A bird is singing its song outside my apartment and another bird is returning with a different one. It's a nice background noise. Today is a gorgeous day outside! The patio door and bedroom window are open, allowing for a light breeze throughout the apartment. Ah! Relaxing.
Laundry is the order of the day. I have wore "laundry clothes" for two days. If you don't know what I mean by laundry clothes, lucky you! Boots is perched on the arm of the couch waiting for a vacant lap :) As soon as I move the laptop, she will be on my lap. It's nice having a lap cat that wants your attention.
Early today we practiced the music for tomorrow night's program. Dennis and Nan Allen wrote the musical and I absolutely love the music! The premise of the program is the kingdom of God, not just Jesus being Savior. I'm excited to sing it.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
Is Jesus a threat?
Pastor Gene Mims posed a question during his sermon yesterday that has stuck with me: How much of a threat is Jesus to your religious life?
Jesus was considered a threat to the Pharisees' way of doing things. Actually, Jesus appeared to buck against God's law for His people, emphasis on the word appeared. The religious leaders saw Him as a rebel who would not come under the authority of the accepted way of doing things.
Would we see Jesus in the same light today? But more so, do we shun the power of a redeemed life because it doesn't go with how things are done in our church? Do I allow traditions and my selfish nature to hinder what God wants to do in my life? As my pastor asked but in my own words, Is Jesus a stumbling block when he should be my stepping stone and foundation for my walk with Him?
Jesus was considered a threat to the Pharisees' way of doing things. Actually, Jesus appeared to buck against God's law for His people, emphasis on the word appeared. The religious leaders saw Him as a rebel who would not come under the authority of the accepted way of doing things.
Would we see Jesus in the same light today? But more so, do we shun the power of a redeemed life because it doesn't go with how things are done in our church? Do I allow traditions and my selfish nature to hinder what God wants to do in my life? As my pastor asked but in my own words, Is Jesus a stumbling block when he should be my stepping stone and foundation for my walk with Him?
Sunday, March 18, 2007
March Madness
Muffin and I are ready to watch some Kentucky basketball at Mandy's house. Mandy may not like to think of Muffin as a Kentucky fan, but deep down in Muffin's brain is a desire to love UK! Just kidding Mandy :)
March Madness is a strange time of year. There are so many people who don't follow basketball closely or even from afar, yet they fill out a bracket and watch all the games in the tourney. But the tourney is so addictive and fun to participate in! I love filling in a bracket and then stress over my picks. The following picture shows how crazy I get during this time.
The gangsta look isn't me, is it? :) So far, my brackets have gone well. There were a couple of games I lost in the first round. But as for the second round, I'm right on the mark. We shall see how the rest of today's games go. Go Big Blue!!!!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Thoughts
I'm finally shelling the money out for a haircut today. The lady who cuts my hair does a wonderful job, I just hate paying the big bucks. A few months ago I chopped all my hair off...I do this regularly. I tend to be impulsive when it comes to hairstyles. :) But today, my hair will get a simply trim. And, I'm growing it out again. Surprise, huh?!
The coffee at my workplace is not the best in the world; yet, when it comes free, I don't complain. Actually, there are many things here in the office provided for free. My boss knows how to take care of his employees. The coffee is free of charge along with the coke machine, filtered water, tea bags, hot chocolate and the such. Well, we still have to put money in for a coke but the size of the bottles are huge and only cost 50 cents. My boss actually pays for the coke products because we use the sales from the coke machine to fund birthdays around here. Each employee gets a little monetary gift on their birthday.
Anyone else suffering from the pollen build-up each morning on the cars?! My ears feel clogged and my eyelids are puffy and my eyes are dry. Nashville sits in a valley so the area is prone to high allergen levels in the air. I for one, would like it to rain today, like the weather channel says it is suppose to, so the pollen can be washed away. I know there is more where the present pollen came from, but still, some temporary relief would be much appreciated!
I recently read a Stephen King novel, Cell. It was the first one I have read by him. I don't plan on reading any others by him but I wanted to see what his writing style was like. I was not impressed. Sorry to all the King lovers out there, but I just don't like his story-telling ways. And no, I did not read some off-the-wall novel, filled with gore and horror. The plot was an interesting one. I liked the premise just don't care for Stephen King's story telling.
I baked a cake last week and have slowly been munching on it. That's not spectacular news, I know. The reason I mention it is this: Do you ever bake something like a cake or cookies and then justify eating it all by only taking a bite here and there? Ha! That's what I'm doing. By not sitting down at the table with a big plate of cake but instead using a fork to grab just a bite, I feel like I'm doing something good. :) I know it's not true, but the females reading this will completely understand!
The coffee at my workplace is not the best in the world; yet, when it comes free, I don't complain. Actually, there are many things here in the office provided for free. My boss knows how to take care of his employees. The coffee is free of charge along with the coke machine, filtered water, tea bags, hot chocolate and the such. Well, we still have to put money in for a coke but the size of the bottles are huge and only cost 50 cents. My boss actually pays for the coke products because we use the sales from the coke machine to fund birthdays around here. Each employee gets a little monetary gift on their birthday.
