Our Spiritual Life in Weak Human Form
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matthew 26:41 N.I.V.
It is interesting how our bodies and our spiritual life are tied together. It is sometime hard to separate the two especially if we dwell our emotions.
I think Jesus really understood that personally. He understands what is like to deal with tiredness and physical weakness.
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16 N.I.V.)
That is also why we have to be on guard and because our bodies are weak. We can’t trust them. We may not wrestle with “big sins”, but we can wrestle with lack of faith and despondency can lead us to spiritual trouble if we are not on guard. In the passage in Matthew 26, the disciples were struggling with staying awake. They were tired from being up all night with Jesus while Jesus was at Gethsemane praying just before he would be crucified.
It is a simple little issue that got me on this path. I have been really struggling with reading the Bible. I just wasn’t really getting anything from it. I would read a passage, and not see anything or remember anything. To combat that, I would stick with just a few verses at time. I started to notice that it wasn’t just the Bible, it was any type of reading on paper such as a good novel. I finally went to the eye doctor and found out that I had eye issues that would affect my reading. My eyes are tracking better so that can read much better. Now with reading glasses, I am seeing fresh things in scripture!! My eyes have been physically opened!
How many times does tiredness and even physical hunger affect our behavior? We need to be on guard and aware of the needs of our bodies. We need to take care of our human tents the best we can so we can be most effective of the kingdom. Sometimes our bodies will fail us and there is nothing to do but pray and depend on God for his grace and mercy in time of need.
Time to Take Stock and Make Changes
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace
I am not really one for resolutions. Mostly because in own power resolutions are worthless. I don’t have the power to change anything. I know that I am going to fail.
New Year’s is a good time to take a look at your life and see what you need to improve. It also gives a good starting point for changes. I know that I am going to fix whatever tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes.
The big concern in my life right now is my health. Today I am starting on a program to make sure changes in that area. Another area, is changing how I deal with prayer requests that come through online. I have a list in front of me now for prayer requests. I have been praying as they come in, but certain one’s I really want to more time into.
As I seek God’s direction as to what I need to be involved with, and what I need to say “no” to, I want to draw closer in my dependence on God.
We all need change. We all seek change for the better. That change will only come as we seek to draw closer to God.
Today, I taught Sunday School. The lesson was about Samuel choosing David as king (1 Samuel 16:1-16). The memory verse was short form of Acts 5:29 “We must obey God”. I must obey God in 2010 and beyond!!!
Thanking God for the Prince of Peace
I know that is a little late. I post so seldom. I think about what to write, but just getting the quiet time to sit and write is a challenge. By the time I deal with e-mail, web page updates, and my Proverbs 31 things, I am ready to sign off the computer.
We were blessed with a quiet, uneventful Christmas. We had a good time together as a family Thursday night at church and Christmas day. We enjoy our time together, remembering the reason for our joy is all based in our relationship with Jesus. He came to earth to establish peace. Even though right now his kingdom is in the spiritual realm, we have peace through the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
Isaiah 6:6-7
No one knows what we face in 2010. Even though I see it as a part of my Christian life to stand up for unrighteousness, unrighteousness may still seem to prevail. It may do so until Jesus comes to establish his kingdom of peace on the earth.
Until then, I thank God for the peace that I have in my heart and in my family.
Rememberance/Veterans Day
The rainy day and the pictures of poppies on internet remind me that it is Remembrance Day in Canada. It is always a very solemn day, and people where poppies on the winter coats for weeks ahead in Canada.
Growing up in school we always had solemn time of Remembrance with Taps and 2 minutes silence. The poem “In Flanders Fields” was always read. It was written by a Canadian from Guelph. I lived for several years not far from his birthplace on Water Street in Guelph, Ontario. The poem reminds all in free countries of the sacrifices made by those who died so that other could be free. For us who live, it is important that we support the military who are fighting for freedom and give them what they need to win the war so that fewer battles need to fought.
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Project Walk out for America
“Please copy and paste the below letter in a new email and send to the 10 Senators listed below, also as I have done add your name and address to the letter. Stand up for YOUR rights.
Please send this to the email addresses below
Please Blast this email to ever single person you know! Add to it if you have time or want add some good youtube video against HealthCare or something
If these 10 senators will walk out of the Finance meeting…….the bill will go dead
beth_jefari@cornyn.senate.gov, flip_mcconnaguhey@enzi.senate.gov, ,john_lopez@ensign.senate.gov, jackie_cottrell@roberts.senate.gov, peter_fischer@crapo.senate.gov, kim_dean@bunning.senate.gov, tim_glazewski@kyl.senate.gov, john_richter@snowe.senate.gov, jace_johnson@hatch.senate.gov, david_young@grassley.sentate.gov
Ladies and Gentlemen, Congressmen and Congresswomen, Senators and Representatives,
Congress is usurping power not granted them by the Constitution with their Health Care Reform attempt!
