I have reached the halfway point in my fast (but not really) I am not halfway through the Bible, actually not even close! I have read every day, and have learned a lot. I have not written in several days because it has been pretty busy, and I have not had much to write about. I am enjoying my job, and feel that it is a good fit for me! I am excited to help start an infant room there! As far as the journey, it is a pretty slow moving journey, but a worthwhile one none the less. I have been doing pretty fine without Facebook. I have not experienced any withdrawls/shakes. :) Though I am pretty excited to get back in touch with everyone, and see what everyone is up to! I can make it though. It is only 19 (but really about 25) more days!
Until next time!!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Day Seventeen: March 25, 2011
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TONY!! Today, (which was actually yesterday) is (was) Tony's 28th birthday!
I also enjoyed my second day of work! :D
I got some reading done. Not too much. I didn't really factor in trying to get in my reading while still being a functioning contributing member of society. Next week I will be there for about 3.5 to 4 hours before I will be working though, so I guess I will probably get in a lot more than I did this week! I have a feeling that posts will be less often, and shorter now that I will be working..
Until next time!!
I also enjoyed my second day of work! :D
I got some reading done. Not too much. I didn't really factor in trying to get in my reading while still being a functioning contributing member of society. Next week I will be there for about 3.5 to 4 hours before I will be working though, so I guess I will probably get in a lot more than I did this week! I have a feeling that posts will be less often, and shorter now that I will be working..
Until next time!!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Day Sixteen: March 24, 2011
Today was my first day of work! I loved it!! I was able to spend the beginning of my morning by reading. I am not caught up on my reading, but as I said yesterday, I am not going to stress out about it right now! Tomorrow, I get to work a full day! I am pretty excited about that as well! It was awesome! I was very excited to be at a center that talks about Jesus, and prays before meals again!! :D Today was a good, and exhausting day! ;)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Days Thirteen, Fourteen, and Fifteen: March 21-23, 2011
I am a little behind in everything right now! I have a feeling it will only get worse from here on out too, because I finally start my new job tomorrow!
I have noticed that it has become harder and harder for me to get through my daily reading. There are just not enough hours in the day for me to accomplish everything that I want to accomplish. It doesn't help that every so often, I come across something that I need to look into. That is not a bad thing. I love that I am learning new things, and seeing new things. It is just time consuming! :) I love that it doesn't matter how many times I read a passage, I can see something different the next time! I have really enjoyed, not just reading the Bible, but digging into it as well. That being said, I have decided that even though I hate failing (I think that I may even have a fear of failure) that I may not get the whole Bible read through by Easter. If not, I will not be angry with myself, because I have still been spending time in the Word, and studying! That being said, even as the words come out of my, hands, I will still continue to work toward my goal, and will continue to reach for it. I just won't be disappointed with myself, if I do not succeed. Or so I say now!! :D
I have noticed that it has become harder and harder for me to get through my daily reading. There are just not enough hours in the day for me to accomplish everything that I want to accomplish. It doesn't help that every so often, I come across something that I need to look into. That is not a bad thing. I love that I am learning new things, and seeing new things. It is just time consuming! :) I love that it doesn't matter how many times I read a passage, I can see something different the next time! I have really enjoyed, not just reading the Bible, but digging into it as well. That being said, I have decided that even though I hate failing (I think that I may even have a fear of failure) that I may not get the whole Bible read through by Easter. If not, I will not be angry with myself, because I have still been spending time in the Word, and studying! That being said, even as the words come out of my, hands, I will still continue to work toward my goal, and will continue to reach for it. I just won't be disappointed with myself, if I do not succeed. Or so I say now!! :D
Monday, March 21, 2011
Day 12: March 20, 2011 (a day late...)
I am posting a day late.. I just didn't post yesterday. There is no abundance of wisdom that I have to share about my day yesterday. I am excited that yesterday marked the first day of Spring!
I had gotten some rather sad news through out the day though. I have a friend who is a grandmother to a little 9 month old. She has custody of her. The little girl has spina bifida. She is a trooper! She has already had several surgeries, with another scheduled for Wednesday! This one will be on her brain and spine. Another friend had a newborn (less than a week old) who has elevated bilireubin levels. She also quit breathing one day, and has not been eating as well since being home. She is spending her time in a little bed that her Mommy calls her "baby tanning bed." And yet another friend who has a little boy that is about 1 and a half if I remember right. Her little guy was a bit early, and has had some breathing issues off and on. He is in the hospital with breathing problems again.
