In preparing my lesson for the girls' class tonight, I came across a thought that really made me look at trials in my life differently. Here's the snipit:
Job 23:10 – “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me I shall come forth as gold.” If you ask a goldsmith how long to keep gold in the fire, he will answer "until I can see my reflection in it". God often keeps us in the fire until He can see His own face reflected in our life.
I just wanted to get your thoughts on this so leave me some comments.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
just more of my life...
Well, today was the day to put the General Structures part of my registration exam to rest. However, I think it will come back from the dead soon. Taking that test was pure torture. Who knew you could study so much and still not know the information on the test? Why does it always work that way? So, it comes down to how well I can guess. A very deep heartfelt prayer was said before the test so let's hope God blesses me in a way that I probably don't really deserve! I should have put more time into studying but it's just so hard when you've got a million other things going on in your life. I mean, who wants to study when you've got a nursery to get ready!?! So, we'll know the results in a few weeks. On to my next challenge...lateral forces! Coming soon...February 13th!
Speaking of nursery, Daniel and I got the bedding for the nursery. It is discontinued so we had to jump and go ahead and buy the essentials. That is why alot of it is now unavailable online. You can see it here: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2407331. Our registry is with Babies-R-Us. I'll add to the registry whenever I can find the time to go do it. We'll also be registered at Wal-Mart. I was surprised when people starting asking already about my registries. It's only January! But then I realized, I'm only about 3 1/2 - 4 months away from this baby arriving! Am I ready? It's a pretty overwhelming thought to know that in that short amount of time that Daniel and I will be bombarded with so much more responsibility than just taking care of ourselves and each other! Parenthood. Wow! We are excited about it but scared to death at the same time. I guess that's normal. We were talking the other night about how excited we are to see other people have kids but can't really grasp the idea that this one is ours. It's a life that we created! I know how excited and overjoyed I get to see close friends/relatives bring a child into this world but I'm just so unsure of how it's going to feel to see OUR child come into this world. I know it's just going to be more than I can even imagine!
As of tomorrow, I am 25 weeks along in this pregnancy. I went in for my monthly doctor's appointment last Thursday. We listened to the heartbeat and he felt for the position of the uterus. He said it was where it's suppose to be and the size is right on track. Then, out the door I go. I think I sit longer in the waiting room than I do in the exam room. But, it's nice to hear each month that this baby is alive and kicking. Well, I feel the kicking all the time! No problems in this pregnancy so far. Keep up the prayers! God has really blessed me so far. I've not had hardly any pregnancy symptoms. I'm definitely experiencing some but none that have kept me from my normal routine. The belly is now starting to get in the way. It's getting difficult to get up and down off the couch and out of bed. And, I keep bumping it. I've stretched a little too far a few times and paid the consequences of some soreness. But, all around it's been quite fun watching my belly button disappear. So I guess you could say, "It's growing on me!" No pun intended. :) Well, ok. Maybe a small pun intended.
Well, I didn't really intend for this post to be this long. I just got to blabbing on and on. But if you've read this far, then, you probably don't mind. But, before I stop, I have to give props to my sweet, sweet husband. The past couple of weeks, he has really stepped up and pulled my slack. I've been completely engrossed in studying for the exam and haven't cooked or cleaned. He's been a trooper and has prepared many meals these past few weeks. He even made a trip to the grocery store with the full grocery list! Not just for milk and cereal. The dog hair's been vacuumed. We have clean clothes. The sink is clean with no dirty dishes. So to my wonderful husband...thank you for keeping us from living in a pig sty and from going hungry. Only three more exams and then you can start doing chores because it's May and the baby has arrived. ;) All joking aside, thank you for stepping up to the plate. I love you.
So, my life as it happens...tests and baby news. That's about it...
Speaking of nursery, Daniel and I got the bedding for the nursery. It is discontinued so we had to jump and go ahead and buy the essentials. That is why alot of it is now unavailable online. You can see it here: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2407331. Our registry is with Babies-R-Us. I'll add to the registry whenever I can find the time to go do it. We'll also be registered at Wal-Mart. I was surprised when people starting asking already about my registries. It's only January! But then I realized, I'm only about 3 1/2 - 4 months away from this baby arriving! Am I ready? It's a pretty overwhelming thought to know that in that short amount of time that Daniel and I will be bombarded with so much more responsibility than just taking care of ourselves and each other! Parenthood. Wow! We are excited about it but scared to death at the same time. I guess that's normal. We were talking the other night about how excited we are to see other people have kids but can't really grasp the idea that this one is ours. It's a life that we created! I know how excited and overjoyed I get to see close friends/relatives bring a child into this world but I'm just so unsure of how it's going to feel to see OUR child come into this world. I know it's just going to be more than I can even imagine!
As of tomorrow, I am 25 weeks along in this pregnancy. I went in for my monthly doctor's appointment last Thursday. We listened to the heartbeat and he felt for the position of the uterus. He said it was where it's suppose to be and the size is right on track. Then, out the door I go. I think I sit longer in the waiting room than I do in the exam room. But, it's nice to hear each month that this baby is alive and kicking. Well, I feel the kicking all the time! No problems in this pregnancy so far. Keep up the prayers! God has really blessed me so far. I've not had hardly any pregnancy symptoms. I'm definitely experiencing some but none that have kept me from my normal routine. The belly is now starting to get in the way. It's getting difficult to get up and down off the couch and out of bed. And, I keep bumping it. I've stretched a little too far a few times and paid the consequences of some soreness. But, all around it's been quite fun watching my belly button disappear. So I guess you could say, "It's growing on me!" No pun intended. :) Well, ok. Maybe a small pun intended.