“WE THE PEOPLE” will hold you accountable in the next election!
We have marched down Pennsylvania Ave. on 9/12, 2009… in wheel chairs, on crutches, in red wagons, young and old…2 million of us…and yet you ignore us!
We have sent Congress over 2 1/4 million “Pink Slips” in the last 10 days….and yet you ignore us!
We have voiced our displeasure in countless “Town Hall” meetings in the last 60 days…and yet you ignore us!
We have reasoned with you…we have exhorted you…we have expressed anger, fear, disbelief…and yet you ignore us!
We have told you over and over…”WE DO NOT WANT YOUR SOCIALIZED, MANDATED, HEALTH CARE CRAM DOWN!!”
And yet you ignore us!!!
Know this then….we will not ignore you on election day…your day of reckoning is coming….and you will be going if you vote for Obama-Care!!!
I urge all 10 Republican Senators on the Finance Committee to “Walk Out For America”…if a quorum is not present for a vote, the Baucus Bill cannot get to the floor and into “Dirty” Harry Reid’s hands!
It is the duty of Grassley, Hatch, Snowe, Kyl, Bunning, Crapo, Roberts, Ensign, Enzi, and Cornyn to “stand up for America” and “Walk Out For America”…or start counting the days left on the remainder of your term!
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing.”
-
Edmund Burke 1729 – 1797
Continuing to Make a Difference
A while back, I posted how those standing up against the encroachment of the federal government were making a difference. This weekend shows as long as week keep of the fight, we are having an effect.
1. Obama’s speech to the school children nothing more than encouraging students to take responsibility for their education. I can live with that. I don’t know if that was the original plan, because it doesn’t match with the first set of questions from the NEA. Many schools are not showing it to all school children. The next speech should be at 6:30 p.m., then children can watch it with their parents or not.
2. Van Jones was resigned. Interesting the pundits are saying that it was do conservative talk radio and Glenn Beck making up stories about Van Jones. The problem with this is, it was all backed up by video. The guy in the video sure looks like Van Jones. Maybe they got an actor to do it.
3. Obama is making some changes to the health care proposal. I don’t think any health care bill should pass unless it includes tort reform and market based solutions. Our health care is great, it is just that the prices are too high and some people can’t get insurance. Fix the pricing by allowing people to shop for health insurance, just as they would car or life insurance and let shop for health insurance across state lines.
4. Finally the big media is saying “beware of internet rumors”. They should have been following that when they talking about about Sarah Palin.
The video below is full of hypocrisy.
NBC\'s Meet The Press Attack The Internet & Bloggers
I picked up the following line on twitter: “The “Change” needed will not come through the goverment! It will come through prayer. It starts with us. God is still in control!”
Again, Our Country Needs Prayer and Action
I just finished writing a letter to our school board and the High School principle regarding the prospective simulcast of the President to school children across this nation. I don’t like doing this. I don’t like to stir up trouble.
It is odd that it has come up at this time. I guess this is first day at all students will be in school. It has also come at time when people are planning to march on Washington to protest the many issues of the Obama administration and Congress. It is also coming at time when we are hearing through the news and talk radio who Obama’s real friends are and who he is associating with. He did ask us during the debates to look at with whom President Obama is association. The more we look the more we see shades of history coming to life.
We are seeing that his associate are openly Communist (as in Van Jones) and view human life as unimportant. More and more we see movement to stifle free speech.I know it is extreme to use the “c” word. Van Jones is saying extreme things.
The group “Color of Change” tried to stop Glenn Beck, and could have except for the way Glenn’s listeners fought back through peacefully exercising there economic power and freedom to write letters.
http://www.defendglenn.com/van-jones-is-a-911-truther.html
My teen age son is seeing through things. It disturbs him. This is what he posted on facebook:
“I want answers. Our government lies to us and to many people remain oblivious to whats going on. I am not racist. Ask anyone who knows me. This country is not racist but our government is forming a pseudo-crisis. So they can look like heroes. You can… say it’s not true but it’s socialism. Stand up for your country! Pray for your Country!”
