Monday, May 23, 2011

A Better Us Challenge #4

WOW! I really liked that challenge! How about you guys? It really made me stop ..... and think about someone else ALOT more. I mean besides the usual "I wonder what the kids are up to this weekend?" or "Oh, I got to remind Mr. to start the dryer!" - it was tough not going through my usually day and this really made me feel connected to those I truely care for through out the day. I think I am going to see if I can do it for another week.

Challenge #4 - Obey ALL driving laws! Turn signal, go the exact (if not less BUT NEVER MORE) than the posted speed limit, don't cut infront of others and wave to people when they let you in (last is just politeness and not an actual rule but it should be).

In Mark 12:17 it is written, Jesus then said: "Pay back Caeser's things to Caeser but God's things to God."  and since we have been focusing on what GOD wills us to do and part of what HE wants ... is for us to obey the laws around us. Easy right? Don't kill anybody, lie, steal or cheat - all the major ones do seem to be the easiest to follow but this small task has ALWAYS been one (the other is the Shabbat - later about that one) of my hardest ones and understandably.  I LIKE speeding through traffic - I am such a procrastinator that I don't give myself enough time to get to my destination without being late. But that isn't GOD's will - HIS will is for me to be alittle bit more diciplined with myself so that I am ready in plenty of time to get to my destination safely. So this task is to teach me (us) self control - some of us are on the road on average 1 hour a day (and some even more) and carelessly treat each other unkindly during that time frame - we cut infront of others as if OUR wants and OUR time are truely more important than those of others. No wonder we experience road rage. And where are we really going in such a hurry that is sooooo important?! Soccer practice? Home to make dinner or change laundry? To work? How about church? How many of you break this rule that GOD has established on the way to HIS house? Ever wondered how that makes HIM feel? HE doesn't care that you missed the opening hymn but HE does mind that you can not keep such a simple rule! This one is tough, so to ensure that you are prepared you might need to change your routine: make coffee/lunches or snacks for the road the night before, place out clothes for everyone (if it needs repairing/ironing do it either on a certain day or the night before), don't get lower than a 1/4 tank of gas (then you won't have to stop at the gasstation on the way into work), you might want an "emergency box" extra snacks like pretzles and change of clothes, leave at least 15mins sooner than you normally would and also you might want to either record yourself or invest on bible on tapes if you like to read your passages BEFORE work (think how much of a blessing it is to get an hour in with GOD rather than just a few quick minutes). Well I'm off to make my lunch and set out my clothes.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Shabbat Shalom

And many false prophets will arise and mislead many;
and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of
the greater number will cool off. But he that has
endured to the end is the one that will be saved.
And this good news of the kingdom will be preached
in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the
nations; and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:11-14

Monday, May 16, 2011

A Better Us Challenge #3

First, I am not afraid to tell you that my second week challenge blew BIG TIME! I couldn't get myself or the family motivated to be without our electronic devices. Maybe I will pick it up again in a few weeks. I truely hope that everyone else was able to bond with those that mean the most to them. So I am going to make this week's challenge more of a one woman show.

Challenge #3 - A little prayer through out the day for the safety of your loved ones. And if you want to exend it beyond family and friends, you can also add all those who are suffering that you may not know.Whatever you say, to whomever you are saying it for - it needs to be 100% heartfelt.

This little challenge came via a super cool song Say A Little Prayer, I know it is silly but I really like that song. So from " the moment I wake up" until I lay my head on the pillow "I will say a little prayer" for safety, protection, wisdon, health, courage or whatever else I think they need - this will keep me (us) connected with those we care about through out the day. See I told you it was easy. Now if you wish to extend it beyond yourself then you can also add people you don't know - for instance those who are suffering from natural or man made disasters. Now I am not talking about full fledge down on both knees long winded prayers, I am talking about sweet to the point silent ones - as your kids get out of the car on their way to school a little "Lord protect them and keep them safe", and while you are eating your lunch a simple "God help the children make wise decisions" and when they said their goodnights to you a quiet "Heavenly Father thank you for watching over them today" is all that is needed. Sometimes we are too busy with our own lives to remember to do it for ourselves, so this is my way of asking Our Heavenly Father to watch out for my loved ones and for me to keep connected with everyone. See you next week.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Shabbat Shalom


When under trial, let no one say: "I am being
tried by God." For with evil things God
cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone.
James 1:13

Happy Friday the 13th!

Although people are far less superstitious now than they were in the past, the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina estimates that 17 to 21 million people in the U.S. have a diagnosable phobia of Friday the 13th. This illness is called ""friggatriskaidekaphobia -WOW right!-it is estimated that the U.S. economy loses up to 900 million dollars every time there’s a Friday the 13th—many people avoid business deals, or even work altogether, on this "doomed" date. Some of our nation’s most famous 20th-century luminaries feared the day. Henry Ford declined to do any business, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt avoided travel. Rumor has it that FDR refused to roam not only on Friday the 13th, but also on the 13th day of every month.  Part of the reason the number 13 is considered so treacherous, is simply because it’s right after 12. Numerologists consider 12 a “complete” number: 12 months complete a year, 12 signs complete the zodiac and 12 inches complete a foot.

I think the only way to conquer ones fear is to run into it head on. And for me that means .... watching movies! YEEEAAA-MOVIES!!!! Of course I have my old stand-bys: Friday the 13th (original) 1 &2, The Shining, and Nightmare On Elm Street (original). Mixed with some new ones: Scream, Vacancy, and The Strangers. But however you decide to "celebrate" this eerie day, PLEASE...PLEASE do it safely.

 

Monday, May 9, 2011

Happy 20th David!

Happy 20th B-Day to my
fantastic nephew David!!