Whiter Than Snow

Anyway. I was looking on my neice's facebook and saw this beautiful picture of Aly and Alyssa in the snow in Olympia, WA and I could not help but think of Psalms 51.


Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts [a] ;
you teach [b] me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

I am so thankful that my Lord Jesus died so that my sins can be made white as snow. I am thankful to my God for the washing. I would be so utterly lost without it.

Amazing Grace Take Two

Yesterday I was in Lowe's and heard a song playing that caught my attention. Then I said "that is Neil Diamond". Kind of surprised me to hear Neil Diamond singing a song about amazing grace, don't know why? But had to come home and look the song up. I don't know how I missed hearing him sing this on American Idol, since I am a fan, but according to this Youtube, he sang it last May. Maybe you haven't heard it either and will be blessed by it like I was. I like to think He is singing about God here.



Pretty amazing grace is what you showed me
Pretty amazing grace is who you are
I was an empty vessel
You filled me up inside
And with amazing grace
Restored my pride.

Pretty amazing grace is how you saved me
And with amazing grace, reclaimed my heart
Love in the midst of chaos
Calm in the heat of war
Showed with amazing grace
What love was for.

You forgave my insensitivity
And my attempt to then mislead you
You stood beside a wretch like me
And pretty amazing grace was all I needed.

Stumbled inside the doorway of your chapel
Humbled and awed by everything I found
Beauty and love surround me
Freed me from what I feared
Asked for amazing grace
And you appeared.

You overcame my loss of hope and faith
Gave me a truth I could believe in
You led me to a higher place
Showed your amazing grace
When grace was what I needed.

Look in a mirror I see your refection
Open a book you live on every page
I fall and you’re there to lift me
You share every road I climb
And with amazing grace
You ease my mind.

I came to you with empty pockets first
When I returned I was a rich man
Didn’t believe love could quench my thirst
But with amazing grace, you showed me that it can.

In your amazing grace I had a vision
From that amazing place, I came to be
Into the night I wandered, wandering aimlessly
Found your amazing grace to comfort me.

Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing

You overcame my loss of hope and faith
Gave me a truth I could believe in
You led me to that higher place
Showed me that love, and truth, and hope, and grace
Were all I needed.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This Is The Day

As promised here is one thing I think I need to incorporate into my life from yesterday's list. #3 "When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement: 'My purpose is to...... today.'" I think that is why day after day goes by without me accomplishing much..I don't have a plan for the day. Most days I just get out of bed and sit on the computer for way too much of the day watching way too much T.V. I read something the other day that got me to thinking that I need to be more purposeful about my days. Perhaps if I woke up and said my purpose is to lay up treasures in heaven today, it would make a difference in how I lived my day. Jesus told us if we were wise, we would "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:20--21). This means as Christians we will one day receive rewards for our faithful service to the Lord. What am I doing for Christ? Am I using the gifts He has given me? Am I serving Him? Perhaps the best way to live the greatest life in this world is to be more concerned with the next one. C. S. Lewis said, "Aim for heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you will get neither." So tomorrow I will awake and say "My purpose today is to lay up some treasure in heaven today."

30 Things To Make Life More Beautiful

I recieved an email today with a slide show entitled 30 Things to Make Life More Beautiful. You can watch the video here, or just read them below. After you read through them, share with me which one struck you as something you should incorporate into your life and then tomorrow I will share which ones I need to incorporate into my life.


1. Take a 10-30 minute walk everyday and while you walk, smile.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement: "My purpose is to...... today."

4. Live with the 3 E's... Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy... and the 3 F's... Faith, Family, Friends.

5. Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

6. Dream more while you are awake.

7. Try to make at least 3 people smile each day.

8. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn and pass all your tests. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

9. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away.

10. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

11. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

12. Don't take yourself too seriously. No one else does.

13. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagreements.

14. Make peace with your past so it won't mess up with your present.

15. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is about.

16. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today IS special.

17. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

18. Forgive everyone for everything.

19. What other people think of you is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

20. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

21. However good or bad the situation is, it will change.

22. Your job won't take care of you when you're sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

23. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, and joyful.

24. The best is yet to come.

25. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.

