Yesterday I had the wonderful experience of babysitting an awesome little boy. He is 1 yr, 3 months and a bundle of pure energy and joy. As he was running around the apartment, he became fascinated by the mirrors in the bedroom. I had to smile as he would go by them, and at first give it just a minor glance, but as the time went on, he was standing there carrying out a full blown conversation with the little boy across from him. It was so funny - he would wave his hands, and just carry on, with no concept that it was his reflection.
Today has been an interesting afternoon for me, lots going on in my brain. As I sat out on the waterfront watching the sun setting - I thought about the reflection of the sun on the ocean, and the mirror image it produced. It was really great. But then my thoughts turned to more spiritual things.
In Genesis 1:27 - it states that "God created man in his own image" - so if we were created in HIS image, we should be a reflection of Him. Unfortunately in our humanity we screw things up constantly and do not give off a really good reflection of the image that we were created in.
But I think that many years ago, Paul realized this, when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:12 "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face....". It seems like when I look in the mirror, I just see me, in all my failing humanity.
I can't wait until I look in the mirror, get excited the way that Joshua did, because there is a "different" person looking back at me - that being the image of Christ, until the day when I can actually see Him face to face.
I'm probably "preaching to the choir" so to speak, but I know for myself - I have a long long way to go. I'm just glad that He is patient with me. So until that day that I see Him face to face, I will strive to be a better reflection of Him. Anyone care to join me in the journey walking with the King?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
What's in a name?
The first gift you were ever given - was your name. What does your name say about you?
Recently, a friend of mine's daughter gave birth - and for about a week, they could not decide on the name that they wanted to give their beautiful little girl. Now I thought that was just weird, but then I started thinking about it - What is the first thing you do when you introduce yourself? You tell them your name. When you die - your name is synonymous with all your accomplishments. When I say the name Adolph Hitler - what picture is in your head, Or Albert Einstein, how about Ghandi, or Winston Churchill, Billy Graham. Their entire lives are wrapped up in their name. And what are some parents thinking when they name their children names like Benton Dover (Ben Dover) or Timothy Burr (Tim Burr). These are 2 people that I personally know, and wonder how can a parent do that to their child.
Now, I understand that society for some reason dictates what the popular names are - usually based on soap opera characters, or other TV 'reality' actors. Isn't it interesting that when our country turns up their noses to faith in God, yet many of the most popular names are those of people found in the Bible, or some form of it. Different cultures focus on certain names. In the Spanish culture you will find a lot of Jesus', but in the American culture you find that name used very little when nameing children.
So my question is this - do we really think about what we name our children. Many parents study the meaning of the names before they actually name their children. I found it interesting when I looked up the meaning of my name and my siblings names, and found that our personalities are very similar to what our names mean. I would hope that most parents would be willing to think about what they are "subjecting" their children to in the names that they are given.
You know, there is one more true importance in a name. And that has nothing to do with the reception of society here on earth. The Bible talks about in the end when we arrive in heaven, and where we spend eternity is dependent on our name, and whether it is written in the Lambs Book of Life.
Revelation 21:27 (The Message)
Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will get in.
I can only hope that those of you who are having children, or involved in the naming of children - ie grandparents, god parents, aunts, uncles, close friend, etc. - are going to be active in making sure that those children know the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus. You give your children a gift in their name, but make sure that they know about the free gift that Father God gave in His Son, Jesus Christ, so we could have eternal life, because they might leave a name behind here on the earth, but eternity is a long time if your name isn't written down up there.
Just a few thoughts.
Walking with the King, s
Recently, a friend of mine's daughter gave birth - and for about a week, they could not decide on the name that they wanted to give their beautiful little girl. Now I thought that was just weird, but then I started thinking about it - What is the first thing you do when you introduce yourself? You tell them your name. When you die - your name is synonymous with all your accomplishments. When I say the name Adolph Hitler - what picture is in your head, Or Albert Einstein, how about Ghandi, or Winston Churchill, Billy Graham. Their entire lives are wrapped up in their name. And what are some parents thinking when they name their children names like Benton Dover (Ben Dover) or Timothy Burr (Tim Burr). These are 2 people that I personally know, and wonder how can a parent do that to their child.
