"34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,you were doing it to me!’"
-Matthew 25:34-40
Well, I definitely don't clothe, feed, or take in the needy. I'm selfish. I tell you that much. And what did Jesus say to those who are like me?
"41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”"
I really don't want to go to the eternal fires of Hell with the devil's demons... I really don't. And in my heart I pray for people who are in need. I think about them. I want to help... But I really just don't have the time. But did Jesus say, "Well, I'd like to die on the cross for your sins, but I'm too busy with my own life healing people and stuff..."
No, he just did it. No questions, no complaining, no bitter spirit... Everything out of love for all of us. Jesus said that the second greatest commandment was the love our neighbor as ourselves. But in all reality, that's hard. I don't do that. I tell myself I'll get around to it, but I just get caught up with other things. Now, schoolwork and work are trivial compared to the miracles that Jesus was performing, so I don't mean to equate my life with that, but I am saying that I'm a busy college-student who is super involved and has a ridiculous schedule.
For example, I have been so busy this past week writing two papers, handing in a research proposal, making a ten-minute teaching presentation over rough material, reading two books, reading two Shakespeare plays, translating Latin poetry, and reading about 200 pages of other material... So I didn't have the time to read a book for a quiz due today until yesterday, or write a paper that's due today until... today....
Scratch that--I did have time, but I chose to watch the Superbowl, and I chose to sleep....
Alright, so we all use our time for certain things. I use it to sleep, clean, work, and do schoolwork... But I need to make service to God another priority. If I'm not going out into the world and being the best person I can be for the Lord, if I'm a recluse and stay cooped up in my apartment reading and writing, what good am I? What instrument for the Lord am I being? Sure, I may get good grades (my obsession), but I wouldn't have the opportunity to even go to college without God. I wouldn't have the mind, the drive, or the perseverance without the Lord.
I really need to get my butt in gear and start doin' work for God's Kingdom... Because what are these earthly honors anyways? Nothing.
God bless,
Lauren
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Day 38
You know another thing I have a seriously hard time with? I have a very hard time doing everything joyfully for the Lord. Sometimes I have a really hard time scrubbing dishes, vacuuming, mopping, cleaning up after others... The list goes on of things that I really get tired of.
"Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless."
-Philippians 2:14-16
There are many times that I have read in the word to do everything unto the Lord. To be glad in all that you do. To put all your faith in him and go about your work with gladness. The list goes on... And it's a rude awakening for someone like me who wants everyone to divide up work equally, to slack off sometimes, to just sit on my butt and watch a Disney movie... There are many things I would like to do rather than things that I have to do. That's especially true today. I just don't feel like taking care of things in my house that need to be done. I don't feel like cleaning up the living room, hunting down where all of my forks went, cleaning the baseboards, doing a load of dishes. I don't feel like doing my homework or anything. I would just honestly like to curl up with a good book and forget about the worries of this world for a day or two.
I guess the feeling is overwhelmed. It's hard for me to balance being a house-student and a college-student. I have all the responsibilities of having my own place, yet I have all the responsibilities of a college student. And I feel like if I spend too much time doing one thing, another thing gets put aside which is equally important.
The passage from Matthew today gave the parable of the man who trusted bags of silver to his servants. Right now, I'm taking that as being an analogy for time. The man who was given 5 bags of silver invested his time well, he worked hard, and he did his duties with gladness and hopefulness. He doubled his return and pleased the master. By investing the time and energy he did, he really reaped his reward. Same with the second servant who was only given two bags of silver. He doubled his rewards as well. The man who was given only one bag of silver did nothing with it. He protected it out of fear. He didn't take chances. He didn't invest his time or energy well. And he paid for it. You get what you put in, and he got laziness and the fruits of his spirit and reward didn't multiply.
"To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."
-Matthew 29:25
I know that I really need to use my time wisely, to honor God with my actions, and sow many seeds--whether that be housework or schoolwork. The rewards of my "work" in general will multiply, I know it. I know that I need to stop complaining about things that I must do.. Even in my heart. I mean, this morning, all I did while putting my dinner in the crockpot was complain about all of the work I had to do and everything that I still had to do. All I did was become bitter and resentful through my thoughts--thinking about how I am just going to be stubborn and not do anything that needs to be done. I was NOT going to take out the trash, or do the dishes, or wipe off the counters, or pick up the mess in the living room, or anything. "It's not my responsibility," as I was saying in my head.
Well guess what... It is my responsibility. God has made that perfectly clear this morning. Definitely giving the Matthew passage to me this morning was what God was trying to tell me. God have given me five bags of silver, and what I do with that is up to me. But if I want to be praised by my master, if I want to reap the rewards that he offers, then it's up to me to invest it wisely.
"If you do not serve the LORD your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you. You will be left hungry, thirsty, naked, and lacking in everything. The LORD will put an iron yoke on your neck, oppressing you harshly until he has destroyed you. "
-Deuteronomy 28:47-48
There it is. You can't argue with God's word.
I suppose now I need to work on the thoughts that give me those feelings of bitterness and work on changing my heart..
God bless,
Lauren
"Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless."
-Philippians 2:14-16
There are many times that I have read in the word to do everything unto the Lord. To be glad in all that you do. To put all your faith in him and go about your work with gladness. The list goes on... And it's a rude awakening for someone like me who wants everyone to divide up work equally, to slack off sometimes, to just sit on my butt and watch a Disney movie... There are many things I would like to do rather than things that I have to do. That's especially true today. I just don't feel like taking care of things in my house that need to be done. I don't feel like cleaning up the living room, hunting down where all of my forks went, cleaning the baseboards, doing a load of dishes. I don't feel like doing my homework or anything. I would just honestly like to curl up with a good book and forget about the worries of this world for a day or two.
I guess the feeling is overwhelmed. It's hard for me to balance being a house-student and a college-student. I have all the responsibilities of having my own place, yet I have all the responsibilities of a college student. And I feel like if I spend too much time doing one thing, another thing gets put aside which is equally important.
The passage from Matthew today gave the parable of the man who trusted bags of silver to his servants. Right now, I'm taking that as being an analogy for time. The man who was given 5 bags of silver invested his time well, he worked hard, and he did his duties with gladness and hopefulness. He doubled his return and pleased the master. By investing the time and energy he did, he really reaped his reward. Same with the second servant who was only given two bags of silver. He doubled his rewards as well. The man who was given only one bag of silver did nothing with it. He protected it out of fear. He didn't take chances. He didn't invest his time or energy well. And he paid for it. You get what you put in, and he got laziness and the fruits of his spirit and reward didn't multiply.
"To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."
-Matthew 29:25
I know that I really need to use my time wisely, to honor God with my actions, and sow many seeds--whether that be housework or schoolwork. The rewards of my "work" in general will multiply, I know it. I know that I need to stop complaining about things that I must do.. Even in my heart. I mean, this morning, all I did while putting my dinner in the crockpot was complain about all of the work I had to do and everything that I still had to do. All I did was become bitter and resentful through my thoughts--thinking about how I am just going to be stubborn and not do anything that needs to be done. I was NOT going to take out the trash, or do the dishes, or wipe off the counters, or pick up the mess in the living room, or anything. "It's not my responsibility," as I was saying in my head.