26. Do the right thing.

27. Call your family often.

28. Each night before you go to bed, complete the following statements: "I am thankful for...." and "Today I have accomplished....."

29. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

30. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. Make the most of it and simply enjoy the journey.

Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

I recieved this email from a friend today. "I learned from last nights sermon, that the Holy Spirit does not really live in us, it just influences us using Gods word(the Bible)." She attends a small congregation in Newcomerstown, Ohio. Now she was just being facetious when she wrote me that, because I know her really well and know she doesn't believe that. She and her husband had been attending worship at a another church further away and have just recently been attending this one because it is so much closer to their house and her husband grew up going to this church.

Anyway...for most of us my age, this is not a foreign teaching. We were raised being told the same thing that the Holy Spirit lives in God's Word and only speaks to us through the Word. Makes me wonder if you could sit down and ask the proponents of that thinking to explain these scriptures what would they say?

Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.


1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.


2 Timothy 1:14
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

I assume they have read them, so they must have an explanation. But then I am thinking "if the Holy Spirit only speaks through the Word, why isn't He explaining these scriptures to them?" It wouldn't be the first time that me and another believer did not see eye to eye on scripture, so can the Holy Spirit lead us to different truths? Don't have any answers. All I can do is trust that I am seeking His presence in my life He will help me walk in the truth for my life.

Amazing Story

In preparing for my lesson to the 5th graders in the morning about Paul and Barnabas being persecuted I cam across this video by the Open Doors ministry. It is a fascinating story. Oh how I would love to believe my prayers make that kind of difference.

The All Seeing Eye

Have you seen the Nationwide commercial where the guy runs into a van,knocking the bumper off and a nun gets out of the van walks to his car and points a ruler and gently taps his car, smiles, then walks off? He thinks he is in the clear when all the sudden he is struck by a bolt of lightening. Just made me think of how I grew up thinking that exact thing about God. That He was this all seeing eye waiting to catch me in a sin and strike me dead. Well...slight exaggeration, but none the less I still was in fear that I would die with any unconfessed sin and be damned. I remember a Bible class teacher teaching us in a girl's class that we didn't want to be in a compromising position with a boy when the Lord returns. It made me fear that He might come when I was in the shower. Seriously, I was a sophomore in college before I ever heard of grace. I remember how freeing it was and yet it took many years for me to grasp it to the extent it would change my life. A book that really helped was Classic Christianity by Bob George. I remember him explaining Romans 6:14-"For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!" He said it was like finding someone eating out of a trash can and inviting them in to a feast and they say "No thank you, I would rather just keep eating this trash." The more and more I understand God's grace the more and more I want to embrace I Peter 1:15-16-But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." There is still so much in my life that could be holier, but instead of living in fear about those areas that still need to be transformed, I live in thankfulness for God's amazing grace that is going to cover my sins. "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered." Romans 4:7

9-1-1 Calls

Don't you know 9-1-1 operators have some interesting tales to tell? I found this list of calls to be interesting.
Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller: I heard what sounded like gunshots coming from the brown house on the corner.
Dispatcher: Do you have an address?
Caller: No, I'm wearing a blouse and slacks, why?

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller: Someone broke into my house and took a bite out of my ham and cheese sandwich.
Dispatcher: Excuse me?
Caller: I made a ham and cheese sandwich and left it on the kitchen table and when I came back from the bathroom, someone had taken a bite out of it.
Dispatcher: Was anything else taken?
Caller: No, but this has happened to me before and I'm sick and tired of it.

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller: Hi, is this the Police?
Dispatcher: This is 9-1-1. Do you need police assistance?
Caller: Well, I don't know who to call. Can you tell me how to cook a turkey? I've never cooked one before.

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 Fire or emergency?
Caller: Fire, I guess.
Dispatcher: How can I help you sir?
Caller: I was wondering.....does the fire department put snow chains on their trucks?
Dispatcher: Yes sir, do you have an emergency?
Caller: Well, I've spent the last 4 hours trying to put these chains on my tires and... well.. do you think the fire department could come over and help me?
Dispatcher: Help you what?
Caller: Help me get these chains on my car!

