The real dictionary...
Avoidable: What a bull fighter tries to do
Baloney: Where some hemlines fall
Bernadette: The act of torching a mortgage
Eclipse: What a Cockney barber does for a living
Goodbye: A bargain
Hatchet: What a hen does to an egg
Heroes: What a guy in a boat does
Ideal person: A card player that wants to deal every time
Lad: A short ladder
Left bank: What the robber did when his bag was full of loot
Mistletoe: Any animal missing a toe
Moron: Someone that spent all night studying for a blood test
Negative feedback: One result of seasickness
Paradox: Two physicians
Parasites: What you see from the top of the Eiffel tower
Polygon: A parrot that got away
Relief: What trees do in spring
Vitamin: What you do when someone comes to your house
Writer: One who corrects a wrong
One question for you: What's the real definition of procrastination?
Oh, and I'm not really that bad... I did finish my assignment due today :)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Little Things
How often in life do we think about the little things? Perhaps we're too ignorant, or maybe constantly unaware, but I feel sometimes we neglect the little stuff. Not as prominent or important maybe?
Well, the past couple of days made me think about the small things in life. At the moment I'm typing with nine fingers, and I really miss the tenth. I can't play the piano properly. I can't write neatly. I can't hold my coffee mug normally. I can't clench my right fist (and when you want to stretch your fingers that's annoying). I can't carry as much. And there's lots more that I can't do (or can't do properly) with only nine fingers. Strange? I thought so, but a soccer ball can really knock out a finger for a while. So whilst nursing my poor finger I was thinking about how so many things are taken for granted, how much we miss the little things in life but that make life so much easier, or that makes life 'normal'. How true it is that as soon as we can't have or use something then we realise how much we 'need' it. Could I survive with nine fingers? Yeah, but ten is a lot better...
God created man with ten fingers and ten toes, all for a reason. When you consider the intricate detail of even a finger (yes that does seem kinda weird, but that's me for you) then you can see an amazing Creator behind it all. And now my finger is healing, just like that. There's still a bruise, but that will most probably disappear within the next few days, and I'll get full strength (hopefully) back soon. I didn't even need to go to the doctor (although I wanted a legitimate excuse for having a sore finger... but I thought too much about my bank account). Pretty cool. And then I'll be able to use that finger again for all those strange, mundane things life is made of.
Now that's only a finger. What else is there that we miss?
Well, the past couple of days made me think about the small things in life. At the moment I'm typing with nine fingers, and I really miss the tenth. I can't play the piano properly. I can't write neatly. I can't hold my coffee mug normally. I can't clench my right fist (and when you want to stretch your fingers that's annoying). I can't carry as much. And there's lots more that I can't do (or can't do properly) with only nine fingers. Strange? I thought so, but a soccer ball can really knock out a finger for a while. So whilst nursing my poor finger I was thinking about how so many things are taken for granted, how much we miss the little things in life but that make life so much easier, or that makes life 'normal'. How true it is that as soon as we can't have or use something then we realise how much we 'need' it. Could I survive with nine fingers? Yeah, but ten is a lot better...
God created man with ten fingers and ten toes, all for a reason. When you consider the intricate detail of even a finger (yes that does seem kinda weird, but that's me for you) then you can see an amazing Creator behind it all. And now my finger is healing, just like that. There's still a bruise, but that will most probably disappear within the next few days, and I'll get full strength (hopefully) back soon. I didn't even need to go to the doctor (although I wanted a legitimate excuse for having a sore finger... but I thought too much about my bank account). Pretty cool. And then I'll be able to use that finger again for all those strange, mundane things life is made of.
Now that's only a finger. What else is there that we miss?
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Gentleness
“Let your gentleness be known to all men. The LORD is at hand” (Phil 4:5).
What is gentleness? The dictionary gives the obvious definition: kind; not violent; mild. And this certainly relates to gentleness. But as Christians, there is so much more to gentleness. Because we know God. We know Christ. And we know the true manifestation of gentleness. Not only must we avoid violence and rough behaviour, but we are to treat others with utmost respect.
There isn’t just a negative aspect to the fruits of the Spirit- showing love doesn’t just mean avoiding hate; being peaceful doesn’t just mean avoiding conflict; and in the same way, being gentle doesn’t just mean avoiding the ugly, unkind stuff. Being gentle is an active trait. Jerry Bridges defines gentleness in this way: “It is the recognition that the human personality is valuable but fragile and must be handled with care... (it) will demonstrate respect for the personal dignity of the other person... It takes strength, God’s strength to be truly gentle”.
