The series includes (and I don't know all these people):
Sounds awesome. I'd really like to check these out!
Friday, June 29, 2012
martyr stories for kids
The series includes (and I don't know all these people):
Sounds awesome. I'd really like to check these out!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
a Titus 1 man
In reading Titus this morning, I started thinking that Titus 1:6-9 is like the Proverbs 31 for men. I very much hope to marry a Titus 1 man.
Paul here is describing the qualities necessary for elders in the church. In the NLT, here's what we're looking for:
Paul here is describing the qualities necessary for elders in the church. In the NLT, here's what we're looking for:
- well thought of for his good life
- faithful to his wife (I heard a message on this once being actually translated as a "one-woman man")
- children must be believers who are not wild or rebellious (this is definitely the hardest one, as its really beyond your control how your children choose to live after they are grown)
- live a blameless life
- not arrogant
- not quick-tempered
- not a heavy drinker
- not violent
- not greedy for money
- must enjoy having guests in his home
- must love all that is good
- must live wisely and be fair
- live a devout and disciplined life
- strong and steadfast belief in the trustworthy message he was taught
- able to encourage others with right teaching
- able to show those who oppose right teaching where they are wrong
- blameless
- husband of but one wife
- a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient
- blameless (again. yes, it mentions it twice)
- not overbearing
- not quick-tempered
- not given to drunkenness
- not violent
- not pursuing dishonest gain
- hospitable
- love what is good
- self-controlled
- upright
- holy
- disciplined
- holds firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught so that he can (1) encourage others by sound doctrine and (2) refute those who oppose it
Friday, June 22, 2012
robust & dangerous levels
"We work to see young adults awakened to robust, dangerous and compelling levels of biblical discipleship, equipping them to live counter-cultural lives."
Read this description of an organization called Uber. Don't know much about it, but I loved this line. What a great way to describe the discipleship we really want to see?
Robust
Dangerous
Compelling
Love it.
Read this description of an organization called Uber. Don't know much about it, but I loved this line. What a great way to describe the discipleship we really want to see?
Robust
Dangerous
Compelling
Love it.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
what am I stirring up?
I'm very familiar with the verse in Song of Solomon warning not to arouse love until it desires. Then tonight I came across 2 Timothy 1:6 with that same idea of stirring up. So I'm looking at the two passages side by side. And I'm reading from the Amplified Bible tonight.
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you never [again attempt to] stir up or awaken love until it pleases. - Song of Solomon 8:4
That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. -2 Timothy 1:6
Makes me think about what I'm stirring up in my life. Am I fanning into flame the gifts God has given me? And how can I do a better job of that?
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you never [again attempt to] stir up or awaken love until it pleases. - Song of Solomon 8:4
That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. -2 Timothy 1:6
Makes me think about what I'm stirring up in my life. Am I fanning into flame the gifts God has given me? And how can I do a better job of that?
Thursday, May 31, 2012
content and yet desiring?
Is it truly possible to be so completely content that you have no desires? I'm not so sure.
The apostle Paul talked of how he'd been through seasons of much and seasons of little. He had learned to be content in all circumstances.
As a single girl, I've often been instructed to seek contentment. I shouldn't focus on what I don't have, but be content with what I do have. And often these instructions are pointed on the issue of marrige.
I would like to be married someday (sooner rather than later, preferably) to a great godly man. I desire a partner for this life.
I've been told numerous times (though not as if it's a formula, but rather a life principle) that I must find my contentment in God. Then the man will come.
I feel like I'm pretty content. I don't know that there's a perfect contentment that any of us couldn't truly attain. But for the most part, having a husband does not consume the majority of my thoughts, behaviors, actions, dreams. I'm actively pursuing Christ, serving Him, studying His Word. But at this point, I'm still single and I do still desire a husband.
I'm thinking that only time we'll experience 100% no-desires-left contentment is when we're in eternity with our God. Is this true?
The apostle Paul talked of how he'd been through seasons of much and seasons of little. He had learned to be content in all circumstances.
As a single girl, I've often been instructed to seek contentment. I shouldn't focus on what I don't have, but be content with what I do have. And often these instructions are pointed on the issue of marrige.
I would like to be married someday (sooner rather than later, preferably) to a great godly man. I desire a partner for this life.
I've been told numerous times (though not as if it's a formula, but rather a life principle) that I must find my contentment in God. Then the man will come.
