What a beautiful morning! Have you been outside? I took the kids down to the bus (of course in the dark) and it's sooo warm, and crickets are hollering! I had to bring the computer (thank you Lord for laptops and wireless!) to the front porch. We have such a great view from our porch. I can see the neighbors cows grazing on the hill, the corn in his field, the breeze blowing through what leaves are left, our pond reflecting the trees, my beautiful pear tree that looks like God poured red paint over the top. I can hear the red-tailed hawk somewhere nearby. And I love it right before it gets light, right when the night sounds are still echoing, but the birds are beginning to stir.
It smells like rain. Though right now, the clouds are actually clearing a bit, but boy are they racing across the sky. When we have a warm morning like this and it's a bit out of season, and rain is in the air, I can close my eyes and can almost believe I am in Florida. Not that I would want to be there unless it is winter because I love fall too much, but man, an unusually warm January morn and I am THERE.
This is where I see God. Nature. I love being outdoors. For Brian, I have learned recently, it is in the intricate details of nature. He can explain the perfectness of a blade of grass right down to the atom and be so passionate. I'm sitting there uh-huhing and trying to grasp it, but for him that is just it. His favorite scripture is Romans 1:20-For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. He came home the other day talking about how scientists had seen the oldest star in the universe (how they know this is beyond my understanding) through a telescope. Which just amazed him. It got us to talking about how scientists like to use such things to disprove the existance of God. If this star is that much older than recorded Biblical times, how can the Bible be true?
It's called faith.
It makes me think of Jesus' parables. He spoke in parables to confound the wise, and only those that had faith would understand His meaning. I think of the universe that way. With "human" reasoning, anyone could disprove the existance of God. If it could be proven He was real, where would that leave faith? We have to go beyond what we can see to what we know deep inside. People often ask the question: "how can every person ever have the chance to know God? There are some countries that have never heard." Since then I have heard pastors say that God gives each and every person that something inside them that searches for more. And when they search, they will find Him in their hearts. Have you searched?
Faith is believing in the unseen. Faith is knowing He is there in the unseen.
Postscript: I have to mention that after writing this the first "love" verse I looked up for the day is 1 Peter 1:8-though you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
It's All About the Vegetables
Veggies. Yep, that is what it's all about today.
I have to go back to the beginning on this one.
I felt led yesterday to finally stop haphazardly reading my Bible and focus on studying love. The love God has for me. I hear it, but it has never really sunk in. Love, as one friend brought to my attention this morning is not something my past has ever really gave me a good concept of. And I had the understanding that if I finally got this concept, it would also drive out fear and doubt, which came hard as soon as I sat down to start yesterday morning (that in itself is another story). I decided to look up every verse in the Bible with the word love in it and write it down. Yeah, big undertaking.
So this morning I left a comment on said friend's blog about studying love and mentioned "perfect love drives out fear". She texted a short while later and said she had turned to that exact verse in the Bible a little while later. So we got to doing one of our morning God texting sessions.
But back up with me for a moment, yeah, I get a lil hard to follow sometimes, bear with me...This morning I read a Max Lucado devotion about vegetables. In it he said he sat three plates before his girls. One with vegetables, one with fruit, and one with Oreos. He asked which they would prefer. Well, the Oreos of course! His point was that some days we may get served a little of each on our plate, but some days it may be just vegetables. The hard to swallow days. Those are the days God uses to strengthen us.
So anyways, we were texting and I was basically whining about how I've felt kind of useless lately and have had too much time on my hands. I've been spending all this time studying and growing deeper in His word, but I just feel guilty that that is basically my day. Home alone studying. I also complained God had been a bit quiet with me lately. I told her I had had that conversation with God this morning along with the fact I'm not good face to face with people for the most part, but I really seem to have no problem pouring my heart out in writing. However, I have felt no inspiration lately. (I've learned my lesson and refuse to write about much of anything without His leading.)
Ok, with me still? About that time I looked up my first "love" verse of the day. It was in Proverbs. Ready? Better is a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred. What in the world? The Bible is using the book of widom to talk about vegetables? But here is the commentary-the path doesn't always seem easy, but look at the alternatives. Hatred, dissension, and laziness cause problems that the upright person does not have to face. By comparison, his or her life is a smooth level road because it is built on a solid foundation of love for God.
