I am not yet sure what message God is planning to deliver to me but this morning He lead me to start a study on the book of Nehemiah and so I read the overview and summary in my study Bible and tommorow I will start with chapter 1 and work my way through. I found a great study guide to go along with it as a study at http://www.gospelway.com/commentary/nehemiah/index.php and so my journey will begin.
I talked to the doctors office yesterday and they officially upped the dose of my Effexor XR from 150mg to 187.5mg but boy did that hurt my pocketbook. I went from paying $40 for a month supply to $80 because I have to buy a 150mg prescription and a 37.5mg prescription each month. I guess I have to continue to be thankful that the help is there and that I have a medical spending account at work to reimburse me for it. God always provides our every need.
As far as my organizing at home goes, I have made a 3 ring binder with dividers and page protectors in it to store invitations, coupons, take out menus, and other things I deem important enough to make easily accesible by keeping it all in this one book. I also bought a 3 drawer desktop organizer which I put by my back door where I come in with the mail. The top drawer holds my bills, checkbook, calculator, address labels and stamps, the middle drawer holds (i forget what exactly at this moment) and the bottom drawer holds things that don't belong at my house like some previous year cd's from the Easter and Christmas cantatas that I need to take back to the choir director at church. Things seems to keep my kitchen table/counters freed up (at least so far anyway!). I have also started a expandable file to keep all of my paid bills and important medical papers and such in. I think I am off to a wonderful start if I can just stay motivated to finish what I started AND stick with it!! I need ya'll to pray for me in that respect AND help to hold me accountable!
Thanks for reading and until next time, God bless you!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Spiritual Slump
Good morning bloggy friends! Today is a GOOD day! For the first time I feel my God-centered than I've felt all of this year. I don't know how/why I seemed to hit a spiritual slump (that seemed like a rut so deep it could never end) and yet today it is over! Ok so it could have a little something to do with the fact that I took twice my normal dose of Effexor XR since I was no longer functioning under the dose I was on. Why do I keep hitting that point and having to get my dosage upped? Oh well I suppose I should thank God that there is a medication out there that will allow me to lead a somewhat normal life? I just wish I knew why I was perfectly fine and then one day out of the blue over a year ago I started having anxiety attacks and mild depression and couldn't function on a daily basis and at this point I have found myself increaded from 75mg to 150 mg and now facing another increase? Is it ever going to get any better or do I just have to accept that I can't live my life normally without the help of drugs? AHHHH! The things you ponder when given a free moment and you allow your fingers to run away at the keyboard.
Anyway I say ALL of that to say this...My lack of blogging has been due to this slump and well know I hope that I will be motivated to continue on with it because I do so enjoy it and I hope that someone out there somewhere (if anyone is even reading this?) gains something useful (a blessing?) from reading it!
and now on with the meat of the message...my quiet time with God this morning consisted of
Psalm 49 (NIV)
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me-
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
7 No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him-
8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough-
9 that he should live on forever and not see decay.
10 For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
12 But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. Selah
14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah
16 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases;
17 for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.
18 Though while he lived he counted himself blessed— and men praise you when you prosper-
19 he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of life .
20 A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
God spoke to me through a message by Dr. Charles Stanley on the message of the Cross night before last. + each point on the cross was one of his points.
1. The justice of God
2. The wisdom of God
3. The love of God
4. The power of God
Sermon Outline
The Message of the Cross
Charles Stanley
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17-25
I. Introduction: Why do Christians put such emphasis on the cross? What message does it convey, and exactly what does it symbolize?
II. Message:
A. The cross is a message about the justice of God.
God is the epitome of holiness and righteousness, so He must punish sin.
Every other religion teaches that people reach God through their works.
God placed all the sin of humanity on Christ in order to provide a substitute in our place.
God deals not only with our actions; He changes us from the inside out.
B. The cross is a message about the wisdom of God.
The cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. The Jews and Greeks saw the cross as a sign of weakness, shame, and punishment for crime.
Because salvation is a gift of God, we can’t take credit for what God has done in our lives.
God’s redemptive plan is unique in human history.
People who attempt to work for their salvation never know if they have done enough to go to heaven. In contrast, those who receive God’s forgiveness have assurance of their salvation.
C. The cross is a message about the love of God.
God is love, but that doesn’t mean He overlooks sin.
If you receive salvation but then live a disobedient, rebellious life, God will discipline you in love.
No one deserves to go to heaven. A 90-year-old man and a 10-year-old boy are both saved by grace.