I feel like I'm pretty content. I don't know that there's a perfect contentment that any of us couldn't truly attain. But for the most part, having a husband does not consume the majority of my thoughts, behaviors, actions, dreams. I'm actively pursuing Christ, serving Him, studying His Word. But at this point, I'm still single and I do still desire a husband.
I'm thinking that only time we'll experience 100% no-desires-left contentment is when we're in eternity with our God. Is this true?
Monday, May 28, 2012
Hegai: first fashion stylist in the Bible
I'm not sure if Hegai was the first recorded fashion stylist in all of history, or simply in the Old Testament, but I think it's cool that the book of Esther includes his role in the story.
Hegai was one of the King's eunuch servants. When King Xerxes (ruler of the Persian empire at the time when Persia was the world leader, 483BC) decided to search for a new bride, Hegai was put in charge of the new "harem," a responsibility that included beauty treatment regimens for all the candidates. As one of the beautiful young women in the pool, Esther was entrusted to Hegai's care.
I'm not sure if it was immediate or if this happened after some time, but Esther 2:9 (NLT) says that "Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her...He also assigned her seven maids specially chosen from the king's palace, and he moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem."
Each women received 12 months of beauty treatments before she spent her night with the King. There was a lot of pressure here, because this one night would mean the difference between being queen and being just another woman in the king's harem of many wives.
Esther 2:13 clearly tells us that the women could choose their own clothing and jewelry for their big night. "When the time came for her to go in to the King, she was given her choice of whatever clothing or jewelry she wanted to enhance her beauty."
Esther took her fashion and beauty advice from Hegai, a great choice since he would probably know best what the King would like. Esther 2:15 tells us that "When it was Esther's turn to go to the King, she accepted the advice of Hegai, the eunuch in the charge of the harem. She asked for nothing except what he suggested, and she was admired by everyone who saw her." Way to go, Hegai!
Of course, we know that the King loved Esther more than any of the other women, she became the queen, and Persia celebrated. Woohoo! If Hegai wasn't indebted to serve the King at his palace, I bet he could've opened his own business and garnered some great clients with that success story on his resume.
I wonder if Esther got to keep Hegai on as her personal stylist through the rest of her reign.
Hegai was one of the King's eunuch servants. When King Xerxes (ruler of the Persian empire at the time when Persia was the world leader, 483BC) decided to search for a new bride, Hegai was put in charge of the new "harem," a responsibility that included beauty treatment regimens for all the candidates. As one of the beautiful young women in the pool, Esther was entrusted to Hegai's care.
I'm not sure if it was immediate or if this happened after some time, but Esther 2:9 (NLT) says that "Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her...He also assigned her seven maids specially chosen from the king's palace, and he moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem."
Each women received 12 months of beauty treatments before she spent her night with the King. There was a lot of pressure here, because this one night would mean the difference between being queen and being just another woman in the king's harem of many wives.
Esther 2:13 clearly tells us that the women could choose their own clothing and jewelry for their big night. "When the time came for her to go in to the King, she was given her choice of whatever clothing or jewelry she wanted to enhance her beauty."
Esther took her fashion and beauty advice from Hegai, a great choice since he would probably know best what the King would like. Esther 2:15 tells us that "When it was Esther's turn to go to the King, she accepted the advice of Hegai, the eunuch in the charge of the harem. She asked for nothing except what he suggested, and she was admired by everyone who saw her." Way to go, Hegai!
Of course, we know that the King loved Esther more than any of the other women, she became the queen, and Persia celebrated. Woohoo! If Hegai wasn't indebted to serve the King at his palace, I bet he could've opened his own business and garnered some great clients with that success story on his resume.
I wonder if Esther got to keep Hegai on as her personal stylist through the rest of her reign.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
chronology
I think I was in college when I really learned the our Bibles aren't in chronological order. I grew up in a great Bible-teaching church, and we knew the categories of the Bible - the Torah or Pentateuch, the wisdom literature, the major prophets, minor prophets, gospels, and epistles. I guess I kind of assumed these were the different eras - like first there was Adam and Eve, then the Kings, then the prophets all came, and then Jesus.
In our 4/5th grade class at Harvest (I'm a leader), we've been studying Ezra, Nehemiah, Micah, and other Old Testament books. As I've read the lessons and started digging into the actual books themselves, I'm become very curious about how it all falls in order.
So I've started circling the historical years in the footnotes whenever I see them. I would like to map out the different events so I can get a better idea of how this all fits together.
And then I started wondering...how is it that I've gotten through this much church teaching, classes, camps, etc. And yet I still don't have a really clear grasp on the order of the Bible. Like shouldn't we be teaching our kids this from when they're young so they understand how the Bible fits together?
