Two Questions

Here are two very random questions that are floating around in my brain today...

1. Is it correct to call Barack Obama an "African American" when his Mama was white?

2. How does dirt get in the silverware tray when all you put in there is clean silverware? (that one has always puzzled me.)

Do any of you have any wisdom on either of these two questions? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Today's devo scripture

I would like to tell you what this scripture means to me today, but then I'd be late getting to work, and that probably wouldn't go over very well. :-) Nevertheless, I want to share this scripture. I'll let the Word speak for itself.

Romans 15:4
"Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

You Take My Breath Away

As odd as it sounds...
as goofy as it sounds...
as old as it makes me sound...

this is the song that I'm worshipping with today. This is the song that is playing over and over again in my mind. I have not heard, or thought of it in years, but the nearness of God today, for some reason, has brought it to mind.

You can go ahead and laugh now :-)

Summer of 2008

It is so hard to believe that the kids are starting school tomorrow! I took this moment in time to capture a few pictures from our summer, and made them into a video.

A Big Day For Josh

This past weekend was an exciting one for Joshua. We finally turned him loose on the 4-wheeler. On his first go around, he nearly ran over his Mama, and there have been a couple of near misses with the dog. But other than that, he's doing amazing. :-) After a couple times around the yard, he was handling it like a pro. It's been fun watching him ride...I've just learned to stand on the porch instead of in the yard! :-)

I love this closeup picture that Denny took...

More of Psalm 119

57-64 Because you have satisfied me, God, I promise to do everything you say. I beg you from the bottom of my heart: smile, be gracious to me just as you promised.

When I took a long, careful look at your ways, I got my feet back on the trail you blazed. I was up at once, didn't drag my feet, was quick to follow your orders. The wicked hemmed me in—there was no way out— but not for a minute did I forget your plan for me.

I get up in the middle of the night to thank you; your decisions are so right, so true—I can't wait till morning! I'm a friend and companion of all who fear you, of those committed to living by your rules.

Your love, God, fills the earth! Train me to live by your counsel.

Denny at Work

Denny at work (ra ha ha)

Think God Can't Use You??

Here lately, I've had our amazing God on my mind...specifically regarding how He calls ordinary people, and does amazing things through them. As I've said before, on this blog, our sermon series this month is on Elijah. It's amazing, seriously, when you take a look at all that God did through Elijah.

Toward the end of Elijah's time on earth, we see Elisha come onto the scene. God also does amazing things through him. He parted the Jordan river, the widows oil was multiplied, a dead boy was raised to life, Naaman was healed of leprosy, and on, and on.

This past week, in church, John showed the video that I have posted below, and it talks about how God calls the unqualified. It mentions several ordinary people that God chose to work through, and mentions some of their weaknessess. When the video mentioned Lazarus, it said, "Lazarus was dead"...and God worked through him. That got a pretty good chuckle from the congregation.

Well, this morning I was reading in 2 Kings chapter 13, which, as a side note, is where Tim has us reading right now, if you're following his Bible reading plan...anyway, it says this, starting at verse 20...

"Then Elisha died and was buried." "Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha's bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!!"

Wait a minute. Elisha was DEAD, and God was STILL working through him! The commentary says, "Elisha was dead, but his good influence remained, even causing miracles, and attesting to God's power..."


Think God can't use you?

Chapman's on Good Morning America

Hey there. This morning, Steven Curtis Chapman and his family were on Good Morning America. In case you missed it, you can view it here. It is one of the best interviews I have ever seen. Ever. I encourage you to watch it, and pray for them while you do. Just click on the link above, and then click on the video box with that has the family picture on it.

Joshua's (our 6 year old's) Bedtime Prayer

Dear Lord,
Thank you for all the people you gave us. I know you died on the cross, and I feel sorry for you for that. You are the only God we love. Thank you for all of our food, if we didn't have water, we could be dead by now. If we didn't have television we wouldn't know whether it was going to storm or not. Jesus' Name, Amen.

I Hang on to these words for dear life! Psalm 119

In my ongoing commitment to post all of Psalm 119 on my blog, here's Psalm 119:41-56

41-48 Let your love, God, shape my life with salvation, exactly as you promised; Then I'll be able to stand up to mockery because I trusted your Word. Don't ever deprive me of truth, not ever— your commandments are what I depend on.

Oh, I'll guard with my life what you've revealed to me, guard it now, guard it ever; And I'll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth and your wisdom; Then I'll tell the world what I find, speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed. I cherish your commandments—oh, how I love them!—relishing every fragment of your counsel.

49-56 Remember what you said to me, your servant—I hang on to these words for dear life! These words hold me up in bad times; yes, your promises rejuvenate me. The insolent ridicule me without mercy, but I don't budge from your revelation.

I watch for your ancient landmark words, and know I'm on the right track. But when I see the wicked ignore your directions, I'm beside myself with anger. I set your instructions to music and sing them as I walk this pilgrim way. I meditate on your name all night, God, treasuring your revelation, O God. Still, I walk through a rain of derision because I live by your Word and counsel.

There are so many things I think of as I read through this passage of scripture. My heart engages with the Psalmist as he prays, "let your love, God, shape my life with salvation exactly as you promised..." Once again, I love praying these scriptures for myself.

As I read verses 49 and 50, I can't help but think of Abraham. "Remember what you said to me, your servant—I hang on to these words for dear life! These words hold me up in bad times; yes, your promises rejuvenate me."

I think Abraham could relate to that. For in Romans 4 it says, "even when there was no reason to hope, Abraham kept hoping...believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, 'That's how many descendants you will have!"

Abraham kept hoping because God had made him a promise. God had spoken to him about His direction for his life, and Abraham held on to that.

Maybe God has spoken something to you about His plans for your life...but you don't see it happening yet, and yet like the Psalmist who wrote Psalm 119, you can relate because you too have sought God's ancient landmark words, and He confirms, and you know you're on the right track.

I hang on to Your words O Lord for dear life. I put my hope in you... "and hope does not disappoint us." Romans 5:5