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is the nature of your emergency?
Caller: I'm trying to reach nine eleven but my phone doesn't have an eleven on it.
Dispatcher: This is nine eleven.
Caller: I thought you just said it was nine-one-one
Dispatcher: Yes, ma'am nine-one-one and nine-eleven are the same thing.
Caller: Honey, I may be old, but I'm not stupid.

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What's the nature of your emergency?
Caller: My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart.
Dispatcher: Is this her first child?
Caller: No, you idiot! This is her husband!

And the winner is..........

Dispatcher: 9-1-1 Caller: Yeah, I'm having trouble breathing. I'm all out of breath. I think I'm going to pass out.
Dispatcher: Sir, where are you calling from?
Caller: I'm at a pay phone. North and Foster.
Dispatcher: Sir, an ambulance is on the way. Are you an asthmatic?
Caller: No
Dispatcher: What were you doing before you started having trouble breathing?
Caller: Running from the Police.

Amazing Grace

In our Ladies Bible Class right now we are studying Phillip Yancey's book "What's So Amazing About Grace". We have just finished the third lesson. Today's lesson was on our extending grace to others and why we find it difficult to forgive. My heart was once again convicted that if I had any idea exactly what it means that I have been forgiven, I would forgive others and extend grace much more easily. If I really understood what God wants to do through me I would find it easier to forgive and extend grace. I find it amazing that God forgave me in order to use me to reach others. How amazing it that??

Ephesians 2:4-9
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The Same As Everyone Else

I spent the day watching the Inaugaration, like most of the rest of the world. It was pretty amazing seeing the sea of people on the mall. I couldn't help but think about handicap access??? What about the people that could not stand all that time?? I set on pins and needles praying against a terrorist attack and thankful that there was none. I understand the importance of today for African Americans and for us as Americans. While I want to see it as a hopeful time, we definitely still haven't overcome our racial barriers in this country. First of all, it is like no one wants to recognize that President Obama is half black, half white. If his skin had been lighter but he was still from the same mother and father would it have been such a "historical event" today?? So if anything, he represents a merging of two races, yet the focus all day was on his blackness. I personally did not find that very unifying but still promoting a "us and them" mentality. I could not help but notice during the parade that there were very few integrated bands, they mostly were either all black or all white. Seems we still have a ways to go before we are an integrated America. But I do realize that today was a step. It will be interesting to see in the days, weeks, months and years ahead if Obama can do all that he is promising to do. I do appreciate his focus on service and that we can all be involved in serving one another. I do wish that he was going to be an advocate for our unborn children. His inclusion of Muslims in his speech today scares me...I understand the idealism but think we are living in the reality. Anyway...I could probably go on and on about my views and no one would find them all that enlightening and many will differ. So, I will close by saying can you imagine what goes through your mind the first night you lay your head down on your pillow in the White House as President of the United States?

Take Up My Cross

There are certain passages in the Bible that cause me to think more than others. One of those would be Matthew 16:24-"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" I somewhat understand denying self but not so much how to take up my cross. In my life exactly what is my cross? In today's devotional thought by Greg Laurie said:
"Taking up the cross of Christ means that I come to the Lord and say, "God, I realize you know more about life than I do. You know my future and what is best for me. And Lord, I want what You want for me more than what I want for myself. I am willing to put Your will above my own. If that means letting go of something that would hold me back or hurt me spiritually, I'm willing. If that means cutting loose something that is dragging me down, I'm willing. Because I know that You love me and have my best interest in mind."
That is why the apostle Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).
The greatest life is the life that has been exchanged--the life that has been given to God."

This still sounds more to me about denying self and still didn't explain for me "take up your cross". So how about you? What does "take up your cross" mean to you??