Vegetables. Go figure. He sooo has a sense of humor.
So we were laughing about it when I get a "Holy Moly" text. Some of you out there know what I'm talking about. A card had fallen from her Bible as she was reading that said "Jesus knows you...This is love." She sent me a picture of it and texted "Guess who gave me that card? Your Alex."
So is all really quiet? Nope. Am I where I need to be? Yep.
God listens to each and everyone of us. Nothing is small to Him. Just ask. Then keep your eyes open. It may all be in the vegetables.....
I have to go back to the beginning on this one.
I felt led yesterday to finally stop haphazardly reading my Bible and focus on studying love. The love God has for me. I hear it, but it has never really sunk in. Love, as one friend brought to my attention this morning is not something my past has ever really gave me a good concept of. And I had the understanding that if I finally got this concept, it would also drive out fear and doubt, which came hard as soon as I sat down to start yesterday morning (that in itself is another story). I decided to look up every verse in the Bible with the word love in it and write it down. Yeah, big undertaking.
So this morning I left a comment on said friend's blog about studying love and mentioned "perfect love drives out fear". She texted a short while later and said she had turned to that exact verse in the Bible a little while later. So we got to doing one of our morning God texting sessions.
But back up with me for a moment, yeah, I get a lil hard to follow sometimes, bear with me...This morning I read a Max Lucado devotion about vegetables. In it he said he sat three plates before his girls. One with vegetables, one with fruit, and one with Oreos. He asked which they would prefer. Well, the Oreos of course! His point was that some days we may get served a little of each on our plate, but some days it may be just vegetables. The hard to swallow days. Those are the days God uses to strengthen us.
So anyways, we were texting and I was basically whining about how I've felt kind of useless lately and have had too much time on my hands. I've been spending all this time studying and growing deeper in His word, but I just feel guilty that that is basically my day. Home alone studying. I also complained God had been a bit quiet with me lately. I told her I had had that conversation with God this morning along with the fact I'm not good face to face with people for the most part, but I really seem to have no problem pouring my heart out in writing. However, I have felt no inspiration lately. (I've learned my lesson and refuse to write about much of anything without His leading.)
Ok, with me still? About that time I looked up my first "love" verse of the day. It was in Proverbs. Ready? Better is a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred. What in the world? The Bible is using the book of widom to talk about vegetables? But here is the commentary-the path doesn't always seem easy, but look at the alternatives. Hatred, dissension, and laziness cause problems that the upright person does not have to face. By comparison, his or her life is a smooth level road because it is built on a solid foundation of love for God.
Vegetables. Go figure. He sooo has a sense of humor.
So we were laughing about it when I get a "Holy Moly" text. Some of you out there know what I'm talking about. A card had fallen from her Bible as she was reading that said "Jesus knows you...This is love." She sent me a picture of it and texted "Guess who gave me that card? Your Alex."
So is all really quiet? Nope. Am I where I need to be? Yep.
God listens to each and everyone of us. Nothing is small to Him. Just ask. Then keep your eyes open. It may all be in the vegetables.....
Friday, October 23, 2009
A Short History Lesson
will be the most memorable…in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.
What in the world? This is actually part of a letter written by John Adams. This is the basis for our Independence Day. A "day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty." Our 4th of July holiday is based on God. Huh. When do you suppose government will begin treating the celebration of our nation's freedom like they do the celebration of the birth of Jesus?
Upon some investigation this morning, did you know there is no actual real law stating separation of church and state? That would actually be in direct violation of the first ammendment. It simply came about by various supreme court rulings to specific cases. Congress cannot in reality pass any such law, it has slowly just become accepted. We are slowly just accepting no prayer in school, no crosses or ten commandments in public, no God in government...
The phrase "seperation of church and state" was first coined by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptists in 1802. In the letter he was assuring them the state would be kept out of the church's business, not to keep the church out of the state's.
Our constitution actually states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Really sounds like they had no intentions of ever keeping faith out of government doesn't it?