Now, I understand that society for some reason dictates what the popular names are - usually based on soap opera characters, or other TV 'reality' actors. Isn't it interesting that when our country turns up their noses to faith in God, yet many of the most popular names are those of people found in the Bible, or some form of it. Different cultures focus on certain names. In the Spanish culture you will find a lot of Jesus', but in the American culture you find that name used very little when nameing children.
So my question is this - do we really think about what we name our children. Many parents study the meaning of the names before they actually name their children. I found it interesting when I looked up the meaning of my name and my siblings names, and found that our personalities are very similar to what our names mean. I would hope that most parents would be willing to think about what they are "subjecting" their children to in the names that they are given.
You know, there is one more true importance in a name. And that has nothing to do with the reception of society here on earth. The Bible talks about in the end when we arrive in heaven, and where we spend eternity is dependent on our name, and whether it is written in the Lambs Book of Life.
Revelation 21:27 (The Message)
Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will get in.
I can only hope that those of you who are having children, or involved in the naming of children - ie grandparents, god parents, aunts, uncles, close friend, etc. - are going to be active in making sure that those children know the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus. You give your children a gift in their name, but make sure that they know about the free gift that Father God gave in His Son, Jesus Christ, so we could have eternal life, because they might leave a name behind here on the earth, but eternity is a long time if your name isn't written down up there.
Just a few thoughts.
Walking with the King, s
A suitable helper
This morning, I sit here very frustrated. I guess I am wondering why it seems that life is passing me by - and with each passing day - it is one more day that I sit single. I think I am second guessing my decisions to be patient and wait for God to bring that “special someone” into my life. Now please don’t worry about me going out and doing something stupid, but I guess I wonder if I am not going about this the right way. Now please, I don’t want anyone reminding me about how blessed my life is, and if I was married I wouldn’t be able to do half the stuff that I do. I know all of that, and I am not lamenting my life as a whole - I just wished that I had someone to share life with.
You ask what has brought about these feelings this morning - well - I got an e-mail from my brother stating he was on his way in May to meet someone that he had met over the internet, and he is “in love”. Please don’t get me wrong - I am not against anyone finding love, but I guess I just wonder when it is going to happen for me. Now before any of you respond about E-harmony, and other dating sites - been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and bumper sticker. And it isn’t just a one time thing. I have been part of E-harmony a total of 2 years and the only thing I found, was that my wallet was a lot lighter. I have tried other sites also and they to, just seem to be a drain on the pocketbook. I have tried free sites, and to no avail there also - it seems like I intimidate a lot of men by being 42 and never married. I don’t even want to bring in the issue of spiritual maturity here.
Genesis 2:18 states “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be
Alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
You know, I wouldn’t struggle with this so much if it wasn’t for something that God, himself, said. If it isn’t good for man, or woman, to be alone, then why isn’t God bringing my “helper”. I have lost count at the number of people that ask me why I am not married. My answer has always been, it isn’t that I haven’t met the person that I can spend the rest of my life with, I just haven’t met the person that I can’t live without. So is it time to change my “standards” so that I don’t spend the rest of my life alone.
I have a wonderful friend, who is now well in her 60’s and she always said, she would rather be a happy single than an unhappy bride. And I agree with her, but she also admits that she has never had the desire to be married. I love her to death, but I don’t want to be 65 my life consists only of church activities and taking care of everyone else. And frankly - I do have that desire to be married and have a family.
I don’t know, maybe this feeling today is just indigestion, and it will pass, but all I know is that it comes more and more often - and frankly I just wish that God would say “No Sandy - that isn’t the thing that I have for you” and then I could deal with the emotions and move on.
But until then I guess I will continue to keep on keeping on and trusting Him to know what He is doing. And if anyone has any “sensible” ideas - feel free to forward them on to me.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Power of Peer Pressure
The last couple of mornings I have had the opportunity to get up before the sun, here in Grand Cayman. It is currently Holy week here, and we have been having church at 6:00 each morning.