D. The cross is a message about the power of God.
Paul writes that the cross is about God’s power (1 Cor. 1:18).
God's power transforms anyone who will accept salvation.
Example: Prisoners who are incarcerated for life but have never felt freer
Example: A drug addict whose life was eventually transformed after he heard one sentence about God’s unconditional love
III. Closing: The message of the cross is that the Lord is willing to save anyone who asks. Once you ask Him to forgive your sins, He instantly begins to change your life. Live every day in the assurance that you are in God’s loving hand, and that He will take care of you for all eternity.
and then my quiet time this morning reinforced the fact that do one can be good enough to go to heaven, no one can buy their way into heaven, it's only by the blood of Christ we can go to heaven.
I really needed the meat of the message and the focus of my Christian life to be refocused on what really matters and that is what has helped to pull me back into the center of God's will where I need to be. Thank you God for these messages and the medication that can help me to focus and concentrate on living rather than muddling through life with no purpose. Thank you for forgiving my sins, the ones i've commited, the ones i'm omitted and the ones that I will commit and omit in the future and for all time. Thank you for sending your only son Jesus to die for MY sins (even if I was the only one - you would have sacrificed him just for me!) I love you with all of my being and want to strive to be obedient and open to your will so that I can be the one to say "Here am I, send me!". Amen!
Anyway I say ALL of that to say this...My lack of blogging has been due to this slump and well know I hope that I will be motivated to continue on with it because I do so enjoy it and I hope that someone out there somewhere (if anyone is even reading this?) gains something useful (a blessing?) from reading it!
and now on with the meat of the message...my quiet time with God this morning consisted of
Psalm 49 (NIV)
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me-
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
7 No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him-
8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough-
9 that he should live on forever and not see decay.
10 For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
12 But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. Selah
14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah
16 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases;
17 for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.
18 Though while he lived he counted himself blessed— and men praise you when you prosper-
19 he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of life .
20 A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
God spoke to me through a message by Dr. Charles Stanley on the message of the Cross night before last. + each point on the cross was one of his points.
1. The justice of God
2. The wisdom of God
3. The love of God
4. The power of God
Sermon Outline
The Message of the Cross
Charles Stanley
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17-25
I. Introduction: Why do Christians put such emphasis on the cross? What message does it convey, and exactly what does it symbolize?
II. Message:
A. The cross is a message about the justice of God.
God is the epitome of holiness and righteousness, so He must punish sin.
Every other religion teaches that people reach God through their works.
God placed all the sin of humanity on Christ in order to provide a substitute in our place.
God deals not only with our actions; He changes us from the inside out.
B. The cross is a message about the wisdom of God.
The cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. The Jews and Greeks saw the cross as a sign of weakness, shame, and punishment for crime.
Because salvation is a gift of God, we can’t take credit for what God has done in our lives.
God’s redemptive plan is unique in human history.
People who attempt to work for their salvation never know if they have done enough to go to heaven. In contrast, those who receive God’s forgiveness have assurance of their salvation.
C. The cross is a message about the love of God.
God is love, but that doesn’t mean He overlooks sin.
If you receive salvation but then live a disobedient, rebellious life, God will discipline you in love.
No one deserves to go to heaven. A 90-year-old man and a 10-year-old boy are both saved by grace.
D. The cross is a message about the power of God.
Paul writes that the cross is about God’s power (1 Cor. 1:18).
God's power transforms anyone who will accept salvation.
Example: Prisoners who are incarcerated for life but have never felt freer
Example: A drug addict whose life was eventually transformed after he heard one sentence about God’s unconditional love
III. Closing: The message of the cross is that the Lord is willing to save anyone who asks. Once you ask Him to forgive your sins, He instantly begins to change your life. Live every day in the assurance that you are in God’s loving hand, and that He will take care of you for all eternity.
and then my quiet time this morning reinforced the fact that do one can be good enough to go to heaven, no one can buy their way into heaven, it's only by the blood of Christ we can go to heaven.
I really needed the meat of the message and the focus of my Christian life to be refocused on what really matters and that is what has helped to pull me back into the center of God's will where I need to be. Thank you God for these messages and the medication that can help me to focus and concentrate on living rather than muddling through life with no purpose. Thank you for forgiving my sins, the ones i've commited, the ones i'm omitted and the ones that I will commit and omit in the future and for all time. Thank you for sending your only son Jesus to die for MY sins (even if I was the only one - you would have sacrificed him just for me!) I love you with all of my being and want to strive to be obedient and open to your will so that I can be the one to say "Here am I, send me!". Amen!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Quick clean up tip
Your husband just called from work to announce that he is bringing the BIG boss home for dinner. Your house looks like a tornado went through it and left toys, clothes and debris lying in the wake of it. What are you going to do?
