So I just read this book, "Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference," by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza.
I pretty much LOVED IT. It was such a fun, easy book. Anyways, I totally recommend it, and here is a little excerpt from the book:
It's fulfilling to be both valuable to someone and valued.
When you gravitate toward what brings you happiness, happiness gravitates toward you.
It is more rewarding to life someone up than to let someone down.
You can give away, yet still feel filled up.
Working for free can be more significant than working for money.
To consume less doesn't mean that we live without.
Satisfying someone else's needs can be a great source of self-satisfaction.
When we befriend our neighbor, we benefit the world.
Making the world a better place is a labor of love.
Yesssss. Now if that doesn't make you want to go out and change the world, I just don't.know.what.does.
Mark and I moved to Naples, Italy on April 22, 2012. We will be there for three years and will be documenting all aspects of our crazy new life overseas. Enjoy! Ciao! -The Bakers
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Quote
"Look at life like a roller coaster. Enjoy the ride. But realize, all of our rides end the same way."
This was a quote from one the meetings I went to recently. I liked it so much, I wrote it down! I’m not sure who said it, but I would definitely give them a big fat kiss if I found out! :D
This was a quote from one the meetings I went to recently. I liked it so much, I wrote it down! I’m not sure who said it, but I would definitely give them a big fat kiss if I found out! :D
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The Love Note
Another devotion from Christianity.Com
March 18, 2009
A Divine Love Note
Karen Ehman
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/tdckccjjdh_ohgvfgpggcf.html
"He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?' and he said to him, 'Lord, you know everything;
you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.'"
John 21:17 (ESV)
Devotion:
Long before the current craze of texting messages back and forth on cell phones, in my junior high we had our own way of communicating with peers: it was called passing notes. When the teacher wasn't looking, we shot a simple, folded piece of lined notebook paper to our friend sitting a few rows back. We crossed our fingers and hoped the teacher's second set of eyes--the ones in the back of her head--were focused elsewhere. Otherwise, our note just might get read to the entire class!
While notes from our girlfriends were fun, what really got our excitement up was when the folded and scribbled message was from a boy. Usually it read something like this:
Do you like me? Check one: Yes ___ No ___ Just as a friend ___
Of course we would think long and hard before taking our pencil and marking our answer. Then it was passing time again; back to the boy who had posed the all-important question. It seems to me in today's scripture Jesus was sending a divine love note to Peter, quizzing him about the strength of his love for Him.
We pick up the story a few verses earlier when after breakfast, Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" Peter seems a bit surprised and says, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus then tells him to feed His lambs. No sooner had he finished talking than He asks Peter the same question again. Then, a third time. Each time it appears as if dear Peter answers the same way.
In a nutshell, "Ah...yeah Lord. You know everything. You know I love you. Haven't I made that clear? Why the twenty questions?"
This passage of scripture used to puzzle me, until one day I discovered, with the help of my husband's old Greek textbook from college, that Peter and Jesus were using two different Greek words for love in this famous exchange.
The word rendered 'love' in our English Bibles here is really two distinct words. One is "phileo" and one is "agape." Phileo is defined as brotherly and tender affection; true friendship. It is based on common interests. Agape, on the other hand, is sacrificial and giving love; a love that can't stand being apart from the other. It isn't based on having a common interest with someone. It loves the other not for what they do, but for who they are. It is the laying down your life for another kind of love.
It is helpful to know that the first two times Jesus posed the question to Peter, He asked him "Do you agape me?" Peter answered, "Of course I phileo you!" It was as if Jesus was asking, "...so you really, sacrificially love me, based on Who I am? And you'd gladly lay down your life for me?" And instead, Peter was checking the box that said "Just as a friend!"
The third time Jesus posed the question, He asked Peter, "Do you phileo me?" And Peter truthfully answered "yes." Now, before we are too hard on ole' Simon Peter, we must assume that He indeed did grow to love our Lord in the agape sense of the word. History tells us that Peter met his death by crucifixion. However, he did not feel worthy to be crucified in the same manner as the Lord, so he was crucified upside down!
What about us today, in 2009? If Jesus passed us a divine love note asking if we love (agape) Him, which box would we check? Undoubtedly, many people today would scoff and check the "No" box. There are millions who care nothing of Christ and His love. Others would check "Yes." They are fervent Christ followers who love until the end. I am reminded of many modern day martyrs who have willingly given up their life for Christ.