I am a baby person, to get all of this information, in about an hours time, was a little bit heart breaking. I don't know why babies have to suffer. As a Christian, I'm asked this question all of the time. "If God was real, why would He let children get sick." Or "why would He let 9-11 happen..." I don't know why people get sick, other than the fact that we are born into sin. God didn't make us sin, we made that choice. He gives us free will, we are allowed to chose what we say and do. Yes He could have made us all love, follow and obey Him. But he wanted us to make that choice. Love doesn't mean as much if it's not given, rather than forced. I always hated when people said "don't you love your parents.." and the answer would be "well, yeah, but I have to." We don't have to, I'm sure that there are people that really feel as though they are loved (or love) because they feel that love is a requirement, not a gift. Granted, Jesus does say the most important COMMANDment (Matthew 22:37-40) is Love God with all of your heart, mind, and spirit, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. Yes, we are commanded to love, but we make the choice to give that love. God gave us that right! He wants us to love Him, but we wants us to want to love Him! Likewise, he commanded us not to sin, but we still have the ability to sin. It is in our nature. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And because this is our nature, we cannot have the perfect story book lives that we are expecting God to give us. Yes He is mighty, yes He can grant any miracle we ask for, yes He can take away our right to choose. He can easily decide to make us unable to sin, to worship Him, and only Him. He wants us to make these choices. He could have easily made the trees in the garden in accessible to Adam and Eve, after all, He knows all. He could have prevented them from ever being able to get to the tree. I'm not claiming to know all and see all! I cannot fully understand what is in Him. But I do know this, God does not make people sin! We make the choice to fall into temptation. God did not fly those planes into the World Trade Center. People become ill, or are hurt because they live in a world stricken with such evil and sin. Sin is in all of us. Christians are not immune to illness, anymore than we are immune from sin. There is a term, living in sin, but in all reality, we are all living in sin. There is not greater, or lesser sin. All sin separates us from the Glory of God. Babies are innocent yes, so why do babies become ill? That is a question that I am not wise enough to answer. Other than to say, that they live in a world so filthy, so corrupt, that even they are not immune to the damages we have put into this world! (This is not referring to pollution and whatnot... Well maybe metaphorically, our hearts are polluted..)
Could I be wrong... Possibly! I like I said, I don't have the capability to fully understand the Heart of God. He is too big and too powerful, and too WOW for me to ever be on the same playing field as Him. I know He allows us to be tested to one prove our faith, and two to strengthen our faith. But it is not in me to fully grasp everything that is in Him! He is omnipresent and omnipotent, while I am only present, and not even semi potent! These questions would be better asked of God!! Or at least one much wiser, and smarter than I.
Wow, so I started "yesterday's" blog with nothing to say, other than it was a little rough in the news category, and I went off on a completely unknown tangent! That being said, I am still doing well on staying away from Facebook, and ok on reading my Bible. Yesterday, I didn't read much at all, but (as you read) I spent some time in prayer! I would love if you would add these, and all families really, to your daily prayers. I will do my best to keep you updated, as I know more!!
Until Next Time!
I had gotten some rather sad news through out the day though. I have a friend who is a grandmother to a little 9 month old. She has custody of her. The little girl has spina bifida. She is a trooper! She has already had several surgeries, with another scheduled for Wednesday! This one will be on her brain and spine. Another friend had a newborn (less than a week old) who has elevated bilireubin levels. She also quit breathing one day, and has not been eating as well since being home. She is spending her time in a little bed that her Mommy calls her "baby tanning bed." And yet another friend who has a little boy that is about 1 and a half if I remember right. Her little guy was a bit early, and has had some breathing issues off and on. He is in the hospital with breathing problems again.
I am a baby person, to get all of this information, in about an hours time, was a little bit heart breaking. I don't know why babies have to suffer. As a Christian, I'm asked this question all of the time. "If God was real, why would He let children get sick." Or "why would He let 9-11 happen..." I don't know why people get sick, other than the fact that we are born into sin. God didn't make us sin, we made that choice. He gives us free will, we are allowed to chose what we say and do. Yes He could have made us all love, follow and obey Him. But he wanted us to make that choice. Love doesn't mean as much if it's not given, rather than forced. I always hated when people said "don't you love your parents.." and the answer would be "well, yeah, but I have to." We don't have to, I'm sure that there are people that really feel as though they are loved (or love) because they feel that love is a requirement, not a gift. Granted, Jesus does say the most important COMMANDment (Matthew 22:37-40) is Love God with all of your heart, mind, and spirit, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. Yes, we are commanded to love, but we make the choice to give that love. God gave us that right! He wants us to love Him, but we wants us to want to love Him! Likewise, he commanded us not to sin, but we still have the ability to sin. It is in our nature. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And because this is our nature, we cannot have the perfect story book lives that we are expecting God to give us. Yes He is mighty, yes He can grant any miracle we ask for, yes He can take away our right to choose. He can easily decide to make us unable to sin, to worship Him, and only Him. He wants us to make these choices. He could have easily made the trees in the garden in accessible to Adam and Eve, after all, He knows all. He could have prevented them from ever being able to get to the tree. I'm not claiming to know all and see all! I cannot fully understand what is in Him. But I do know this, God does not make people sin! We make the choice to fall into temptation. God did not fly those planes into the World Trade Center. People become ill, or are hurt because they live in a world stricken with such evil and sin. Sin is in all of us. Christians are not immune to illness, anymore than we are immune from sin. There is a term, living in sin, but in all reality, we are all living in sin. There is not greater, or lesser sin. All sin separates us from the Glory of God. Babies are innocent yes, so why do babies become ill? That is a question that I am not wise enough to answer. Other than to say, that they live in a world so filthy, so corrupt, that even they are not immune to the damages we have put into this world! (This is not referring to pollution and whatnot... Well maybe metaphorically, our hearts are polluted..)