Well here is a tried and true tip that works every time! Set a timer for 10 min. Take a empty laundry basket and start in the room that needs the most attention (that is the one where your company is going to spend most of their time.) Fill the basket with things that don't belong in that room. Take the basket to the next most important room needing attention and put whatever belongs in that room out of the basket and put it in it's proper place. the other stuff in the basket just put in the room where it goes and out of sight. Then go back to the 2nd most urgent room and fill the basket with your 10 minute timer and do the same thing. Repeat for as much time as you have to complete your task.
Also while you're practicing this process you can put dinner on to cook in the oven or crockpot and kill 2 birds with one stone.
http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/2008/03/organized-or-not-swap-and-hop.html
Well here is a tried and true tip that works every time! Set a timer for 10 min. Take a empty laundry basket and start in the room that needs the most attention (that is the one where your company is going to spend most of their time.) Fill the basket with things that don't belong in that room. Take the basket to the next most important room needing attention and put whatever belongs in that room out of the basket and put it in it's proper place. the other stuff in the basket just put in the room where it goes and out of sight. Then go back to the 2nd most urgent room and fill the basket with your 10 minute timer and do the same thing. Repeat for as much time as you have to complete your task.
Also while you're practicing this process you can put dinner on to cook in the oven or crockpot and kill 2 birds with one stone.
http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/2008/03/organized-or-not-swap-and-hop.html
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Christmas Challenge
Today I challenge you to give up ONE thing that makes your Christmas more stressful and less fun. I have been working on that myself. I have not decorated for Christmas at my house since I won't be spending much time there, I haven't mailed the first Christmas card, and I have been more involved with having a daily devotional and prayer time and more focused on JESUS the real reason for the season and WHAT he's done for me. I can feel it already this is going to be my best CHRISTmas yet because JESUS will be there!
What will you do to make your Christmas more meaningful, more cheerful, and less stressful?
Merry CHRISTmas!
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14
What will you do to make your Christmas more meaningful, more cheerful, and less stressful?
Merry CHRISTmas!
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Christmas Party & Share your favorite recipe!
Today we had our Student Services Office Bldg. Christmas Party. Everyone brought something to eat and little treats to swap with each other. All the food was so good! We had ham, string beans, crockpot mac & cheese, potato salad, rolls, all kinds of cakes, and candies, and puddings. I am SO stuffed and ready for a nap! Why is it that this time of year we think we have to sample EVERYTHING and make ourselves miserable? Especially during the holidays!!
What is your favorite holiday food? Share some recipes with us! Here is mine to get things going!
Dirt Cake Recipe
Ingredients
1-1/2 to 2 pounds chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos®)
1/4 pound (1 stick) margarine
4 packages instant chocolate pudding (made according to directions)
12 ounces non-dairy whipped topping (like Cool Whip®)
Candy gummy worms
Instructions
Clean a new plastic flower pot (a rectangular window box is perfect) and a gardening shovel or trowel. Crush the cookies in a food processor or place them in a ziplock bag and use a rolling pin. The crumbs will resemble potting soil. Mix crumbs with melted margarine and make a 2-inch crust on the bottom of the flower pot. Combine the pudding and whipped topping, then spread on the crust. Put gummy worms on the pudding and spread the remaining crumbs on top. You can arrange some of the gummy worms so that their heads poke out of the "soil". Refrigerate overnight. Wrap the stems of some artificial flowers with foil and arrange in the pot, then serve the cake using the trowel.
Note: This recipe can be made non-fat by using skim milk and non-fat cookies. You can omit the margarine, which will make the crust crumbly, like the "top soil".
Credits
This version of the traditional recipe by: Carol Stewart
What is your favorite holiday food? Share some recipes with us! Here is mine to get things going!