Well, I didn't really intend for this post to be this long. I just got to blabbing on and on. But if you've read this far, then, you probably don't mind. But, before I stop, I have to give props to my sweet, sweet husband. The past couple of weeks, he has really stepped up and pulled my slack. I've been completely engrossed in studying for the exam and haven't cooked or cleaned. He's been a trooper and has prepared many meals these past few weeks. He even made a trip to the grocery store with the full grocery list! Not just for milk and cereal. The dog hair's been vacuumed. We have clean clothes. The sink is clean with no dirty dishes. So to my wonderful husband...thank you for keeping us from living in a pig sty and from going hungry. Only three more exams and then you can start doing chores because it's May and the baby has arrived. ;) All joking aside, thank you for stepping up to the plate. I love you.
So, my life as it happens...tests and baby news. That's about it...
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Prayer
For those of you who read my lessons, I hope they are encouraging to you in some way. We all get so caught up in our busy lives that we really tend to "go through the motions" most of the time. Take a moment to really reflect on your prayer life. This is one area in my life that I really struggle. Taking some time to stop and talk to God and focus on Him and His word. I do pretty good at the little "thank you's" during the day but fail to take some time to truly meditate. I pray God will soften your heart so that you can open up to Him and let Him in your life. He is always listening! What a comfort!
Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships
Winter Quarter ’06 -‘07
Teen Girls Class – Wednesday nights
Song
Ground rules
1. Respect others and their points of view.
2. There are no “dumb” questions. (must be relevant)
3. Only one person speaks at a time.
4. No "Put Downs".
5. Open up and have fun!
6. Always bring your Bible.
Tonight we will be talking about prayer. So let’s first start our class by saying a prayer.
Prayer is one of the most important parts of a Christian’s life. However, it is often overlooked or neglected. Many times we get the wrong impression of prayer…like it’s more of an obligation like thanking Him for the food or saying a bedtime prayer. We teach these to our kids and pick up those habits as kids that we many times forget what prayer is really for. So why pray?
Let’s look at some of the things genuine prayer can do for us:
1. Prayer can help you fight off temptation. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” The New Living Translation - “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. We can let God know our temptations and ask Him to help us to see the way out. Philippians 4:6 states – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
2. Prayer brings forgiveness when you mess up. God just wants you to ask and He will forgive you. There’s no magic formula and no punishment. He forgives you, period! The best part is that He remembers those sins no more. They are washed from the slate when you genuinely ask for His forgiveness.
3. Prayer can make your life happier. Happiness is not found in things of this world, such as alcohol, drugs, sex, money, TV. It’s not even found in good things in life such as friends, sports, or hobbies. If you are looking for happiness, you’re on the wrong road if you look anywhere but up! That’s not to say that nothing bad will ever happen to you though. We all have trials and tribulations. We just discussed temptations. But, always turning to Him will bless your life in so many ways.
God has given you a direct phone line to Him, but it’s up to you to make the calls.
We’ve all heard kids pray. Isn’t it funny sometimes the things they pray for? One of the things we can learn from these prayers is openness. We need to really open up and let God into our hearts. The best way is to talk to Him. It’s just like getting to know a friend of yours. The best way to get to know them is to talk to them. Some of my closest friends are ones that I can go to and confide in. We’ve spent many hours just talking. God wants to be that person in your life. He wants you to lay down all your burdens on Him. He is listening always. No matter how silly or petty the requests are.
So let’s take some time to figure out the “how-to’s” and the “how-not-to’s” of prayer.
1. Be open to God’s answer. It may not be the answer you wanted, but be on the lookout for one. He may say “Yes”. He may say “no”. He may even say “not right now”. You must also do your part when you ask God for something. He’s not going to let you pass your exam if you don’t do your part and study. Also, you can’t ask Him to help you grow spiritually if you are not making an effort to grow yourself.
2. Make sure your heart is clean. Psalm 66:17-20 – “I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” We need to make sure our hearts are right when we make requests of God. If you have sins you need to confess and ask God’s forgiveness, do that first. Confessing our sins every day is like taking a spiritual bath. Also, do you think God wants us to say, “Please forgive me if I have sinned today,” or does He want us to tell Him specifically what we did and what we plan to do to avoid that in the future? I’ll admit, I’m really bad about just saying, “Please forgive me of my sins.” Can we really be repentant if we’re not really sure what those sins are?
3. Talk like you would to a friend. Do you sometimes find yourself repeating big words or phrases that you normally only hear in prayers at church? Can you think of any in particular? If you know what these mean, then it’s fine to use them to show respect to God in your prayers. But, don’t use them just to sound impressive in your public prayers. We shouldn’t be any more showy in our public prayers than we are in our private talks with God. Luke 18:9-14 – “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Write down what you think the verses are warning us against.
4. Prayer particulars.
· How many minutes per week would you say you spend in praying to God?
· Do you plan times to pray or do you just pray when you feel a special need to?
· Where do you usually pray?
So how often are we to talk to God?
Once a day?
Constantly?
Morning and night?
At devotionals?
Before Meals?