Well guess what... It is my responsibility. God has made that perfectly clear this morning. Definitely giving the Matthew passage to me this morning was what God was trying to tell me. God have given me five bags of silver, and what I do with that is up to me. But if I want to be praised by my master, if I want to reap the rewards that he offers, then it's up to me to invest it wisely.
"If you do not serve the LORD your God with joy and enthusiasm for the abundant benefits you have received, you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you. You will be left hungry, thirsty, naked, and lacking in everything. The LORD will put an iron yoke on your neck, oppressing you harshly until he has destroyed you. "
-Deuteronomy 28:47-48
There it is. You can't argue with God's word.
I suppose now I need to work on the thoughts that give me those feelings of bitterness and work on changing my heart..
God bless,
Lauren
Monday, February 6, 2012
Day 37
First off, I would like to apologize to anyone that I may have offended with this blog.
Last night, I was needfully humbled. I am so thankful to have such great and subjective spiritual leaders, but it hurts when you hear something that you know in your gut.
I meant for this blog to be a testament to MY faith journey and MY readings everyday, but somewhere along the way (even though it's been short), I have lost sight of what I originally set out to do. I have gotten caught up in the excitement of God's word that I have abandoned my original intent and have become preachy.
I really do write what comes to mind, I just basically free flow and go with it. And yes, things that I have said may be good and awesome, but we all get enough sermons in our lifetime and this blog does not need to be another one. I truly do apologize.
Yet again, perfect example of what happens when we stop making things about God and get caught up with ourselves. I know that is one of my biggest struggles with ANYTHING I do... I lose my motive, I forget my purpose, and sometimes, although I say I'm centering God in my actions and decisions, I don't. I center myself and how I will appear to others.
I heard this great analogy and I must share it (paraphrased)-- "God wants to know our hearts.. Our true hearts... Not the one that we clothe with different appearances and personae. He doesn't want to know the evangelist you or the minister you, he wants to know just you. He wants to know you naked-not what you clothe yourself with."
And I think that is absolutely perfect for what I've been doing. I've been trying out different "personae" to see which one best fits my life, to see what I would be most happy with doing, to see where I can see my true self, rather than just letting God take the reins and lead me. I try and different outfits and say, "Is this how you want me to look God?" Rather than God picking out my dress and saying, "You will wear this and look good :)"
I don't know if that even makes any sense, but I really am sorry for the front I've been putting up, and my loss of focus with my posts.
In today's reading, what struck me the most was how Moses got to chill on the mountain with God on his journey to the promise land quite often. Being in the presence of God! And every time Moses came back with God's command, the people were astounded and said, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey."
Looking back, we know that they didn't. And I am so bad about this. I really and truly everyday am like, "God, I'm going to do everything you have commanded. I will obey." But when it comes down to it, am I? No. I'm not. I may be going through the motions, but in my heart I know that it's all for the sake of vanity. God, I am so desperate to actually follow your command!!
In Matthew, Jesus talked of his return...
"42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
45 “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 24:42-51
I don't know when the Lord is coming, and I'm trying to keep myself ready, keep my soul protected. But sometimes, my battery goes out on my alarm system, and even though there is a reminder (God) that keeps beeping at me, I ignore it and put in my earplugs. God wants me to join him in the Kingdom of Heaven and I am just a stupid human consumed in sin. I am not a "faithful, sensible servant" to whom the master can trust his field with. I'm a horrible sinner and I fall short of the glory of God everyday.
I know that it's God's grace that saves us all. I know that Jesus didn't die for nothing... He died because he loves us so much. But I'm a hypocrite. I don't honor him everyday in my heart with my actions. Subconsciously, I do things to put glory on myself. I don't mean to, and I try hard not to, and I have the best intentions. But if you intend to not change the batteries in your alarm system to your house and never do it, then if you're robbed, it's your own fault... You didn't do the preparation, you didn't guard your house with diligence, you didn't take the step to secure yourself.
I need to get around to changing my batteries in my alarm. I have just GOT to examine my motives for everything. I have GOT to truly have this close relationship with God and stop putting on this front! I'm tired of it! I think that I'm doing right, when I'm not. I try to do good, and I sin. It's my curse that I'm plagued with. It's a battle that I'm constantly fighting.
Today's Psalm was a reflection definitely of how I'm feeling right now:
"6 When I was prosperous, I said,
“Nothing can stop me now!”
7 Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.
8 I cried out to you, O LORD.
I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
9 “What will you gain if I die,
if I sink into the grave?
Can my dust praise you?
Can it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me.
Help me, O LORD.”"
Psalm 30:6-10
Lord, please help me. I'm desperate to be your servant. I'm desperate to be faithful to you. I'm desperate to continue my relationship with you. I'm begging you to make YOU the center of everything I do. Please forgive my stupidity and sinfulness. Please, God...
Last night, I was needfully humbled. I am so thankful to have such great and subjective spiritual leaders, but it hurts when you hear something that you know in your gut.
I meant for this blog to be a testament to MY faith journey and MY readings everyday, but somewhere along the way (even though it's been short), I have lost sight of what I originally set out to do. I have gotten caught up in the excitement of God's word that I have abandoned my original intent and have become preachy.
I really do write what comes to mind, I just basically free flow and go with it. And yes, things that I have said may be good and awesome, but we all get enough sermons in our lifetime and this blog does not need to be another one. I truly do apologize.
Yet again, perfect example of what happens when we stop making things about God and get caught up with ourselves. I know that is one of my biggest struggles with ANYTHING I do... I lose my motive, I forget my purpose, and sometimes, although I say I'm centering God in my actions and decisions, I don't. I center myself and how I will appear to others.
I heard this great analogy and I must share it (paraphrased)-- "God wants to know our hearts.. Our true hearts... Not the one that we clothe with different appearances and personae. He doesn't want to know the evangelist you or the minister you, he wants to know just you. He wants to know you naked-not what you clothe yourself with."
And I think that is absolutely perfect for what I've been doing. I've been trying out different "personae" to see which one best fits my life, to see what I would be most happy with doing, to see where I can see my true self, rather than just letting God take the reins and lead me. I try and different outfits and say, "Is this how you want me to look God?" Rather than God picking out my dress and saying, "You will wear this and look good :)"
I don't know if that even makes any sense, but I really am sorry for the front I've been putting up, and my loss of focus with my posts.
In today's reading, what struck me the most was how Moses got to chill on the mountain with God on his journey to the promise land quite often. Being in the presence of God! And every time Moses came back with God's command, the people were astounded and said, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey."
Looking back, we know that they didn't. And I am so bad about this. I really and truly everyday am like, "God, I'm going to do everything you have commanded. I will obey." But when it comes down to it, am I? No. I'm not. I may be going through the motions, but in my heart I know that it's all for the sake of vanity. God, I am so desperate to actually follow your command!!
In Matthew, Jesus talked of his return...