Could I be wrong... Possibly! I like I said, I don't have the capability to fully understand the Heart of God. He is too big and too powerful, and too WOW for me to ever be on the same playing field as Him. I know He allows us to be tested to one prove our faith, and two to strengthen our faith. But it is not in me to fully grasp everything that is in Him! He is omnipresent and omnipotent, while I am only present, and not even semi potent! These questions would be better asked of God!! Or at least one much wiser, and smarter than I.
Wow, so I started "yesterday's" blog with nothing to say, other than it was a little rough in the news category, and I went off on a completely unknown tangent! That being said, I am still doing well on staying away from Facebook, and ok on reading my Bible. Yesterday, I didn't read much at all, but (as you read) I spent some time in prayer! I would love if you would add these, and all families really, to your daily prayers. I will do my best to keep you updated, as I know more!!
Until Next Time!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Day Eleven: March 19, 2011
Today was a good day! Not a whole bunch happened.. I started my day off with reading, and cleaning! Then some exercise, I have lost approximately 10 lbs since Christmas! We also went to a Boy Scout banquet, and had a family movie night! The coolest part is that a friends baby needed prayer. An issue the dr expected to worsen overnight, stayed about the same! Which may not seen like a big deal to some, but it's huge to her Mommy and Daddy! They know that God heard their prayers, and the prayers of friends and family! I don't have a doubt in my mind that He gave them a miracle, and I am blessed to have been a part of the prayer team! Even if I was a whole state away! God works in bigger ways than we can comprehend. This may seem like a small miracle, (or to some not a miracle at all) but the only small part about it is the size little girl who is healthy!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Day Ten: March 18, 2011
I refigured my Bible readings. Due to the longer Lent time frame, even though I have not gotten in as much reading as I would have preferred some days, my daily reading has gone to 8.6 daily readings a day. That being said, I don't really want to do a half of a day, so I will probably still do the 9.
I feel wonderful about today. I got to go to my little Brother-in-Law's school and eat lunch with him today. The kids in his class are super cute! I had a good time with them! I also PASSED my written driving test! So I am officially a NE resident... I made a yummy chicken entree, called "honey mustard chicken tenders." This recipe is from my friend Linda Burgett. She has written a few cookbooks with easy recipes with only a handful of ingredients. (Her blog, My Kind of Cooking, can be found here: http://mykindofcooking.blogspot.com/) I met her several years ago, when I first was in the Passion Play. I was still a teenager! And I excersised a bit today.. All in all a pretty productive day! I hope to be starting a new job next week.. My Nebraska life is starting to fall into place! :)
Until Next Time...
I feel wonderful about today. I got to go to my little Brother-in-Law's school and eat lunch with him today. The kids in his class are super cute! I had a good time with them! I also PASSED my written driving test! So I am officially a NE resident... I made a yummy chicken entree, called "honey mustard chicken tenders." This recipe is from my friend Linda Burgett. She has written a few cookbooks with easy recipes with only a handful of ingredients. (Her blog, My Kind of Cooking, can be found here: http://mykindofcooking.blogspot.com/) I met her several years ago, when I first was in the Passion Play. I was still a teenager! And I excersised a bit today.. All in all a pretty productive day! I hope to be starting a new job next week.. My Nebraska life is starting to fall into place! :)
Until Next Time...
Friday, March 18, 2011
Day Nine: March 17, 2011
Today is St. Patrick's Day. For anyone reading this, that may have seen my last Facebook post, suggesting that you research the real reason that we celebrate this day, or those who just happen upon this, I am posting some of it now! Even though, technically in NE is now March 18. Contrary to popular belief, it is not about wearing green, and drinking green beer until your pee turns green. It's not about parades, or lucky four leaf clovers! St. Patrick was a missionary.. Legend suggests that he drove all of the snakes out of Ireland, though there have never actually been snakes native to the area. It is believed that this is actually referring to druids. Also, he used a SHAMROCK (not a four leaf clover) to give a visual description of the Trinity. The Trinity is made up of three, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, though they are all one. This is a confusing thing to grasp, for the human mind. St. Patrick used a shamrock to help understand a little better. Similar to the Trinity, a shamrock is three in one. If you look at a shamrock in a pot, there are several stems with leaves coming up from them, much like most plants. A shamrock however, at the top of the stem, has three leaves, that make up one! There are a lot of cool things about St. Patrick, that I urge you to research yourself. These are just two of them that we as Americans observe, but maybe don't know why!