What does 1 Thessalonians 5:17 say? “Pray continually.” So how do we do that with all the other things going on in our daily lives? Does that mean that we’re suppose to stay home all day and continuously talk to God? If you are doing what God says, your whole life will be a form of communication with Him. Prayers don’t have to start out “Dear God” and end with “Amen”. They may consist of a simple “thanks” when things go good or “help” when you’re in trouble.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of praying only when we need something from God. He wants your devotion all of the time. Have you ever had a “friend” who came around only when he wanted money or some special favor? That’s how a lot of us treat God. We don’t seem to care much about Him until we really need Him to get us out of some kind of mess.
Write down which five minutes of your days this week you could set aside to pray. It could be early in the morning, at lunch time, or whenever works best for you. Give God those five minutes each day this week and then try to increase to ten minutes a day for the next week. Find a quiet place where you can be alone, read several Bible verses, and just talk to God.
Prayer Bracelet:
Color: Light Blue
Subject: Blue is a calming color so whenever you look down and see your bracelet this week, take a deep breath, relish in the moment, and say a little prayer to God for you.
Warm Fuzzy assignment:
Say a prayer for someone in this class. Then, write them an encouraging note and let them know that you prayed for them.
Prayer
Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships
Winter Quarter ’06 -‘07
Teen Girls Class – Wednesday nights
Song
Ground rules
1. Respect others and their points of view.
2. There are no “dumb” questions. (must be relevant)
3. Only one person speaks at a time.
4. No "Put Downs".
5. Open up and have fun!
6. Always bring your Bible.
Tonight we will be talking about prayer. So let’s first start our class by saying a prayer.
Prayer is one of the most important parts of a Christian’s life. However, it is often overlooked or neglected. Many times we get the wrong impression of prayer…like it’s more of an obligation like thanking Him for the food or saying a bedtime prayer. We teach these to our kids and pick up those habits as kids that we many times forget what prayer is really for. So why pray?
Let’s look at some of the things genuine prayer can do for us:
1. Prayer can help you fight off temptation. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” The New Living Translation - “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. We can let God know our temptations and ask Him to help us to see the way out. Philippians 4:6 states – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
2. Prayer brings forgiveness when you mess up. God just wants you to ask and He will forgive you. There’s no magic formula and no punishment. He forgives you, period! The best part is that He remembers those sins no more. They are washed from the slate when you genuinely ask for His forgiveness.
3. Prayer can make your life happier. Happiness is not found in things of this world, such as alcohol, drugs, sex, money, TV. It’s not even found in good things in life such as friends, sports, or hobbies. If you are looking for happiness, you’re on the wrong road if you look anywhere but up! That’s not to say that nothing bad will ever happen to you though. We all have trials and tribulations. We just discussed temptations. But, always turning to Him will bless your life in so many ways.
God has given you a direct phone line to Him, but it’s up to you to make the calls.
We’ve all heard kids pray. Isn’t it funny sometimes the things they pray for? One of the things we can learn from these prayers is openness. We need to really open up and let God into our hearts. The best way is to talk to Him. It’s just like getting to know a friend of yours. The best way to get to know them is to talk to them. Some of my closest friends are ones that I can go to and confide in. We’ve spent many hours just talking. God wants to be that person in your life. He wants you to lay down all your burdens on Him. He is listening always. No matter how silly or petty the requests are.
So let’s take some time to figure out the “how-to’s” and the “how-not-to’s” of prayer.
1. Be open to God’s answer. It may not be the answer you wanted, but be on the lookout for one. He may say “Yes”. He may say “no”. He may even say “not right now”. You must also do your part when you ask God for something. He’s not going to let you pass your exam if you don’t do your part and study. Also, you can’t ask Him to help you grow spiritually if you are not making an effort to grow yourself.
2. Make sure your heart is clean. Psalm 66:17-20 – “I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” We need to make sure our hearts are right when we make requests of God. If you have sins you need to confess and ask God’s forgiveness, do that first. Confessing our sins every day is like taking a spiritual bath. Also, do you think God wants us to say, “Please forgive me if I have sinned today,” or does He want us to tell Him specifically what we did and what we plan to do to avoid that in the future? I’ll admit, I’m really bad about just saying, “Please forgive me of my sins.” Can we really be repentant if we’re not really sure what those sins are?
3. Talk like you would to a friend. Do you sometimes find yourself repeating big words or phrases that you normally only hear in prayers at church? Can you think of any in particular? If you know what these mean, then it’s fine to use them to show respect to God in your prayers. But, don’t use them just to sound impressive in your public prayers. We shouldn’t be any more showy in our public prayers than we are in our private talks with God. Luke 18:9-14 – “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Write down what you think the verses are warning us against.
4. Prayer particulars.
· How many minutes per week would you say you spend in praying to God?
· Do you plan times to pray or do you just pray when you feel a special need to?
· Where do you usually pray?
So how often are we to talk to God?
Once a day?
Constantly?
Morning and night?
At devotionals?
Before Meals?
What does 1 Thessalonians 5:17 say? “Pray continually.” So how do we do that with all the other things going on in our daily lives? Does that mean that we’re suppose to stay home all day and continuously talk to God? If you are doing what God says, your whole life will be a form of communication with Him. Prayers don’t have to start out “Dear God” and end with “Amen”. They may consist of a simple “thanks” when things go good or “help” when you’re in trouble.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of praying only when we need something from God. He wants your devotion all of the time. Have you ever had a “friend” who came around only when he wanted money or some special favor? That’s how a lot of us treat God. We don’t seem to care much about Him until we really need Him to get us out of some kind of mess.
