It is no secret that computers and I don't get along very well. I don't understand how they work and I don't have the patience to learn. I just want them to work when and how I want them to work. And when my computer doesn't work, all I have to do is yell... "KYYYYYYYLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" and he comes and magically fixes whatever the problem is. That's why I married him, just kidding. Sort of. Anyway, recently I was trying to log in to a website and I repeatedly got this message: "The Server understood your request, but chose not to fulfill it."
Has anyone else seen that message before?? I'm sure my jaw hit the floor the first time I saw that message. "That computer has a lot of nerve", I said aloud to my kitty who was sitting next to me. Some nerve indeed. It totally understood what I was telling it to do and it just flat out refused. Then I kind of chuckled to myself thinking about how children are sometimes the exact same way...
All of the sudden this thought popped into my head. How many times have I understood exactly what God was telling me to do and just flat out chose not to do it?? I am no better than that darn computer. I'm sure there are days when God just sits up there thinking, "That girl has a lot of nerve." I had to say a prayer of repentance because I knew that I have refused to obey God so many times. Some times I disobey because I lack the faith to believe that God can accomplish something through me, sometimes it's way too out of my comfort zone to do it, other times I'm just too lazy and stubborn to do it. The sin of omission is just as wrong as doing something I know not to do.
"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin."
- James 4:17
Talk about feeling convicted. Praise Jesus for his patience and mercy and for giving me countless second chances to get it right. Whew... who knew I would learn something spiritual from working on a computer?! God knew.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Dining Room
We had finished the painting and crown molding months and months ago and finally got around to the curtains this past week. It was an absolute headache to get the curtains to work in this room. Still don't love them, but it's going to stay like it is for a while. Definitely an improvement from what it was though. Enjoy the pics! :)
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Changes made:
paint (alternating flat and semi-gloss burgundy stripes)
new curtains
new light fixture
new wall plates
added crown molding
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Changes made:
paint (alternating flat and semi-gloss burgundy stripes)
new curtains
new light fixture
new wall plates
added crown molding
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
WOM
I'm on a team at our church called Women on Mission (WOM) which is part of our Women's Ministry. I LOVE this team and I love being involved in local and foreign missions projects. We plan a meeting/event about four times a year. Last night we had such a wonderful time at our summer meeting.
First, we collected paper products for the Raleigh Rescue Mission. Our original plan was to collect school supplies but after speaking with our contact at the mission, she said their shelves were almost completely bare of paper products. We collected so many things that it took two cars to get it all over there this morning. It is so exciting to be a part of this wonderful, Christ-centered ministry. I love going over to the mission and helping making a small difference in people's lives. The workers and volunteers at the RRM are so awesome and so appreciative and I love meeting them and getting to know them. We are laboring together despite our differences in culture, race, denomination, age, gender or background. It is such a beautiful picture. I know it makes God smile.
Secondly, we had a special time of prayer for Oyster Bay Baptist Church (love that name!) down in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Most of their members are in the fishing industry and have been affected by the oil spill. Since most of them have lost their income they are in obvious need of much prayer and encouragement. We wrote cards to the individual families at the church and I hope so much that they feel loved and encouraged by them. We got an email from the Pastor at their church and he told us that their Women's Ministry group had a special prayer time for us!!! That just gave me goose bumps all over! How sweet it is to know that we are all praying for each other. Again... another beautiful picture that I know God is pleased with. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. - Proverbs 27:17
And I know that no one will be surprised that I'm bringing up food here but I certainly can't talk about our meeting last night without mentioning the homemade pimento cheese sandwiches that one of our friends made. Holy Moly! Those things were awesome! I must get that recipe!
First, we collected paper products for the Raleigh Rescue Mission. Our original plan was to collect school supplies but after speaking with our contact at the mission, she said their shelves were almost completely bare of paper products. We collected so many things that it took two cars to get it all over there this morning. It is so exciting to be a part of this wonderful, Christ-centered ministry. I love going over to the mission and helping making a small difference in people's lives. The workers and volunteers at the RRM are so awesome and so appreciative and I love meeting them and getting to know them. We are laboring together despite our differences in culture, race, denomination, age, gender or background. It is such a beautiful picture. I know it makes God smile.
Secondly, we had a special time of prayer for Oyster Bay Baptist Church (love that name!) down in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Most of their members are in the fishing industry and have been affected by the oil spill. Since most of them have lost their income they are in obvious need of much prayer and encouragement. We wrote cards to the individual families at the church and I hope so much that they feel loved and encouraged by them. We got an email from the Pastor at their church and he told us that their Women's Ministry group had a special prayer time for us!!! That just gave me goose bumps all over! How sweet it is to know that we are all praying for each other. Again... another beautiful picture that I know God is pleased with. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. - Proverbs 27:17
And I know that no one will be surprised that I'm bringing up food here but I certainly can't talk about our meeting last night without mentioning the homemade pimento cheese sandwiches that one of our friends made. Holy Moly! Those things were awesome! I must get that recipe!