I went looking for a chronological guide to the Bible, specifically designed for kids. I figured that if I got a kids one that it would lay all the events and books out in a really clear order. But seriously, I couldn't find one for kids. Surely, you would think, there must be one out there. (Please, if you're reading this and know of the very book I'm describing, let me know. I'd love to buy it!)
Well, once I figure it out for myself, I hope to teach it to my own kids one day. I want us as a family to be able to reference Israel's history as a people.
In our 4/5th grade class at Harvest (I'm a leader), we've been studying Ezra, Nehemiah, Micah, and other Old Testament books. As I've read the lessons and started digging into the actual books themselves, I'm become very curious about how it all falls in order.
So I've started circling the historical years in the footnotes whenever I see them. I would like to map out the different events so I can get a better idea of how this all fits together.
And then I started wondering...how is it that I've gotten through this much church teaching, classes, camps, etc. And yet I still don't have a really clear grasp on the order of the Bible. Like shouldn't we be teaching our kids this from when they're young so they understand how the Bible fits together?
I went looking for a chronological guide to the Bible, specifically designed for kids. I figured that if I got a kids one that it would lay all the events and books out in a really clear order. But seriously, I couldn't find one for kids. Surely, you would think, there must be one out there. (Please, if you're reading this and know of the very book I'm describing, let me know. I'd love to buy it!)
Well, once I figure it out for myself, I hope to teach it to my own kids one day. I want us as a family to be able to reference Israel's history as a people.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
praying together for life
I'm not sure who originally said that "The family who prays together, stays together." But I think that's often true. Praying together has the power to unite. It's you being on the same page as the others you're with, petitioning God for His work in your life.
I think the same could be said about the family of Christ who prays together. Prayer is bonding. Across varying denominational backgrounds, brothers and sisters in Christ come together when they pray together.
And I'm not the only one who would love to see the body of Christ unite in this way more often. And more deeply. Last week, a friend shared his passion to see the body of Christ come together around the issue of life. So encouraging. And fire-up-ing.
"To fear the Lord is to hate evil."
"All who fear the Lord will hate evil."
-Proverbs 9:13 (NIV, NLT)
Father God, May we as Your people rise up against evil. May we see the body of Christ in the Quad Cities come together and pray together. May we see the family of God call come together to lift You up, and to unite in prayer for our abortion workers. May You bring those workers out of the abortion industry and into the light. Into a place where they can truly help the women they are serving. Father God, May we see a united front for life in our churches, among Your people.
I think the same could be said about the family of Christ who prays together. Prayer is bonding. Across varying denominational backgrounds, brothers and sisters in Christ come together when they pray together.
And I'm not the only one who would love to see the body of Christ unite in this way more often. And more deeply. Last week, a friend shared his passion to see the body of Christ come together around the issue of life. So encouraging. And fire-up-ing.
"To fear the Lord is to hate evil."
"All who fear the Lord will hate evil."
-Proverbs 9:13 (NIV, NLT)
Father God, May we as Your people rise up against evil. May we see the body of Christ in the Quad Cities come together and pray together. May we see the family of God call come together to lift You up, and to unite in prayer for our abortion workers. May You bring those workers out of the abortion industry and into the light. Into a place where they can truly help the women they are serving. Father God, May we see a united front for life in our churches, among Your people.
Friday, April 27, 2012
simon says
So I'm reading in Proverbs 2 today and it focuses in on listening to wisdom, searching for wisdom, tuning your ears to wisdom. And it got me thinking about Simon Says. Yes, the game.
You must listen closely to follow Simon's instructions and only Simon's instructions. Only the things you're told to do that are directly preceeded by "Simons says" are to be followed. Otherwise, you'll screw up and start flapping your wings like an eagle and get disqualified because oops, Simon didn't actually say that one.
So Simon Says is actually a remarkable game for teaching kids to follow The Way.
In life, we hear a lot of voices, a lot of messages. People are calling out instructions, advice, counsel. But if you listen to everyone, or even to just anyone other than "Simon," you lose. Following God's way, the way of the Master, following Christ, means listening intentionally for His voice. Learning to distinguish His voice among all the noise.
Father God, May we see that You are the Simon. May I listen closely and attentively to hear what You are saying and telling me.
You must listen closely to follow Simon's instructions and only Simon's instructions. Only the things you're told to do that are directly preceeded by "Simons says" are to be followed. Otherwise, you'll screw up and start flapping your wings like an eagle and get disqualified because oops, Simon didn't actually say that one.