I fear that many of us would check the "Just as a friend" box. We love, but just to a point. We aren't afraid to hang around Jesus, we just don't want to be asked to share in His sufferings! Oh may God turn our temporal phileo fascination with Jesus into an all-out, agape, laying-down-our-life, love for the Lord.
Pencils sharpened? He is asking us this question today!
Dear Lord, I don't want to be just Your casual friend. I want to love You sacrificially and passionately. Help me learn how. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
March 18, 2009
A Divine Love Note
Karen Ehman
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/tdckccjjdh_ohgvfgpggcf.html
"He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?' and he said to him, 'Lord, you know everything;
you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.'"
John 21:17 (ESV)
Devotion:
Long before the current craze of texting messages back and forth on cell phones, in my junior high we had our own way of communicating with peers: it was called passing notes. When the teacher wasn't looking, we shot a simple, folded piece of lined notebook paper to our friend sitting a few rows back. We crossed our fingers and hoped the teacher's second set of eyes--the ones in the back of her head--were focused elsewhere. Otherwise, our note just might get read to the entire class!
While notes from our girlfriends were fun, what really got our excitement up was when the folded and scribbled message was from a boy. Usually it read something like this:
Do you like me? Check one: Yes ___ No ___ Just as a friend ___
Of course we would think long and hard before taking our pencil and marking our answer. Then it was passing time again; back to the boy who had posed the all-important question. It seems to me in today's scripture Jesus was sending a divine love note to Peter, quizzing him about the strength of his love for Him.
We pick up the story a few verses earlier when after breakfast, Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" Peter seems a bit surprised and says, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus then tells him to feed His lambs. No sooner had he finished talking than He asks Peter the same question again. Then, a third time. Each time it appears as if dear Peter answers the same way.
In a nutshell, "Ah...yeah Lord. You know everything. You know I love you. Haven't I made that clear? Why the twenty questions?"
This passage of scripture used to puzzle me, until one day I discovered, with the help of my husband's old Greek textbook from college, that Peter and Jesus were using two different Greek words for love in this famous exchange.
The word rendered 'love' in our English Bibles here is really two distinct words. One is "phileo" and one is "agape." Phileo is defined as brotherly and tender affection; true friendship. It is based on common interests. Agape, on the other hand, is sacrificial and giving love; a love that can't stand being apart from the other. It isn't based on having a common interest with someone. It loves the other not for what they do, but for who they are. It is the laying down your life for another kind of love.
It is helpful to know that the first two times Jesus posed the question to Peter, He asked him "Do you agape me?" Peter answered, "Of course I phileo you!" It was as if Jesus was asking, "...so you really, sacrificially love me, based on Who I am? And you'd gladly lay down your life for me?" And instead, Peter was checking the box that said "Just as a friend!"
The third time Jesus posed the question, He asked Peter, "Do you phileo me?" And Peter truthfully answered "yes." Now, before we are too hard on ole' Simon Peter, we must assume that He indeed did grow to love our Lord in the agape sense of the word. History tells us that Peter met his death by crucifixion. However, he did not feel worthy to be crucified in the same manner as the Lord, so he was crucified upside down!
What about us today, in 2009? If Jesus passed us a divine love note asking if we love (agape) Him, which box would we check? Undoubtedly, many people today would scoff and check the "No" box. There are millions who care nothing of Christ and His love. Others would check "Yes." They are fervent Christ followers who love until the end. I am reminded of many modern day martyrs who have willingly given up their life for Christ.
I fear that many of us would check the "Just as a friend" box. We love, but just to a point. We aren't afraid to hang around Jesus, we just don't want to be asked to share in His sufferings! Oh may God turn our temporal phileo fascination with Jesus into an all-out, agape, laying-down-our-life, love for the Lord.
Pencils sharpened? He is asking us this question today!
Dear Lord, I don't want to be just Your casual friend. I want to love You sacrificially and passionately. Help me learn how. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Anchorman
So have you seen the movie, Anchorman, with Will Ferrell? It is this crazy stupid comedy about a news team from like the 70's and the fiascos they go through when a woman joins the all-male team. It is really funny and I'm pretty sure I could quote about 85% of the movie right now. I probably quote at least 14% of it on a NORMAL basis.
Anyways, when I was in the Czech Republic, it was a HOT COMMODITY to see a movie in English. Especially a recent one. Someone's friend came from the US to visit and brought some DVD's for us to watch.
So one night, Rach and I had some others over to our room to watch Anchorman. We all crowded around my laptop and popped open our Zlates and Pilsners. In attendance (that I remember right now) were three Americans (Rach, me, and Darren) one guy from Lebanon (Wadih) and one French guy (Jean Louis).