This morning I realized something. Usually when I head outside - it is still dark and the "resident" rooster is still asleep. I have been enjoying the quiet first thing in the mornings, as I am outside waiting for a friend to pick me up, so we can attend church together.
This morning, the neighbor guy was outside, ready to take a friend to the airport early - and as we were talking, I guess our resident rooster heard us talking - and started crowing - remind you that the sun is still yet not up. Within about 5 minutes, all over the area, you could hear the roosters crowing, but yet the sun is not up - so much for them being a great alarm clock. hahaha
It seemed like in a matter of minutes all you could hear were these crowing roosters, all over the immediate area.
One of the radio programs for children, here on the island, talks about the animals and how God made them. Coincidentally one of the programs last week was about roosters and how they, the roosters, are actually very very insecure. Now please don't ask me which psychologist interviewed the roosters to find out this amazing fact - but as they kept on talking about the roosters, it began to make sense. If you think about it a rooster doesn't do anything - and any predator animal, dog, cat, iguana, etc would very easily be able to kill them, they don't fly much and they don't run fast, and so God has given them this obnoxiously shrill crow - that scares everything off. They shared other traits about the rooster, but that crowing really stuck in my mind. At times it is ear piercing, and this morning I just wanted to tell them to shut up - they were ruining my peace and quiet. But the more I listened, the more fascinated I became - 1 rooster crowing - and within minutes I'm sure, as small as this island is, the roosters all over the island were crowing - how's that for giving in to peer pressure.
When my friend arrived, so that we could go to church together, during the drive she thanked me for going to church with her, because if I hadn't been here, she wasn't sure that she would have gotten up each morning to cross the island for just a 30 minute service. We talked about how Christians are to build one another us and the importance of it. After coming home and thinking about it a little more - you can think about some of these things when you are on vacation ;) - I realized that the scripture had lots to say about this.
Proverbs 27:17 (AMP) Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose].
1 Thessalonians 5:11Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.
Hebrews 3:13But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him.
As we claim to be Christians, my question becomes this - do we just give off a shrill sound to the world - in such a way that all they want to do is tell us to shut up, or are we truly encouraging one another onto bigger and more important things for the gospel of Christ - strengthening one another - so that the enemy can't sneak up and attack us.
I have a feeling that I am going to think about this sort of thing everytime I hear a rooster crow. I certainly hope that I don't sound like a rooster to those around me, but what comes from me, both verbal and non-verbal is beneficial to those around me. Just a thought for today - as I continue to walk with the King.
This morning I realized something. Usually when I head outside - it is still dark and the "resident" rooster is still asleep. I have been enjoying the quiet first thing in the mornings, as I am outside waiting for a friend to pick me up, so we can attend church together.
This morning, the neighbor guy was outside, ready to take a friend to the airport early - and as we were talking, I guess our resident rooster heard us talking - and started crowing - remind you that the sun is still yet not up. Within about 5 minutes, all over the area, you could hear the roosters crowing, but yet the sun is not up - so much for them being a great alarm clock. hahaha
It seemed like in a matter of minutes all you could hear were these crowing roosters, all over the immediate area.
One of the radio programs for children, here on the island, talks about the animals and how God made them. Coincidentally one of the programs last week was about roosters and how they, the roosters, are actually very very insecure. Now please don't ask me which psychologist interviewed the roosters to find out this amazing fact - but as they kept on talking about the roosters, it began to make sense. If you think about it a rooster doesn't do anything - and any predator animal, dog, cat, iguana, etc would very easily be able to kill them, they don't fly much and they don't run fast, and so God has given them this obnoxiously shrill crow - that scares everything off. They shared other traits about the rooster, but that crowing really stuck in my mind. At times it is ear piercing, and this morning I just wanted to tell them to shut up - they were ruining my peace and quiet. But the more I listened, the more fascinated I became - 1 rooster crowing - and within minutes I'm sure, as small as this island is, the roosters all over the island were crowing - how's that for giving in to peer pressure.