If you would like to check this out further, I urge you to look into All About History.org.
This country was founded upon faith. We have generations of folks growing up in the school systems learning history from history books that no longer contain God. I would also urge you to look into many books on the subject of God in our nation's history. Original Intent by Dave Barton and America's Providential History by Mark Beliles and Stephen K. McDowell are two.
What endless possibilities if we would take a stand and fight for our faith like those are doing fighting against it...
What in the world? This is actually part of a letter written by John Adams. This is the basis for our Independence Day. A "day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty." Our 4th of July holiday is based on God. Huh. When do you suppose government will begin treating the celebration of our nation's freedom like they do the celebration of the birth of Jesus?
Upon some investigation this morning, did you know there is no actual real law stating separation of church and state? That would actually be in direct violation of the first ammendment. It simply came about by various supreme court rulings to specific cases. Congress cannot in reality pass any such law, it has slowly just become accepted. We are slowly just accepting no prayer in school, no crosses or ten commandments in public, no God in government...
The phrase "seperation of church and state" was first coined by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptists in 1802. In the letter he was assuring them the state would be kept out of the church's business, not to keep the church out of the state's.
Our constitution actually states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Really sounds like they had no intentions of ever keeping faith out of government doesn't it?
If you would like to check this out further, I urge you to look into All About History.org.
This country was founded upon faith. We have generations of folks growing up in the school systems learning history from history books that no longer contain God. I would also urge you to look into many books on the subject of God in our nation's history. Original Intent by Dave Barton and America's Providential History by Mark Beliles and Stephen K. McDowell are two.
What endless possibilities if we would take a stand and fight for our faith like those are doing fighting against it...
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Today's Headlines
I read a CNN headline today stating a bunch of atheist groups have gotten together in New York to start a transit ad campaign. It is the beginning of a nationwide rally. One of the ads states "No God, No Guilt, No Worry, Debaptise". Another says New York is doing fine without God.
Does this frighten anyone? Where are the Christians in this nation? Are they hiding? Do we care? This country is losing its focus on God. This country can and will do nothing without Him. At this point every powerful nation is going "anti-Christian". It is the third world countries who have their focus where it should be. Sounds like something I've read about in my Bible.....
Here is my devotion for the day from Max Lucado's Grace for the Moment
Do Something
Faith that does nothing is dead-James 2:26
Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. Faith is the belief that God will do what is right. God is always near and always available. Just waiting for your touch. So let him know. Demonstrate your devotion:
Write a letter
Ask Forgiveness
Be baptised
Feed a hungry person
Pray
Teach
Go
Do something that demonstrates faith. For faith with no effort is no faith at all. God will respond. He has never rejected a genuine gesture of faith. Never.
Does this frighten anyone? Where are the Christians in this nation? Are they hiding? Do we care? This country is losing its focus on God. This country can and will do nothing without Him. At this point every powerful nation is going "anti-Christian". It is the third world countries who have their focus where it should be. Sounds like something I've read about in my Bible.....
Here is my devotion for the day from Max Lucado's Grace for the Moment
Do Something
Faith that does nothing is dead-James 2:26
Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. Faith is the belief that God will do what is right. God is always near and always available. Just waiting for your touch. So let him know. Demonstrate your devotion:
Write a letter
Ask Forgiveness
Be baptised
Feed a hungry person
Pray
Teach
Go
Do something that demonstrates faith. For faith with no effort is no faith at all. God will respond. He has never rejected a genuine gesture of faith. Never.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Never Good Enough
I know that nothing good lives within me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. -Romans 7.
Yep, thats me. I give up something I know that isn't good in my life, only to find myself doing exactly what it was I gave up days later, sometimes even hours later. Lay it down, pick it right back up.
Will I ever be able to not do what I don't want to do, and only do what I know is right?
Not in my own strength.
Will I ever be good enough to earn God's favor and love? Can I do anything to ensure I'll go to heaven?
There is absolutely no possible way I can ever even dream of being good enough, of doing enough.
The Life Application Bible says "Being born again takes a moment of faith, but becoming like Christ is a lifelong process." "No one in the world is innocent, no one deserves to be saved."
