1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)...

Footnotes from NIV Life Application Bible:

(v16-18) Our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our circumstances or feelings.  Obeying these three commands - be joyful, pray continually, and give thanks - often goes against our natural inclinations.  When we make a conscious decision to do what God says, however, we will begin to see people in a new perspective. When we do God's will, we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful.

(v17) We cannot spend all our time on our knees, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times.  This attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing His presence within us, and determining to obey Him fully.  Then we will find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, short prayers.  A prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an outgrowth of those times.

(v18) Paul was not teaching that we should thank God for everything that happens to us, but in everything.  Evil does not come from God, so we should not thank Him for it.  But when evil strikes, we can still be thankful for God's presence and for the good that He will accomplish through the distress.

My Greatest Blessing...

Telling our kids often that we love them is so important to their self esteem.  It's important that we build them up as often as we can and that they never have to wonder if we love them because they already know.  

Tim knows because we tell him all the time how much we love him.  He also knows how proud we are of the man that he's becoming because we tell him all the time.  He never has to wonder how we feel about him because he knows.  

Tim knows he is wanted.  He knows he is loved.  He knows that he will always be wanted and loved.  He is God's greatest blessing to his father and myself.  I'm thankful everyday that God allowed me to be his mother and that we have raised him the way that we have raised him.  He is becoming an amazing young man, at 17 (a senior in High School), who knows who he is and whose he is as well.  I know that God has great plans for him and his dad and I can't wait to watch how those plans play out in his life.  

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)...

Footnote from NIV Life Application Bible:

To walk safely in the woods at night we need a light so we don't trip over tree roots or fall into holes.  In this life, we walk through a dark forest of evil.  But the Bible can be our light to show us the way ahead so we won't stumble as we walk.  It reveals the entangling roots of false values and philosophies.  Study the Bible so you will be able to see your way clear enough to stay on the right path.  

A Jesus Shaped Life...

Started this bible study Monday and I'm loving it already.  I'm looking forward to diving into the subject of sound biblical theology and how it deepens my relationship with God and others.  

Already I've learned:

(Definitions derived from Greek Words)

• Theology = theologia = a belief system and world view based on the promises and parameters found in God's Word.  
• Theos = God; Logos = Words/conversation.
• Hermeneutic = the lens through which we see and understand.
• Orthodoxy = Orthos = right; Doxa = belief
• Ask yourself, is what I claim about God in line with Scripture and the core beliefs of the Christian faith?
• Orthopraxy = Orthos = right; Praxis = practice
• Ask yourself, does what I claim compel me toward right ways of living?
• Orthopathy = Orthos = right; Pathos = feeling
• Ask yourself, is my heart and emotion attuned to God in light of my theology?

This study has already got my blood pumping and excited for learning more.  I can't wait to do day 2's solo work/homework today.  I'm looking forward to sharing more with you as I do this bible study.  

Happy 53rd Birthday to My BF from HS...

Today is my BF, Joanne's, 53rd Birthday.  She's the only friend from my HS days that I have stayed in touch with.  Time can pass but when we are together it's like no time has passed at all.  She is one of the only ones that really knows me worts and all.  I only have a few friends that I can say that about.  I'm praying that she has her best birthday to date today.  

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)...

Footnote from NIV Life Application Bible (v.8&9):

Lions attack sick, young, or straggling animals; they choose victims who are alone or not alert.  Peter warns us to watch out for Satan when we are suffering or being persecuted.  Feeling alone, weak, helpless, and cut off from other believers, so focused on our troubles, that we forget to watch for danger, we are especially vulnerable to Satan's attack.  During those times of suffering, seek other Christians for support.  Keep your eyes on Christ, and resist the devil.  Then, says James, "he will flee from you" (James 4:7).

Psalm 84:5 (ESV)...

Footnote from NIV Life Application Bible (v.5-7): 

The pilgrimage to the temple passed through the barren Valley of Baca.  No specific valley has been identified with Baca.  Because Baca can mean "weeping," it may have been a symbolic reference to the times of struggles and tears through which people must pass on their way to meet God.  Growing strong in God's presence is often preceded by a journey through barren places to our lives.  The person who loves to spend time with God will see his or her adversity as an opportunity to re-experience God's faithfulness.  If you are walking through your own Valley of Baca today, be sure your pilgrimage leads toward God, not away from Him.  

Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)...

Footnote from NIV Life Application Bible:

This "great cloud of witnesses" is composed of the people described in Chapter 11.  Their faithfulness is constant encouragement to us.  We don not struggle alone, and we are not the first to struggle with the problems we face.  Others have run the race and won, and their witness stirs us to run and win also.  What an inspiring heritage we have!

(v.1-4):

The Christian life involves hard work.  It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God, to run patiently, and to struggle against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit.  To live effectively, we must keep our eyes on Jesus.  We will stumble if we look away from Him to stare at ourselves or at the circumstances surrounding us.  We should be running for Christ, not ourselves, and we must always keep Him in sight.

Happy Birthday Stella!!!

from Me

from Tim

from Scot

Stella’s 1 year old today. We found her in a shopping center parking lot all alone. She was too tiny for us to keep so we gave her to a cat rescue to help get her nourished to health, all her shots and spayed so we could adopt her back and bring her home for Tim as his Christmas present. She loves Tim to pieces and the feeling is mutual. She spends her mornings with me in the home office bird watching while I work. She’ll chill on the couch with Scot in the evenings but all other times she is with Tim.

Happy Birthday In Heaven Popsie...

There's not a day that goes by where we don't think about and miss you.  We were incredibly blessed to have all the years that we had with you and we will cherish those memories of you always.  While family gatherings just aren't the same anymore with you not here we know you are loving being with Jesus and Nan and all of your loved ones that have gone on before you.  Party hard with them all today and give them all hugs from us.  We love you & wish you the Happiest of Birthdays in Heaven Popsie!  

#gonebutnotforgotten #cherishingthememories #familyiseverything