"42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
45 “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 48 But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ 49 and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 50 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, 51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 24:42-51
I don't know when the Lord is coming, and I'm trying to keep myself ready, keep my soul protected. But sometimes, my battery goes out on my alarm system, and even though there is a reminder (God) that keeps beeping at me, I ignore it and put in my earplugs. God wants me to join him in the Kingdom of Heaven and I am just a stupid human consumed in sin. I am not a "faithful, sensible servant" to whom the master can trust his field with. I'm a horrible sinner and I fall short of the glory of God everyday.
I know that it's God's grace that saves us all. I know that Jesus didn't die for nothing... He died because he loves us so much. But I'm a hypocrite. I don't honor him everyday in my heart with my actions. Subconsciously, I do things to put glory on myself. I don't mean to, and I try hard not to, and I have the best intentions. But if you intend to not change the batteries in your alarm system to your house and never do it, then if you're robbed, it's your own fault... You didn't do the preparation, you didn't guard your house with diligence, you didn't take the step to secure yourself.
I need to get around to changing my batteries in my alarm. I have just GOT to examine my motives for everything. I have GOT to truly have this close relationship with God and stop putting on this front! I'm tired of it! I think that I'm doing right, when I'm not. I try to do good, and I sin. It's my curse that I'm plagued with. It's a battle that I'm constantly fighting.
Today's Psalm was a reflection definitely of how I'm feeling right now:
"6 When I was prosperous, I said,
“Nothing can stop me now!”
7 Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.
8 I cried out to you, O LORD.
I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
9 “What will you gain if I die,
if I sink into the grave?
Can my dust praise you?
Can it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me.
Help me, O LORD.”"
Psalm 30:6-10
Lord, please help me. I'm desperate to be your servant. I'm desperate to be faithful to you. I'm desperate to continue my relationship with you. I'm begging you to make YOU the center of everything I do. Please forgive my stupidity and sinfulness. Please, God...
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Day 36
Happy Superbowl Sunday!
If the Giants don't win today, my house will be a solemn house because 3 of my roomies are Giants fans. I personally don't really care. I am not a huge pro-sports fan. I was cheering for the Texans because they are the hometown team, but I'm not going to go out and buy a jersey or anything.
KU Basketball and college football are a different story. Near obsession if you would be so bold.
I have been at the part in the Bible where God has been laying out all of his laws and expectations for the people of Israel. I'm not going to say it's rough getting through, but I have caught my mind wandering more than when I was reading of Moses or Isaac or Abraham. I understand though the importance of knowing God's expectations and these rules really exemplify his high standards for us. He gave them rules of society that they followed without question. We have rules of society has well, but I think that many people disregard them as dated. Let me tell you, the Bible is timeless.
I'm going to keep this post short today because it's Sunday and I have to feed my brothers and sisters breakfast before we go to church, but I just want to say that the Proverbs passage really took me aback.
Proverbs 7:6-23
"6 While I was at the window of my house,
looking through the curtain,
7 I saw some naive young men,
and one in particular who lacked common sense.
8 He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman,
strolling down the path by her house.
9 It was at twilight, in the evening,
as deep darkness fell.
10 The woman approached him,
seductively dressed and sly of heart.
11 She was the brash, rebellious type,
never content to stay at home.
12 She is often in the streets and markets,
soliciting at every corner.
13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him,
and with a brazen look she said,
14 “I’ve just made my peace offerings
and fulfilled my vows.
15 You’re the one I was looking for!
I came out to find you, and here you are!
16 My bed is spread with beautiful blankets,
with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.
17 I’ve perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning.
Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses,
19 for my husband is not home.
He’s away on a long trip.
20 He has taken a wallet full of money with him
and won’t return until later this month.”
21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech
and enticed him with her flattery.
22 He followed her at once,
like an ox going to the slaughter.
He was like a stag caught in a trap,
23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.
He was like a bird flying into a snare,
little knowing it would cost him his life."
There is a very clear description here of what God has deemed immoral.
1. "seductively dressed and sly of heart"
2. "brash"
3. "rebellious"
4. "never content to stay at home"
6. "soliciting at ever corner"
7. "kissed"
8. "brazen look"
9. "seduced him with pretty speech"
10. "enticed him with her flattery"
What's the penalty?
1. "cost him his life"
I'm not going to go VERY in depth with this because this is going to be apart of my book, but God's design for men and women is clearly defied here. This is one of hundreds examples in the Bible of the type of women men need to seek and disregard, and the ways in which women should act. She threw herself at him. She dressed provocatively. She was everything that a Proverbs 31 woman is not. She wasn't modest or chaste at all. She worked, but not work that honors God, her future spouse, or her actual spouse.
What type of woman are you?
Are you a type of man that would even be around such a woman?
God bless,
Lauren
If the Giants don't win today, my house will be a solemn house because 3 of my roomies are Giants fans. I personally don't really care. I am not a huge pro-sports fan. I was cheering for the Texans because they are the hometown team, but I'm not going to go out and buy a jersey or anything.
KU Basketball and college football are a different story. Near obsession if you would be so bold.
I have been at the part in the Bible where God has been laying out all of his laws and expectations for the people of Israel. I'm not going to say it's rough getting through, but I have caught my mind wandering more than when I was reading of Moses or Isaac or Abraham. I understand though the importance of knowing God's expectations and these rules really exemplify his high standards for us. He gave them rules of society that they followed without question. We have rules of society has well, but I think that many people disregard them as dated. Let me tell you, the Bible is timeless.
I'm going to keep this post short today because it's Sunday and I have to feed my brothers and sisters breakfast before we go to church, but I just want to say that the Proverbs passage really took me aback.
Proverbs 7:6-23
"6 While I was at the window of my house,
looking through the curtain,
7 I saw some naive young men,
and one in particular who lacked common sense.
8 He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman,
strolling down the path by her house.
9 It was at twilight, in the evening,
as deep darkness fell.
10 The woman approached him,
seductively dressed and sly of heart.
11 She was the brash, rebellious type,
never content to stay at home.
12 She is often in the streets and markets,
soliciting at every corner.
13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him,
and with a brazen look she said,
14 “I’ve just made my peace offerings
and fulfilled my vows.
15 You’re the one I was looking for!
I came out to find you, and here you are!
16 My bed is spread with beautiful blankets,
with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.
17 I’ve perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning.
Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses,
19 for my husband is not home.
He’s away on a long trip.
20 He has taken a wallet full of money with him
and won’t return until later this month.”
21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech
and enticed him with her flattery.
22 He followed her at once,
like an ox going to the slaughter.
He was like a stag caught in a trap,
23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.
He was like a bird flying into a snare,
little knowing it would cost him his life."
There is a very clear description here of what God has deemed immoral.
1. "seductively dressed and sly of heart"
2. "brash"
3. "rebellious"
4. "never content to stay at home"
6. "soliciting at ever corner"
7. "kissed"
8. "brazen look"
9. "seduced him with pretty speech"
10. "enticed him with her flattery"
What's the penalty?