The good news is there is no earning required. We already have it. There is more strength available to us than we could ever hope for to get through struggles, hardships, addictions. There is no need to go it alone, there is no way we can go it alone.
All we have to do is ask.
Yep, thats me. I give up something I know that isn't good in my life, only to find myself doing exactly what it was I gave up days later, sometimes even hours later. Lay it down, pick it right back up.
Will I ever be able to not do what I don't want to do, and only do what I know is right?
Not in my own strength.
Will I ever be good enough to earn God's favor and love? Can I do anything to ensure I'll go to heaven?
There is absolutely no possible way I can ever even dream of being good enough, of doing enough.
The Life Application Bible says "Being born again takes a moment of faith, but becoming like Christ is a lifelong process." "No one in the world is innocent, no one deserves to be saved."
The good news is there is no earning required. We already have it. There is more strength available to us than we could ever hope for to get through struggles, hardships, addictions. There is no need to go it alone, there is no way we can go it alone.
All we have to do is ask.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Finding Permanent Joy
Today is Brian's 37th birthday. I am so thankful God brought such a wonderful man and father into my life. I never expected to have such a wonderful life and marriage. My expectations were low, but God blessed me beyond measure and gave me a soul mate. We celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary in June, and on New Year's Eve we will celebrate 17 years together. (Yeah, I get TWO anniversary gifts).
God has been revealing much lately on having joy. Not happiness, happiness is fleeting. It is a state of mind, an emotion. Joy is so much more. It is a state of being. Something we can have deep inside no matter where we find ourselves. I can't say I've totally grasped the concept yet, but I'm learning that instead of letting situations bring me down, I can find at least one thing to be thankful for in each. I've always been a very up or a very down person, depending on circumstances. I have also always been rather pessimistic. But I'm finding that ever so slowly, that is beginning to change as I learn to let go of control, let go of attitudes, let go of thoughts, and just let go.
So this morning I will write down some things I am thankful for even though the situation may not be what I want or what I expected.
I am thankful that even though it was cold and rainy for most of the weekend, Brian and I are fortunate enough to be in jobs that allow us to take time off together and take our family camping for the weekend. I am thankful it stopped raining Saturday and we were able to trick or treat at the campground, and Alex turned his very cute homemade soap costume into an ad to "stay clean". I am thankful for time spent without complaining cooped up in the camper. I actually found Alex excels at the game of Scrabble (my favorite game!) to the point he can keep up with Mom and Dad in scoring.
I am thankful that even though my wrist is in bad shape at the moment and I cannot work, I have wonderful understanding clients who understand that sometimes things happen two consecutive appointments in a row. I am thankful we do not have to rely on my pay, that we are debt free. I am thankful God is giving me this time to appreciate more just what it is He has gifted me to do.
I am thankful for our pastor's sermon yesterday, and for God allowing me to see what I saw during that sermon. I ignored that part of me for too long.
I am thankful for each and every gray hair on my head (even if I do choose to continue to support L'oreal's fruitful endeavors). Each and every one is a reminder to be thankful that I have not endured chemo, nor have my kids or husband.
I am thankful for my family, even if we are nowhere near perfect.
I am thankful for wonderful Christian friends who accept my faults, who understand my fears, who are willing to listen, and who hold me accountable. A long-awaited answer to prayer.
I am thankful to live here in my little part of the world, free, with wonderful neighbors willing to do whatever, with trees and water, deer and turkey, instead of buildings and concrete, noise and traffic. I am thankful for clean water, a roof over my head, and food to eat.
I am thankful for a God that forgives, that loves me, that knows what is best for me in every situation. That new each moment of my life before I was born. A God that will be before me, beside me, and behind me always. A God that has wonderful things in store after this fleeting earthly life is over. I am thankful for the cross.
God has been revealing much lately on having joy. Not happiness, happiness is fleeting. It is a state of mind, an emotion. Joy is so much more. It is a state of being. Something we can have deep inside no matter where we find ourselves. I can't say I've totally grasped the concept yet, but I'm learning that instead of letting situations bring me down, I can find at least one thing to be thankful for in each. I've always been a very up or a very down person, depending on circumstances. I have also always been rather pessimistic. But I'm finding that ever so slowly, that is beginning to change as I learn to let go of control, let go of attitudes, let go of thoughts, and just let go.