God’s revelation of Himself is amazing. And His wonderful character includes gentleness. As Christ say, “Come to Me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:28-29). We have the promise of rest. And we also have the promise of guidance. “He (God) found him (His people) in a desert land... He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept Him as the apple of His eye” (Deut 32:10).
What will we do with this? “Let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible (unfading) beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious to the sight of God” (1 Pet 3:4). We are precious to Him, for we are the apple of God’s eye- what a beautiful promise! But God’s promises also come with obligations. As God says, “Keep My commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye” (Prov 7:2). So we must be gentle. We must clothe ourselves in gentleness. We must show that we love. Show that we care. Show our respect. We must avoid being quick to condemn but instead be open and understanding, willing to help, encouraging, sensitive and considerate. We must remember to acknowledge people as people, as God’s image, and as the apple of His eye.
What is gentleness? The dictionary gives the obvious definition: kind; not violent; mild. And this certainly relates to gentleness. But as Christians, there is so much more to gentleness. Because we know God. We know Christ. And we know the true manifestation of gentleness. Not only must we avoid violence and rough behaviour, but we are to treat others with utmost respect.
There isn’t just a negative aspect to the fruits of the Spirit- showing love doesn’t just mean avoiding hate; being peaceful doesn’t just mean avoiding conflict; and in the same way, being gentle doesn’t just mean avoiding the ugly, unkind stuff. Being gentle is an active trait. Jerry Bridges defines gentleness in this way: “It is the recognition that the human personality is valuable but fragile and must be handled with care... (it) will demonstrate respect for the personal dignity of the other person... It takes strength, God’s strength to be truly gentle”.
God’s revelation of Himself is amazing. And His wonderful character includes gentleness. As Christ say, “Come to Me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:28-29). We have the promise of rest. And we also have the promise of guidance. “He (God) found him (His people) in a desert land... He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept Him as the apple of His eye” (Deut 32:10).
What will we do with this? “Let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible (unfading) beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious to the sight of God” (1 Pet 3:4). We are precious to Him, for we are the apple of God’s eye- what a beautiful promise! But God’s promises also come with obligations. As God says, “Keep My commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye” (Prov 7:2). So we must be gentle. We must clothe ourselves in gentleness. We must show that we love. Show that we care. Show our respect. We must avoid being quick to condemn but instead be open and understanding, willing to help, encouraging, sensitive and considerate. We must remember to acknowledge people as people, as God’s image, and as the apple of His eye.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Cupcakes!!!
Joey came home from school needing something to trade for points. Don't ask me how that all works. But he enlisted my help and this was what he took to school...
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
A Peace of Fruit
World peace is everyone's goal, the dreams of celebrities, the focus of a world in conflict. The problem: Where are we looking? The wrong place it seems.
We all worry. I can say that with confidence. We all have anxieties, our troubles, ouir 'life-controlling problems'. Bad news seems to be the only news worth writing about or reporting. But if we search for the true Good News, then peace might seem a reachable goal. As Paul writes in Romans 5, "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God". Quoting Jerry Bridges, "Peace with God, then, is the foundation of peace within ourselves and peace with other people... We must pursue what makes for peace, both within and without, in dependence upon the Holy Spirit, realizing that the fruit of peace is His fruit, not ours... It is His work to produce peace within you. Your responsibility is to come in prayer, asking for the peace and looking to Him for it".
Not only can we desire peace, we can have it! The rich promises of our Triune God are amazing, yet even better is that we can see the fruits of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives now. Bring your anxieties to God in prayer. He will work peace in you, personal peace which translates into peace with men.
How do we show the fruit of peace? By being a piece of fruit.
- How do you solve your worries? Do you bring them to God or do you fret over petty issues? Are you a sour lemon, forever complaining and putting others in a bad mood by your attitude and actions? Or a orange with a thick skin that humbly and trustfully casts your burdens on the Gardener?
- How do you treat your fellow believers? Is there conflict or do you resolve to live as members of Christ's body, together in fellowship for the glory of God? Are you an individual pot plant in the dark recesses of an abandoned shed? Or part of a tree grafted in Christ and growing together in the light of God's promises?
- How do you deal with conflict? Do you blame others or take the initiative to restore peace? Are you part of the passionfuit gossip vine quick to blame the root of the problem? Or are you the tomato plant working with your basil neighbours to repel evil insects and improve each other's growth?
- How does your attitude reflect the Spirit working in you? Are you a prickly thorn with little need for sustenance and constantly spiking others? Or a strawberry bringing smiles and spreading the Good News everyone should hear?