When my friend arrived, so that we could go to church together, during the drive she thanked me for going to church with her, because if I hadn't been here, she wasn't sure that she would have gotten up each morning to cross the island for just a 30 minute service. We talked about how Christians are to build one another us and the importance of it. After coming home and thinking about it a little more - you can think about some of these things when you are on vacation ;) - I realized that the scripture had lots to say about this.
Proverbs 27:17 (AMP) Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose].
1 Thessalonians 5:11Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.
Hebrews 3:13But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him.
As we claim to be Christians, my question becomes this - do we just give off a shrill sound to the world - in such a way that all they want to do is tell us to shut up, or are we truly encouraging one another onto bigger and more important things for the gospel of Christ - strengthening one another - so that the enemy can't sneak up and attack us.
I have a feeling that I am going to think about this sort of thing everytime I hear a rooster crow. I certainly hope that I don't sound like a rooster to those around me, but what comes from me, both verbal and non-verbal is beneficial to those around me. Just a thought for today - as I continue to walk with the King.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Are we not the Army of God?
I am surprised by how easily we adjust to our environments. While in the Cayman Islands, several of the places I have stayed, have been in the direct flight pattern of the airport, and so airplanes flying overhead, LOW, are the norm. Rosie asked me one day if I was able to take a nap with the planes going overhead and I said sure why not. I guess after the first couple planes, you learn to tune them out.
This last Sunday, the pastor was preaching on the story of David and Goliath. As we were reading the scriptures, something really caught my attention this time - 1 Samuel 17:26b states:
For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?
This is what David asked after first encountering Goliath and hearing him spew his garbage against the Israelites, and their God.
I guess what makes me so frustrated is this: Are we not the armies of the Living God? Do we, those of us who claim to be Christians, actually realize that we are the armies of the Living God? And if we do realize this, why are we cowering back, much like the Israelites, when the world, around us, spews garbage all over our God? Have we become so “de-sensitized” to the garbage? This has really been on my heart the last couple days.
The last couple of days I have tried to keep track of language around me: people, TV, Radio, internet; the thoughts and views presented, through those same venues, etc - and am in many ways I have to admit I am shocked at how prevalent disrespect to God and Christianity in general is. There is a church that is actually considering making condoms available to their youth groups - what happened to teaching the scriptures, and not what society says is okay. When are we, God’s army, going to stand up and take back our culture and society to the beliefs that are benefical for our families and ultimately our place in eternity.
Much like I have become desensitized to the planes right over head, I have had to spend time in repentance for cowering back and let the enemy spew garbage against MY God. Please let us band together and stand up for what we know is right, regardless of the stand that society takes on it.
Philippians 4:8 (Amplified Bible)
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
I think that we need to make sure that we think on, weigh, and take account for these things, but we also need to make sure that this is the standard for what we watch, listen to, ponder, and allow to filter into our homes, and our heads. Time that we stand up and take back our promised land from those who are so quick to defy and ridicule our God. Guess it is something I am going to work hard on doing - want to join me in the effort?
This last Sunday, the pastor was preaching on the story of David and Goliath. As we were reading the scriptures, something really caught my attention this time - 1 Samuel 17:26b states:
For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?
This is what David asked after first encountering Goliath and hearing him spew his garbage against the Israelites, and their God.
I guess what makes me so frustrated is this: Are we not the armies of the Living God? Do we, those of us who claim to be Christians, actually realize that we are the armies of the Living God? And if we do realize this, why are we cowering back, much like the Israelites, when the world, around us, spews garbage all over our God? Have we become so “de-sensitized” to the garbage? This has really been on my heart the last couple days.
The last couple of days I have tried to keep track of language around me: people, TV, Radio, internet; the thoughts and views presented, through those same venues, etc - and am in many ways I have to admit I am shocked at how prevalent disrespect to God and Christianity in general is. There is a church that is actually considering making condoms available to their youth groups - what happened to teaching the scriptures, and not what society says is okay. When are we, God’s army, going to stand up and take back our culture and society to the beliefs that are benefical for our families and ultimately our place in eternity.