Also, as for how my day went today, It was splendid. I do miss Facebook. I want to check in with everybody, but I won't! I said a few days ago that I couldn't figure out why we started Ash Wednesday when we did. I had counted and it put 40 days at Palm Sunday. I asked my Pastor if he knew, and he told me that Sundays are not counted as part of the fast. Sundays are to be spent celebrating the resurrection. After he said that, I remembered that a Catholic friend of mine had told me about that. So according to typical Lent rules, I could actually check into Facebook on Sunday. But like I said, I am not Catholic, and I do this fast to grow closer to God, to reflect on everything the Lord has done for me and to show thanks for Jesus' sacrifices for me. Not because someone tells me I should. That being said, how can I reflect on the resurrection, on Sundays if I am not fasting from things that take time away from the Lord. Isn't that what a fast is for in the first place? You give something up, for a certain amount of time, to spend the time you would be spending on that something with Him! I personally don't see how adding those things back into your life for one day a week, makes it so that you are celebrating the resurrection. Plus, as part of my fast, I am adding in daily Bible reading.. Maybe it is because of the nature of my fast that makes me not understand this..
I guess if I had given up chocolate, eating a few M&Ms wouldn't take away any quality time with the Lord. I would probably be thanking him for creating the cocoa plant!! Because lets face it, that was one of his best creations!! So I see both sides, for me, especially with what I gave up, it makes more sense for me to go straight through, even if it means adding a few days! While, I can also see that if you are depriving yourself of something, like say chocolate, or steak, or a meal a day, or showers, you might need a day to recoup! You might need a day that you are not thinking about what you don't have, and be able to rejoice in what He has given you!! Because of this, I will also not be going back to Facebook until the day after Easter. That day should be devoted to Him! I don't want to make that day about getting it back. Though, I do still plan on having the Bible completely read through by Easter! Not that I don't want to read the Bible on Easter, I just want to have taken in every ounce of the Word before I celebrate the day of His resurrection!!
Until Next Time!!
Also, as for how my day went today, It was splendid. I do miss Facebook. I want to check in with everybody, but I won't! I said a few days ago that I couldn't figure out why we started Ash Wednesday when we did. I had counted and it put 40 days at Palm Sunday. I asked my Pastor if he knew, and he told me that Sundays are not counted as part of the fast. Sundays are to be spent celebrating the resurrection. After he said that, I remembered that a Catholic friend of mine had told me about that. So according to typical Lent rules, I could actually check into Facebook on Sunday. But like I said, I am not Catholic, and I do this fast to grow closer to God, to reflect on everything the Lord has done for me and to show thanks for Jesus' sacrifices for me. Not because someone tells me I should. That being said, how can I reflect on the resurrection, on Sundays if I am not fasting from things that take time away from the Lord. Isn't that what a fast is for in the first place? You give something up, for a certain amount of time, to spend the time you would be spending on that something with Him! I personally don't see how adding those things back into your life for one day a week, makes it so that you are celebrating the resurrection. Plus, as part of my fast, I am adding in daily Bible reading.. Maybe it is because of the nature of my fast that makes me not understand this..
I guess if I had given up chocolate, eating a few M&Ms wouldn't take away any quality time with the Lord. I would probably be thanking him for creating the cocoa plant!! Because lets face it, that was one of his best creations!! So I see both sides, for me, especially with what I gave up, it makes more sense for me to go straight through, even if it means adding a few days! While, I can also see that if you are depriving yourself of something, like say chocolate, or steak, or a meal a day, or showers, you might need a day to recoup! You might need a day that you are not thinking about what you don't have, and be able to rejoice in what He has given you!! Because of this, I will also not be going back to Facebook until the day after Easter. That day should be devoted to Him! I don't want to make that day about getting it back. Though, I do still plan on having the Bible completely read through by Easter! Not that I don't want to read the Bible on Easter, I just want to have taken in every ounce of the Word before I celebrate the day of His resurrection!!
Until Next Time!!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Day Eight: March16, 2011
I love seeing God's hand at work! Today Tony told me that hegot a Facebook message from someone he has never even met. I know the individual. I used to go to church with him. He moved out of state before Tony went to Cornerstone, though. Tony does know of him, he just doesn't know him personally.. Oddly enough they are not even Facebook friends, which I think makes this that much more cool! Anyway, here is the cool part of the story.. The message was simple, just one Bible verse, nothing more. One verse that actually was exactly what Tony needed at that moment in time! While we were talking about it over the phone, Tone couldn't remember the exact verse, so he said that he would text it to me. So while I didn't know what the exact verse was, I knew Tone was excited about it! The verse? Jeremiah 29:11. For those of you who have been "following" this blog, you may have noticed the verse at the top of the page! If you have not been following it, or if you have but have not noticed it, look up! It happens to be Jeremiah 29:11.