So Simon Says is actually a remarkable game for teaching kids to follow The Way.
In life, we hear a lot of voices, a lot of messages. People are calling out instructions, advice, counsel. But if you listen to everyone, or even to just anyone other than "Simon," you lose. Following God's way, the way of the Master, following Christ, means listening intentionally for His voice. Learning to distinguish His voice among all the noise.
Father God, May we see that You are the Simon. May I listen closely and attentively to hear what You are saying and telling me.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
learning from the birds
So I'm reading in Proverbs this morning and I come across this verse I don't remember ever reading (or at least understanding) before. (Which is part of the reason I like reading out of my NLT sometimes. It's different and fresh to me wording makes me stop and think about even familiar passages in a new way.)
"When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away." -Proverbs 1:17 (NLT)
Makes sense. I'm not sure if I knew that birds were this smart or not, but I like the simple concept. The birds sees you setting a trap. The bird knows it's a trap. The bird stays away from the trap. The bird doesn't flirt with the trap, trying to see how close it can get without getting caught in the trap.
Solomon is comparing this to our foolishness as people. In our folly we lay traps for ourselves with poor decisions. We set ourselves up to fail, or at least to experience some really icky consequences.
Let's learn from the birds on this one, and follow wisdom.
"When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away." -Proverbs 1:17 (NLT)
Makes sense. I'm not sure if I knew that birds were this smart or not, but I like the simple concept. The birds sees you setting a trap. The bird knows it's a trap. The bird stays away from the trap. The bird doesn't flirt with the trap, trying to see how close it can get without getting caught in the trap.
Solomon is comparing this to our foolishness as people. In our folly we lay traps for ourselves with poor decisions. We set ourselves up to fail, or at least to experience some really icky consequences.
Let's learn from the birds on this one, and follow wisdom.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
to strip or not to strip
I'd be lying if I said I've never considered stripping as a job option. I know you can make good money.
Talking with a friend tonight, I found out that he's taken on weekend stripping jobs for bachelorette parties, etc. He makes $400-500 in a 4-hour stint. Great money. He's doing it for the cash. He and his fiance, you see, need to raise some money if they are going to pay for their big wedding coming up. And neither of them blink an eye at this particular method of (very effective) fundraising.
I had another friend who also stripped for a long time. I"m sure she was great at it. And she had the same attitude as my friend tonight. It's just a job. She needed the cash. It was the best paying job for miles around. So she did it.
When my friend exclaimed (trying to get a reaction out of me) that I had never had felt the freedom that comes in stripping, I replied (quite honestly) that I fully intend to strip all the time for my husband once we're married. And that will be the best freedom.
I have a whole married life in front of me. So I needn't be in too much of a hurry right now.
Talking with a friend tonight, I found out that he's taken on weekend stripping jobs for bachelorette parties, etc. He makes $400-500 in a 4-hour stint. Great money. He's doing it for the cash. He and his fiance, you see, need to raise some money if they are going to pay for their big wedding coming up. And neither of them blink an eye at this particular method of (very effective) fundraising.
I had another friend who also stripped for a long time. I"m sure she was great at it. And she had the same attitude as my friend tonight. It's just a job. She needed the cash. It was the best paying job for miles around. So she did it.
When my friend exclaimed (trying to get a reaction out of me) that I had never had felt the freedom that comes in stripping, I replied (quite honestly) that I fully intend to strip all the time for my husband once we're married. And that will be the best freedom.
I have a whole married life in front of me. So I needn't be in too much of a hurry right now.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
best compliment ever
Today, I found something out that totally kinda rocked my world.
Chris and I were good friends as teenagers, but we haven't seen each other or talked in years. Recently, Chris found me on facebook. I noticed his profile picture was with him and a little girl, and I wondered if he had a daughter now.
Chris messaged me today to tell me his little girl's name is Kathryn. He said, "I just wanted you to know that I named my daughter Kathryn...She's a pretty perfect little girl...When I found out she was a girl, I had to think of a name of the best girl I ever knew and I thought of you."
Wow.
Chris and I were good friends as teenagers, but we haven't seen each other or talked in years. Recently, Chris found me on facebook. I noticed his profile picture was with him and a little girl, and I wondered if he had a daughter now.
Chris messaged me today to tell me his little girl's name is Kathryn. He said, "I just wanted you to know that I named my daughter Kathryn...She's a pretty perfect little girl...When I found out she was a girl, I had to think of a name of the best girl I ever knew and I thought of you."
Wow.
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