Okay I had lofty aspirations of blogging daily during this 90 day Bible challenge, but, I've not done that. I'm okay with that. Normally I'd be down on myslef for not blogging. I've actually enjoyed not blogging at all the last couple of weeks.
I continue to read but I am almost 6 days behind the "schedule" Again I'm okay with that. Normally I'd b e down on myself or feel rushed to complete more pages in a day than humanily possible. Instead I continue to plug along & get the reading in that I can when I can. Some days its 20 pages & others its 5. I've already read more of the bible (at least the Old Testament) than I've ever read before. I mean other than at church. More importantly I'm craving God's word in my day. That was my goal in taking on this challenge & even if it takes me 100 or more days to read the entire bible cover to cover, I'm okay with that if it emans that God's word is planted deeply in my heart.
Randomness:
-Any one count the number of animals slaughtered at the temple. I serioulsy think there must have been a lot of blood flowing. I'm very grateful we don't have to do that anymore.
- God created the sun & moon and stars to mark the days and seasons, etc. bascially creating time. God is outside of time,& doesn't need time, but, he created time for us so that we would have a means to mark the passage of it. He knew before he created us that we would sin & we would need time to gives us hope & encouragement that our deliver is coming. Just a random thought I had the other day when contemplating the awesomness of God.
- Another random thougth that came up at a retreat I recently attended, Eve wasn't startled by the fact that a serpent came up to her & started talking. Not even a bit afraid. In fact the Bible suggests that other animals were may have also been cunning because it states "now the serpent was more cunning than all the others" Just wondering before the fall were Adam & Eve able to converse with the animals.
Guess thats all for now.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Day 8
Okay I've lost track of the journaling on a regular basis, however, I'm keeping up with the reading & feel that is more important.
While reading I've not had any major epiphanies per se, however, I've had some questions & some aha moments.
First I want to say that I could have spent 3 months researching all the descendants of Noah & where they ended up. I find it fascinating that 6 people (Noah had 3 sons & each had a wife - Noah & his wife had no more children after the flood) completely repollutated the earth after the flood. I also enjoyed seeing names of people in the linage such as Tarshish & knowing that he was a mariner that is probably why that town was so far away from everything else, BTW southern Spain is very lovely no wonder he settled there.
My second thought I had the other day was since all these people descended from Noah surely they must have at least heard about the flood & God & how he spared their grandfather, great grandfather, etc. Did any of them still call on His name. the bible doesn't really mention it. I know that the Israelites are God's chosen people but did no one else on earth remember the Lord other than Abraham.
One thing that has been revealed to me & not really through my reading but perhaps my thoughts have been influenced due to it. Nothing I have is my own. Yes I know that but not even the house I live in 7 call mine is mine. God has not given it to me. He simply allows me to borrow it from him. I call Elaina Sis. It started out mostly because she's Elias' sister then I had an aha moment. She's my sister also. Yes I already knew this but the realization was that I am not training up my children but my sister and brother. then the thought occured to me if I had to raise up my siblings or someone elses children how would I speak differently to them thatn i currently speak to the children i've been entrusted to raise. I realized if God had come like a parent & dropped off His children to watch for him & I know that I'd talk much more pleasantly thatn I do now. So it is something I'm going to work on. I know in my role as a teacher I had way more patients for the children others entrusted to me at school to mold & shape for 6 hours a day for 180 days, than the two precious ones that God has entrusted to me to mold & shape their entire childhoods.
While reading I've not had any major epiphanies per se, however, I've had some questions & some aha moments.
First I want to say that I could have spent 3 months researching all the descendants of Noah & where they ended up. I find it fascinating that 6 people (Noah had 3 sons & each had a wife - Noah & his wife had no more children after the flood) completely repollutated the earth after the flood. I also enjoyed seeing names of people in the linage such as Tarshish & knowing that he was a mariner that is probably why that town was so far away from everything else, BTW southern Spain is very lovely no wonder he settled there.
My second thought I had the other day was since all these people descended from Noah surely they must have at least heard about the flood & God & how he spared their grandfather, great grandfather, etc. Did any of them still call on His name. the bible doesn't really mention it. I know that the Israelites are God's chosen people but did no one else on earth remember the Lord other than Abraham.
