me that they feel like they can ask Donnie any kind of question and he doesn't make them feel stupid. He is a really good teacher, too.
Do you have a favorite gift?
This man is a person who is Jesus to me. What I first noticed about him was his compassion for others. I was impressed by how he had gotten a call from someone in our class who had car trouble, and went to help, even though he was pressed for time with practice and studies. And no, he wasn't doing it because he was trying to get a date with anyone! He is also passionate about following Christ. He wants God's best for his life and for others around him. Lots of people have told me that they feel like they can ask Donnie any kind of question and he doesn't make them feel stupid. He is a really good teacher, too.
Do you have a favorite gift?
Daily Reading 23
"Then Jesus said, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?'" -John 11:40
Jesus was pretty good friends with this family. They were a brother and two sisters. At this moment, Martha is confused and seems to be ticked off at Jesus. Her brother had just died and she had expected Jesus to be there. I think she even expected him to prevent it. She even confronts him with it, "If you had been here..." -John 11:21.
I've had moments like this. I remember being 13 and standing on my front porch just minutes after my mom passed away. Yelling at God made me feel good. Anger and disappointment filled me completely. I didn't get it. Four girls ages 10-18 needed their mother. Didn't God understand that? Like Martha, I think that my impression was that if God had been there, there would be no death.
Jesus then tells Martha that her brother will rise again. I think I would have fallen off the porch if Jesus had told me that! I wonder if Martha thought that he was nuts! He tells her that she has a choice to make. She has to decide if she will believe him. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." -John 11:25-26. Martha had to choose to believe.
What I started to understand as I began this journey with God, is that he was there at those moments. AND he had something to offer me if I chose to take it. He offered continued life with Him even after we die. Even though my mom didn't come back to life when she passed away, I have hope that I will see her again in the afterlife. If God isn't my God in the face of death, how is he God any other time?
Jesus was pretty good friends with this family. They were a brother and two sisters. At this moment, Martha is confused and seems to be ticked off at Jesus. Her brother had just died and she had expected Jesus to be there. I think she even expected him to prevent it. She even confronts him with it, "If you had been here..." -John 11:21.
I've had moments like this. I remember being 13 and standing on my front porch just minutes after my mom passed away. Yelling at God made me feel good. Anger and disappointment filled me completely. I didn't get it. Four girls ages 10-18 needed their mother. Didn't God understand that? Like Martha, I think that my impression was that if God had been there, there would be no death.
Jesus then tells Martha that her brother will rise again. I think I would have fallen off the porch if Jesus had told me that! I wonder if Martha thought that he was nuts! He tells her that she has a choice to make. She has to decide if she will believe him. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." -John 11:25-26. Martha had to choose to believe.
What I started to understand as I began this journey with God, is that he was there at those moments. AND he had something to offer me if I chose to take it. He offered continued life with Him even after we die. Even though my mom didn't come back to life when she passed away, I have hope that I will see her again in the afterlife. If God isn't my God in the face of death, how is he God any other time?
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