What To Do

Today Steve and I met with a church in the metroplex that is looking for a children's minister. They had called me several months ago and asked if I would be interested in applying. I told them I didn't think so, that all the reasons I stepped down from Richardson East were the same reasons that would make it hard to be in full time ministry again. Well, God did not give me peace and I called them back after several weeks and told them while I still wasn't feeling called to full time ministry that what I thought I could do was mentor a younger candidate. They had said they had several candidates right out of college, but could not see hiring someone with no experience. There are more and more Children's Ministers coming out of our Christian colleges, the problem is that they are finding it difficult to find positions. I personally know of 3 who have all gone into teaching because they did not find ministry positions. The problem is that very few churches are big enough to have two children's ministers where one can mentor another. If a church has never had a full time children's minister and hires an inexperienced one where do they get their training? None of the other ministers can help very much because they are not involved with children's curriculum and don't know the nuts and bolts of ministering to children. So I just thought perhaps by offering myself as a mentor this congregation might just give one of the younger applicants a try. I am not sure how it will work out, or even if is what God wants, but it is interesting to think about. It was a blessing to meet with the six couples today and to feel that I was contributing and that I was helping them vision even further how important children's ministry is to the life of a church. So if you don't mind saying a prayer for this situation in the next few days I would appreciate the help. I honestly want to hear God's call and know for sure what He would have me to do.

What Would I Do?

Can't help but wonder what I would do if one of these guys walked into worship services in the morning? Would I extend the love of Jesus? Or would I just stare?

God's Good Gift

One of my favorite chapters of the Bible is Luke 11. Prayer is something I want to be the fabric of my life but is something I waver back and forth with. Sometimes I am really strong in my prayer life, but many times I am pretty weak. Luke 11 helps me keep my focus. Today I was contemplating verses 9-11 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

My head knows that God is the giver of good gifts, but sometimes life does not feel all that good. But today God reminded me that He really cannot do more for me than He has already done? I have been purchased by the blood of His Son. Can there be anything greater than this? He chose me before the beginning of the world, He left the glory of heaven and became man for me. He gave His life for me. Is there anything He wouldn't do for me? And if He did something this great will He not do less?

Cannot the all knowing, all present, all sufficient God do anything for me? So once again I am brought to my knees realizing that if I surrender and just let God be God that will indeed be enough. I may want a life where I walk better and am relieved of pain, but in the scheme of eternity, what better gift could I have than the gift of salvation? Yes, God has already given me enough.

Contemplating

So today after the crash of US Airways Flight 1549 I was just wondering would I get right back on a plane and fly home? I know after my accident, it was awhile before I wanted to be in a car, much less drive a car and then once I did drive, I didn't want to be on 75 and still avoid it at night. So how about you would you get on the next plane home?

Another Ha-Ha

As much as my goal is to try to post encouraging spiritual posts, every now and then I just like to post something frivolous like this. Hope it brings a smile to your face.

A guy is driving around Wadsworth, Ohio and he sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog For Sale." He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard.

The guy goes into the backyard and sees a Labrador retriever sitting there. "You talk?" he asks.

"Yep," the Lab replies.

"So, what's your story?"

The Lab looks up and says, "Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA about my gift, and in no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running."

"But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals. I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired."

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

"Ten dollars," the guy says.

"Ten dollars? This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him so cheaply?"

"Because he's lying, he never did any of that stuff."

Bunco

The 2nd Tuesday of each month I play Bunco with a group of 11 other ladies. It is always a fun evening with a lot of laughs and a great outlet for me. Tonight we had a pajama night. Last month I called a sub with only an hours notice and she said she would come if she could come in her pajamas. We said "no problem". Then when she came, the hostess for this month, Linda Matthews, thought it would be a fun night for us all to wear our pajamas and have breakfast foods for our dinner. So here we are. In December I found some dice earrings at craft fair and thought "Oh those will bring me luck", but they didn't. I came home with nothing tonight, but smiles for a fun time.

Weekend of Fun

We thoroughly enjoyed the weekend with my brothers Brent and Brad. They had coordinated their flights so that even though they were coming in at the DFW Airport and Love Field, we could pick up one and then just drive over and pick up the other and today dropping them up was much of the same. Saturday we visited, played Wii and a card game called Golf that my brother Brent taught us. My mother made a breakfast casserole and then our childhood favorite meal, chicken sopa (which my brother Brad chose). We then tricked my brothers and told them we were going to hear a really good speaker when all the time we had tickets to the Freestyle Motorcross. They were so surprised and we all really enjoyed the daredevil motorcycle stunts. Who in their right mind jumps off a ramp 15-20 feet in the air and take their hands off their motorcycle while kicking their legs in the air???
The blessing of the night was that my father was able to go and enjoy the time with us as well after not being out in public for over a year.