1. "cost him his life"
I'm not going to go VERY in depth with this because this is going to be apart of my book, but God's design for men and women is clearly defied here. This is one of hundreds examples in the Bible of the type of women men need to seek and disregard, and the ways in which women should act. She threw herself at him. She dressed provocatively. She was everything that a Proverbs 31 woman is not. She wasn't modest or chaste at all. She worked, but not work that honors God, her future spouse, or her actual spouse.
What type of woman are you?
Are you a type of man that would even be around such a woman?
God bless,
Lauren
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Day 35
You know, today's reading really made me laugh out loud when I got to the Psalms.
We have this joke between my roommates and I that we would make tons of money if we had a hidden camera in our apartment and made a show out of the footage because we are all so so goofy.
Embarrassing confession: I randomly belt out Christian praise and worship music all the time. And when I say all the time, I mean all the time. We would be sitting on the couch watching food network and I'll just bust into a Hillsong United song. When I'm cooking, when I'm cleaning, even when I'm having a conversation, I'll get sidetracked and break out the Shane & Shane. I tell ya', I'm weird.
So you can imagine, our house is pretty entertaining. There is me, a liberal artsy musical bookworm, another roommate who is an athletic training major, another roommate who is music education major, and another one who is just livin' life here in Lawrence. We have quite the entertaining household.
When Psalm 28 came along my path this morning, I almost died laughing at verse 7...
"The LORD is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."
Hahaha!!! Okay, God was seriously making me laugh this morning.
Today is a busy day, so I'll just leave you all with that. Be silly! Thank God! Take advantage of life!
God bless,
Lauren
We have this joke between my roommates and I that we would make tons of money if we had a hidden camera in our apartment and made a show out of the footage because we are all so so goofy.
Embarrassing confession: I randomly belt out Christian praise and worship music all the time. And when I say all the time, I mean all the time. We would be sitting on the couch watching food network and I'll just bust into a Hillsong United song. When I'm cooking, when I'm cleaning, even when I'm having a conversation, I'll get sidetracked and break out the Shane & Shane. I tell ya', I'm weird.
So you can imagine, our house is pretty entertaining. There is me, a liberal artsy musical bookworm, another roommate who is an athletic training major, another roommate who is music education major, and another one who is just livin' life here in Lawrence. We have quite the entertaining household.
When Psalm 28 came along my path this morning, I almost died laughing at verse 7...
"The LORD is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."
Hahaha!!! Okay, God was seriously making me laugh this morning.
Today is a busy day, so I'll just leave you all with that. Be silly! Thank God! Take advantage of life!
God bless,
Lauren
Friday, February 3, 2012
Day 34
Today is my Aunt Cindy's birthday! Happy Birthday!
You know, most of my life, I have struggled with impatience. I really don't want to wait, I just want things now!
I came across this study the other day when doing some research for my book, and I just thought I would share it. This experiment is called the "Stanford Marshmellow Experiment":
"The purpose of the original study was to understand when the control of deferred gratification, the ability to wait to obtain something that one wants, develops in children.The original experiment took place at the Bing Nursery School located at Standford University, using children the age of four to six as subjects. The children were led into a room, empty of distractions, where a treat of their choice (Oreo cookie, marshmallow, or pretzel stick) was placed on a table, by a chair. The children could eat the marshmallow, the researchers said, but if they waited for fifteen minutes without giving in to the temptation, they would be rewarded with a second marshmallow. Mischel observed as some would "cover their eyes with their hands or turn around so that they can't see the tray, others start kicking the desk, or tug on their pigtails, or stroke the marshmallow as if it were a tiny stuffed animal", while others would simply eat the marshmallow as soon as the researchers left.
In over 600 children who took part in the experiment, a minority ate the marshmallow immediately. Of those who attempted to delay, one third deferred gratification long enough to get the second marshmallow. Age was a major determinant of deferred gratification."
I wish I could do that with some things, just cover my eyes, sing a song, distract myself. Let me tell you, I don't think I would want the marshmellow, but if you put an oreo cookie in front of me, I don't know how well I would be able to resist for too long (thanks, dad).
There are quite a few oreo cookies that I want in my life right now. A lot of things that I'm ready for. A lot of cream-filled deliciousness that I want to steal away at this second.
I would like to share another story-- a fable that I have read before:
The Magic Thread
"Too often, people want what they want (or what they think they want, which is usually "happiness" in one form or another) right now. The irony of their impatience is that only by learning to wait, and by a willingness to accept the bad with the good, do we usually attain those things that are truly worthwhile. "He that can have patience, can have what he will," Benjamin Franklin told us, and this French tale bears him out.
Once there was a widow who had a son called Peter. He was a strong, able boy, but he did not enjoy going to school and he was forever daydreaming.
"Peter, what are you dreaming about this time?" his teacher would say to him.
"I'm thinking about what I'll be when I grow up," Peter replied.
"Be patient. There's plenty of time for that. Being grown up isn't all fun, you know," his teacher said.
But Peter found it hard to enjoy whatever he was doing at the moment, and was always hankering after the next thing. In winter he longed for it to be summer again, and in summer he looked forward to the skating, sledging, and warm fires of winter. At school he would long for the day to be over so that he could go home, and on Sunday nights he would sigh, "If only the holidays would come." What he enjoyed most was playing with his friend Liese. She was as good a companion as any boy, and no matter how impatient Peter was, she never took offense. "When I grow up, I shall marry Liese," Peter said to himself.
Often he wandered through the forest, dreaming of the future. Sometimes he lay down on the soft forest floor in the warm sun, his hands behind his head, staring up at the sky through the distant treetops. One hot afternoon as he began to grow sleepy, he heard someone calling his name. He opened his eyes and sat up. Standing before him was an old woman. In her hand she held a silver ball, from which dangled a silken golden thread.
"See what I have got here, Peter," she said, offering the ball to him.
"What is it?" he asked curiously, touching the fine golden thread.
"This is your life thread," the old woman replied. "Do not touch it and time will pass normally. But if you wish time to pass more quickly, you have only to pull the thread a little way and an hour will pass like a second. But I warn you, once the thread has been pulled out, it cannot be pushed back in again. It will disappear like a puff of smoke. The ball is for you. But if you accept my gift you must tell no one, or on that very day you shall die. Now, say, do you want it?"
Peter seized the gift from her joyfully. It was just what he wanted. He examined the silver ball. It was light and solid, made of a single piece. The only flaw in it was the tiny hole from which the bright thread hung. He put the ball in his pocket and ran home. There, making sure that his mother was out, he examined it again. The thread seemed to be creeping very slowly out of the ball, so slowly that it was scarcely noticeable to the naked eye. He longed to give it a quick tug, but dared not do so. Not yet.
The following day at school, Peter sat daydreaming about what he would do with his magic thread. The teacher scolded him for not concentrating on his work. If only, he thought, it was time to go home. Then he felt the silver ball in his pocket. If he pulled out a tiny bit of thread, the day would be over. Very carefully he took hold of it and tugged. Suddenly the teacher was telling everyone to pack up their books and to leave the classroom in an orderly fashion. Peter was overjoyed. He ran all the way home. How easy life would be now! All his troubles were over. From that day forth he began to pull the thread, just a little, every day.