[Darren and I]
Then the movie started.
The fact that we had to turn on French Subtitles should have clued the Americans in for what was about to happen. But in our drunken stupor of excitement (and for some of us, some of that drunken stupor was in fact alcohol-influenced) <-- I digress------we were too excited to think about the way this idiocy we called a 'classic comedy' was about to translate to our two friends.
The opening scene is the opener to the newscast. And Jean Louis said, "How old is this movie?"
My only response, "Aw, snap. You are not.going.to.think.this.is.funny."
We tried anyway. I'm pretty sure Jean Louis left halfway through the show.
ENGLISH: "Baxter! You ate a whole wheel of cheese and pooped in the refridgerator? I'm not even mad! I'm impressed!"
FRENCH: "Baxter ! Vous avez mangé une roue entière de fromage et pooped dans le refridgerator ? Je ne suis pas même fou ! Je suis impressionné !"
ENGLISH: "San Diego. Scholars have debated it for centuries, but I'm positive it means a whale's vagina."
FRENCH: "San Diego. Les érudits l'ont débattu pour les siècles, mais je suis positif qu'il signifie un vagin de la baleine."
ENGLISH: "I'm in a glass case of emotion!"
FRENCH: "Je suis dans un cas de verre d'émotion !"
See where I'm going with this? I mean. It was just not funny to poor Jean Louis. I don't care what Jean Louis says. He might have great taste in clothes, cheese, and wine, but NOT IN MOVIES. :D
[Jean Louis, Balasz, and I]
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
From www.godsminute.com
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
(Luke 11:9-10 *NIV)
Those are the words of our Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus also said; If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
(John 15:7)
Now these verses do not mean that everything we may ask for will be given to us, but do mean that if it is God's Will for us it will happen! After all we may ask for something that would hurt us in the end, for we have no way of knowing the future.
So when you pray do not be afraid to ask God for something that you desire, knowing that He who knows all is looking out for you. For God has said; then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
(Jeremiah 29:12-13)
Also do not think that God has abandoned you if a prayer isn't answered the way you would like. After all, in time you may look back on that prayer request and say, "Thank goodness, God Didn't Answer That One!"
Therefore, never lose hope when you pray for it is written; the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
(James 5:16)
So; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
(1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)
(Luke 11:9-10 *NIV)
Those are the words of our Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus also said; If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
(John 15:7)
Now these verses do not mean that everything we may ask for will be given to us, but do mean that if it is God's Will for us it will happen! After all we may ask for something that would hurt us in the end, for we have no way of knowing the future.
So when you pray do not be afraid to ask God for something that you desire, knowing that He who knows all is looking out for you. For God has said; then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
(Jeremiah 29:12-13)
Also do not think that God has abandoned you if a prayer isn't answered the way you would like. After all, in time you may look back on that prayer request and say, "Thank goodness, God Didn't Answer That One!"
Therefore, never lose hope when you pray for it is written; the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
(James 5:16)
So; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
(1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)
Obama
Did anyone catch last night's Presidential press conference? What did you think about it? I missed it last night, but read the transcript today. My favorite part? When a reporter INSISTED that President Obama tell why it took him so long (over a week) to hold a press conference on the AIG situation. He fired back, "Because I like to know what I'm talking about before holding a press conference." <--Or something like that. yesssssssss. Well done, President Obama. Let me know if you are looking for opinionated interns... :)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I had a meeting the other day that I felt compelled to share information from:
"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."
-John Wooden
Conscious decision-making leads to unconscious habits.
Graham Nash, "Teach Your Children Well"
You who are on the roadMust have a code that you can live byAnd so become yourselfBecause the past is just a good bye.
Teach your children well,Their father's hell did slowly go by,And feed them on your dreamsThe one they picked, the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
And you, of tender years,Can't know the fears that your elders grew by,And so please help them with your youth,They seek the truth before they can die.
Counter Melody To Above Verse:Can you hear and do you care and Cant you see we must be free toTeach your children what you believe in.Make a world that we can live in.
Teach your parents well,Their children's hell will slowly go by,And feed them on your dreamsThe one they picked, the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."
-John Wooden
Conscious decision-making leads to unconscious habits.
Graham Nash, "Teach Your Children Well"
You who are on the roadMust have a code that you can live byAnd so become yourselfBecause the past is just a good bye.
Teach your children well,Their father's hell did slowly go by,And feed them on your dreamsThe one they picked, the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
And you, of tender years,Can't know the fears that your elders grew by,And so please help them with your youth,They seek the truth before they can die.