Write down which five minutes of your days this week you could set aside to pray. It could be early in the morning, at lunch time, or whenever works best for you. Give God those five minutes each day this week and then try to increase to ten minutes a day for the next week. Find a quiet place where you can be alone, read several Bible verses, and just talk to God.
Prayer Bracelet:
Color: Light Blue
Subject: Blue is a calming color so whenever you look down and see your bracelet this week, take a deep breath, relish in the moment, and say a little prayer to God for you.
Warm Fuzzy assignment:
Say a prayer for someone in this class. Then, write them an encouraging note and let them know that you prayed for them.
Prayer
Friday, January 19, 2007
Tagged!
Ok. So Gilbert tagged me...
Here is how it works:
1) Grab the book closest to you
2) Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence
3) Post the text of the following three sentences
4) Name the author and book title
5) Tag three people to do the same
Here are my responses:
“The lateral resistance of lag screws, that is, the shear load they can safely resist, is generally lower than that of bolts of the same diameter. Design values for both withdrawal and lateral load are tabulated in the National Design Specification, the Timber Construction Manual, and the 1994 Uniform Building Code. Lag screws are made in a variety of diameters and lengths, from 1/4″ diameter and 1″ long to 1-1/4″ diameter and 12″ long.”
Book title: General Structures
Authors: David M. Berg, P.E. and Robert Marks, P.E.
Sorry, but you caught me during the time I am studying for the General Structures portion of my architectural registration exam. This book will be closest to me for another week, then on to Lateral Forces. Fun, fun!
I don't know of many other people who blog so I can't really tag anyone...but I did the other part!
Here is how it works:
1) Grab the book closest to you
2) Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence
3) Post the text of the following three sentences
4) Name the author and book title
5) Tag three people to do the same
Here are my responses:
“The lateral resistance of lag screws, that is, the shear load they can safely resist, is generally lower than that of bolts of the same diameter. Design values for both withdrawal and lateral load are tabulated in the National Design Specification, the Timber Construction Manual, and the 1994 Uniform Building Code. Lag screws are made in a variety of diameters and lengths, from 1/4″ diameter and 1″ long to 1-1/4″ diameter and 12″ long.”
Book title: General Structures
Authors: David M. Berg, P.E. and Robert Marks, P.E.
Sorry, but you caught me during the time I am studying for the General Structures portion of my architectural registration exam. This book will be closest to me for another week, then on to Lateral Forces. Fun, fun!
I don't know of many other people who blog so I can't really tag anyone...but I did the other part!
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Thought for the day...
I read a good quote in an e-mail I got today and thought I would share it...
"Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car."
However, part of being a Christian is going to church just like part of being a car is getting to park in the garage. Another thought is...how much junk is in your garage to where the car can't be parked there? In other words, how much junk is in the way of keeping you from going to church and fullfilling that which you are meant to do?
"Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car."
However, part of being a Christian is going to church just like part of being a car is getting to park in the garage. Another thought is...how much junk is in your garage to where the car can't be parked there? In other words, how much junk is in the way of keeping you from going to church and fullfilling that which you are meant to do?
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Quiet Time with God
Here is another one of my lessons for those interested. I pray you always find your quiet time with God. I struggle every day and fail most days. I'm thankful God is a forgiving God for the times we don't live up to His expectations.
Again, my lessons are based on the book "Going Through the Motions".
Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships
Winter Quarter ’06 -‘07
Teen Girls Class – Wednesday nights
How would you answer these questions?
Would you like to take all of your school books and dump them into the Atlantic Ocean?
Do you dream of sunny beaches in Florida?
Are you easily irritated?
Having trouble sleeping?
Are you forgetful?
Are your classes at school and church a real BORE?
If you answered “yes” to more than two of these, then you probably have the “hurry sickness”. Someone who is suffering from “hurry sickness”, tell me what it is from your perspective.
We all suffer from this sickness at one time or another. Some of us more often than others. We all need and long for “quiet time”. The dictionary calls it “solitude”. Just a time to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. Think of all the things that weigh you down during the day. Now imagine taking a broom and sweeping all of those things out the door. But what do you put in its place? How do you keep all those things from creeping back in? The best way is to fill that place with things that matter, like time with God.
However, that takes self-discipline. It has to be planned and practiced regularly. You have to find a very special place where you won’t be disturbed…far away from the clatter of daily living. There is strength in solitude.
The Bible gives us many examples of people who practiced solitude. There was Joshua. He was afraid he was going to lose the battle so he stood alone and prayed. He won a victory over 5 kings! There’s also Jonah. God had to take more drastic measures to get him to spend some time alone with God. All those hours alone in the belly of a whale gave Jonah enough strength to preach to the people in Nineveh.
So where can you go to get away from everything and spend some time with God? Would God have to do something so drastic as to place you in the belly of a fish? Think of several places you might be able to use for an occasional quiet time with God. Let’s talk about some requirements for the places you choose.
1. It must be out of the path of traffic.
2. It must be a place you can use in both good and bad weather.
3. It must be well-lit.
4. It must be quiet!
Can you think of some other requirements? Now, based on these requirements, take a minute or two and write down on your handout some places you could go to for your quiet time.
Jesus gave us a wonderful example. Over and over we are told in the Bible of times when Jesus left the crowd and went to be alone with God. He began His day in prayer.
Mark 1:35 – “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
What does it tell you about our Lord’s quiet time?
Luke 6:12 – “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”
When did Jesus spend time alone with His Father?