One day, however, it occurred to him that it was stupid to pull the thread just a little each day. If he gave it a harder tug, school would be over altogether. Then he could start learning a trade and marry Liese. So that night he gave the thread a hard tug, and in the morning he awoke to find himself apprenticed to a carpenter in town. He loved his new life, clambering about on roofs and scaffolding, lifting and hammering great beams into place that still smelled of the forest. But sometimes, when payday seemed too far off, he gave the thread a little tug and suddenly the week was drawing to a close and it was Friday night and he had money in his pocket.
Liese had also come to town and was living with her aunt, who taught her housekeeping. Peter began to grow impatient for the day when they would be married. It was hard to live so near and yet so far from her. He asked her when they could be married.
"In another year," she said. "Then I will have learned how to be a capable wife."
Peter fingered the silver ball in his pocket.
"Well, the time will pass quickly enough," he said, knowingly.
That night Peter could not sleep. He tossed and turned restlessly. He took the magic ball from under his pillow. For a moment he hesitated; then his impatience got the better of him, and he tugged at the golden thread. In the morning he awoke to find that the year was over and that Liese had at last agreed to marry him. Now Peter felt truly happy.
But before their wedding could take place, Peter received an official-looking letter. He opened it in trepidation and read that he was expected to report at the army barracks the following week for two years' military service. He showed the letter to Liese in despair.
"Well," she said, "there is nothing for it, we shall just have to wait. But the time will pass quickly, you'll see. There are so many things to do in preparation for our life together."
Peter smiled bravely, knowing that two years would seem a lifetime to him.
Once Peter had settled into life at the barracks, however, he began to feel that it wasn't so bad after all. He quite enjoyed being with all the other young men, and their duties were not very arduous at first. He remembered the old woman's warning to use the thread wisely and for a while refrained from pulling it.
But in time he grew restless again. Army life bored him with its routine duties and harsh discipline. He began pulling the thread to make the week go faster so that it would be Sunday again, or to speed up the time until he was due for leave. And so the two years passed almost as if they had been a dream.
Back home, Peter determined not to pull the thread again until it was absolutely necessary. After all, this was the best time of his life, as everyone told him. He did not want it to be over too quickly. He did, however, give the thread one or two very small tugs, just to speed along the day of his marriage.
He longed to tell Liese his secret, but he knew that if he did he would die.
On the day of his wedding, everyone, including Peter, was happy. He could hardly wait to show Liese the house he had built for her. At the wedding feast he glanced over at his mother. He noticed for the first time how gray her hair had grown recently. She seemed to be aging so quickly. Peter felt a pang of guilt that he had pulled the thread so often. Henceforward he would be much more sparing with it and only use it when it was strictly necessary.
A few months later Liese announced that she was going to have a child. Peter was overjoyed and could hardly wait. When the child was born, he felt that he could never want for anything again. But whenever the child was ill or cried through the sleepless night, he gave the thread a little tug, just so that the baby might be well and happy again.
Times were hard. Business was bad and a government had come to power that squeezed the people dry with taxes and would tolerate no opposition. Anyone who became known as a troublemaker was thrown into prison without trial and rumor was enough to condemn a man. Peter had always been known as one who spoke his mind, and very soon he was arrested and cast into jail. Luckily he had his magic ball with him and he tugged very hard at the thread. The prison walls dissolved before him and his enemies were scattered in the huge explosion that burst forth like thunder. It was the war that had
been threatening, but it was over as quickly as a summer storm, leaving behind it an exhausted peace.
Peter found himself back home with his family. But now he was a middle-aged man.
For a time things went well and Peter lived in relative contentment. One day he looked at his magic ball and saw to his surprise that the thread had turned from gold to silver. He looked in the mirror. His hair was starting to turn gray and his face was lined where before there had not been a wrinkle to be seen. He suddenly felt afraid and determined to use the thread even more carefully than before. Liese bore him more children and he seemed happy as the head of his growing household. His stately manner often made people think of him as some sort of benevolent ruler. He had an air of authority as if he held the fate of others in his hands. He kept his magic ball in a well-hidden place, safe from the curious eyes of his children, knowing that if anyone were to discover it, it would be fatal.
As the number of his children grew, so his house became more overcrowded. He would have to extend it, but for that he needed money. He had other worries too. His mother was looking older and more tired every day. It was of no use to pull the magic thread because that would only hasten her approaching death. All too soon she died, and as Peter stood at her graveside, he wondered how it was that life passed so quickly, even without pulling the magic thread.
One night as he lay in bed, kept awake by his worries, he thought how much easier life would be if all his children were grown up and launched upon their careers in life. He gave the thread a mighty tug, and the following day he awoke to find that his children had all left home for jobs in different parts of the country, and that he and his wife were alone. His hair was almost white now and often his back and limbs ached as he climbed the ladder or lifted a heavy beam into place. Liese too was getting old and she was often ill. He couldn't bear to see her suffer, so that more and more he resorted to pulling at the magic thread. But as soon as one trouble was solved, another seemed to grow in its place. Perhaps life would be easier if he retired, Peter thought. Then he would no longer have to clamber about on drafty, half-completed buildings and he could look after Liese when she was ill. The trouble was that he didn't have enough money to live on. He picked up his magic ball and looked at it. To his dismay he saw that the thread was no longer silver but gray and lusterless. He decided to go for a walk in the forest to think things over.
It was a long time since he had been in that part of the forest. The small saplings had all grown into tall fir trees, and it was hard to find the path he had once known. Eventually he came to a bench in a clearing. He sat down to rest and fell into a light doze. He was woken by someone calling his name,
"Peter! Peter!"
He looked up and saw the old woman he had met so many years ago when she had given him the magic silver ball with its golden thread. She looked just as she had on that day, not a day older. She smiled at him.
"So, Peter, have you had a good life?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," Peter said. "Your magic ball is a wonderful thing. I have never had to suffer or wait for anything in my life. And yet it has all passed so quickly. I feel that I have had no time to take in what has happened to me, neither the good things nor the bad. Now there is so little time left. I dare not pull the thread again for it will only bring me to my death. I do not think your gift has brought me luck."
"How ungrateful you are!" the old woman said. "In what way would you have wished things to be different?"
"Perhaps if you had given me a different ball, one where I could have pushed the thread back in as well as pulling it out. Then I could have relived the things that went badly."
The old woman laughed. "You ask a great deal! Do you think that God allows us to live our lives twice over? But I can grant you one final wish, you foolish, demanding man."
"What is that?" Peter asked.
"Choose," the old woman said. Peter thought hard.
At length he said, "I should like to live my life again as if for the first time, but without your magic ball. Then I will experience the bad things as well as the good without cutting them short, and at least my life will not pass as swiftly and meaninglessly as a daydream."
"So be it," said the old woman. "Give me back my ball."
She stretched out her hand and Peter placed the silver ball in it. Then he sat back and closed his eyes with exhaustion.
When he awoke he was in his own bed. His youthful mother was bending over him, shaking him gently.
"Wake up, Peter. You will be late for school. You were sleeping like the dead!"
He looked up at her in surprise and relief.