Counter Melody To Above Verse:Can you hear and do you care and Cant you see we must be free toTeach your children what you believe in.Make a world that we can live in.
Teach your parents well,Their children's hell will slowly go by,And feed them on your dreamsThe one they picked, the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
You know you are living in 2009 when.....
I got this email the other day.... had to share.. :D
1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
1. You accidentally enter your PIN on the microwave.
2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.
3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.
4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.
5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.
6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.
7. Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen
8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't even have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.
10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.
11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )
Bridget's Bachelorette Bash
Ready to RAGE for the evening
I took this picture to prove how little our group was wearing....and what normal people were wearing...... czech out the winter jacket.... lol
ready to p.a.r.t.y.
Pretty girls!
Rockers
Shots for our girl!
Bucket Lovin
Cherry Lovin
I heart us
I heart us
She looked like straight up Olivia Newton John.... I've got chills... They're multiplyin...
I <3>
Thirty pounds lighter and ready to f.l.a.u.n.t. it. :)
i love Keri! lol
The girls
Dancing to Billie Jean
Posted up
I <3>
Thirty pounds lighter and ready to f.l.a.u.n.t. it. :)
i love Keri! lol
The girls
Dancing to Billie Jean
Posted up
More shots
I love my girls!
standard pic
Bridget and the other Bachelorettes had to get on stage to have a dance off.
Best dancer won a bucket of beer. Bridget has been dancing since before she could walk. She LOST! One of the other girls had half the bar there with her.... grrrrr....
Happy anyways
It might have had something to do with the three buckets of margarita and hurricane we had... lol
rocking the same purple nail polish
Yeah. Another bucket
Happy St. Pattys Day Bachelorette Shot!
This picture pretty much sums up why I love Bridget
This cat kept telling Bridget she should have won the dance contest. Like twenty times. He never bought us drinks. I think I wouldn't have ruined this picture had he at least bought her some booze. Aw. I think he really wanted this to turn out. Maybe I'll send him a copy.
The scenerio pics started to kick in towards the end of the night....
Too bad I don't remember any of the scenerios
Except (maybe) this one: Girls! Act like you have drank three buckets of liquer! ((Kate is an IU grad. She probably could have had three more buckets. To herself. And still looked like this. And driven us home.)) :-) JK 
We moved on to the club. The bouncer said we could get in free if we promised to dance on the stage. The girl messing with her hair and talking is with us. She is on the floor. I hang with rebels.
Have a Nice Day Cafe!
rocker
You know, this really could have been a good pic. Dag Gone It
These guys came over to our table and just COULDN'T BELIEVE we hadn't drank our two buckets of booze. I proceeded to tell them that we had already had three buckets at the last bar. And, "You know what? Why don't you two drink AS MUCH AS you can right now! I'll even take a picture and count down! Impress me, boys!"
It wasn't our table. Or our booze. The second guy actually also okayed it with Jenny before he started drinking. She told him it wasn't our booze. Then he asked me again. (Because I looked like the responsible one??) I assured him that it was all his. And that Jenny was just too drunk to realize the situation. Jenny was sober. :-)
Here's the dummies doing a celebratory "We just scored some free booze" dance
Here is Amanda laughing at the guy on the left's necklace.... why?
And this is the result of wearing heels for HOURS at the bars. Blue Smurf Feet the next day. Post-Shower. So0o0o0o worth it. :D
I love my girls!
standard pic
Bridget and the other Bachelorettes had to get on stage to have a dance off.
Best dancer won a bucket of beer. Bridget has been dancing since before she could walk. She LOST! One of the other girls had half the bar there with her.... grrrrr....
Happy anyways
It might have had something to do with the three buckets of margarita and hurricane we had... lol
rocking the same purple nail polish
Yeah. Another bucket
Happy St. Pattys Day Bachelorette Shot!
This picture pretty much sums up why I love Bridget
This cat kept telling Bridget she should have won the dance contest. Like twenty times. He never bought us drinks. I think I wouldn't have ruined this picture had he at least bought her some booze. Aw. I think he really wanted this to turn out. Maybe I'll send him a copy.
The scenerio pics started to kick in towards the end of the night....
Too bad I don't remember any of the scenerios
Except (maybe) this one: Girls! Act like you have drank three buckets of liquer! ((Kate is an IU grad. She probably could have had three more buckets. To herself. And still looked like this. And driven us home.)) :-) JK 
We moved on to the club. The bouncer said we could get in free if we promised to dance on the stage. The girl messing with her hair and talking is with us. She is on the floor. I hang with rebels.