One thing that has been revealed to me & not really through my reading but perhaps my thoughts have been influenced due to it. Nothing I have is my own. Yes I know that but not even the house I live in 7 call mine is mine. God has not given it to me. He simply allows me to borrow it from him. I call Elaina Sis. It started out mostly because she's Elias' sister then I had an aha moment. She's my sister also. Yes I already knew this but the realization was that I am not training up my children but my sister and brother. then the thought occured to me if I had to raise up my siblings or someone elses children how would I speak differently to them thatn i currently speak to the children i've been entrusted to raise. I realized if God had come like a parent & dropped off His children to watch for him & I know that I'd talk much more pleasantly thatn I do now. So it is something I'm going to work on. I know in my role as a teacher I had way more patients for the children others entrusted to me at school to mold & shape for 6 hours a day for 180 days, than the two precious ones that God has entrusted to me to mold & shape their entire childhoods.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Day 2 of the 90 Day Journey
Today's post will be short & sweet. Its late & I need to get to bed so I can be up early in the morning. I did complete my reading for today & yesterday, but it was tough as I'm struggling with an ongoing headache most likely due to the immense heat 7 lack of air conditioning we have. Most days its not a problem but when temp go over 85 for the high it can be very miserable in our house in the late afternoon. I know it could very well be the advesary trying to thwart my plans to walk more closely with God.
I'm enjoying the reading so far.
Night Night
I'm enjoying the reading so far.
Night Night
Monday, July 5, 2010
The 90 Day Bible Challenge
First i want to apologize to my blog. You've been neglected fro so long. I can't even remember off the top of my head the last time I wrote a post. That however, is about to change. You see I've signed on for the 90 Day Bible Challenge. My husband at first thought this was a bit over the top because I'm so busy already, but I think now he's ready to go it with me. I know at least he support my decision.
This will be a challenge you see I've never read the Bible cover to cover before. I've read most of it but as most bible based Christians know there are books of the bible that are more difficult to read than others, for whatever reason. However, I'm not doing this to gain some sort of accolade & be able to say I've read the bible cover to cover in 90 days. My inspiration for doing this is to draw my walk closer to God. What better way than reading His word.
I just recently finished the Bible study Experiencing God. What a great study, I highly recommend it. the entire time I was doing the stuff I felt God telling me to wait I have something more for you. I want o take you deeper. I feel this is the beginning of that plunge. So I'm up early this morning writing my 1st journal entry & off to pray & have my time with the King.
My plan is to chronicle my journey through the bible on this blog. My goal is to complete the suggested reading everyday by breaking it down in to smaller chunks of 3-4 pages at a time. My logic is that I dont sit & consume my entire daily requirement of calories at one sitting. If I did I'd end up hungry, cranky & irritable. So by breaking down my Daily Bread, perhaps it will help me walk in the spirit more & the flesh less. I also want to write a journal entry everyday. It may be as brief as I'm up & reading or more in depth about what God is revealing to me. Only time will tell. I'm so anxious to see where I am in my walk 90 days from now. I wonder what God is seeing, is he excited because he knows I will succeed & my relationship with him will be even stronger, better, deeper. Does he know that this is the start of a major turning point for the Seats family. Does he have some major assignment for us. Or is this going to simply be Him& I getting to enjoy eachtohers company more regularly. Whatever the outcome I know I will be blessed in the long run.
Off for my appointment with my King.
This will be a challenge you see I've never read the Bible cover to cover before. I've read most of it but as most bible based Christians know there are books of the bible that are more difficult to read than others, for whatever reason. However, I'm not doing this to gain some sort of accolade & be able to say I've read the bible cover to cover in 90 days. My inspiration for doing this is to draw my walk closer to God. What better way than reading His word.
I just recently finished the Bible study Experiencing God. What a great study, I highly recommend it. the entire time I was doing the stuff I felt God telling me to wait I have something more for you. I want o take you deeper. I feel this is the beginning of that plunge. So I'm up early this morning writing my 1st journal entry & off to pray & have my time with the King.
My plan is to chronicle my journey through the bible on this blog. My goal is to complete the suggested reading everyday by breaking it down in to smaller chunks of 3-4 pages at a time. My logic is that I dont sit & consume my entire daily requirement of calories at one sitting. If I did I'd end up hungry, cranky & irritable. So by breaking down my Daily Bread, perhaps it will help me walk in the spirit more & the flesh less. I also want to write a journal entry everyday. It may be as brief as I'm up & reading or more in depth about what God is revealing to me. Only time will tell. I'm so anxious to see where I am in my walk 90 days from now. I wonder what God is seeing, is he excited because he knows I will succeed & my relationship with him will be even stronger, better, deeper. Does he know that this is the start of a major turning point for the Seats family. Does he have some major assignment for us. Or is this going to simply be Him& I getting to enjoy eachtohers company more regularly. Whatever the outcome I know I will be blessed in the long run.
Off for my appointment with my King.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion
I was always told growing up to that there are 2 things one should never discuss in public: Religion and politics. Well guess what I'm gonna discuss both here. As I see it they go hand in glove. You can't or shouldn't have a government free of religion (this is obvious my the current state of affairs in our country). and its is our responsibility as followers of Christ to exercise our responsibility in government.
So I thought I'd go back and review my civics class from 9th grade. After all we are constantly hearing in the media about how the ACLU is suing some entity over they're so called imposing of religion on someone. So I figured I should brush up a bit on what is going on in the government & delve deeper. So we start with the first Amendment of the Constitution.