"I've had a terrible dream, Mother. I dreamed that I was old and sick and that my life had passed like the blinking of an eye with nothing to show for it. Not even any memories."
His mother laughed and shook her head.
"That will never happen," she said. "Memories are the one thing we all have, even when we are old. Now hurry and get dressed. Liese is waiting for you and you will be late for school."
As Peter walked to school with Liese, he noticed what a bright summer morning it was, the kind of morning when it felt good to be alive. Soon he would see his friends and classmates, and even the prospect of lessons didn't seem so bad. In fact he could hardly wait."
I feel as though I talk of patience a lot, but it is something I'm struggling with. But I know it's just another decoy of the enemy to get us to be unsatisfied with the position and blessings God gives us at the present. If we are constantly looking towards the future, looking for something better, going after what we want, how can we take the time to pause and thank God for everything he has already given us?
Psalm 27:14 "Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
Yup, that was in today's reading. As well as the Israelites having to wait three days to see God and be close to him. Think God is trying to send me a message?? I do!
Patience is specifically mentioned 33 times, only in the New Testament. God uses phrases such as "long suffering" and "endurance" in the old testament.
Being patient for what God has planned for us is not only an opportunity to use his gifts given to us, but to understand what it means to be a Christian. God does not give us anything that we can't handle, and everything runs on God's perfect master clock. He has a plan for us each and everyday, and he knows when we are ready to receive the desires of our hearts.
Alright, I get it, Lord! I'm working on it!
God bless,
Lauren
You know, most of my life, I have struggled with impatience. I really don't want to wait, I just want things now!
I came across this study the other day when doing some research for my book, and I just thought I would share it. This experiment is called the "Stanford Marshmellow Experiment":
"The purpose of the original study was to understand when the control of deferred gratification, the ability to wait to obtain something that one wants, develops in children.The original experiment took place at the Bing Nursery School located at Standford University, using children the age of four to six as subjects. The children were led into a room, empty of distractions, where a treat of their choice (Oreo cookie, marshmallow, or pretzel stick) was placed on a table, by a chair. The children could eat the marshmallow, the researchers said, but if they waited for fifteen minutes without giving in to the temptation, they would be rewarded with a second marshmallow. Mischel observed as some would "cover their eyes with their hands or turn around so that they can't see the tray, others start kicking the desk, or tug on their pigtails, or stroke the marshmallow as if it were a tiny stuffed animal", while others would simply eat the marshmallow as soon as the researchers left.
In over 600 children who took part in the experiment, a minority ate the marshmallow immediately. Of those who attempted to delay, one third deferred gratification long enough to get the second marshmallow. Age was a major determinant of deferred gratification."
I wish I could do that with some things, just cover my eyes, sing a song, distract myself. Let me tell you, I don't think I would want the marshmellow, but if you put an oreo cookie in front of me, I don't know how well I would be able to resist for too long (thanks, dad).
There are quite a few oreo cookies that I want in my life right now. A lot of things that I'm ready for. A lot of cream-filled deliciousness that I want to steal away at this second.
I would like to share another story-- a fable that I have read before:
The Magic Thread
"Too often, people want what they want (or what they think they want, which is usually "happiness" in one form or another) right now. The irony of their impatience is that only by learning to wait, and by a willingness to accept the bad with the good, do we usually attain those things that are truly worthwhile. "He that can have patience, can have what he will," Benjamin Franklin told us, and this French tale bears him out.
Once there was a widow who had a son called Peter. He was a strong, able boy, but he did not enjoy going to school and he was forever daydreaming.
"Peter, what are you dreaming about this time?" his teacher would say to him.
"I'm thinking about what I'll be when I grow up," Peter replied.
"Be patient. There's plenty of time for that. Being grown up isn't all fun, you know," his teacher said.
But Peter found it hard to enjoy whatever he was doing at the moment, and was always hankering after the next thing. In winter he longed for it to be summer again, and in summer he looked forward to the skating, sledging, and warm fires of winter. At school he would long for the day to be over so that he could go home, and on Sunday nights he would sigh, "If only the holidays would come." What he enjoyed most was playing with his friend Liese. She was as good a companion as any boy, and no matter how impatient Peter was, she never took offense. "When I grow up, I shall marry Liese," Peter said to himself.
Often he wandered through the forest, dreaming of the future. Sometimes he lay down on the soft forest floor in the warm sun, his hands behind his head, staring up at the sky through the distant treetops. One hot afternoon as he began to grow sleepy, he heard someone calling his name. He opened his eyes and sat up. Standing before him was an old woman. In her hand she held a silver ball, from which dangled a silken golden thread.
"See what I have got here, Peter," she said, offering the ball to him.
"What is it?" he asked curiously, touching the fine golden thread.
"This is your life thread," the old woman replied. "Do not touch it and time will pass normally. But if you wish time to pass more quickly, you have only to pull the thread a little way and an hour will pass like a second. But I warn you, once the thread has been pulled out, it cannot be pushed back in again. It will disappear like a puff of smoke. The ball is for you. But if you accept my gift you must tell no one, or on that very day you shall die. Now, say, do you want it?"
Peter seized the gift from her joyfully. It was just what he wanted. He examined the silver ball. It was light and solid, made of a single piece. The only flaw in it was the tiny hole from which the bright thread hung. He put the ball in his pocket and ran home. There, making sure that his mother was out, he examined it again. The thread seemed to be creeping very slowly out of the ball, so slowly that it was scarcely noticeable to the naked eye. He longed to give it a quick tug, but dared not do so. Not yet.
The following day at school, Peter sat daydreaming about what he would do with his magic thread. The teacher scolded him for not concentrating on his work. If only, he thought, it was time to go home. Then he felt the silver ball in his pocket. If he pulled out a tiny bit of thread, the day would be over. Very carefully he took hold of it and tugged. Suddenly the teacher was telling everyone to pack up their books and to leave the classroom in an orderly fashion. Peter was overjoyed. He ran all the way home. How easy life would be now! All his troubles were over. From that day forth he began to pull the thread, just a little, every day.
One day, however, it occurred to him that it was stupid to pull the thread just a little each day. If he gave it a harder tug, school would be over altogether. Then he could start learning a trade and marry Liese. So that night he gave the thread a hard tug, and in the morning he awoke to find himself apprenticed to a carpenter in town. He loved his new life, clambering about on roofs and scaffolding, lifting and hammering great beams into place that still smelled of the forest. But sometimes, when payday seemed too far off, he gave the thread a little tug and suddenly the week was drawing to a close and it was Friday night and he had money in his pocket.
Liese had also come to town and was living with her aunt, who taught her housekeeping. Peter began to grow impatient for the day when they would be married. It was hard to live so near and yet so far from her. He asked her when they could be married.
"In another year," she said. "Then I will have learned how to be a capable wife."
Peter fingered the silver ball in his pocket.
"Well, the time will pass quickly enough," he said, knowingly.
That night Peter could not sleep. He tossed and turned restlessly. He took the magic ball from under his pillow. For a moment he hesitated; then his impatience got the better of him, and he tugged at the golden thread. In the morning he awoke to find that the year was over and that Liese had at last agreed to marry him. Now Peter felt truly happy.