I decided shortly after moving that this would be my theme verse, for the move, and life in general! It is also my new favorite verse! It was actually my second to last status on Facebook, before the departure! I absolutely LOVE this verse! It spoke to my heart when I needed it most! Now God has sent a stranger to give Tony the same words He gave to me! As I stated previously, I had posted it to Facebook, and I had it on here, but I also sent it in a text to Tony. I never said it to him directly, or read it to him personally though. I don't know why! He isn't an avid Facebooker, or texter, but I never did. So since I never told Tony the words that God have me to help the healing process in my heart, he sent a stranger to give Tony MY verse! God gave us both the verse that we needed! In two very different, and very real ways. Knowing that, He spoke these words to both of us, (for different reasons) gives me that much more faith God meant these words! That He is promising them, not just to me, or just to Tone, but to both of us, as a family! OUR GOD IS AWESOME! I will end this post the same way it began.. I love seeing the Hand of God at work!
I decided shortly after moving that this would be my theme verse, for the move, and life in general! It is also my new favorite verse! It was actually my second to last status on Facebook, before the departure! I absolutely LOVE this verse! It spoke to my heart when I needed it most! Now God has sent a stranger to give Tony the same words He gave to me! As I stated previously, I had posted it to Facebook, and I had it on here, but I also sent it in a text to Tony. I never said it to him directly, or read it to him personally though. I don't know why! He isn't an avid Facebooker, or texter, but I never did. So since I never told Tony the words that God have me to help the healing process in my heart, he sent a stranger to give Tony MY verse! God gave us both the verse that we needed! In two very different, and very real ways. Knowing that, He spoke these words to both of us, (for different reasons) gives me that much more faith God meant these words! That He is promising them, not just to me, or just to Tone, but to both of us, as a family! OUR GOD IS AWESOME! I will end this post the same way it began.. I love seeing the Hand of God at work!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
End of Day Seven: March 15, 2011
Today was much better at getting back on track! I am still not caught up on the reading. Though considering I actually have a 46 day fast, not a 40 day, I am pretty confident that I will have the entire Bible read by Easter! I am enjoying the fact that right now I am spending the time to look up and figure out things I don't quite understand, or that I would just like to know a little more about! Too many times I find myself reading the Bible, but not hearing it! I am reading a part of the Bible that I have read several times before, and yet I am seeing something new just about EVERY day! That is something I notice often while reading the Bible! It is definitely something I love about reading the Bible! I think it's amazing that you can always get something new out of it! Even when you don't try! But you get so much more when you do! :)
Day Seven: March 15, 2011-I need some help here!!
I need wisdom!! I was reading in my Bible today (NIV) and had to look up something else in reference to the Tabernacle. It said (in Exodus 26:14) that the Tabernacle was to be covered in sea cow hide. I looked at the end of the section to see what sea cow was, and it said dugong. That was not helpful! So I, being the over analyzer that I am, Googled it! It is similar to a manatee from what I can tell, but not actually a manatee. It is a mammal, and has a rubbery or leathery skin. So knowing that, I felt confident to continue on reading! But for some reason I decided to add in Bible to the Google search. I came a across a blog that mentions that in other versions it says that it should be covered in badger skins, and in others it says sea cow or dugong. In reading comments one individual mentions that a dugong is an unclean animal, therefore God would never have the Tabernacle cover be make of their skins. Leviticus 11:10-11 states that any animal in the sea that does not have both fins and scales is unclean. Also that not only should they not be eaten, but that their carcasses are not to be touched, or are to be considered detestable in other versions. As I mentioned, these animals are mammals with a leathery type hide, no scales. I went to SearchGodsWord.org I typed in the Scripture, and then changed to various different versions. Some said badger, some said sea cow, some said fine leather, or just leather, or porpoise skin, or goatskin, while another said violet coloured skins.. Should I just ignore these differences, that are pretty major!? How can I find these answers?? I am finding that I wish that I knew more about Jewish laws!! Any help would be appreciated!! Thanks!!
I decided to look it up in the Tanakh (the Jewish Bible) which says sealskins. Now seals are land and water animals, does this mean that they are considered clean then!?
I decided to look it up in the Tanakh (the Jewish Bible) which says sealskins. Now seals are land and water animals, does this mean that they are considered clean then!?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Day Six: March 14, 2011
Today I didn't get as much reading in as I would have preferred either.. Though I did have a very productive day! I was able to get my Bible separated into daily readings! In my reading, I decided to Google pictures of The Arch of the Covenant. Every time I read that part of Exodus, I wonder if how I am picturing it in my head is accurate! :-) I was pretty close!
I also figured out that the calendar makers may have messed up when Lent starts! :-) When I counted the days, I got 46 days counting through Easter! 40 days goes through Palm Sunday.. Please correct me if I'm wrong! :-)
I also had a fairly domestic day! I got some St. Patrick's Day activities together for the Girl Scout's party tomorrow. I cooked dinner, and baked a pie! Today was Pi day, 3/14 (3.14) so Tony's little sister asked if I would make a pie!
Here is a picture of the pie taken from my phone!