Rewards for Doing Good
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
In the last few years, it seemed to be the popular thing for Christians just to give up and stay out of politics. It seems to be “dirty” work. So many times I hear, especially from young people, all politicians are evil. Jesus is coming soon, so why not concentrate on that instead of this politics stuff. There is a sense that we are too small and ineffective against the big machines of government. How can we talk about the power of Jesus to come back and yet at the same time deny the power of Jesus to make a difference on the earth right now?
The main work of Christians is to be making disciples, that involves teaching Christians how to live in the world around us. But we are also be engaged in this word, “doing good”.
Things have gotten so bad lately, and Jesus hasn’t come yet, so Christians are starting to engage politically again. It isn’t just Christians, but many of the people I talked to that are active in standing up for change are Christians. One man interviewed by Sean Hannity for his encounter with Senator Specter was far more clear about his faith than he was about what he said when spoke up in front of Senator Specter. We are making a difference. Even in engaging with the world in politics we can be shining the light of Jesus as we stand up for those who do not have a voice….the poor, the disabled, and the elderly. Those standing up against the government are standing up for these people, because they are the people who will be hurt most by the Health Care Reform Bills that are currently on the table for discussion.
Today the office of the President made three changes that been made as a result of good people standing up for righteousness. The e-mail address flag@whitehouse.org that was set up to report on web sites or e-mail that disagreed with the government plans for health care. Second, the Whitehouse has changed the manner in which it collects e-mail addresses for mass mailing. Finally, the President is starting to take the “public option for insurance” off the table.
We can make a difference, and we can make a change. The change I want to see is a return to following the U.S. Constitution which protects the rights of citizens against government.
Twenty Seven Years
Last night, my husband and I celebrated 27 of marriage. It has gone by so fast. It seems like yesterday that we were walking in the woods the University of Guelph talking about our future. When we moved into our first apartment we had nothing, just few stick of furniture, kitchen things (mostly wedding gifts), tool, and lots of books.
As we look back, time has passed so quickly. Yet, when I look back, I know there were hard times. Bruce and I have very different personalities. We both are take life seriously, but I can usually find something to laugh at in every situation. Bruce is a perfectionist; detail oriented, and does not enjoy new situations with many people. On the other hand, I enjoy being around people, and enjoy the challenge of meeting new people. It is a good thing, because I often go with Bruce to work events where I do not know anyone. If you read these posts much, you will realize that I am not a perfectionist…but I do get things done and that I don’t see details. Things can be kind of difficult at times.
We had some rough patches when our children were very small. We had a period when each of us was learning to set aside our own personal dreams for the sake of the family. In some ways, that was easier for me. We were also going through a lot of changes with several moves and new babies. There were a lot of financial uncertainties at that time, which made things even worse. We got through, and God blessed us. We just kept on going, doing the next thing.
Over the last 27 years God has blessed our family. We have four wonderful children who are adults or almost adults. I am not sure where God is taking them. We are now moving to the next step in family life with great anticipation as we await the birth of our first grandchild.
It has been a good 27 years. Not a lot of excitement, but we have seen God’s faithfulness to us, and we give Him the glory.
Thought on Sarah Palin’s Resignation
My adult daughter called my husband in great distress on Friday afternoon. “Did you hear that Sarah Palin resigned?” she asked.
Sarah Palin is a politician that evokes a strong response. I don’t know anyone who has neutral view on her. People either love or hate. There is nothing in the middle.
Even if you don’t like her, there is no excuse for the way people have treated her. Even some Republicans have treated poorly saying mean things about her that would never be said about man in a similar position. I wonder where are the woman’s groups. When will it be off limits to criticize women for looks and make fun of their children?
I have been supporter of Sarah Palin. For me, she is the only politician that resinates with real people. She says what it is on her heart, and it is often similar to what is one mine. Maybe because I understand the passion of a woman for her children and how hopes and dreams for a good life for them can push a hockey mom into the spotlight. I also understand the emotion of a mother wanting to protect her children from the slings and arrows of media and opposing politicians.
Although I was dismayed to see that Sarah Palin resigned, I am not disheartened. My hope is not in Sarah Palin. My hope is God. She told the ABC coorespondent: “I said before…’You know, politically speaking, if I die, I die. So be it’”. She is doing what she can see as the best for Alaska and her family and is not worried about the political cost. Too many politicians rule their world by political expediency. What this has done to her political career of the long run is uncertain, but she isn’t worried about. She is trusting God and living one day at time. She is living an example of doing the right thing and putting the future into the hands of God.
