I was reading this morning in Psalm 127 and found it to be a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do. By verse two it really stuck out to me "It is vain for you to rise up early"; I believe this would catch anyone's attention at 5:15am when they would much rather be sleeping.
The whole premise of the entire Psalm is that we are blessed by the Lord and none other; when we do something we succeed if He chooses we succeed, not because we are such a great person. I don't believe it was saying I should go back to sleep (though, that would be nice), but rather, that in my waking up early I need to acknowledge Christ. He is the reason and purpose behind my days, and if he is not, then it is all in vain.
I then jumped over to Proverbs 27, where the first thing I saw was "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day will bring". For some reason, this morning is reminding me to still my heart and remember I am only granted this day. But oh, how I wish I could plan the next 365 days. In both of these passages, I am convicted to be still and know God is the one who grants days and He is the one who should be behind all I working towards.
Matthew's reading today was 12:38-50 in which the Pharisees were asking Jesus for a sign. In response, he lets them know the signs they have been given, ancient cities would have longed to have.
It's as though this morning Jesus is telling me to be still, remember He needs to always be behind everything I do, and I have more than enough proof that He is worthy of just that. If I could learn if live my life in this way, how much less would I be worried about myself, or how others perceive me? While society tells me a million different reasons as to how I should live, I need to be reminded--Jesus, He is why I live. Living for Him is contrary to everything I am told about how to be a woman, how to be a wife, and how to work. On this day, then, without worrying about tomorrow, may I learn to be diligent and still in knowing Christ.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Matthew 10
Over the last several months (off and on) I have been reading through Matthew, 1 chapter a week, "with" the hubster. We don't read together, but the intention was we would read each morning on our own and discuss our thoughts. While he has been diligent about posting on his blog, I have not been diligent at all. He suggested a few weeks ago that I focus my mind through writing bible study questions on each chapter. This has definitely helped me focus in the mornings as I read each section and I thought I would more clearly direct my thoughts here.
So if you have no interest in reading about Matthew, then stop reading now, but considering the only one reading this is the one who suggested this exercise, I doubt the reading will cease at this point.
Matthew 10:1-19
Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. "Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support. "And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay [fn]at his house until you leave that city. "As you enter the house, give it your greeting. "If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. "Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. "Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. "But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. "But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.
(NASB, Copyright belongs to the Lockman Foundation)
Now, here were my questions:
In what ways are the disciples extending Jesus' ministry?
Why could they only go the lost sheep of Israel? How does that tie into Jesus' purpose in coming?
What is the significance of v. 15 and how does this journey of the disciples fulfill God's purpose of sending Jesus?
Contrast being shrewd and innocent. How can these two qualities coincide?
How does vs 19 "But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak" relate to Matt 6:25-34?
That's all I have for now, maybe I'll write my reflections on these questions soon (I will, don't worry). This is just to get you thinking (or, start my thinking process).
So if you have no interest in reading about Matthew, then stop reading now, but considering the only one reading this is the one who suggested this exercise, I doubt the reading will cease at this point.
Matthew 10:1-19
Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. "Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support. "And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay [fn]at his house until you leave that city. "As you enter the house, give it your greeting. "If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. "Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. "Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. "But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. "But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.
(NASB, Copyright belongs to the Lockman Foundation)
Now, here were my questions:
In what ways are the disciples extending Jesus' ministry?
Why could they only go the lost sheep of Israel? How does that tie into Jesus' purpose in coming?
What is the significance of v. 15 and how does this journey of the disciples fulfill God's purpose of sending Jesus?
Contrast being shrewd and innocent. How can these two qualities coincide?
How does vs 19 "But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak" relate to Matt 6:25-34?
That's all I have for now, maybe I'll write my reflections on these questions soon (I will, don't worry). This is just to get you thinking (or, start my thinking process).
Monday, July 4, 2011
Crime and Punishment
I finally finished the book I started on our honeymoon! Only took me two months to get through, not that it was in any was unenjoyable, but mostly because I read so slowly. The author is also extremely verbose, apparently, as Josh told me, because in Russia they were paid by the word, so authors embellished needlessly in order to have enough money to live.
I have every intention of reviewing the book, but I need a little time for it to sit with me before I am ready. There was so much crammed into 400 short pages that I cannot process it in only an hour or two. Check back, though (which, obviously I have to in order to review the book, and Josh, you more than likely will), because I will review soon.
I'll also confess, that reading has not been as boring as I thought it would be. The break I took after grad school has probably helped this, now I can read for fun and nobody is going to quiz me on how well I comprehended what I read.
There has been no thought on what I will pick up next, but I am sure either something on my shelf or on Josh's Kindle. I should probably be a nice wife, though, and give you back your Kindle, Josh, so you can read something. Okay, I'll keep that in mind...
I have every intention of reviewing the book, but I need a little time for it to sit with me before I am ready. There was so much crammed into 400 short pages that I cannot process it in only an hour or two. Check back, though (which, obviously I have to in order to review the book, and Josh, you more than likely will), because I will review soon.