But before their wedding could take place, Peter received an official-looking letter. He opened it in trepidation and read that he was expected to report at the army barracks the following week for two years' military service. He showed the letter to Liese in despair.
"Well," she said, "there is nothing for it, we shall just have to wait. But the time will pass quickly, you'll see. There are so many things to do in preparation for our life together."
Peter smiled bravely, knowing that two years would seem a lifetime to him.
Once Peter had settled into life at the barracks, however, he began to feel that it wasn't so bad after all. He quite enjoyed being with all the other young men, and their duties were not very arduous at first. He remembered the old woman's warning to use the thread wisely and for a while refrained from pulling it.
But in time he grew restless again. Army life bored him with its routine duties and harsh discipline. He began pulling the thread to make the week go faster so that it would be Sunday again, or to speed up the time until he was due for leave. And so the two years passed almost as if they had been a dream.
Back home, Peter determined not to pull the thread again until it was absolutely necessary. After all, this was the best time of his life, as everyone told him. He did not want it to be over too quickly. He did, however, give the thread one or two very small tugs, just to speed along the day of his marriage.
He longed to tell Liese his secret, but he knew that if he did he would die.
On the day of his wedding, everyone, including Peter, was happy. He could hardly wait to show Liese the house he had built for her. At the wedding feast he glanced over at his mother. He noticed for the first time how gray her hair had grown recently. She seemed to be aging so quickly. Peter felt a pang of guilt that he had pulled the thread so often. Henceforward he would be much more sparing with it and only use it when it was strictly necessary.
A few months later Liese announced that she was going to have a child. Peter was overjoyed and could hardly wait. When the child was born, he felt that he could never want for anything again. But whenever the child was ill or cried through the sleepless night, he gave the thread a little tug, just so that the baby might be well and happy again.
Times were hard. Business was bad and a government had come to power that squeezed the people dry with taxes and would tolerate no opposition. Anyone who became known as a troublemaker was thrown into prison without trial and rumor was enough to condemn a man. Peter had always been known as one who spoke his mind, and very soon he was arrested and cast into jail. Luckily he had his magic ball with him and he tugged very hard at the thread. The prison walls dissolved before him and his enemies were scattered in the huge explosion that burst forth like thunder. It was the war that had
been threatening, but it was over as quickly as a summer storm, leaving behind it an exhausted peace.
Peter found himself back home with his family. But now he was a middle-aged man.
For a time things went well and Peter lived in relative contentment. One day he looked at his magic ball and saw to his surprise that the thread had turned from gold to silver. He looked in the mirror. His hair was starting to turn gray and his face was lined where before there had not been a wrinkle to be seen. He suddenly felt afraid and determined to use the thread even more carefully than before. Liese bore him more children and he seemed happy as the head of his growing household. His stately manner often made people think of him as some sort of benevolent ruler. He had an air of authority as if he held the fate of others in his hands. He kept his magic ball in a well-hidden place, safe from the curious eyes of his children, knowing that if anyone were to discover it, it would be fatal.
As the number of his children grew, so his house became more overcrowded. He would have to extend it, but for that he needed money. He had other worries too. His mother was looking older and more tired every day. It was of no use to pull the magic thread because that would only hasten her approaching death. All too soon she died, and as Peter stood at her graveside, he wondered how it was that life passed so quickly, even without pulling the magic thread.
One night as he lay in bed, kept awake by his worries, he thought how much easier life would be if all his children were grown up and launched upon their careers in life. He gave the thread a mighty tug, and the following day he awoke to find that his children had all left home for jobs in different parts of the country, and that he and his wife were alone. His hair was almost white now and often his back and limbs ached as he climbed the ladder or lifted a heavy beam into place. Liese too was getting old and she was often ill. He couldn't bear to see her suffer, so that more and more he resorted to pulling at the magic thread. But as soon as one trouble was solved, another seemed to grow in its place. Perhaps life would be easier if he retired, Peter thought. Then he would no longer have to clamber about on drafty, half-completed buildings and he could look after Liese when she was ill. The trouble was that he didn't have enough money to live on. He picked up his magic ball and looked at it. To his dismay he saw that the thread was no longer silver but gray and lusterless. He decided to go for a walk in the forest to think things over.
It was a long time since he had been in that part of the forest. The small saplings had all grown into tall fir trees, and it was hard to find the path he had once known. Eventually he came to a bench in a clearing. He sat down to rest and fell into a light doze. He was woken by someone calling his name,
"Peter! Peter!"
He looked up and saw the old woman he had met so many years ago when she had given him the magic silver ball with its golden thread. She looked just as she had on that day, not a day older. She smiled at him.
"So, Peter, have you had a good life?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," Peter said. "Your magic ball is a wonderful thing. I have never had to suffer or wait for anything in my life. And yet it has all passed so quickly. I feel that I have had no time to take in what has happened to me, neither the good things nor the bad. Now there is so little time left. I dare not pull the thread again for it will only bring me to my death. I do not think your gift has brought me luck."
"How ungrateful you are!" the old woman said. "In what way would you have wished things to be different?"
"Perhaps if you had given me a different ball, one where I could have pushed the thread back in as well as pulling it out. Then I could have relived the things that went badly."
The old woman laughed. "You ask a great deal! Do you think that God allows us to live our lives twice over? But I can grant you one final wish, you foolish, demanding man."
"What is that?" Peter asked.
"Choose," the old woman said. Peter thought hard.
At length he said, "I should like to live my life again as if for the first time, but without your magic ball. Then I will experience the bad things as well as the good without cutting them short, and at least my life will not pass as swiftly and meaninglessly as a daydream."
"So be it," said the old woman. "Give me back my ball."
She stretched out her hand and Peter placed the silver ball in it. Then he sat back and closed his eyes with exhaustion.
When he awoke he was in his own bed. His youthful mother was bending over him, shaking him gently.
"Wake up, Peter. You will be late for school. You were sleeping like the dead!"
He looked up at her in surprise and relief.
"I've had a terrible dream, Mother. I dreamed that I was old and sick and that my life had passed like the blinking of an eye with nothing to show for it. Not even any memories."
His mother laughed and shook her head.
"That will never happen," she said. "Memories are the one thing we all have, even when we are old. Now hurry and get dressed. Liese is waiting for you and you will be late for school."
As Peter walked to school with Liese, he noticed what a bright summer morning it was, the kind of morning when it felt good to be alive. Soon he would see his friends and classmates, and even the prospect of lessons didn't seem so bad. In fact he could hardly wait."
I feel as though I talk of patience a lot, but it is something I'm struggling with. But I know it's just another decoy of the enemy to get us to be unsatisfied with the position and blessings God gives us at the present. If we are constantly looking towards the future, looking for something better, going after what we want, how can we take the time to pause and thank God for everything he has already given us?
Psalm 27:14 "Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
Yup, that was in today's reading. As well as the Israelites having to wait three days to see God and be close to him. Think God is trying to send me a message?? I do!
Patience is specifically mentioned 33 times, only in the New Testament. God uses phrases such as "long suffering" and "endurance" in the old testament.