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
So I thought I'd go back and review my civics class from 9th grade. After all we are constantly hearing in the media about how the ACLU is suing some entity over they're so called imposing of religion on someone. So I figured I should brush up a bit on what is going on in the government & delve deeper. So we start with the first Amendment of the Constitution.
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Begiining
In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth. (Gen1:1). All things have a beginning a starting point (except God but that is another post). I felt led to start this blog while at the Creation Museum this weekend. What an amazing place to visit. I highly recommend it for everyone, regardless of your beliefs.
Where to begin - I've decided to begin with a basic fundamental human need. The need for food. We need to eat to live & yet if we eat too much we will die. In our country & culture foos is everywhere. We have business meeting at lunch. We socialize with family, friends & significant others over large dinners. We often think about food first upon rising and don't stop until we go to sleep. I'd say most are probably obsessed with food. That is why we are a nation filled with the overweight & out of shape. that is why our diet & fitness industry is a booming million dollar business. But, what does the bible have to say about food, eating and the like. We will see in the coming weeks.
Where to begin - I've decided to begin with a basic fundamental human need. The need for food. We need to eat to live & yet if we eat too much we will die. In our country & culture foos is everywhere. We have business meeting at lunch. We socialize with family, friends & significant others over large dinners. We often think about food first upon rising and don't stop until we go to sleep. I'd say most are probably obsessed with food. That is why we are a nation filled with the overweight & out of shape. that is why our diet & fitness industry is a booming million dollar business. But, what does the bible have to say about food, eating and the like. We will see in the coming weeks.
A God Shaped Hole
I'm currently in the midst of doing an online Bible study called The Lord's Table from a ministy called Setting Captives Free. The premise of the study is to learn how to turn away from sinful eating habits and to turn to the Lord instead. While doing today's study I was reminded about the words of the wise King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. Ecc 1:2 "Vanityof vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanityof vanities, all is vanity"
van·i·ty (vn-t) n. pl. van·i·ties
1. The quality or condition of being vain.
2. Excessive pride in one's appearance or accomplishments; conceit. See Synonyms at conceit.
3. Lack of usefulness, worth, or effect; worthlessness.
4. a. Something that is vain, futile, or worthless.
b. Something about which one is vain or conceited.
5. A vanity case.
6. See dressing table.
7. A bathroom cabinet that encloses a basin and its water lines and drain, usually furnished with shelves and drawers underneath for storage of toiletries.
Solomon is referring to the 3rd definition of vanity. How worthless is mans attempts to acheive greatness. Man apart from God will constantly seek fulfillment but never be able to obtain it. It will elude him like one trying to catch the wind. Man will continue to work & toil in an attempt to have more money, nicer clothes, a bigger, house, fancier cars but he will never be satisfied. ture happiness comes form having an intimate relationship with our creator, our provider, our all in all, our Lord & Saviour. I may not be trying to amass things but by putting food before God I've removed Him from the throne in my life & put food there. It will never satisfy & I will require more & more in an attempt to satisfy & fill the emptiness inside me (the God shaped hole) Food can & will never accomplish this. So true happiness would elude me. However, I'm learning this & taking it to heart and I've removed food from the throne in my life & allowing God to take his rightful place. He's a gentlemen & would never force his way. He would just queitly wait for my return. I'm coming my King.
van·i·ty (vn-t) n. pl. van·i·ties
1. The quality or condition of being vain.
2. Excessive pride in one's appearance or accomplishments; conceit. See Synonyms at conceit.
3. Lack of usefulness, worth, or effect; worthlessness.
4. a. Something that is vain, futile, or worthless.
b. Something about which one is vain or conceited.
5. A vanity case.
6. See dressing table.
7. A bathroom cabinet that encloses a basin and its water lines and drain, usually furnished with shelves and drawers underneath for storage of toiletries.
Solomon is referring to the 3rd definition of vanity. How worthless is mans attempts to acheive greatness. Man apart from God will constantly seek fulfillment but never be able to obtain it. It will elude him like one trying to catch the wind. Man will continue to work & toil in an attempt to have more money, nicer clothes, a bigger, house, fancier cars but he will never be satisfied. ture happiness comes form having an intimate relationship with our creator, our provider, our all in all, our Lord & Saviour. I may not be trying to amass things but by putting food before God I've removed Him from the throne in my life & put food there. It will never satisfy & I will require more & more in an attempt to satisfy & fill the emptiness inside me (the God shaped hole) Food can & will never accomplish this. So true happiness would elude me. However, I'm learning this & taking it to heart and I've removed food from the throne in my life & allowing God to take his rightful place. He's a gentlemen & would never force his way. He would just queitly wait for my return. I'm coming my King.
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