So this morning I will write down some things I am thankful for even though the situation may not be what I want or what I expected.
I am thankful that even though it was cold and rainy for most of the weekend, Brian and I are fortunate enough to be in jobs that allow us to take time off together and take our family camping for the weekend. I am thankful it stopped raining Saturday and we were able to trick or treat at the campground, and Alex turned his very cute homemade soap costume into an ad to "stay clean". I am thankful for time spent without complaining cooped up in the camper. I actually found Alex excels at the game of Scrabble (my favorite game!) to the point he can keep up with Mom and Dad in scoring.
I am thankful that even though my wrist is in bad shape at the moment and I cannot work, I have wonderful understanding clients who understand that sometimes things happen two consecutive appointments in a row. I am thankful we do not have to rely on my pay, that we are debt free. I am thankful God is giving me this time to appreciate more just what it is He has gifted me to do.
I am thankful for our pastor's sermon yesterday, and for God allowing me to see what I saw during that sermon. I ignored that part of me for too long.
I am thankful for each and every gray hair on my head (even if I do choose to continue to support L'oreal's fruitful endeavors). Each and every one is a reminder to be thankful that I have not endured chemo, nor have my kids or husband.
I am thankful for my family, even if we are nowhere near perfect.
I am thankful for wonderful Christian friends who accept my faults, who understand my fears, who are willing to listen, and who hold me accountable. A long-awaited answer to prayer.
I am thankful to live here in my little part of the world, free, with wonderful neighbors willing to do whatever, with trees and water, deer and turkey, instead of buildings and concrete, noise and traffic. I am thankful for clean water, a roof over my head, and food to eat.
I am thankful for a God that forgives, that loves me, that knows what is best for me in every situation. That new each moment of my life before I was born. A God that will be before me, beside me, and behind me always. A God that has wonderful things in store after this fleeting earthly life is over. I am thankful for the cross.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
You Are Perfect In Him
One of my dear Ya Ya's sent out an email this morning. It was a blog excerpt from one of the gals that writes for Proverbs 31 Ministries about how women tend to compare themselves with others. Boy isn't that the truth! I've struggled for years with it personally, as I'm sure many of us do. God has really been bringing this issue to light with me over the past few weeks in my devotionals, in my Bible time, in my personal life. (And apparently in our next Crazy Love Bible Study:)) So once again I want to share with you and lay bare what is on my heart.
She has it soo together, her home is perfect, her kids are perfect, her clothes always look so good, next to her I feel like a frump. Her voice is awesome, why can't I sound like that, she is such a good mom, what's wrong with me? Man she really has it all together, she is so spiritual, why don't I feel that way? Wish I had her hair, her money, her parents, her abilities, her brains, I'm lousy at everything, I'll never be as good, etc. No wonder we are so miserable.
My biggest problem is that once those ideas get into my head, I can't make it stop. Then I go into this self-defeating cycle of putting myself down, thinking I'm not good enough, thinking I'm just embarrassing myself, thinking people are silently rolling their eyes at everything I say and do, and then I hit retreat mode and shut down. It's tiring.
We tend to put certain women on pedastals, women we wish we could be more like, when in actuality, if we were put in their place, we wouldn't be happy. That isn't who we were made to be. And honestly, most of those women we tend to put up there, would be absolutely amazed if we told them. They know they are so far from having it all together. They know and overanalyze their own "shortcomings". They have women of their own they wish they could be like.
One personal case in point came up this morning. I am a big fan of Robin Meade, the news anchor. Man, she is so friendly, funny and outgoing. I just love to watch her. I really admire her personality. And I have found myself wishing I could be more like her. But you know what I found out this morning? She once suffered from severe anxiety. She went into panic attacks and couldn't speak. She didn't feel good enough. She even felt the need to write a book about it to share with the world called Mornin Sunshine. Huh. Amazon here I come...