Until next time!
I also figured out that the calendar makers may have messed up when Lent starts! :-) When I counted the days, I got 46 days counting through Easter! 40 days goes through Palm Sunday.. Please correct me if I'm wrong! :-)
I also had a fairly domestic day! I got some St. Patrick's Day activities together for the Girl Scout's party tomorrow. I cooked dinner, and baked a pie! Today was Pi day, 3/14 (3.14) so Tony's little sister asked if I would make a pie!
Here is a picture of the pie taken from my phone!
Until next time!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Days Three, Four and Five: March 10-13, 2011
Well, I spent the weekend in Denver to spend time with Family, and for Tony's cousin's last high school musical. It was The Sound of Music! (She did an amazing job by the way..) With the travel and going from place to place, I didn't get the opportunity to get as much reading in as I have been hoping, so I will have to figure out my new daily reading needs tomorrow! I did get in some reading every day, and spent quality time with family. Although, I didn't get in as much as I was hoping, I think that a little added each day is worth it considering the quality time I did get to spend! :) I missed posting every day, but like I said, I was spending much needed time with family! I am happy to report that I have not even really been tempted to check in on Facebook!! :) I must admit that there were a few times that I wanted to post something about my weekend though. Also I have friends who had a baby this weekend, and I really wanted to check in on them! I am thankful for the email that they sent with pictures of her! When all is said and done, I may fall short, I may stumble, but I am putting in the effort. I cannot be too critical of myself, that is when the real failure begins!! I know that with the help of my God, that I will make it through!! :D
Update on the permit... I FAILED!! So I am officially a pathetic almost 30 year old who failed a learner's permit written test! In my defense, I had not really read the NE book, and there were questions about rural areas. Some that others didn't fully know! So now I will study, and next week, I WILL officially be a legal resident of Nebraska!
Until Next Time.....
Update on the permit... I FAILED!! So I am officially a pathetic almost 30 year old who failed a learner's permit written test! In my defense, I had not really read the NE book, and there were questions about rural areas. Some that others didn't fully know! So now I will study, and next week, I WILL officially be a legal resident of Nebraska!
Until Next Time.....
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Day Two: March 10, 2011
Today is day two!! I am proud to say that today I was not even tempted to check out Facebook! I didn't even miss it. There have been times that I wish that I could get on to get a picture, or email address.. But not enough to actually make me want to sign in! I also didn't have any slip-ups! I read the nine daily readings today. It actually took 2 hours and 18 minutes. Though, it was pretty right on with the 15 minutes per entry. I ended up reading one section a few times, so that I could understand it better. Had I not needed to reread that, I would have been right on 2 hours and 15 minutes. Let me tell you, it flew by! I thought that it was pretty cool that today's reading included Passover, in the Old Testament section, and a bit of Jesus' last week in the New Testament! Yesterday when I started, I started out on January 17th, (I started late for the year) and tomorrow's reading will begin with February 2nd.
We leave for CO tomorrow. We have a pretty jam packed weekend. I think that while that may cause some temptation to not stay on track, that I am so excited about this that I will still be doing my reading, even if it is after everyone else goes to bed. One thing I do miss about Facebook is my support system of friends and family keeping me accountable. That may be part of why I really wanted to start this blog. While I am not sure that anyone is actually even reading it (other than my Mom) I don't want to have to post publicly that I couldn't even last a week!! How pathetic would that be?! Sure I could just not post anything about it at all, but then I would be lying to myself in a way. No, I will be brutally honest to myself, and to this blog! Even if that honesty ends up painting a less than honorable picture of myself. :)
On a completely unrelated note, my Nebraska citizenship will be official tomorrow. I will be getting my Nebraska permit. Well, providing I pass the written test. It has been about 11.5 years since I took the Colorado test. It should still be common sense right?! I hope that the NE laws don't differ too much from CO ones! How pathetic would I be if I failed the written permit test at 29 years old!? I guess not much more pathetic than needing to take a written test at 29, due to the fact that I still don't have a license! That should not be too far behind I hope! 11 years of a learners permit has been enough. Maybe it would be rather comical if I waited a few years, then the age of my permit, would be the same age as a typical teen when they receive their permit for the first time!! :) I am ready for this in my life!!
Well I guess I will wrap this up for tonight..
Until next time!