Have a Nice Day Cafe!
rocker
You know, this really could have been a good pic. Dag Gone It
These guys came over to our table and just COULDN'T BELIEVE we hadn't drank our two buckets of booze. I proceeded to tell them that we had already had three buckets at the last bar. And, "You know what? Why don't you two drink AS MUCH AS you can right now! I'll even take a picture and count down! Impress me, boys!"
It wasn't our table. Or our booze. The second guy actually also okayed it with Jenny before he started drinking. She told him it wasn't our booze. Then he asked me again. (Because I looked like the responsible one??) I assured him that it was all his. And that Jenny was just too drunk to realize the situation. Jenny was sober. :-)
Here's the dummies doing a celebratory "We just scored some free booze" dance
Here is Amanda laughing at the guy on the left's necklace.... why?
And this is the result of wearing heels for HOURS at the bars. Blue Smurf Feet the next day. Post-Shower. So0o0o0o worth it. :DOverall an amazing weekend!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Stupid Check
So I got a check in the mail the other day for $8.25! Exciting stuff, right? Wrong. Before I ran to the bank to cash the check, I looked further into it. Wait. Let me re-phrase that. I NEVER look at these checks twice. I just shread them and toss them in the garbage. No thanks. I know, just KNOW, this HAS to be a scam. This check wasn’t any different than the others ones I’ve received. But I guess my mood when I opened the envelope was. I wanted to do some investigating……
The front of the check looked legit. Made out to me. For a whopping $8.25. What was the catch?
I turned the check over. Aha! Where the signature on the back was REQUIRED, it read:
"By cashing or depositing this check I agree to a thirty-day trial offer in ID Secure. I understand that the $129.99 annual membership fee will be automatically billed to my First National Bank of …. credit card account unless I cancel my membership by calling 1-800-…… before the end of the trial period. My membership will be automatically renewed and I will also be billed every year thereafter at the then-current fee* unless I call to cancel for a refund of the unused portion of the current year’s fee."
*Member will be notified of any fee increase prior to the increase going into effect.
BOOM SHAK A LAK A! For a MERE $130 buck.a.roos. I could have less than $10 today! Yesssss. OH! And that’s NOT TO MENTION the fact that the $130 will be AUTOMATICALLY charged to my credit card ANNUALLY until I cancel.
OH! AND the $130 could potentially become, oh, I don’t know… $1,000. But, the credit card company would be sure to send me a piece of paper with (small) font informing me of the change. Aw. How sweet. And honest.
NOT. Needless to say, the $8.25 is now a piece of garbage. But the bigger pieces of garbage are the ones who came up with this NASTY scheme. How do the credit card companies think it is okay to prey on people’s ignorance? Many people probably cashed that check. But it is certainly the credit card companies that are ‘cashing in’ on this ‘bargain.’
Signed,
Your Favorite (Cranky) Accountant
The front of the check looked legit. Made out to me. For a whopping $8.25. What was the catch?
I turned the check over. Aha! Where the signature on the back was REQUIRED, it read:
"By cashing or depositing this check I agree to a thirty-day trial offer in ID Secure. I understand that the $129.99 annual membership fee will be automatically billed to my First National Bank of …. credit card account unless I cancel my membership by calling 1-800-…… before the end of the trial period. My membership will be automatically renewed and I will also be billed every year thereafter at the then-current fee* unless I call to cancel for a refund of the unused portion of the current year’s fee."
*Member will be notified of any fee increase prior to the increase going into effect.
BOOM SHAK A LAK A! For a MERE $130 buck.a.roos. I could have less than $10 today! Yesssss. OH! And that’s NOT TO MENTION the fact that the $130 will be AUTOMATICALLY charged to my credit card ANNUALLY until I cancel.
OH! AND the $130 could potentially become, oh, I don’t know… $1,000. But, the credit card company would be sure to send me a piece of paper with (small) font informing me of the change. Aw. How sweet. And honest.
NOT. Needless to say, the $8.25 is now a piece of garbage. But the bigger pieces of garbage are the ones who came up with this NASTY scheme. How do the credit card companies think it is okay to prey on people’s ignorance? Many people probably cashed that check. But it is certainly the credit card companies that are ‘cashing in’ on this ‘bargain.’
