My daughter, Angie, is home for the summer. It brings such joy to my heart to hold her in my arms and see her beautiful face. Thank you LORD for bringing her home safely and sustaining her through her first year at Mt. Zion...your faithfulness, O LORD, is from everlasting to everlasting.
Check out a couple of pictures from her arrival - click here.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
David's Response to His Enemies
After Absalom begins his take over of his father’s kingdom – David would have said it was God’s kingdom – David and his people flee.
2 Samuel 15:23…toward the way of the WILDERNESS.
Can you imagine David’s heart on this journey? It wasn’t a journey he chose nor one that he was glad to embark on. It was a situation totally beyond his control. And to top it off, his pilgrimage is not a smooth one – on this “way of the wilderness” David encounters lots of issues.
Remember David’s response to Saul? Well here in 2 Samuel 16:5-14 we are given another glimpse at David’s response to another one of his enemies.
v. 5 - …came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shemei…he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
v. 6 – And he cast stones at David…
v. 7 – And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
v. 8 – The LORD hath returned…the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son:…thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
Shimei was sort of saying, “Everything that is happening to you, David, is your fault. God is judging you”. If this were me, I’d be a basket case by this point. Just let me crawl under a rock and never come out.
v. 9 – (read the response of those with David? Yeah, this would probably be me. “Off with his head!”)
David’s response:
vv. 10-12 – And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will require me good for his cursing this day.
v. 13 – And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hillside over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
How is that for additional turmoil on this already difficult journey – someone right along with you cursing you and throwing stones and dust at you?
v. 14 – And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
Then later in 2 Samuel 18:5 we read, …Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom…(This was David’s concern for his son, Absalom, regardless of all that Absalom had brought him through).
Then when David finds out about Absalom’s death we read in 2 Samuel 18:33, David response, And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Breaks your heart, doesn’t it? David’s treatment of his enemies gives us much to ponder and meditate, and also brings us to a place of searching our hearts to say, “Change my heart, O God, make it ever new. Change my heart, O God, may I be like YOU.”
2 Samuel 15:23…toward the way of the WILDERNESS.
Can you imagine David’s heart on this journey? It wasn’t a journey he chose nor one that he was glad to embark on. It was a situation totally beyond his control. And to top it off, his pilgrimage is not a smooth one – on this “way of the wilderness” David encounters lots of issues.
Remember David’s response to Saul? Well here in 2 Samuel 16:5-14 we are given another glimpse at David’s response to another one of his enemies.
v. 5 - …came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shemei…he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
v. 6 – And he cast stones at David…
v. 7 – And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
v. 8 – The LORD hath returned…the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son:…thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
Shimei was sort of saying, “Everything that is happening to you, David, is your fault. God is judging you”. If this were me, I’d be a basket case by this point. Just let me crawl under a rock and never come out.
v. 9 – (read the response of those with David? Yeah, this would probably be me. “Off with his head!”)
David’s response:
vv. 10-12 – And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will require me good for his cursing this day.
v. 13 – And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hillside over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
How is that for additional turmoil on this already difficult journey – someone right along with you cursing you and throwing stones and dust at you?
v. 14 – And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
Then later in 2 Samuel 18:5 we read, …Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom…(This was David’s concern for his son, Absalom, regardless of all that Absalom had brought him through).
Then when David finds out about Absalom’s death we read in 2 Samuel 18:33, David response, And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Breaks your heart, doesn’t it? David’s treatment of his enemies gives us much to ponder and meditate, and also brings us to a place of searching our hearts to say, “Change my heart, O God, make it ever new. Change my heart, O God, may I be like YOU.”
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Chaffey High School Alumni Game
Jaime batting
Jaime catching
My handsome son;)
Today, just for a moment I was transported back in time.Just for a moment I sat and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at the ballpark.
Just for a moment life felt normal;
Just for a moment I could sit in the sun watching my son play baseball.
Thank you LORD for those "moments".
Love Your Enemies
In our Women’s Bible Study we have been going through Elizabeth George’s book, A Women After God’s Own Heart. We have been extremely challenged, to say the least. Hence, God is teaching me about being a woman after His heart, as David was.
In my morning reading I’m going through the Old Testament. At this point I am reading through 2 Samuel, today I read about Saul’s death.
As of late God has been showing me some things about Saul and David’s relationship, and of course teaching me some things (He is always refining me and there is still quite a bit of dross that He is wanting to melt away).
God grabbed my attention when I read David’s response to his enemy’s (Saul) death – 2 Samuel 1:11-12, 17 – Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them;…And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul,…And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul…
Wow! No wonder God had sought himself “a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) and this man was David. Given Saul and David’s history, I would think that David’s response would have been one of relief; one of saying, “Good, I don’t have to be on the run anymore. I don’t have to be hiding or looking over my shoulder. This ‘difficult person’ is gone!” Then a big sigh of relief…NOT!!! David’s response was far from that, in fact, it was totally the opposite.
And, once again, given the past stories that we’ve read about David and Saul, could we have expected any other response from David? David had many opportunities to defeat and destroy Saul, yet David always chose the higher road.