We leave for CO tomorrow. We have a pretty jam packed weekend. I think that while that may cause some temptation to not stay on track, that I am so excited about this that I will still be doing my reading, even if it is after everyone else goes to bed. One thing I do miss about Facebook is my support system of friends and family keeping me accountable. That may be part of why I really wanted to start this blog. While I am not sure that anyone is actually even reading it (other than my Mom) I don't want to have to post publicly that I couldn't even last a week!! How pathetic would that be?! Sure I could just not post anything about it at all, but then I would be lying to myself in a way. No, I will be brutally honest to myself, and to this blog! Even if that honesty ends up painting a less than honorable picture of myself. :)
On a completely unrelated note, my Nebraska citizenship will be official tomorrow. I will be getting my Nebraska permit. Well, providing I pass the written test. It has been about 11.5 years since I took the Colorado test. It should still be common sense right?! I hope that the NE laws don't differ too much from CO ones! How pathetic would I be if I failed the written permit test at 29 years old!? I guess not much more pathetic than needing to take a written test at 29, due to the fact that I still don't have a license! That should not be too far behind I hope! 11 years of a learners permit has been enough. Maybe it would be rather comical if I waited a few years, then the age of my permit, would be the same age as a typical teen when they receive their permit for the first time!! :) I am ready for this in my life!!
Well I guess I will wrap this up for tonight..
Until next time!
My Epiphany!
I was only going to post to the blog once a day. Though, last night I had an epiphany! So this will be a two post day as well. I did however type the majority of this last night!
Here it is...
I have The One Year Bible. This Bible has daily readings that include some of the Old Testament, some of the New Testament, some Psalms, and some Proverbs each day. Each reading takes approximately 15 minutes. By the end of the year you will read through the entire Bible, by just reading about 15 minutes a day! Me being the over analyzer, over thinker, and slight over achiever that I am, decided to figure out how many of these daily readings I would need to do in order to read through the entire Bible during this fast. The answer? A little over 9! This equals roughly 2 hours, and 15 minutes a day! I am sure that I spend that much time on Facebook and/or watching TV a day! So then I thought I would figure out how many times I could read though the Bible a year if I continued on! The answer? Also 9! So, if I spend about the length of time it takes to watch a movie, reading the Bible every day, in the course of 10 years, I will have read through the entire Bible 90 times! This is mind boggling to me! 2 hours, and 15 minutes a day! I have wasted too much of my life!
Until Next Time!
Here it is...
I have The One Year Bible. This Bible has daily readings that include some of the Old Testament, some of the New Testament, some Psalms, and some Proverbs each day. Each reading takes approximately 15 minutes. By the end of the year you will read through the entire Bible, by just reading about 15 minutes a day! Me being the over analyzer, over thinker, and slight over achiever that I am, decided to figure out how many of these daily readings I would need to do in order to read through the entire Bible during this fast. The answer? A little over 9! This equals roughly 2 hours, and 15 minutes a day! I am sure that I spend that much time on Facebook and/or watching TV a day! So then I thought I would figure out how many times I could read though the Bible a year if I continued on! The answer? Also 9! So, if I spend about the length of time it takes to watch a movie, reading the Bible every day, in the course of 10 years, I will have read through the entire Bible 90 times! This is mind boggling to me! 2 hours, and 15 minutes a day! I have wasted too much of my life!
Until Next Time!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Day One: Almost the end of day one!
Well, I am reaching the end of day one, of my journey. After posting this, I will be going to bed, and spending some quiet alone time with God. Day one went pretty well. I got a lot of time in reading the Bible! One time just out of habit I picked up my phone to check Facebook, but I caught myself, and was able to cancel it before I started. That was somewhat eye-opening! I couldn't believe that it had been less than 24 hours, and I was already "jonesin'." I know that it should get easier as time goes by. Who knows, maybe I will stop Facebook completely by the end of this process. That would have to be God telling me to though. I really enjoy being able to keep in touch with my family and friends that I don't get to see very often. I feel that this will be a healthy change in my life. I probably read more of my Bible in the day, than I ever have in my life. As I was reading, I kept saying, to myself, "one more chapter, ok maybe just one more." As if it were a novel. That was a good sign to me that I will succeed in this journey. I feel that this really will be a lifestyle change. Even once I do go back to Facebook, I know that this feeling will become addicting, and I will continue to grow, and I will desire this special daily quality time. I feel that we (by we, I of course mean me) to easily get comfortable in our (my) faith. And we (I) just take our (my) religious rights and freedom for granted. If we were not so blessed to live in a country that we had the freedom to worship however we choose, would we still be so mediocre in our relationships!? Somehow, I doubt it. I feel like we would cherish it so much more (and by we, I of course do mean WE this time!) Americans take so much for granted. We are so spoiled, that we don't even realize how good we really do have it. Yes, our country has many faults. Of course there will always be room for improvement. But we are allowed to love Jesus! We have rights, we have freedoms, we have clean water, and food to eat! Yes, there are areas that the water is not so great, and there are families that don't know where their next meal is coming from. We do have programs to help these families though. We have food banks, and government assistance. There are places in the world, who do not have these options. They don't have the option to love Jesus. Now this also means, that people have the right to practice other religions. This is also something I am thankful for, as odd as that sounds. God gave us free will. He wanted us to make the choice to love him, to CHOOSE him!! How much would religion mean to us if we didn't make the choice, and it was just forced upon us. Would we really have faith!? I am sure some of us would.. Think about how much more it means to us, and Him that we love him because we get to, and want to, rather than HAVE to.