Signed,
Your Favorite (Cranky) Accountant
Dreams
"The pleasure of leaving home, care-free, with no concern but to enjoy…"
Herman Melville
This sounds like a dream. Mark and I are looking into making it a reality. Wouldn’t it be just AMAZING to have no debt, no bills, and just travel? Ahhhh…
Have a savings account just for that money you need to travel. Because THAT is all you need. You owe NO ONE anything. We have a lot of debt right now (in our eyes). *About $86,000 with the house and student loans* we are hoping to pay cash for our MBA. We will see how that goes.
More than half our debt would DISAPPEAR if our house did!
If you know anyone interested in a 3 bedroom, one bath home, PLEASE let us know! :D
Herman Melville
This sounds like a dream. Mark and I are looking into making it a reality. Wouldn’t it be just AMAZING to have no debt, no bills, and just travel? Ahhhh…
Have a savings account just for that money you need to travel. Because THAT is all you need. You owe NO ONE anything. We have a lot of debt right now (in our eyes). *About $86,000 with the house and student loans* we are hoping to pay cash for our MBA. We will see how that goes.
More than half our debt would DISAPPEAR if our house did!
If you know anyone interested in a 3 bedroom, one bath home, PLEASE let us know! :D
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Guilt
Devotion:GUILT. Many Christians I've talked to equate this word with their prayer life, and I can relate.
I used to feel guilty because people would ask me to pray, or I wouldvolunteer to when I heard they were going through something difficult.With a heart of compassion, I'd reply, "Oh, I'll pray for you!" And Ifully intended to. But then I'd forget ... get busy ... say that to fiveother people in the meantime ... and often never get around to doing itdespite my good intentions. I'd put off praying in the moment, in favorof waiting until I had a big chunk of time to spend in prayer. Then lifewould happen and that chunk of time wouldn't materialize. By the time Icarved some out, I couldn't remember all I'd intended to pray about.
One of the perceptions I had about prayer was that I needed to spend alot of time in prayer in order to do it "right." I thought short prayerswouldn't have much power or impact. Then I noticed something thatshifted my thinking. In Matthew chapter six, Jesus is teaching aboutprayer. He says, "When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do whodon't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Don't be likethem. Your Father knows what you need before you ask" (Matthew 6:7-8,CEV). Wow, so I don't have to talk for hours, coming up with many waysto phrase my petitions? It was so freeing to see this coming from Jesus'lips.
That was followed by another ah-ha moment. In the next verse, Jesussaid: "You should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, help us to honoryour name. Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth willobey you, as you are obeyed in heaven. Give us our food for today.Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others. Keep us from beingtempted and protect us from evil " (Matthew 6:9-13, CEV). This is oftencalled "The Lord's Prayer."
Pause, look at the clock, and then say the Lord's Prayer aloud. Nowcheck the clock again. How long did that take? This was Jesus'illustration of how to pray - so what does that tell us about feeling weneed to pray l-o-n-g prayers to be effective? Hear me on this, I dobelieve there are needs that call for extended time in prayer (seeJesus' time in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:36-46 forinstance). But many things can be prayed for in short prayers as we movethrough out our day.
Now, when a friend sends me an email with a troubled story, I rarelyrespond by saying, "I will pray for you." Instead, I pause and pray forher before hitting reply to say, "I have prayed for you." If someonecalls me on the phone, or tells me in person about their prayer need,more often than not I'll offer to pray with them right then. If I encounter a reason to pray while reading the newspaper, or readingscripture, I do it in the moment. My aim is not to be lengthy andelaborate with these prayers, but rather to do it while my mind is on it.
If I feel the need to pray for someone repeatedly or over time, I follow through with my carefully considered plan because I've gotten moreintentional about this prayer thing. But deciding several years ago topray short, in the moment prayers was key for me. It is very doable wayof "praying continually" and it helped relieve a lot of feelings of failure, pressure and guilt. Most importantly, this ensures thatpeople's needs are in fact being prayed for - which is the ultimate goal, right?
I'm convinced the Enemy often keeps us from praying by getting us toprocrastinate until later, making us think we need more time or morewords to do this thing "right." As I read the Bible, I see instructionsto pray frequently, to pray with faith and persistence, and to pray overall our cares and concerns. But I do not see that we must talk for hoursover each request for God to hear them. I hope that does for you what itdid for me -- replaces feelings of guilt with a renewed passion to pray.