Dirt Cake Recipe
Ingredients
1-1/2 to 2 pounds chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos®)
1/4 pound (1 stick) margarine
4 packages instant chocolate pudding (made according to directions)
12 ounces non-dairy whipped topping (like Cool Whip®)
Candy gummy worms
Instructions
Clean a new plastic flower pot (a rectangular window box is perfect) and a gardening shovel or trowel. Crush the cookies in a food processor or place them in a ziplock bag and use a rolling pin. The crumbs will resemble potting soil. Mix crumbs with melted margarine and make a 2-inch crust on the bottom of the flower pot. Combine the pudding and whipped topping, then spread on the crust. Put gummy worms on the pudding and spread the remaining crumbs on top. You can arrange some of the gummy worms so that their heads poke out of the "soil". Refrigerate overnight. Wrap the stems of some artificial flowers with foil and arrange in the pot, then serve the cake using the trowel.
Note: This recipe can be made non-fat by using skim milk and non-fat cookies. You can omit the margarine, which will make the crust crumbly, like the "top soil".
Credits
This version of the traditional recipe by: Carol Stewart
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Expect the unexpected!
God is teaching me to give thanks in everything and to ASK for what I need in prayer. He provides everything I need, always! Slowly through the help of my mom and dad I am digging my way out of debt. God is using them to help me to spend less, save more, and pay my bills without wondering the money is coming from to pay them. God has provided me with a wonderful boyfriend one that I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with. I love Gene with a love I thought I would never feel again after my husband died. He also loves me with the kind of love I thought I would never find again. Just one more way God reminds us that all things will be made perfect in His time, not ours. I am so thankful and so humble!
and now for a little something that I just got in my inbox that I think you will enjoy. It touched my heart and I hope it will touch yours as well!
The "W" in Christmas
Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience.
I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing,
endless decorating, and even overspending.
Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious
family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.
Our daughter, Holly, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting
season for a six year old.
For weeks, she'd been memorizing songs for her school's "Winter Pageant."
I didn't have the heart to tell her I'd be working the night of the
production. Unwilling to miss her shining moment, I spoke with her
teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the
presentation.
All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.
Fortunately, Holly seemed happy with the compromise.
So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early,
found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw
several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the
students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher,
sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to
perform their song.
Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday
as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial
entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.
So, when my girl's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly
taken aback by its bold title.
Holly was aglow, as were all of her classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens,
red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads.
Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one,
to spell out the title of the song.
As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the
letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding
up his or her portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas
Love."
The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a
small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -
totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W".
The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's
mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall,
proudly holding her "W".
Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it
together.
A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.
In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos,
there was a purpose for our festivities.
For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:
"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"
And, I believe, He still is. Amazed in His presence... humbled by His
love.
Again, HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS SEASON!
and now for a little something that I just got in my inbox that I think you will enjoy. It touched my heart and I hope it will touch yours as well!
The "W" in Christmas
Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience.
I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing,
endless decorating, and even overspending.
Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious
family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.
Our daughter, Holly, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting
season for a six year old.
For weeks, she'd been memorizing songs for her school's "Winter Pageant."
I didn't have the heart to tell her I'd be working the night of the
production. Unwilling to miss her shining moment, I spoke with her
teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the
presentation.
All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.
Fortunately, Holly seemed happy with the compromise.
So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early,
found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw
several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the
students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher,
sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to
perform their song.
Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday
as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial
entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.
So, when my girl's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly
taken aback by its bold title.
Holly was aglow, as were all of her classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens,
red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads.
Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one,
to spell out the title of the song.
As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the
letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding
up his or her portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas
Love."
The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a
small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -
totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W".
The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's
mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall,
proudly holding her "W".
Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it
together.
A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.
In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos,
there was a purpose for our festivities.
For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:
"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"
And, I believe, He still is. Amazed in His presence... humbled by His
love.
Again, HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS SEASON!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
CHRISTmas
It's the simple song that I learned as a child but it holds the TRUE meaning of Christmas. I hope that everyday I find a new way to celebrate CHRISTmas in my heart. Share your comments, suggestions, and ways you celebrate what CHRISTmas is REALLY all about.
Have a blessed day!
Janet
C is for the Christ child born on Christmas Day
H is Hearld Angels when they sing
R is our Redeemer
I means Israel
S is for the star that shone so bright
T is for three wisemen they who traveled far
M is for the manger where he lay
A is for ALL He's done
S is for the sheperd's when they came
That's why there's a CHRISTmas Day!
Have a blessed day!
Janet
C is for the Christ child born on Christmas Day
H is Hearld Angels when they sing
R is our Redeemer
I means Israel
S is for the star that shone so bright
T is for three wisemen they who traveled far
M is for the manger where he lay
A is for ALL He's done
S is for the sheperd's when they came
That's why there's a CHRISTmas Day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