Sunday we went to worship at Highland Oaks and heard a great lesson from Terry Rush. He taught on what it means for us to have been purchased by Christ blood and for God to put His signature on our hearts. I was hit again with the amazing truth in 2 Corinthians 5:21 "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God". Why Jesus would become sin for me is beyond my comprehension and how can I be the righteousness of God. Too amazing!

Sunday lunch was a little disappointing as my brothers wanted some good Mexican food and both like Chili Rellenos. I have heard good things about the new restuarant in Plano, Chuy's, but it was a 75 minute wait. So we went to La Posada, which Steve and I enjoy but unfortunately their rellenos were made with poblano peppers. They had both said they prefer some other kind of chili (that I can't remember the name) over poblano's. So....they didn't even order the rellenos. They asked the waiter "how is the queso" and the waiter said "amazing". How could I interrupt and say it is not their forte??? Anyway the meal was passable but nothing they are going to go home and rave about. Our friend Tim took this picture of all of us after services.

Even though the Broncos and Seahawks (like the Cowboys) are out of the playoffs the boys were still interested in watching the games Sunday afternoon. We then played Buzzword and Celebrity Taboo and then visited some more.
This morning they helped my mother move her bed out of the house and replace it with some beds from my house and then it was off to the airport and they returned home. Much too short of a visit. I wish we could be like other families and all live in the same place where we could get together more often. But thankful for the times we do get such as these.

Weekend Blog Break

My brothers Brent (from Denver) and Brad (from Olympia, WA) will be coming into night and here for the weekend before returning home on Monday. We are looking forward to their visit and they and my parents will be staying at my house, so I won't be blogging again until Monday.

Another I Am

Like God often does with me, I will be thinking of something and a song will come on the radio to remind me what I was thinking of. Yesterday I wrote about several "I am" statements that remind me of who my identity is in God. Today on the radio I heard this song and thought it was another one I need to add to my list.



This "I am" totally blows me away. Me, God's friend? That is amazing. "You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:14

I Yam What I Yam

Yes, I was starting this post I couldn't help but think of Popeye. I don't know about you but I am contstantly having to remind myself of who I am, because it is all too easy for me to focus on who I am not or what I am not. As I have mentioned here before it seems it is just easier for me to be negative than postive, so I have to remind myself of the positives often. Here are some "I am's" that I remind myself of that I got from an Ed Young post.
10 I am created
For we are God's workmanship. Ephesians 2:10
9 I am chosen
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you...1 Timothy 1:4
8 I am protected
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7
7 I am complete
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3
6 I am victorious
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37
5 I am called
[God] has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace...2 Timothy 1:9
4 I am forgiven
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
3 I am free
Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:32
2 I am loved
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3
1 I am God's heir!
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.
Romans 8:17

Faith Challenged

I read so many stories that challenge me and make me realize that if there was a scale that measured faith mine would be surpassed by so many others. I am glad we are told we only have to have a mustard seed amount. But I read this story today in a devotional thought by Chuck Colson and hoped that I would have this kind of faith if I was put in the same situation (but let me say...I am not wishing to be tested)

"I came across an amazing story not long ago that reminded me just how much being a follower of Jesus can shape the way you face what you hope you never have to face: a thief at gunpoint. Maybe you saw the story, too.

Ninety-two-year-old Pauline Jacobi had just finished loading her groceries into her car at a local Wal-Mart in Dyer County, Tennessee. She got in her car, and a moment later, a man climbed into the passenger side. He said he had a gun and that he would shoot her if she did not hand over her money. What she did next did not involve pepper-spray or martial arts, but it did save her life and may have saved his.

Pauline calmly refused her would-be robber three times. Then she said, "You know, as quick as you kill me, I'll go to heaven and you'll go to hell." Then she told him that he needed to ask God for forgiveness. "Jesus is in this car," she said, "and He goes with me everywhere I go." Jacobi said that the man looked around, and then tears began to come to his eyes.

For 10 more minutes, Jacobi shared with the man. Finally, he said, "I think I will go home tonight and pray." But Jacobi told him that he did not need to wait to pray; he could pray now.

Then Jacobi, voluntarily, offered the man all the money she had on her, 10 bucks, on one condition-that he not spend the money on whiskey. After that, the man kissed her on the cheek, got out of the car, and walked away.