Dear Lord, help me to pray frequently and persistently with faith, inaccordance with Your will. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
I used to feel guilty because people would ask me to pray, or I wouldvolunteer to when I heard they were going through something difficult.With a heart of compassion, I'd reply, "Oh, I'll pray for you!" And Ifully intended to. But then I'd forget ... get busy ... say that to fiveother people in the meantime ... and often never get around to doing itdespite my good intentions. I'd put off praying in the moment, in favorof waiting until I had a big chunk of time to spend in prayer. Then lifewould happen and that chunk of time wouldn't materialize. By the time Icarved some out, I couldn't remember all I'd intended to pray about.
One of the perceptions I had about prayer was that I needed to spend alot of time in prayer in order to do it "right." I thought short prayerswouldn't have much power or impact. Then I noticed something thatshifted my thinking. In Matthew chapter six, Jesus is teaching aboutprayer. He says, "When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do whodon't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. Don't be likethem. Your Father knows what you need before you ask" (Matthew 6:7-8,CEV). Wow, so I don't have to talk for hours, coming up with many waysto phrase my petitions? It was so freeing to see this coming from Jesus'lips.
That was followed by another ah-ha moment. In the next verse, Jesussaid: "You should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, help us to honoryour name. Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth willobey you, as you are obeyed in heaven. Give us our food for today.Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others. Keep us from beingtempted and protect us from evil " (Matthew 6:9-13, CEV). This is oftencalled "The Lord's Prayer."
Pause, look at the clock, and then say the Lord's Prayer aloud. Nowcheck the clock again. How long did that take? This was Jesus'illustration of how to pray - so what does that tell us about feeling weneed to pray l-o-n-g prayers to be effective? Hear me on this, I dobelieve there are needs that call for extended time in prayer (seeJesus' time in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:36-46 forinstance). But many things can be prayed for in short prayers as we movethrough out our day.
Now, when a friend sends me an email with a troubled story, I rarelyrespond by saying, "I will pray for you." Instead, I pause and pray forher before hitting reply to say, "I have prayed for you." If someonecalls me on the phone, or tells me in person about their prayer need,more often than not I'll offer to pray with them right then. If I encounter a reason to pray while reading the newspaper, or readingscripture, I do it in the moment. My aim is not to be lengthy andelaborate with these prayers, but rather to do it while my mind is on it.
If I feel the need to pray for someone repeatedly or over time, I follow through with my carefully considered plan because I've gotten moreintentional about this prayer thing. But deciding several years ago topray short, in the moment prayers was key for me. It is very doable wayof "praying continually" and it helped relieve a lot of feelings of failure, pressure and guilt. Most importantly, this ensures thatpeople's needs are in fact being prayed for - which is the ultimate goal, right?
I'm convinced the Enemy often keeps us from praying by getting us toprocrastinate until later, making us think we need more time or morewords to do this thing "right." As I read the Bible, I see instructionsto pray frequently, to pray with faith and persistence, and to pray overall our cares and concerns. But I do not see that we must talk for hoursover each request for God to hear them. I hope that does for you what itdid for me -- replaces feelings of guilt with a renewed passion to pray.
Dear Lord, help me to pray frequently and persistently with faith, inaccordance with Your will. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Peace-full
Renee Swope <http://www.crosswalkmail.com/dbyyhgzgw_czbtnbfbbln.html>
"You will keep in perfect peace, [her] whose mind is steadfast, because [her] trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
Devotion:
One of my favorite things to see is a rocking chair on a front porch.Looking at it makes me feel peace-full. I don't have a rocking chair, ora front porch, but I sure would like to!
Worry is the opposite of peace-full. It leaves me peace-less!
There are times when I don't even realize I'm worried. My mind is wiredto think a lot so I get used to the constant flurry of motion in mybrain. Worry will start to slowly creep in, and then before I know it,there's a stirring in my heart, my neck is tense, my mind won't shiftgears and little concerns have kicked into full-blown worry.
Author Linda Dillow says, "Worry is like a rocking chair, it will giveyou something to do but it won't get you anywhere!" So much for my imageof peace-full! Oh, but she is right. Worry, like a rocking chair, getsme nowhere! And when I stop worrying, I realize I've wasted valuabletime and mental energy thinking about something I can't change when Ishould've been talking to God - since He's the only one who can changethings.
In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul tells us how we can find peace to replace ourworries. He reminds us the Lord is near and tells us, "Don't worry aboutanything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need andthank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace,which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard yourhearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (NLT)
In the NIV translation, verse 7 reads, "...the peace of God, whichtranscends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds inChrist Jesus." I love the promise that God's peace could transcend myneed to understand! Sometimes that's my biggest problem; I wouldn't beso worried about what God is doing if He'd just explain why so I couldunderstand better.