But, you’re probably like me and screaming, “There’s no time for quiet time! I’ve got so much to do and not enough time to do it!” What are some activities or circumstances that keep you from having quiet time?
It does take effort to find a place for God in the middle of these activities. I mentioned earlier that it takes self-discipline. It must be planned and practiced regularly. So let’s have a plan of attack on how to accomplish this.
1. Have a special place to spend time with God. We talked earlier about this and the requirements that go along with it. I’ve found the car to be a good place for me but you have to turn off the radio to truly get the benefit. It also cuts down on the road rage. Matt. 6:6 – “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
2. Take “minute” breaks of quiet time. Spaced throughout the day are tiny bits of time with no one else around. During those precious moments, just think about God. Praise Him for the day. Think about all the things you are thankful for. This doesn’t have to be a long drawn out prayer. Sometimes I’ll realize that God did something great for me and take a second to say thanks. It may have been a small thing but special nonetheless.
3. Enjoy nature. All of God’s gifts of nature are given to us to enjoy. When’s the last time you took some time to look around you at this beautiful earth that you live in? Open your eyes! Wake up your senses! Celebrate life! One of my favorite places to go and truly appreciate the beauty of nature is the mountains. I grew up going to the beach so it’s not as special to me as it is to most. I love to just sit on a rock, listen to the leaves blow, the birds chirp, the water flowing in the stream or over a waterfall. It’s a calming place for me. But I don’t get to experience that very often. I’ve had to learn to find that joy in my everyday life. When I was growing up, I went to a Christian youth camp every year. I loved that place. It was a lot like Camp Inagehi. Outside, no air conditioning, etc. One of the things I remember us doing was lying out in the field on blankets or towels and singing. It was always at night. The only lights were the ones from the cabins and the pavilion. We just laid there staring into the night sky with the most beautiful array of stars. The camp was out in the middle of nowhere so there were no city lights to ruin seeing the stars. I have found that memory coming back to me when I’m outside at night in my back yard playing with the dog. I make do with the limited amount of stars that I can see. That beauty makes me feel so close to God, even in my own back yard. Sometimes, I’ll even start singing. It doesn’t happen every time I’m out there. But I find it happens when I need it the most. So you have to try and find those few little moments.
4. Enjoy special “one of a kind” moments. Like when it snows and you get to stay home from school, the new growth of spring and the flowers beginning to bloom, a baby being born, a baptism, etc. Can you think of others? These are all reasons to celebrate, take a deep breath, and thank God.
5. Set aside a special time. Last week we talked about your daily schedule. Did you find some time in that schedule for God? Set aside the same time everyday that’s best for you to be quiet with God. Try to let nothing come between you and this special time.
6. Have all the necessary equipment – your Bible, a pencil, and maybe a song book, plus a notebook for recording your special thoughts and feelings. Read from your Bible, trying to relate what you read to your everyday life. Read a devotional book. Spend some time just listening to your own thoughts and communing with God in prayer. See the quietness of His presence. As you rest quietly in God, make your prayer requests known to Him. Ask Him to use your life for His purposes. Give Him your body, mind, and spirit. Tell Him of your imperfections. Let go of the demands of living that clutter your days. I’ve found that a prayer journal helps me do a lot of that. It keeps my mind on task. I think of things and write them down. A lot of times I can’t write fast enough.
So now you have a plan of attack. This week your challenge is to find that special time and place to just be quiet. Find the strength in solitude.
Again, my lessons are based on the book "Going Through the Motions".
Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships
Winter Quarter ’06 -‘07
Teen Girls Class – Wednesday nights
How would you answer these questions?
Would you like to take all of your school books and dump them into the Atlantic Ocean?
Do you dream of sunny beaches in Florida?
Are you easily irritated?
Having trouble sleeping?
Are you forgetful?
Are your classes at school and church a real BORE?
If you answered “yes” to more than two of these, then you probably have the “hurry sickness”. Someone who is suffering from “hurry sickness”, tell me what it is from your perspective.
We all suffer from this sickness at one time or another. Some of us more often than others. We all need and long for “quiet time”. The dictionary calls it “solitude”. Just a time to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. Think of all the things that weigh you down during the day. Now imagine taking a broom and sweeping all of those things out the door. But what do you put in its place? How do you keep all those things from creeping back in? The best way is to fill that place with things that matter, like time with God.
However, that takes self-discipline. It has to be planned and practiced regularly. You have to find a very special place where you won’t be disturbed…far away from the clatter of daily living. There is strength in solitude.
The Bible gives us many examples of people who practiced solitude. There was Joshua. He was afraid he was going to lose the battle so he stood alone and prayed. He won a victory over 5 kings! There’s also Jonah. God had to take more drastic measures to get him to spend some time alone with God. All those hours alone in the belly of a whale gave Jonah enough strength to preach to the people in Nineveh.
So where can you go to get away from everything and spend some time with God? Would God have to do something so drastic as to place you in the belly of a fish? Think of several places you might be able to use for an occasional quiet time with God. Let’s talk about some requirements for the places you choose.
1. It must be out of the path of traffic.
2. It must be a place you can use in both good and bad weather.
3. It must be well-lit.
4. It must be quiet!
Can you think of some other requirements? Now, based on these requirements, take a minute or two and write down on your handout some places you could go to for your quiet time.
Jesus gave us a wonderful example. Over and over we are told in the Bible of times when Jesus left the crowd and went to be alone with God. He began His day in prayer.