Ya think this Scripture applies here?
Matthew 5:44 - But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
In fact we don’t ever hear of David sitting with his buddies and telling them all his woes and how awful Saul was to him in spite of David being there for Saul.
Proverbs 10:19 – In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
1 Peter 4:8 – And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Lots to learn…lots to meditate on.
God is absolutely not done with me yet. Thank God for His long-suffering.
In my morning reading I’m going through the Old Testament. At this point I am reading through 2 Samuel, today I read about Saul’s death.
As of late God has been showing me some things about Saul and David’s relationship, and of course teaching me some things (He is always refining me and there is still quite a bit of dross that He is wanting to melt away).
God grabbed my attention when I read David’s response to his enemy’s (Saul) death – 2 Samuel 1:11-12, 17 – Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them;…And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul,…And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul…
Wow! No wonder God had sought himself “a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14) and this man was David. Given Saul and David’s history, I would think that David’s response would have been one of relief; one of saying, “Good, I don’t have to be on the run anymore. I don’t have to be hiding or looking over my shoulder. This ‘difficult person’ is gone!” Then a big sigh of relief…NOT!!! David’s response was far from that, in fact, it was totally the opposite.
And, once again, given the past stories that we’ve read about David and Saul, could we have expected any other response from David? David had many opportunities to defeat and destroy Saul, yet David always chose the higher road.
Ya think this Scripture applies here?
Matthew 5:44 - But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
In fact we don’t ever hear of David sitting with his buddies and telling them all his woes and how awful Saul was to him in spite of David being there for Saul.
Proverbs 10:19 – In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
1 Peter 4:8 – And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Lots to learn…lots to meditate on.
God is absolutely not done with me yet. Thank God for His long-suffering.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Beautiful Flowers
I wanted to show off my front yard flowers...I absolutely love the "COLOR"!
I had been wanted to plant these for a while. My hubby planted them last year and this year we are enjoying the incredible color as we walk into our house, as I sit in my living room watching them out the window...I absolutely love them! Isn't God's creation beautiful?!
I had been wanted to plant these for a while. My hubby planted them last year and this year we are enjoying the incredible color as we walk into our house, as I sit in my living room watching them out the window...I absolutely love them! Isn't God's creation beautiful?!Catching Up
A few weeks ago I decided to finally look into some new ailments that had been assailing my body (I guess I didn’t have enough excitement going on that I decided to go look for some on my own). I had a tooth that had been bothering me for some months now, which now was causing severe pain and discomfort. Then I had a situation going on with the back of my throat, not a new thing, but now it had become really bad to the point that the back of my throat was bleeding and extremely uncomfortable and painful.
Got into the Dentist…you need a root canal which will cost (a lot of money) even with insurance. Got in to see my regular Doctor who gave me antibiotics and referred me to an ENT specialist.
A few weeks ago I had my initial work done on my tooth. Not fun!!! It was very painful and uncomfortable. In fact, I had a really bad reaction to the point that I actually had a “panic/anxiety attack” – this has never happened to me. I had to be on pain killers for “ever” after this work was done.
This week:
Monday – ENT visit. An interesting visit to say the least – won’t bore you with the details. However, let me entertain you with this - I was sitting in the examining room minding my own business, trying to explain to an “overworked, hurry up I only have five minutes with you” kind of doctor what my problems where when he said, “Okay, I will look down your throat.” I’m like, “okay” As he is making his way to me with this thing in his hand, I open my mouth and he says, “O, you don’t need to open your mouth. This will go through your nose.” (PAUSE FOR EFFECT – yes, if your eyes are open and your mouth ajar, this is kinda-sorta my reaction). Before I knew it a foreign object was making its way through my nose – pain, discomfort, tears rolling – while two helpers looked on as the doctor breezed through the procedure without blinking an eye – after all, he has had this done twice, well that makes me feel better! After this extremely invasive procedure I was literally escorted (and that is putting it extremely politely) out of the room and told I will get a follow up appointment. I guess the doctor was running late and hadn’t met his patient quota for the day (just my observation).
Tuesday – Dentist visit. Continued work on my tooth. Once I began to sit in the chair and see all the instruments, then I saw the syringe and I felt myself getting anxious again. The work took forever and my mouth and jaw were in absolute pain…more pain medication.
Wednesday – Chiropractor visit. This was a nice visit, aside from the fact that because I’ve been Spring Cleaning I threw my back and other parts of my body out. But it was a nice visit:)
Thursday – I wanted to continue my Spring Cleaning so my goal was to tackle one of the rooms today and work all day, since I didn’t have any appointments and my body had been put back together. However, at around 10:00 a.m. I get a call saying that I need to go get a CT Scan of my neck to make sure that I have no masses. What?! (jaw and eyes wide open again!)
So, after fasting for four hours I head on to the Scan place. The nurse couldn’t find my veins…she finally got one on my hand which was extremely painful. Then we went through this procedure with dye shot into my veins. At one point I began to feel really “HOT” and began to breathe really fast – is this another panic/anxiety attack coming on??? Okay, so is this going to be a regular now?