But God doesn't say He'll give us understanding in this verse, He saysHe'll give us peace in the midst of not understanding. And that's what Iwant. I want God's nearness to be my good and trusting His sovereigntyto be my goal. According to the Word, all I have to do is:
1. Stop worrying -- press the pause button on my consumingconcerns.
2. Start praying -- open my mouth and tell God what I need.
3. Start thanking God -- remind my heart of God's faithfulness by thanking Him for what He's done.
Now that is doable! So why is it so hard to do? Why do we naturally dothe opposite? I think it's because we listen to the enemy's whispers: Donot be calm about anything; instead worry about everything. Tell Godwhat He should do and take control if He doesn't listen. Before we knowit, our concerns are consuming us and our worries are robbing us of God's promised peace.
But we don't have to live that way. God promises to provide just what weneed -- to keep us in perfect peace, as we put our trust in Him and notin our worries. So, today when our concerns consume us, let's choose tostop and empty our hearts of our worries, talk to God about what we needand thank Him for His faithfulness and provision. It's amazing how"peace-full" comes when we stop worrying, start praying and begin thanking God for what He has done and will do.
Lord, thank You for the promise of Your peace that comes when I put mytrust in You! When worry or concern threaten to consume my thoughts,help me remember to stop, pray and thank You so that my heart willremember how faithful and capable You are of taking care of me. In Jesus Name, Amen.
"You will keep in perfect peace, [her] whose mind is steadfast, because [her] trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
Devotion:
One of my favorite things to see is a rocking chair on a front porch.Looking at it makes me feel peace-full. I don't have a rocking chair, ora front porch, but I sure would like to!
Worry is the opposite of peace-full. It leaves me peace-less!
There are times when I don't even realize I'm worried. My mind is wiredto think a lot so I get used to the constant flurry of motion in mybrain. Worry will start to slowly creep in, and then before I know it,there's a stirring in my heart, my neck is tense, my mind won't shiftgears and little concerns have kicked into full-blown worry.
Author Linda Dillow says, "Worry is like a rocking chair, it will giveyou something to do but it won't get you anywhere!" So much for my imageof peace-full! Oh, but she is right. Worry, like a rocking chair, getsme nowhere! And when I stop worrying, I realize I've wasted valuabletime and mental energy thinking about something I can't change when Ishould've been talking to God - since He's the only one who can changethings.
In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul tells us how we can find peace to replace ourworries. He reminds us the Lord is near and tells us, "Don't worry aboutanything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need andthank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace,which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard yourhearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (NLT)
In the NIV translation, verse 7 reads, "...the peace of God, whichtranscends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds inChrist Jesus." I love the promise that God's peace could transcend myneed to understand! Sometimes that's my biggest problem; I wouldn't beso worried about what God is doing if He'd just explain why so I couldunderstand better.
But God doesn't say He'll give us understanding in this verse, He saysHe'll give us peace in the midst of not understanding. And that's what Iwant. I want God's nearness to be my good and trusting His sovereigntyto be my goal. According to the Word, all I have to do is:
1. Stop worrying -- press the pause button on my consumingconcerns.
2. Start praying -- open my mouth and tell God what I need.
3. Start thanking God -- remind my heart of God's faithfulness by thanking Him for what He's done.
Now that is doable! So why is it so hard to do? Why do we naturally dothe opposite? I think it's because we listen to the enemy's whispers: Donot be calm about anything; instead worry about everything. Tell Godwhat He should do and take control if He doesn't listen. Before we knowit, our concerns are consuming us and our worries are robbing us of God's promised peace.
But we don't have to live that way. God promises to provide just what weneed -- to keep us in perfect peace, as we put our trust in Him and notin our worries. So, today when our concerns consume us, let's choose tostop and empty our hearts of our worries, talk to God about what we needand thank Him for His faithfulness and provision. It's amazing how"peace-full" comes when we stop worrying, start praying and begin thanking God for what He has done and will do.
Lord, thank You for the promise of Your peace that comes when I put mytrust in You! When worry or concern threaten to consume my thoughts,help me remember to stop, pray and thank You so that my heart willremember how faithful and capable You are of taking care of me. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Yesssss
Just woke up. Yeah, it's 10:45. Don't judge me. Anyways. Weighed myself:
144.4
suck.on.that.Dr.Blackwell
Lazy Sunday of cleaning and watching Little People, Big World Season 1 on netflix.con
144.4
suck.on.that.Dr.Blackwell
Lazy Sunday of cleaning and watching Little People, Big World Season 1 on netflix.con
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