Being patient for what God has planned for us is not only an opportunity to use his gifts given to us, but to understand what it means to be a Christian. God does not give us anything that we can't handle, and everything runs on God's perfect master clock. He has a plan for us each and everyday, and he knows when we are ready to receive the desires of our hearts.
Alright, I get it, Lord! I'm working on it!
God bless,
Lauren
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Day 33
I don't know about you, but I think God was seriously playing with me today. Did anyone else listen to Obama's speech at the National Prayer breakfast? It was definitely encouraging and I truly believe that he is wanting to do right...
Now I believe that Obama is a great man, but I don't really agree with his policies. And that's the great thing about having the freedoms we do in the US, is that we don't always have to love the policies to love the man.
I'm just going to come right out and say it since no one really reads my blog, but I truly love Ron Paul as a candidate. He is not only an exemplary man, but has really fantastic ideas that I believe are quite Biblical in their foundation.
I hate underestimating how much time I have to get everything done. This morning, I had gotten up before the sun to go to lottery for basketball, and instead of staying up and getting things done, I slept in like a lazy sloth and didn't allow myself enough time to write my blog.
So, I'm sitting in my British literature class finishing up (well, starting) really my blog.
We read Samuel Taylor Coleridge's works for today, and included in those works was Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Now, I'm not a HUGE fan of poetry, but the more I read them, the more I appreciate them. There is a few lines at the end of Rime that are probably my favorite line of poetry ever written...
"He prayeth well, who leveth well
Both man and bird and beast.
He prayeth best, who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all."
Wow, that is very powerful for such a dark poem. And it's message is so clear, despite the poetics of the Rime.
I absolutely love classical literature. I really do. They have more depth, more insight, and quite frankly are more intelligent than the fiction of today. And people really cared to write about their faith--now we worry about being "politically correct." Any religious overtones and you get "shunned" from the literary world, especially by teenage girls who adore romance novels.
Well the Bible is the greatest romance novel of them all. It's God's love letter to us. It's God's way of telling us that he always provides. He made food rain from the sky for his beloved Israelites, he forgives all of us for our indiscretions, he gives guidance and affection... Yet vampires are more interesting? I'm sorry, as much as I really enjoy the Twilight series, I would choose the Bible anyday..
You know, I hate that sometimes we have to sacrifice. But whenever I recognize my bitterness, I immediately feel guilty.. Last night, I really wanted to go to the basketball game. I really really wanted to go. I had resolved, even though I had an immense amount of important work to do, to go to the game. I knew that I shouldn't go. I knew that I should stay home and do my work, but I did things my way. Well you know what happened? I forgot my student ID (which has my ticket on it) at home. I had parked my car, and gotten almost all the way to the Fieldhouse, when I realized I didn't have it. And I knew. I knew that I had disobeyed God.
You know, you don't think that something as little as homework has anything to do with glorifying God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Got me. Would it have been glorifying to God to either not do my work, or do it poorly? No. Not at all. My goal in life is to be a minister and to glorify God by action, word, and deed. Halfheartedly giving myself to my studies is not glorifying to God.
Another big thing is my research proposal for my Senior thesis is due today. My Senior thesis is going to consist of my book that I'm wanting to write about the modern relationship and what is/is not glorifying to God and what the Bible says about all of it. That's a big deal and I didn't have it done before I went to the game.
So when I got back to my apartment, I called my mom and teared up, then got myself together and did my homework. I worked and reworked my proposal. I found evidence to support my project, and I got all of my reading done. I was done by 9:00 and I felt good. I knew that I had made the right choice.
The choices that we make reflect our faith with God. The attitudes we have reflect our glory that we are giving to God. Even something as little as homework needs to be glorifying to our Father.
Matthew 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."
Are we going to ignore God's call in our life? Or are we going to rise up and be the chosen ones.
God Bless,
Lauren
Now I believe that Obama is a great man, but I don't really agree with his policies. And that's the great thing about having the freedoms we do in the US, is that we don't always have to love the policies to love the man.
I'm just going to come right out and say it since no one really reads my blog, but I truly love Ron Paul as a candidate. He is not only an exemplary man, but has really fantastic ideas that I believe are quite Biblical in their foundation.
I hate underestimating how much time I have to get everything done. This morning, I had gotten up before the sun to go to lottery for basketball, and instead of staying up and getting things done, I slept in like a lazy sloth and didn't allow myself enough time to write my blog.
So, I'm sitting in my British literature class finishing up (well, starting) really my blog.
We read Samuel Taylor Coleridge's works for today, and included in those works was Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Now, I'm not a HUGE fan of poetry, but the more I read them, the more I appreciate them. There is a few lines at the end of Rime that are probably my favorite line of poetry ever written...
"He prayeth well, who leveth well
Both man and bird and beast.
He prayeth best, who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all."
Wow, that is very powerful for such a dark poem. And it's message is so clear, despite the poetics of the Rime.
I absolutely love classical literature. I really do. They have more depth, more insight, and quite frankly are more intelligent than the fiction of today. And people really cared to write about their faith--now we worry about being "politically correct." Any religious overtones and you get "shunned" from the literary world, especially by teenage girls who adore romance novels.
Well the Bible is the greatest romance novel of them all. It's God's love letter to us. It's God's way of telling us that he always provides. He made food rain from the sky for his beloved Israelites, he forgives all of us for our indiscretions, he gives guidance and affection... Yet vampires are more interesting? I'm sorry, as much as I really enjoy the Twilight series, I would choose the Bible anyday..
You know, I hate that sometimes we have to sacrifice. But whenever I recognize my bitterness, I immediately feel guilty.. Last night, I really wanted to go to the basketball game. I really really wanted to go. I had resolved, even though I had an immense amount of important work to do, to go to the game. I knew that I shouldn't go. I knew that I should stay home and do my work, but I did things my way. Well you know what happened? I forgot my student ID (which has my ticket on it) at home. I had parked my car, and gotten almost all the way to the Fieldhouse, when I realized I didn't have it. And I knew. I knew that I had disobeyed God.
You know, you don't think that something as little as homework has anything to do with glorifying God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Got me. Would it have been glorifying to God to either not do my work, or do it poorly? No. Not at all. My goal in life is to be a minister and to glorify God by action, word, and deed. Halfheartedly giving myself to my studies is not glorifying to God.
Another big thing is my research proposal for my Senior thesis is due today. My Senior thesis is going to consist of my book that I'm wanting to write about the modern relationship and what is/is not glorifying to God and what the Bible says about all of it. That's a big deal and I didn't have it done before I went to the game.
So when I got back to my apartment, I called my mom and teared up, then got myself together and did my homework. I worked and reworked my proposal. I found evidence to support my project, and I got all of my reading done. I was done by 9:00 and I felt good. I knew that I had made the right choice.
The choices that we make reflect our faith with God. The attitudes we have reflect our glory that we are giving to God. Even something as little as homework needs to be glorifying to our Father.
Matthew 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."
Are we going to ignore God's call in our life? Or are we going to rise up and be the chosen ones.
God Bless,
Lauren
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