God made each of us individually. He gave each one of us individual gifts and talents and personality traits. He put each one of us here to fulfill a specific purpose. No one else on this earth is here to do what we do. It may be a big amazing thing, it may be many small things we really never notice. But God wants us to be who we are. He loves us as we are. And by feeling we never measure up to another, we are telling God that He is wrong, that He messed up.
I don't know about you, but I'm thinking I really don't want to tell God he screwed up when He made me...how about you??
Psalm 139 is my favorite place to go in the Bible. It was my lifeline on my recent Emmaus Walk. I leave you with this:
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex. Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me God. They cannot be numbered.
She has it soo together, her home is perfect, her kids are perfect, her clothes always look so good, next to her I feel like a frump. Her voice is awesome, why can't I sound like that, she is such a good mom, what's wrong with me? Man she really has it all together, she is so spiritual, why don't I feel that way? Wish I had her hair, her money, her parents, her abilities, her brains, I'm lousy at everything, I'll never be as good, etc. No wonder we are so miserable.
My biggest problem is that once those ideas get into my head, I can't make it stop. Then I go into this self-defeating cycle of putting myself down, thinking I'm not good enough, thinking I'm just embarrassing myself, thinking people are silently rolling their eyes at everything I say and do, and then I hit retreat mode and shut down. It's tiring.
We tend to put certain women on pedastals, women we wish we could be more like, when in actuality, if we were put in their place, we wouldn't be happy. That isn't who we were made to be. And honestly, most of those women we tend to put up there, would be absolutely amazed if we told them. They know they are so far from having it all together. They know and overanalyze their own "shortcomings". They have women of their own they wish they could be like.
One personal case in point came up this morning. I am a big fan of Robin Meade, the news anchor. Man, she is so friendly, funny and outgoing. I just love to watch her. I really admire her personality. And I have found myself wishing I could be more like her. But you know what I found out this morning? She once suffered from severe anxiety. She went into panic attacks and couldn't speak. She didn't feel good enough. She even felt the need to write a book about it to share with the world called Mornin Sunshine. Huh. Amazon here I come...
God made each of us individually. He gave each one of us individual gifts and talents and personality traits. He put each one of us here to fulfill a specific purpose. No one else on this earth is here to do what we do. It may be a big amazing thing, it may be many small things we really never notice. But God wants us to be who we are. He loves us as we are. And by feeling we never measure up to another, we are telling God that He is wrong, that He messed up.
I don't know about you, but I'm thinking I really don't want to tell God he screwed up when He made me...how about you??
Psalm 139 is my favorite place to go in the Bible. It was my lifeline on my recent Emmaus Walk. I leave you with this:
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex. Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me God. They cannot be numbered.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Captain Jack Hairball and the Balloons
Looking innocent
Currently
The Attack
Not me!!Ok, I realize many who read this blog are by no means cat lovers, quite honestly these days I'm not either. But "hairball" as I affectionately call him, is really not a cat. Well, at least he doesn't think he is.
Captain Jack Sparrow is his real name, so named after the infamous Disney pirate. Hairball (I just can't call him anything else, except maybe "Jack" on occasion, but that gets weird because I have a dear neighbor by the same name, who come to think of it never calls me by MY name, it's always "Susie-Baby", anyways I digress)got this name because of the way he bobbles and tumbles about, like the oh-so-adorable Johnny Depp in the movies-minus the bling. You see, Hairball is deaf. So he has absolutely no sense of balance. Ever notice how cats are stealthy when they walk, not him, he stomps through the house like a horse-seriously. We aren't sure if he was born that way-deaf-or if he was abused as a kitten. My mom's husband found him by a dumpster when he was just a wee-lil thing. His head at the time was so big for his little body, he could barely stand, and he walked into everything. And to top it off, he was raised with ferrets, dogs and skunks for the first 6-8 months before he came to live with us. Not exactly Fancy Feast commercial cat making material...
Nope, he is sooo not a cat in his mind. I'm not sure what he thinks he is, but it isn't a cat.
Anyways, he has a plastic fetish. I think I have mentioned it in my blogs before. He is completely obsessed with plastic. To the point he will sneak into the bathroom after I have changed the trash and steal the plastic sack out of the trash can. Which unfortunately usually gets stuck on his head, so I have to then chase him through the house trying to get it off of his clueless self. What does he do with them? He nuzzles them, he licks them, he stomps on them. Maybe he can hear crinkiling plastic, who knows??
