Friday, March 27, 2009

It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments, the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose:



I CHOOSE LOVE
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.






I CHOOSE JOY
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical, the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.




I CHOOSE PEACE
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.




I CHOOSE PATIENCE
I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.


I CHOOS
E KINDNESS
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. I will be kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.



I CHOOSE GOODNESS
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.


I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS
Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My spouse will not question my love.






I CHOOSE GENTLENESS
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.


I CHOOSE SELF CONTROL
I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.





Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.
max lucado

Friday, October 10, 2008

I miss my big, crazy, but fun and loving family! :o)

So I received some letters and pictures from my sister, Tracy, Jason, Emily, and Melissa and it made me soooooo homesick because I haven't seen them for so long - well I did see them enough to say hi and bye at the hayride :o) ... it is making me very excited for our Thanksgiving/Christmas time together... I think I am framing the pictures because I love them so much and am being very sentimental at the moment :D

Sunday, October 5, 2008

The Church @ Peace

The 3 P's

When Life starts squeezing...

Acts 5 :27-42 Acts 16:16-28

?What is our response?

1. Praise - rejoice because we are counted worthy of our calling... thankful for suffering

Philippians 4:4 - rejoice in everything 11 Corinthians 6:10

- Choose your attitude!

Your internal attitude matters more than your external circumstances

- There are two types/groups of people:

a) worriers b) worshipers


2. Pray - don't be anxious

Philippians 4:6 Isaiah 26:3,4


Matthew 6:24-34 ... my mind is steadfast, I will trust in you - my mind is "stayed"
on you...

1Peter 5:7 - give your requests to God...

- You can't stop your worries from coming - But let them drive you to God...


3. Peace - the promise

Philippians 4:7


- the peace of God transcends , understands, will guard you heart and mind

Friday, October 3, 2008

Sami


Ok, so as many of you know , Sami is now 2 1/2 - over a week-and-a- half(s) time that I did not see her a while back , she definitely became the definition of a two year old - here are some excerpts from converdsations that we have had while I was watching/ playing with her:

Sami: Watcha do-in?
Me: pluggin in the chair
Sami: Why?
Me: becuse it needs batteries
Sami: Oh... ... Watcha do-in?
Me: pluggin in the chair
Sami: Why?
Me: becuse it needs batteries
Sami: Oh... ... Watcha do-in?
Me: pluggin in the chair
Sami: Why?
Me: becuse it needs batteries
Sami: Oh... ... Watcha do-in?
Me: pluggin in the chair
Sami: Why?
Me: becuse it needs batteries
Sami: Oh... ... Watcha do-in?
Me: pluggin in the chair
Sami: Why?
Me: becuse it needs batteries
Sami: Oh... ... Watcha do-in?

Me: What did I say I was doing?
Sami: pluggin in the chair
Me: and why am I plugging in the chair?
Sami: because it needs batries (her pronuciation)
Me: that's right
Sami: oh... ... Watcha doing?

* be proud - I didn't scream :)
-----------------------------------------------------
Sami: watcha do-in?
Me: helping Mike get ready for bed
Sami: why?
Me: because he's tired
Sami: Why?
Me: because he worked hard today
Sami: why?
Me: because it's his job
Sami: why?
Me: so he can make money
Sami: why?
Me: (ignoring her)

Sami: watcha do-in?
Me: helping Mike get ready for bed
Sami: why?
Me: (trying a different approach) because it's my job
Sami: why?
Me: so I can make money
Sami: why?
Me: so I can pay my bills
Sami: why?
Me: because they need to be paid
Sami: why?
Me:( ignoring her again)

Sami: watcha do-in?
Me: getting the wash rag wet
Sami: why?
Me: so I can help Mike wash up
Sami: why ?
Me: So he can go to bed
Sami why?
Me: because he's tired

Sami: watcha do-in?
Me: putting soap on the wash rag
Sami: why?
Me: so I can help mike get ready for bed
Sami:why?
Me: because it's my job
Sami: why
Me: (pausing) ... (thinking) ... so I have money to buy you toys
Sami: ok! (walks away and starting playing in/with the toybox) ;P

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Me playing with Sami and ' eating' her neck


Me:mmmm.... you taste good
Sami: (laughing) no I don't
Me: yes you do - you're tasty!
Sami: I'm not tasty -I'm Sami!