I'll also confess, that reading has not been as boring as I thought it would be. The break I took after grad school has probably helped this, now I can read for fun and nobody is going to quiz me on how well I comprehended what I read.
There has been no thought on what I will pick up next, but I am sure either something on my shelf or on Josh's Kindle. I should probably be a nice wife, though, and give you back your Kindle, Josh, so you can read something. Okay, I'll keep that in mind...
Cooking
My Fourth of July update will encompass a lot of what I have dabbled in this week, but mostly cooking. Cooking is, by far, the hobby I spend the most time doing. The creativity behind my current cooking has to do with saving as much as we can on our part time, law student salary.
This week I made:
1) Chicken pot pie, easy man's version.
One of my favorite things about the chicken in this recipe was the crockpot whole chicken. I have made countless whole roast chicken's in my day, mainly because they can be dirt cheap (e.g, I bought one on Friday for $3.38 that made an entire dinner for 4, plus some left over for chicken noodle soup). Since I had to work, though, I ran home during my lunch break and stuck the whole chicken in the crockpot with some onions, garlic, and paprika so it would be finished when I got home.
Easiest way to cook a chicken! The meat was falling off the bone and so moist! I proceeded to make the chicken pot pie with some Philadelphia Cooking Creme that we got for free with coupons last week, frozen veggies, cream of mushroom soup that we got for a dollar with coupons, and a container of Pillsbury biscuits (surprise, surprise, with coupons).
Thankfully dinner was ready within about 45 minutes of getting home, which is pretty good for our schedule. I'll admit, with the Cooking Creme's we have gotten I have not necessarily been really impressed. They are a little too overwhelming in flavor for my taste, and they have the cream cheese flavor, which, while delicious, should be reserved to certain foods. I can't complain, though, it was inexpensive and served us well!
2) Baked Penne
This also used some Cooking Creme we got for free. I also used ground turkey we got on sale, frozen mozzarella we got on sale, and homemade spaghetti sauce from some canned tomatoes we got with coupons for $1.80 total. Definitely tasty. Probably my favorite of the Creme Recipes I have tried, mostly because the Italian style lends itself to very cheesy flavors. This meal served us at least 2 meals and I had left over turkey for the freezer as well as some left over homemade spaghetti sauce for the freezer.
3) Baked Chicken
Not difficult, but I will say, for some reason the chicken didn't bake through the way I expected. I think our oven is a little old and inconsistent in temperatures. It wasn't bad though. I now have more chicken broth than anyone knows what to do with! It's great to have on hand, though, if one of us gets sick or we've had a long day and I don't feel up to cooking.
On deck for this week:
Ribs (Fourth of July celebration) with Potatoes
Pot Roast with potatoes and carrots
Turkey Spaghetti with Squash and Zucchini
Maybe some frozen Beef and Barley Stew
This week I made:
1) Chicken pot pie, easy man's version.
One of my favorite things about the chicken in this recipe was the crockpot whole chicken. I have made countless whole roast chicken's in my day, mainly because they can be dirt cheap (e.g, I bought one on Friday for $3.38 that made an entire dinner for 4, plus some left over for chicken noodle soup). Since I had to work, though, I ran home during my lunch break and stuck the whole chicken in the crockpot with some onions, garlic, and paprika so it would be finished when I got home.
Easiest way to cook a chicken! The meat was falling off the bone and so moist! I proceeded to make the chicken pot pie with some Philadelphia Cooking Creme that we got for free with coupons last week, frozen veggies, cream of mushroom soup that we got for a dollar with coupons, and a container of Pillsbury biscuits (surprise, surprise, with coupons).
Thankfully dinner was ready within about 45 minutes of getting home, which is pretty good for our schedule. I'll admit, with the Cooking Creme's we have gotten I have not necessarily been really impressed. They are a little too overwhelming in flavor for my taste, and they have the cream cheese flavor, which, while delicious, should be reserved to certain foods. I can't complain, though, it was inexpensive and served us well!
2) Baked Penne
This also used some Cooking Creme we got for free. I also used ground turkey we got on sale, frozen mozzarella we got on sale, and homemade spaghetti sauce from some canned tomatoes we got with coupons for $1.80 total. Definitely tasty. Probably my favorite of the Creme Recipes I have tried, mostly because the Italian style lends itself to very cheesy flavors. This meal served us at least 2 meals and I had left over turkey for the freezer as well as some left over homemade spaghetti sauce for the freezer.
3) Baked Chicken
Not difficult, but I will say, for some reason the chicken didn't bake through the way I expected. I think our oven is a little old and inconsistent in temperatures. It wasn't bad though. I now have more chicken broth than anyone knows what to do with! It's great to have on hand, though, if one of us gets sick or we've had a long day and I don't feel up to cooking.
On deck for this week:
Ribs (Fourth of July celebration) with Potatoes
Pot Roast with potatoes and carrots
Turkey Spaghetti with Squash and Zucchini
Maybe some frozen Beef and Barley Stew
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