His other love, besides the plastic Wal-Mart sacks, are plastic balloons. If you recall, I brought some home from my recent Emmaus Walk, bunches of them. And since they are filled with helium, he has been sitting ever so patiently, waiting and watching for them to slowly lose air and come down to earth. When they were about halfway gone, I finally put them in Ashten's room. But in the middle of the night Brian would wake up and freak out because he would see movement at our bedroom door. It would be a hovering balloon. Kinda freaky. Couldn't figure it out, but there they would be night after night.
Last night, as we were sitting on the couch, a balloon went streaking across the kitchen. All we could see was the very top above the furniture. It was Jack of course. He had went and nabbed one and came trucking through the house with the string in his mouth, balloon bopping along behind. But he wasn't satisfied with it where we could see him, he had to take it out to the laundry room, where it was dark. Lots of commotion out there, but when I went to look, he sat there looking innocently at me, balloon floating floor level behind him. I brought the balloon back in the living room, but for the most part, that just ruined his fun.
And as I finish typing, yep, he's found another one....ever notice how much noise a half-filled helium balloon can make???
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Hem of His Garmet Made Real
I heard a teaching this morning on the story in the Bible about the sick woman who knew she could be healed by touching the hem of Jesus' robe. After hearing it, I had to go do some studying, because this one really hit home with me!
We read in Mark 5:28-For she thought to herself, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed." And so she was.
But many had touched Jesus in the past without healing. Why was this? In Mark 5:30 Jesus realized healing power had gone out of him. Wow. So how did she know she could simply touch the hem of his robe?
Well. The Hebrew word for "hem" is tzitziyot, which means "wing". But in Hebrew, words are also given a numeric value. The numeric value is 600. Hang with me here...When a robe such as what Jesus was wearing (some would call it a prayer shawl) was made, they would put 5 knots with 8 strands for each tassel hanging from the end. With the numerical word 600, plus 5 plus 8, we get 613. Wondering where we are going yet?
There are 613 commandments in the Old Testament. Jesus filled every one. He was the only one perfect enough to fulfill them all. 613. Wow, that's alot. This poor woman knew the only way to be made right, to be healed, was to touch the hem of such a perfect being. How did she know this? If we look at Malachi 4:2 (the last chapter in the Old Testament) it says "But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings." Healing in his wings. Healing in the hem (wing) of his garmet. His perfectly fulfilled garmet.
So why did many touch Jesus and not be healed? Why did power go out of him upon her touch? Because someone had put a demand upon his covenant. Someone had enough faith. Someone knew that if she could touch what Jesus had done, and exchange her sickness for his healing, she could be made perfect through him.
We read in Mark 5:28-For she thought to herself, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed." And so she was.
But many had touched Jesus in the past without healing. Why was this? In Mark 5:30 Jesus realized healing power had gone out of him. Wow. So how did she know she could simply touch the hem of his robe?
Well. The Hebrew word for "hem" is tzitziyot, which means "wing". But in Hebrew, words are also given a numeric value. The numeric value is 600. Hang with me here...When a robe such as what Jesus was wearing (some would call it a prayer shawl) was made, they would put 5 knots with 8 strands for each tassel hanging from the end. With the numerical word 600, plus 5 plus 8, we get 613. Wondering where we are going yet?
There are 613 commandments in the Old Testament. Jesus filled every one. He was the only one perfect enough to fulfill them all. 613. Wow, that's alot. This poor woman knew the only way to be made right, to be healed, was to touch the hem of such a perfect being. How did she know this? If we look at Malachi 4:2 (the last chapter in the Old Testament) it says "But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings." Healing in his wings. Healing in the hem (wing) of his garmet. His perfectly fulfilled garmet.
So why did many touch Jesus and not be healed? Why did power go out of him upon her touch? Because someone had put a demand upon his covenant. Someone had enough faith. Someone knew that if she could touch what Jesus had done, and exchange her sickness for his healing, she could be made perfect through him.
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