In difficult times (we don't live in a perfect world so they will arise), remember your God. He will guard and keep you, protect you from the diseases of this world, and comfort you in the shelter of His wings.
"How oft in grief, Hath He not brought thee relief,
Spreading His wings to overshade thee" (Hymn 60:4)
We all worry. I can say that with confidence. We all have anxieties, our troubles, ouir 'life-controlling problems'. Bad news seems to be the only news worth writing about or reporting. But if we search for the true Good News, then peace might seem a reachable goal. As Paul writes in Romans 5, "Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God". Quoting Jerry Bridges, "Peace with God, then, is the foundation of peace within ourselves and peace with other people... We must pursue what makes for peace, both within and without, in dependence upon the Holy Spirit, realizing that the fruit of peace is His fruit, not ours... It is His work to produce peace within you. Your responsibility is to come in prayer, asking for the peace and looking to Him for it".
Not only can we desire peace, we can have it! The rich promises of our Triune God are amazing, yet even better is that we can see the fruits of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives now. Bring your anxieties to God in prayer. He will work peace in you, personal peace which translates into peace with men.
How do we show the fruit of peace? By being a piece of fruit.
- How do you solve your worries? Do you bring them to God or do you fret over petty issues? Are you a sour lemon, forever complaining and putting others in a bad mood by your attitude and actions? Or a orange with a thick skin that humbly and trustfully casts your burdens on the Gardener?
- How do you treat your fellow believers? Is there conflict or do you resolve to live as members of Christ's body, together in fellowship for the glory of God? Are you an individual pot plant in the dark recesses of an abandoned shed? Or part of a tree grafted in Christ and growing together in the light of God's promises?
- How do you deal with conflict? Do you blame others or take the initiative to restore peace? Are you part of the passionfuit gossip vine quick to blame the root of the problem? Or are you the tomato plant working with your basil neighbours to repel evil insects and improve each other's growth?
- How does your attitude reflect the Spirit working in you? Are you a prickly thorn with little need for sustenance and constantly spiking others? Or a strawberry bringing smiles and spreading the Good News everyone should hear?
In difficult times (we don't live in a perfect world so they will arise), remember your God. He will guard and keep you, protect you from the diseases of this world, and comfort you in the shelter of His wings.
"How oft in grief, Hath He not brought thee relief,
Spreading His wings to overshade thee" (Hymn 60:4)
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Harvest Treasure
Where is your treasure? Locked up in the safe? Under your mattress? In the piggy bank? Pondering life's treasures, we can easily think of our materialistic society, our desire for more and better, and our affluence. But what do you do with your possessions? What is your desire in life: To spend your way to happiness?
Today I was reminded of our status on this earth. We are given a place to live and possessions to help us live. But these are not ours! Everything we have received (yes, received, for we in fact earn nothing, nor do we get it of our own accord), everything we have received is God's. He owns all things- and rightly so, for He created them all! Therefore it is our duty to use what He gives us in the right manner- to strive together as tenants of God's land and gifts- striving for God's glory and to promote the welfare of others. God will always give us all we need, and more.
"God, our Maker, will provide
All our wants to be supplied.
Let His people all confess
His unchanging faithfulness" (Hymn 57, BoP)
At the same time, as we bear fruit in our lives, we may look further than this life. Lay up treasures in heaven. Our riches on this earth won't get us very far. As aptly written on a gravestone:
'What I spent, I lost. What I saved, I left. What I gave, I have.'
Treasures in heaven will last, eternally. Often we may think living fruitful lives doesn't accomplish anything. But God promises more- He promises a rewarding future.
If we serve God with our possessions, then we won't lose anything but we will push forward, investing in the future. Sometimes we might think that we need our possessions all for ourself. However, we must place our complete trust in the Creator. It will take an act of faith, yet it is a sure deal! God guarantees it! So use your gifts! But use them wisely. Use them for God and for others. Sure, you can live, and you can live well. But don't get caught up in the materialism of this world. Look to the future and plant a field. And you will be guaranteed a full harvest. At the same time, be that plant. Live. Strive. Bear fruit. Grow.
"Lord of harvest grant that we
Pure and wholesome wheat may be.
Lord, we pray Thee, quickly come;
Bear Thy final harvest home.
Gather Thou Thy people in
Freed from sorrow, freed from sin.
They, forever purified,
In Thy presence will abide.
Come with all Thy angels, come;
Bear Thy glorious harvest home." (Hymn 57, BoP)
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