Anyone else suffering from the pollen build-up each morning on the cars?! My ears feel clogged and my eyelids are puffy and my eyes are dry. Nashville sits in a valley so the area is prone to high allergen levels in the air. I for one, would like it to rain today, like the weather channel says it is suppose to, so the pollen can be washed away. I know there is more where the present pollen came from, but still, some temporary relief would be much appreciated!
I recently read a Stephen King novel, Cell. It was the first one I have read by him. I don't plan on reading any others by him but I wanted to see what his writing style was like. I was not impressed. Sorry to all the King lovers out there, but I just don't like his story-telling ways. And no, I did not read some off-the-wall novel, filled with gore and horror. The plot was an interesting one. I liked the premise just don't care for Stephen King's story telling.
I baked a cake last week and have slowly been munching on it. That's not spectacular news, I know. The reason I mention it is this: Do you ever bake something like a cake or cookies and then justify eating it all by only taking a bite here and there? Ha! That's what I'm doing. By not sitting down at the table with a big plate of cake but instead using a fork to grab just a bite, I feel like I'm doing something good. :) I know it's not true, but the females reading this will completely understand!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Sin eater
What a title, right? Got you to look for sure! My latest read was The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers. I must admit that the book was a weird one and difficult to read. The vernacular was Appalachian, eastern Tennessee in the 1800's. But once I got use the way they spoke, I was able to read it fairly well.
The plot is a small community that is held in fear from believing they must have a man, the sin eater, to take away their sins when they die. This costume is from Wales, Scotland and Ireland (Both sides of my family are from those areas). People believed you needed someone to 'eat up' your sins so you could stand before God on the judgement day. I know many of us would find it hard to understand why they thought this practice necessary. But just imagine a society where a copy of scripture was not readily available. Imagine the control someone could have over that community if they appeared to know what God required of you.
I won't tell the story to you here, I don't want to ruin the book if you choose to read it. But I do want to talk about the impression the book left with me.
God reminded me of the work Jesus did for the sins of the world. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb and the scapegoat all rolled into one person. God ordained that a lamb be slaughtered to cover sins for the coming year, as well a goat be released, bearing the sin of the people. The picture showed us that the lamb sacrificed did not take away the sin but merely postponed the judgement. The scapegoat showed the sin being placed on one being. Every year the Israelites performed this ceremony. And every year, the payment for sin was postponed through the lamb and scapegoat.
Jesus became the sacrificed lamb so that blood would be shed (God required blood for payment) and the one all the sin was placed on, the scapegoat. Through Jesus, our sin can be forgiven and taken away. No need for another sacrifice or scapegoat! And no need for a priest to perform the ceremony for us. Jesus is our high priest! And His sacrifice has met every demand God has for the payment of sin.
God reminded me also that we can easily become weighed down with traditions that don't mean anything to our walk with Christ. We simply do them because "that's how it's done around here." Can't you hear your parents or grandparents saying that?! I agree that some traditions are good to keep around. Just make sure they are helping you grow in the Lord and not keeping you from developing a deeper walk with Him.
The plot is a small community that is held in fear from believing they must have a man, the sin eater, to take away their sins when they die. This costume is from Wales, Scotland and Ireland (Both sides of my family are from those areas). People believed you needed someone to 'eat up' your sins so you could stand before God on the judgement day. I know many of us would find it hard to understand why they thought this practice necessary. But just imagine a society where a copy of scripture was not readily available. Imagine the control someone could have over that community if they appeared to know what God required of you.
I won't tell the story to you here, I don't want to ruin the book if you choose to read it. But I do want to talk about the impression the book left with me.
God reminded me of the work Jesus did for the sins of the world. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb and the scapegoat all rolled into one person. God ordained that a lamb be slaughtered to cover sins for the coming year, as well a goat be released, bearing the sin of the people. The picture showed us that the lamb sacrificed did not take away the sin but merely postponed the judgement. The scapegoat showed the sin being placed on one being. Every year the Israelites performed this ceremony. And every year, the payment for sin was postponed through the lamb and scapegoat.
Jesus became the sacrificed lamb so that blood would be shed (God required blood for payment) and the one all the sin was placed on, the scapegoat. Through Jesus, our sin can be forgiven and taken away. No need for another sacrifice or scapegoat! And no need for a priest to perform the ceremony for us. Jesus is our high priest! And His sacrifice has met every demand God has for the payment of sin.
God reminded me also that we can easily become weighed down with traditions that don't mean anything to our walk with Christ. We simply do them because "that's how it's done around here." Can't you hear your parents or grandparents saying that?! I agree that some traditions are good to keep around. Just make sure they are helping you grow in the Lord and not keeping you from developing a deeper walk with Him.
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