Much like I have become desensitized to the planes right over head, I have had to spend time in repentance for cowering back and let the enemy spew garbage against MY God. Please let us band together and stand up for what we know is right, regardless of the stand that society takes on it.
Philippians 4:8 (Amplified Bible)
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
I think that we need to make sure that we think on, weigh, and take account for these things, but we also need to make sure that this is the standard for what we watch, listen to, ponder, and allow to filter into our homes, and our heads. Time that we stand up and take back our promised land from those who are so quick to defy and ridicule our God. Guess it is something I am going to work hard on doing - want to join me in the effort?
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Living life with no regrets.
I have had several people comment on the title of my blog - Living life with No Regrets. Let me try to explain what I mean by it. My motto has always been Noregrets. Having dealt with many many things throughout my childhood and my adulthood, I have had to make a conscious decision to do the best I can not to make decisions that I will regret later. But unfortunately, I don't control absolutely everything around me, and so yes, there will be some regrets in my life, as there are in every life. I can't control people's actions, but I can control my reaction - and there are some people who don't have that ability. So as I try hard to do those things that are pleasing to God, regardless what friends, family, or society says at times, I strive to do it in such a way, where there won't be regrets later.
Jeremiah 29:11 states; "for I know that plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to give you hope and a future." Reality says that God's plans might be good, but that doesn't mean that other people are going to be trying to do what is best for each other. Unfortunately, as we were all born with a sin nature, we will all screw up, be selfish at times, and hopefully realize it before it is to late.
I am thankful that I am learning who to trust, and who to hold at arms length. These past few weeks, I have heard how important it is for a husband and wife to protect each other, and I agree totally - but at this point I have no husband, so I will hold fast to the scripture that states that God is my vindicator and I will learn to trust Him more - and be careful who I chose to put my trust in, here on the ground.
I wish life were different at times, but I am trusting God for the bigger picture, and doing my best to live life with no regrets.
Jeremiah 29:11 states; "for I know that plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to give you hope and a future." Reality says that God's plans might be good, but that doesn't mean that other people are going to be trying to do what is best for each other. Unfortunately, as we were all born with a sin nature, we will all screw up, be selfish at times, and hopefully realize it before it is to late.
I am thankful that I am learning who to trust, and who to hold at arms length. These past few weeks, I have heard how important it is for a husband and wife to protect each other, and I agree totally - but at this point I have no husband, so I will hold fast to the scripture that states that God is my vindicator and I will learn to trust Him more - and be careful who I chose to put my trust in, here on the ground.
I wish life were different at times, but I am trusting God for the bigger picture, and doing my best to live life with no regrets.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Laughter is the best medicine
Good morning peps. Just a light hearted thought for today. Yesterday I was blessed with being able to spend some time with my nieces. They were having a picnic lunch watching Cinderella II.
When is the last time you watched an animated movie with children? When is the last time you listened to children laugh? You know it is kind of contagious. They say that laughter is good for the soul, it does a heart good, it is like a good medicine. In the state of our world today, who doesn't need some laughter, something to lift up there soul. As I sat there and listened to the girls giggle, I could not help but start to smile, and before I knew it, I was laughing right along with them. It was a truly good day - I felt my heart smiling. If you have the ability - watch an animated movie with some little ones - and I dare you NOT to smile and laugh with them. I don't think it can be done. Just something to think about.
When is the last time you watched an animated movie with children? When is the last time you listened to children laugh? You know it is kind of contagious. They say that laughter is good for the soul, it does a heart good, it is like a good medicine. In the state of our world today, who doesn't need some laughter, something to lift up there soul. As I sat there and listened to the girls giggle, I could not help but start to smile, and before I knew it, I was laughing right along with them. It was a truly good day - I felt my heart smiling. If you have the ability - watch an animated movie with some little ones - and I dare you NOT to smile and laugh with them. I don't think it can be done. Just something to think about.
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