You know what really impresses me about this story is how this woman's faith informed her in this moment of crisis. She was not using her faith to save her skin. It was simply a faith that was so close to the surface, she could not help but respond from it. Her audacity could have very well led to her death. But the beauty of it was that even if it had, she knew her Maker and had a secure future hope."

Christ In You

Recently, a friend shared the following video that builds off the Colossians 1:27, Christ in you, the hope of glory.

What’s so powerful to me is that I’m sure something like Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” must be sung by Heaven’s angels when we come to Christ and are born into God’s family. So the real question for us today is pretty simple: if someone could really hear your spiritual heart, what would they be able to hear?

Is He in you? Is He in me?

Collectibles

As I am putting the house back together after decorating I am thinking I probably have not blogged about my collections. Someone may say "what do you collect?" and my answer would have to be "what don't I collect?". No, there are really lots of things I don't collect but over the years here are a few I have collected: music boxes, clowns, Cherished Teddies, Precious Moments, Sandra Kuck plates, angels, snowmen, Christmas ornaments and Prayers and Promises figurines. Most of them have been gifts throughout the years. But Prayers and Promises is probably my favorite because the artist Bill Stross wrote thoughts to accompany each piece and I liked what they said.


Three of my favorites are: When Life Hands You Lemons

"Sometimes our plans work out, sometimes they don't. I have wanted thing sin my life so desperately that in my shortsightedness I've forgotten there is a plan greater than my own. Life is far different than I had planned, but if it hadn't been for a few lemons I would have missed out on some of the greatest blessings in my life. Life can seem full of lemons, but sometimes it is hard to b eat an ice-cold glass of lemonade."

Winds of Change

"I liken the wind to God's will for our lives. We can sail against it, but the journey is long and exhausting. Or we can simply submit, put the wind to our back and sail almost effortlessly in a new direction. Perhaps not where we were going, but rather in the direction we should be going."

Perseverance and a Little Faith

"Perseverance is defined as a stead persistence in the face of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement. But perseverance and faith are so interdependent that it would be difficult at best to have one without the other. Faith equips us for perseverance and perseverance is the barometer of our faith. Our job is to do all that we can...that's perseverance, and trust in God to do all that we can't...that's faith."

New Year's Resolve

I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions because I am not self disciplined enough to keep them. But in my Bible reading in the past week there were several verses that hit me anew that I would like to pray that the Spirit help me to live better than I have in the past. Here are a few of them.

Colossians 3:17-And whatever I do, whether in word or deed, I will do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:23-Whatever I do, I will work at it with all my heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,since I know that I will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ I am serving.

Ephesians 4:29-I will not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Philippians 2:3-5- I will do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility I will consider others better than myself. I will not look not only to my own interests, but also to the interests of others. My attitude will be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8-9-Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—I will think about such things.

Hebrews 12:1-3-Therefore, since I am surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, I will throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and I will run with perseverance the race marked out for me. I will fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith

Report Card

So I finished reading through the Bible today. Not in 365 days, but 366...still it feels like an accomplishment. Steve bought us Charles Stanley's Life Principles Daily Bible to go through this year. It will be different because the Narrated Bible we just used was in chronological order and that was interesting because numerous books were out of the order I was used to and it flowed so much better. The Life Principles Bible has an Old Testament reading, New Testament Reading and then a Psalm or Proverb as well as commentary. So it will be mixing things up.

Since I was trying to catch up and finish the reading for 2008, in the past four days I read from 1 Corinthians to Revelation. Tomorrow I will blog about some verses that touched my heart anew. Today I want to just take a look at what Paul said to some of the churches. It caused me to think, if Paul was to write a letter to Richardson East (where I attend) what would he say? What would be different about our churches if we were held accountable? Not that we aren't accountable to God, but if someone was going to put into writings their thoughts about us would it change what we did? Would any of this be said of us?

We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ...You became a model to all the believers...your faith in God became known everywhere.

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.

We always thank God, The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love you have for all the saints and the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about the word of truth, the gospel has come to you.

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

I thank God everytime I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It gave me great joy to have some brothers come tell me about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in truth.