Mark 1:35 – “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
What does it tell you about our Lord’s quiet time?
Luke 6:12 – “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”
When did Jesus spend time alone with His Father?
But, you’re probably like me and screaming, “There’s no time for quiet time! I’ve got so much to do and not enough time to do it!” What are some activities or circumstances that keep you from having quiet time?
It does take effort to find a place for God in the middle of these activities. I mentioned earlier that it takes self-discipline. It must be planned and practiced regularly. So let’s have a plan of attack on how to accomplish this.
1. Have a special place to spend time with God. We talked earlier about this and the requirements that go along with it. I’ve found the car to be a good place for me but you have to turn off the radio to truly get the benefit. It also cuts down on the road rage. Matt. 6:6 – “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
2. Take “minute” breaks of quiet time. Spaced throughout the day are tiny bits of time with no one else around. During those precious moments, just think about God. Praise Him for the day. Think about all the things you are thankful for. This doesn’t have to be a long drawn out prayer. Sometimes I’ll realize that God did something great for me and take a second to say thanks. It may have been a small thing but special nonetheless.
3. Enjoy nature. All of God’s gifts of nature are given to us to enjoy. When’s the last time you took some time to look around you at this beautiful earth that you live in? Open your eyes! Wake up your senses! Celebrate life! One of my favorite places to go and truly appreciate the beauty of nature is the mountains. I grew up going to the beach so it’s not as special to me as it is to most. I love to just sit on a rock, listen to the leaves blow, the birds chirp, the water flowing in the stream or over a waterfall. It’s a calming place for me. But I don’t get to experience that very often. I’ve had to learn to find that joy in my everyday life. When I was growing up, I went to a Christian youth camp every year. I loved that place. It was a lot like Camp Inagehi. Outside, no air conditioning, etc. One of the things I remember us doing was lying out in the field on blankets or towels and singing. It was always at night. The only lights were the ones from the cabins and the pavilion. We just laid there staring into the night sky with the most beautiful array of stars. The camp was out in the middle of nowhere so there were no city lights to ruin seeing the stars. I have found that memory coming back to me when I’m outside at night in my back yard playing with the dog. I make do with the limited amount of stars that I can see. That beauty makes me feel so close to God, even in my own back yard. Sometimes, I’ll even start singing. It doesn’t happen every time I’m out there. But I find it happens when I need it the most. So you have to try and find those few little moments.
4. Enjoy special “one of a kind” moments. Like when it snows and you get to stay home from school, the new growth of spring and the flowers beginning to bloom, a baby being born, a baptism, etc. Can you think of others? These are all reasons to celebrate, take a deep breath, and thank God.
5. Set aside a special time. Last week we talked about your daily schedule. Did you find some time in that schedule for God? Set aside the same time everyday that’s best for you to be quiet with God. Try to let nothing come between you and this special time.
6. Have all the necessary equipment – your Bible, a pencil, and maybe a song book, plus a notebook for recording your special thoughts and feelings. Read from your Bible, trying to relate what you read to your everyday life. Read a devotional book. Spend some time just listening to your own thoughts and communing with God in prayer. See the quietness of His presence. As you rest quietly in God, make your prayer requests known to Him. Ask Him to use your life for His purposes. Give Him your body, mind, and spirit. Tell Him of your imperfections. Let go of the demands of living that clutter your days. I’ve found that a prayer journal helps me do a lot of that. It keeps my mind on task. I think of things and write them down. A lot of times I can’t write fast enough.
So now you have a plan of attack. This week your challenge is to find that special time and place to just be quiet. Find the strength in solitude.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Luckily, we didn't drown!
Not much new going on in the lives of the Wards today. We had a pipe burst last Saturday so we've been cleaning up water and waiting on the floors to dry in the basement. We spent most of yesterday afternoon cleaning the carpet with a steam cleaner. Got any ideas on how to get rid of the smell? Some of you Elbians might have a good suggestion. Daniel and I are anxious/nervous about our next power bill since we had 4 fans running for 5 or 6 days!
Studying for my next exam has not been going very well. I'm trying to buckle down but who wants to spend their free time doing math problems? I like math but not that much! It's also been really hard to turn off the TV or stay awake. I start reading and zzzzzzzzz... I finally got through the first chapter last night! woo hoo! Progress! Only 11 more chapters to go...and videos and mock exams and...ugh, it just doesn't end. I think it's just about getting over the hurdle of getting back in the routine of studying. However, panic is about to set in since my test is in two weeks! So, every waking moment that I'm not working, I'll be studying. So, gotta go relearn all about loads on concrete and steel, deflection in a beam, moments of inertia...oh, wait, you probably don't really care as long as I pass, right? :)
Studying for my next exam has not been going very well. I'm trying to buckle down but who wants to spend their free time doing math problems? I like math but not that much! It's also been really hard to turn off the TV or stay awake. I start reading and zzzzzzzzz... I finally got through the first chapter last night! woo hoo! Progress! Only 11 more chapters to go...and videos and mock exams and...ugh, it just doesn't end. I think it's just about getting over the hurdle of getting back in the routine of studying. However, panic is about to set in since my test is in two weeks! So, every waking moment that I'm not working, I'll be studying. So, gotta go relearn all about loads on concrete and steel, deflection in a beam, moments of inertia...oh, wait, you probably don't really care as long as I pass, right? :)
Friday, January 12, 2007
Teen Class Lesson
I mentioned in my first post that I would post my lessons from my teen girls' class. My lessons come from a book called "Going Through the Motions" by Linda Schott and Marty Dobson. They can get pretty long, but if you read them, I pray you will find something that will encourage you as I am trying to do with the girls.
Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships
Winter Quarter ’06 -‘07
Teen Girls Class – Wednesday nights
Prayer
Ground rules
1. Respect others and their points of view.
2. There are no “dumb” questions. (must be relevant)
3. Only one person speaks at a time.
4. No "Put Downs".
5. Open up and have fun!
6. Always bring your Bible.
Are you tired of feeling like a “nobody” in God’s kingdom? So who is the person that can change the way you feel about your place in the His kingdom? You.
Let’s talk a little bit first about becoming a Christian. We’ve all heard the five steps to becoming a Christian or being saved. Hear. Believe. Repent. Confess. Baptism. Growing up, I was always taught a sixth. Live faithfully. We forget that one a lot of times. We get it in our heads that once we are baptized that we’re safe. No more action is needed.
Someone tell me how/what they felt the day they were baptized. I remember feeling proud but I also remember feeling a sense of relief. I knew at that moment that I had done what God wanted me to do and that all my sins were washed away. When you are buried in baptism, God wipes your slate clean of everything you’ve done wrong. That’s what salvation is.
I was baptized when I was 13. I don’t remember everything about that day. I remember vividly my walk down that aisle. That was awful for me because I was a shy kid. You probably knew that already though. I was about to wet my pants. It was a hard thing for me to stand in front of all those people and speak, let alone confess my faith in Jesus Christ. But I did it. I don’t remember much about my life changing but I was raised in the church and was always taught to be good and do right. So I guess there wasn’t much to change other than my state of mind. Or was there? What things should have changed? What changes occurred for you when you were baptized? Did your behavior change? Maybe your language changed?
What does God expect from a new Christian? Peter talks about this in 1 Peter 2. Verses 1-3 says “Therefore rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” He compares a new Christian to a baby.
How is a new Christian like a baby?
A new Christian feeds on spiritual milk. A baby feeds on it’s mother’s milk.
A new Christian is innocent in God’s eyes now that all of his sins are washed clean. A baby is innocent since he doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong.
A new Christian desires to grow spiritually. A baby desires to grow physically.
A new Christian only understands the elementary teachings of the Word. A baby only understands the elementary teachings of the world.
Hebrews 5:11-14; 6:1-2:
“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.”
So here’s a question. Do you feel any different about your Christian walk today as you did when you were baptized? Or do you feel any different about your relationship with God as you did a year ago? When I was a teenager, my honest answer would have been no. Now, I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t grow much in those years. I had times where I tried but then Satan would find a weakness and pull me back. Feedback.
What do you think you need in order to grow spiritually?
A willing heart/desire to want to grow
Encouragement from others
Accountability to someone
Faith/belief that you can grow
Let’s read 2 Peter 3:18: “But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever! Amen.”
How do we grow?
More time in prayer
Get involved with church activities/youth activities
Fellowship with other Christians
Regular attendance of church services
Encourage a friend who is having a rough day or going through rough times
Help someone in need – 1 John 3:17
More time in the Word
Seek opportunities to serve/learn/teach
Seek personal applications in the sermons/lessons
Volunteer for something at church that you normally wouldn’t do
Ephesians 4:11-16:
“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Paul states that we are all aiming to grow up into Him who is the Head. He also mentions that we are joined and held together as each part does it work. So we all have a responsibility to grow as well as help those around us to grow.
Prayer Reminder:
Color: Green
Subject: This week we have discussed growth. When I think about growth I think of nature…how everything turns green when there is new growth. So this week we are going to pray for new growth in each of us. We are also going to pray that we in some way can help/encourage someone to grow.
That leads me to the Warm Fuzzy assignment:
This week I want you to write to someone you know well in this class. I want you to tell them that you have noticed them grow recently and in what way specifically you’ve seen them grow. Or just encourage them to grow in the Lord. If you have problems with that, just tell them what makes them special to you.
Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships
Winter Quarter ’06 -‘07
Teen Girls Class – Wednesday nights
Prayer
Ground rules
1. Respect others and their points of view.
2. There are no “dumb” questions. (must be relevant)
3. Only one person speaks at a time.
4. No "Put Downs".
5. Open up and have fun!
6. Always bring your Bible.
Are you tired of feeling like a “nobody” in God’s kingdom? So who is the person that can change the way you feel about your place in the His kingdom? You.
Let’s talk a little bit first about becoming a Christian. We’ve all heard the five steps to becoming a Christian or being saved. Hear. Believe. Repent. Confess. Baptism. Growing up, I was always taught a sixth. Live faithfully. We forget that one a lot of times. We get it in our heads that once we are baptized that we’re safe. No more action is needed.
Someone tell me how/what they felt the day they were baptized. I remember feeling proud but I also remember feeling a sense of relief. I knew at that moment that I had done what God wanted me to do and that all my sins were washed away. When you are buried in baptism, God wipes your slate clean of everything you’ve done wrong. That’s what salvation is.
I was baptized when I was 13. I don’t remember everything about that day. I remember vividly my walk down that aisle. That was awful for me because I was a shy kid. You probably knew that already though. I was about to wet my pants. It was a hard thing for me to stand in front of all those people and speak, let alone confess my faith in Jesus Christ. But I did it. I don’t remember much about my life changing but I was raised in the church and was always taught to be good and do right. So I guess there wasn’t much to change other than my state of mind. Or was there? What things should have changed? What changes occurred for you when you were baptized? Did your behavior change? Maybe your language changed?