Huh.. Have to... I want to have to! I want to need Him so much that I HAVE to have more of Him. I want Him to be my top priority, my best friend, my helper, my rock, The Only thing I need to survive. I want for Him to be the reason that I breath. So scratch that statement. We should HAVE to be near Him. But not because someone else told us that is how it will be, but because we feel that there is no place we would rather be, than in His presence. In this country, I HAVE to love Jesus! I HAVE to be in daily fellowship with Him! I HAVE to need Him! I am thankful that I live in a country that I HAVE to be a Christian, because I need it for survival! My life depends on it!
Until Next Time!!
Huh.. Have to... I want to have to! I want to need Him so much that I HAVE to have more of Him. I want Him to be my top priority, my best friend, my helper, my rock, The Only thing I need to survive. I want for Him to be the reason that I breath. So scratch that statement. We should HAVE to be near Him. But not because someone else told us that is how it will be, but because we feel that there is no place we would rather be, than in His presence. In this country, I HAVE to love Jesus! I HAVE to be in daily fellowship with Him! I HAVE to need Him! I am thankful that I live in a country that I HAVE to be a Christian, because I need it for survival! My life depends on it!
Until Next Time!!
Day One: March 9, 2011 The start of it all!
I am beginning this journey today because during church on Sunday, while my Pastor was preaching about Lent, my first thought went to giving up ice cream again. For those who don't personally know me, this would be a struggle! I love ice cream, I thought this would be a fair thing to give up! Until while sitting there, something told me Facebook! I am pretty confident in knowing that it was God who put that on my heart. This would not be my first choice in something to give up. Which is why I decided to do it! I knew that my opposition, was the very reason that I should in fact give it up! Why then would I chose a blog?! I know it's not much different. But while I will be reading all of the comments, I will probably not be replying to most. I will answer questions from time to time. I needed this blog for me. Not to replace Facebook, as I will only be posting once a day! Well, twice today, so that I can blog about my experience at the end of the day as well. I will still be spending the time that I would typically be on Facebook in the Word, or in prayer.
Let me give you a little background on me, I am a Christian, I do not have a Catholic background. In fact the only time I have even been in a Catholic church was for my Brother-in-law's wedding. That being said, I do love the idea of Lent. I have done it many years! Though, admittedly, there have been a few years that I dropped the ball. I think that it is a great way to honor Christ and what he sacrificed for me! He went without food and water for 40 days, I think I can manage giving up Facebook!! Furthermore, when better to spend more time growing in a relationship with Him, than in the weeks leading up to His resurrection?! I am not a religious person, it drives me rather nuts when people ask me if I am religious! Being a Christian, is not about religion, it's about a personal relationship with the One who gave it all, so that I could LIVE! Pretty cool right!?
So, day one, (toward the beginning of the day) I am very excited to see where this experience takes me! I know that by the end of these 40 days I will be changed! I appreciate any and all prayers that I may receive during this time, they are very coveted!
Until next time,
LyndsayB
These are the suggestions from my Pastor of things to do during Lent:
1. Read your Bible every day.
*Gospels of Mark and Luke=40 total chapters.
2. Consider depriving yourself of something you enjoy.
3. Perform acts of kindness.
4. Consider watching "The Passion of the Christ." Though, I recommend that if you have a Passion Play in your area that you attend that instead. Something about seeing it live and in person is more real to me!
5. Tell someone about Jesus.
6. Make a commitment to attend Good Friday and Easter services.
7. Read daily and memorize Hebrews 12:1-4
Let me give you a little background on me, I am a Christian, I do not have a Catholic background. In fact the only time I have even been in a Catholic church was for my Brother-in-law's wedding. That being said, I do love the idea of Lent. I have done it many years! Though, admittedly, there have been a few years that I dropped the ball. I think that it is a great way to honor Christ and what he sacrificed for me! He went without food and water for 40 days, I think I can manage giving up Facebook!! Furthermore, when better to spend more time growing in a relationship with Him, than in the weeks leading up to His resurrection?! I am not a religious person, it drives me rather nuts when people ask me if I am religious! Being a Christian, is not about religion, it's about a personal relationship with the One who gave it all, so that I could LIVE! Pretty cool right!?
So, day one, (toward the beginning of the day) I am very excited to see where this experience takes me! I know that by the end of these 40 days I will be changed! I appreciate any and all prayers that I may receive during this time, they are very coveted!
Until next time,
LyndsayB
These are the suggestions from my Pastor of things to do during Lent:
1. Read your Bible every day.
*Gospels of Mark and Luke=40 total chapters.
2. Consider depriving yourself of something you enjoy.
3. Perform acts of kindness.
4. Consider watching "The Passion of the Christ." Though, I recommend that if you have a Passion Play in your area that you attend that instead. Something about seeing it live and in person is more real to me!
5. Tell someone about Jesus.
6. Make a commitment to attend Good Friday and Easter services.
7. Read daily and memorize Hebrews 12:1-4
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