And while I’m at it, is it just me or has office etiquette gone out the window? I have been amazed at the kind of conversations that medical office employees (and any other professional employee) carry on amongst themselves while there are patients around. Do they realize how unprofessional and uncomfortable this is for the patient? Do they realize that this gives their office an awful reputation? Does their boss know that they carry own these kind of conversations in the front office? Just wondering…
And a note on Spring Cleaning…I am so excited that I have been able to accomplish so much thus far. I haven’t been able to do any of this for a while and so for me to have done what I’ve done, it’s exciting. However, the down side is that today I already see DUST!!! Once work never ends – sigh!
Got into the Dentist…you need a root canal which will cost (a lot of money) even with insurance. Got in to see my regular Doctor who gave me antibiotics and referred me to an ENT specialist.
A few weeks ago I had my initial work done on my tooth. Not fun!!! It was very painful and uncomfortable. In fact, I had a really bad reaction to the point that I actually had a “panic/anxiety attack” – this has never happened to me. I had to be on pain killers for “ever” after this work was done.
This week:
Monday – ENT visit. An interesting visit to say the least – won’t bore you with the details. However, let me entertain you with this - I was sitting in the examining room minding my own business, trying to explain to an “overworked, hurry up I only have five minutes with you” kind of doctor what my problems where when he said, “Okay, I will look down your throat.” I’m like, “okay” As he is making his way to me with this thing in his hand, I open my mouth and he says, “O, you don’t need to open your mouth. This will go through your nose.” (PAUSE FOR EFFECT – yes, if your eyes are open and your mouth ajar, this is kinda-sorta my reaction). Before I knew it a foreign object was making its way through my nose – pain, discomfort, tears rolling – while two helpers looked on as the doctor breezed through the procedure without blinking an eye – after all, he has had this done twice, well that makes me feel better! After this extremely invasive procedure I was literally escorted (and that is putting it extremely politely) out of the room and told I will get a follow up appointment. I guess the doctor was running late and hadn’t met his patient quota for the day (just my observation).
Tuesday – Dentist visit. Continued work on my tooth. Once I began to sit in the chair and see all the instruments, then I saw the syringe and I felt myself getting anxious again. The work took forever and my mouth and jaw were in absolute pain…more pain medication.
Wednesday – Chiropractor visit. This was a nice visit, aside from the fact that because I’ve been Spring Cleaning I threw my back and other parts of my body out. But it was a nice visit:)
Thursday – I wanted to continue my Spring Cleaning so my goal was to tackle one of the rooms today and work all day, since I didn’t have any appointments and my body had been put back together. However, at around 10:00 a.m. I get a call saying that I need to go get a CT Scan of my neck to make sure that I have no masses. What?! (jaw and eyes wide open again!)
So, after fasting for four hours I head on to the Scan place. The nurse couldn’t find my veins…she finally got one on my hand which was extremely painful. Then we went through this procedure with dye shot into my veins. At one point I began to feel really “HOT” and began to breathe really fast – is this another panic/anxiety attack coming on??? Okay, so is this going to be a regular now?
And while I’m at it, is it just me or has office etiquette gone out the window? I have been amazed at the kind of conversations that medical office employees (and any other professional employee) carry on amongst themselves while there are patients around. Do they realize how unprofessional and uncomfortable this is for the patient? Do they realize that this gives their office an awful reputation? Does their boss know that they carry own these kind of conversations in the front office? Just wondering…
And a note on Spring Cleaning…I am so excited that I have been able to accomplish so much thus far. I haven’t been able to do any of this for a while and so for me to have done what I’ve done, it’s exciting. However, the down side is that today I already see DUST!!! Once work never ends – sigh!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Pleasant Surprise
Today I had an incredible surprise...my friend, Amy (far right) came over to visit.This group of women were and have been such a blessing in my life. When I started to homeschool, these women and I would get together to pray for our children and for us as we ventured into the incredible ministry of homeschooling. We would also get together for fun times. This picture was taken at a Tea given by Hamilda (far left). She put on a feast for us. She had "minks" and hat for each one of us. We had such a wonderful time! This was only one of many times that we enjoyed each others company. Well, as life would have it we have all entered different seasons of our lives, however, each one of them has a very special part in my heart. Some years ago, Amy moved to Colorado. This weekend she was visiting her girls in California and she made time to come and sit with me for a while. It truly was a pleasant surprise and an incredible visit. Thank you Amy for making time to come by. Maybe one day I will visit you in Colorado;)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Tale of Three Trees
(This story was e-mailed to me by a friend. It so touched my heart, I wanted to share it. So often we forget "our dreams" in the midst of challenges, of changes, yet God's plan for our lives continues despite those seeming "mistakes" or "detours". I am also reminded that God's ways are not my ways, nor are His thoughts my thoughts. God will complete the good work He began in us...to the glory of God. Amen!)
The Tale of three Trees
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!" The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."
Years passed and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river. Instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."
Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him," her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful," she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.
That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.
The Tale of three Trees
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!" The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."
Years passed and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river. Instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."
Many, many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him," her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful," she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.
That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.
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