What does God expect from a new Christian? Peter talks about this in 1 Peter 2. Verses 1-3 says “Therefore rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” He compares a new Christian to a baby.
How is a new Christian like a baby?
A new Christian feeds on spiritual milk. A baby feeds on it’s mother’s milk.
A new Christian is innocent in God’s eyes now that all of his sins are washed clean. A baby is innocent since he doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong.
A new Christian desires to grow spiritually. A baby desires to grow physically.
A new Christian only understands the elementary teachings of the Word. A baby only understands the elementary teachings of the world.
Hebrews 5:11-14; 6:1-2:
“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.”
So here’s a question. Do you feel any different about your Christian walk today as you did when you were baptized? Or do you feel any different about your relationship with God as you did a year ago? When I was a teenager, my honest answer would have been no. Now, I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t grow much in those years. I had times where I tried but then Satan would find a weakness and pull me back. Feedback.
What do you think you need in order to grow spiritually?
A willing heart/desire to want to grow
Encouragement from others
Accountability to someone
Faith/belief that you can grow
Let’s read 2 Peter 3:18: “But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever! Amen.”
How do we grow?
More time in prayer
Get involved with church activities/youth activities
Fellowship with other Christians
Regular attendance of church services
Encourage a friend who is having a rough day or going through rough times
Help someone in need – 1 John 3:17
More time in the Word
Seek opportunities to serve/learn/teach
Seek personal applications in the sermons/lessons
Volunteer for something at church that you normally wouldn’t do
Ephesians 4:11-16:
“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Paul states that we are all aiming to grow up into Him who is the Head. He also mentions that we are joined and held together as each part does it work. So we all have a responsibility to grow as well as help those around us to grow.
Prayer Reminder:
Color: Green
Subject: This week we have discussed growth. When I think about growth I think of nature…how everything turns green when there is new growth. So this week we are going to pray for new growth in each of us. We are also going to pray that we in some way can help/encourage someone to grow.
That leads me to the Warm Fuzzy assignment:
This week I want you to write to someone you know well in this class. I want you to tell them that you have noticed them grow recently and in what way specifically you’ve seen them grow. Or just encourage them to grow in the Lord. If you have problems with that, just tell them what makes them special to you.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
My first post!
Wow! My first post. How exciting! This blogspot is for my friends and family. I hope to keep it somewhat up to date with postings and pictures but with a new baby on the way...you just never know what's going to happen next.
I've been teaching the teen girls' class at church so I hope to post some of my lessons for anyone interested in reading them. They are nothing special but it has been a challenging experience for me since I've never done anything like that before. I love all my girls at Piedmont Road and I hope they feel the same way about me! Fortunately, I've got lots of future babysitters available! :)
Prenancy update: I am at 22 weeks and two days. I've got a nice belly on me so far. I guess I'm finally at the point that there's no doubt I'm pregnant because I've started getting more "oh, you look so cute!" comments and more people coming to rub my belly! I don't mind it though. I began feeling the baby move around Christmas. We've had three ultrasounds so far. One at 12 weeks, 19 weeks, and 20 weeks. (Thanks sister-in-law for the hook-up!) Every one of them has, without a doubt, shown this baby to be a boy! We're in the process of deciding on how to decorate the nursery. I think we have decided on airplanes so you know Daniel is excited about that! I found a cute bedding set at Babies-R-Us that will work perfect. If you want to get excited about the baby or any baby, just walk in Babies-R-Us. You just constantly walk through the store going "Awww..." We're also still deciding on a name...why did I buy the 50,001+ baby name book? I'm on the letter D! Maybe I'll get to S or T by May!
I am also in the process of trying to get my architecture registration exam taken. I'm hoping to finish it before the baby arrives. I've passed 5 so far. 4 to go! Wish me luck and pray for my sanity! My next test is on January 29th. General Structures - yuck! I'll let you know how it goes!
I've been teaching the teen girls' class at church so I hope to post some of my lessons for anyone interested in reading them. They are nothing special but it has been a challenging experience for me since I've never done anything like that before. I love all my girls at Piedmont Road and I hope they feel the same way about me! Fortunately, I've got lots of future babysitters available! :)
Prenancy update: I am at 22 weeks and two days. I've got a nice belly on me so far. I guess I'm finally at the point that there's no doubt I'm pregnant because I've started getting more "oh, you look so cute!" comments and more people coming to rub my belly! I don't mind it though. I began feeling the baby move around Christmas. We've had three ultrasounds so far. One at 12 weeks, 19 weeks, and 20 weeks. (Thanks sister-in-law for the hook-up!) Every one of them has, without a doubt, shown this baby to be a boy! We're in the process of deciding on how to decorate the nursery. I think we have decided on airplanes so you know Daniel is excited about that! I found a cute bedding set at Babies-R-Us that will work perfect. If you want to get excited about the baby or any baby, just walk in Babies-R-Us. You just constantly walk through the store going "Awww..." We're also still deciding on a name...why did I buy the 50,001+ baby name book? I'm on the letter D! Maybe I'll get to S or T by May!
I am also in the process of trying to get my architecture registration exam taken. I'm hoping to finish it before the baby arrives. I've passed 5 so far. 4 to go! Wish me luck and pray for my sanity! My next test is on January 29th. General Structures - yuck! I'll let you know how it goes!
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