Beach Time
We have had a super busy but fun summer but we had not made it to the beach at all until this past weekend. Some friends invited us along to stay at their beach house for the weekend and we had such a nice and relaxing time.
We got a good dose of Vitamin D on Saturday laying out and swimming in the ocean. And... I did not get burned. Score! We made home made ice cream and watched some NASCAR (they were such good sports to let Kyle watch an entire race!) We even got some shopping in too! For dinner we drove and drove and drove down this road that finally dead ended at the water. There was a super cute beach house that had been turned into a seafood restaurant. It was such a neat place! The restaurant was on the first level and they had a bar and live music on the top deck. And the food was amazing!! The weekend ended with some board games and more NASCAR. Go figure.
Definitely a great weekend!!
We got a good dose of Vitamin D on Saturday laying out and swimming in the ocean. And... I did not get burned. Score! We made home made ice cream and watched some NASCAR (they were such good sports to let Kyle watch an entire race!) We even got some shopping in too! For dinner we drove and drove and drove down this road that finally dead ended at the water. There was a super cute beach house that had been turned into a seafood restaurant. It was such a neat place! The restaurant was on the first level and they had a bar and live music on the top deck. And the food was amazing!! The weekend ended with some board games and more NASCAR. Go figure.
Definitely a great weekend!!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Contentment
The past few weeks Pastor Craig has been preaching through the Disciple's Prayer and this week the sermon was on the verse, Give us each day our daily bread. (Luke 11:3)
God provides for us each and every day, exactly what we need for that day. We don't always know what tomorrow will bring, but we know that today, he will provide for our needs. Not necessarily all of our wants, but our needs. Food. Clothing. Shelter. He will provide. Through this part of the sermon I was nodding in agreement because I have seen in my own life that yes, God does indeed provide for all of my needs.
Then came the next part of the sermon, the convicting part...
We should be content with what we have.
I have never been one to desire great wealth or the nicest car or the biggest house or the stylish clothes or all the extras that tend to complicate life more than they add to it. I'm not bashing anyone who has, but honestly, I don't care about those things. But since I'm being honest here, I am not always content with what I have either. I look around the world and in my own town and see all of those who have nothing. Literally nothing. It breaks my heart. It really puts things in perspective. All of my wants suddenly become so trivial and don't matter any more.
It's not that when you become a Christian, God expects you to become poor. He does however, expect obedience in all things. And all of the money we have belongs to Him and we should be good stewards. Most people misquote this verse, but money is not the root of all evil, it's the LOVE of money that's the root of all evil. There is nothing wrong with working hard and having nice things, and going on vacations and saving for retirement. Nothing at all. But if all the extras is where we put our trust and if those are the things that consume us and money and status are what's important to us, we are headed down a path of destruction.
Consider this passage of scripture...
"If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
God provides for us each and every day, exactly what we need for that day. We don't always know what tomorrow will bring, but we know that today, he will provide for our needs. Not necessarily all of our wants, but our needs. Food. Clothing. Shelter. He will provide. Through this part of the sermon I was nodding in agreement because I have seen in my own life that yes, God does indeed provide for all of my needs.
Then came the next part of the sermon, the convicting part...
We should be content with what we have.
I have never been one to desire great wealth or the nicest car or the biggest house or the stylish clothes or all the extras that tend to complicate life more than they add to it. I'm not bashing anyone who has, but honestly, I don't care about those things. But since I'm being honest here, I am not always content with what I have either. I look around the world and in my own town and see all of those who have nothing. Literally nothing. It breaks my heart. It really puts things in perspective. All of my wants suddenly become so trivial and don't matter any more.
It's not that when you become a Christian, God expects you to become poor. He does however, expect obedience in all things. And all of the money we have belongs to Him and we should be good stewards. Most people misquote this verse, but money is not the root of all evil, it's the LOVE of money that's the root of all evil. There is nothing wrong with working hard and having nice things, and going on vacations and saving for retirement. Nothing at all. But if all the extras is where we put our trust and if those are the things that consume us and money and status are what's important to us, we are headed down a path of destruction.
Consider this passage of scripture...
"If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
- 1 Timothy 6:3-10
We should be storing up treasures in heaven, not on earth.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you." - Matthew 6:33
Lord, thank you for providing for all my daily needs. I choose to be content with what I have.
Addendum: I found this quote by Dr. James Dobson today and I think it fits perfectly with this post.
"I have concluded that the accumulation of wealth, even if I could achieve it, is an insufficient reason for living. When I reach the end of my days, a moment or two from now I must look backward on something more meaningful that the pursuit of houses, land, machines, stocks and bonds. Nor is fame any lasting benefit. I will consider my earthly existence to have been wasted unless I can recall a loving family, a consistent investment in the lives of people and an earnest attempt to serve the God who made me. Nothing else makes much sense."
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