Yesterday
I delivered Jaime to the airport, then went shopping for a few things. I bought some new friends to keep me company while Jaime is away, Red & Blue are my two new Betas.
The Daily Bible
The wanderings of Israel are almost at an end. Miriam dies. Moses and Aaron disobey God and will not enter the promised land. Aaron dies. There are some battles and the Israelites have victories as they dedicate the battles to the Lord. Moses recorded the wanderings of the 40 years.
Boundaries in Marriage
Outsiders should be helpful not harmful to your marriage. Marriage was not meant to be the only source of life, emotional connection, or relationship. Choosing safe, healthy, marriage enhancing friends and activities is essential to keeping the marriage bonds growing deeper throughout the years.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for this day. Help me to be a servant to others, trusting you for energy to serve. Thank you for Jesus. Amen.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Quick, No, Cold
Yesterday
We had an LST party after worship. It was fun, the Miller family did a great job! I then went to my visit with the dentist.
The Daily Bible
Korah's rebellion, subsequent death, plague, and God's choosing of Aaron by the fruiting of his staff. Offerings and tithes are set apart as the Levites' wages and a tithe of all of that is to be the wages for Aaron.
Boundaries in Marriage
Saying no is required. In marriage one must say no to other things to say yes to marriage. You can't live like a single and expect a deep intimacy in marriage. You must forsake the other people, things, events, etc. to ensure your marital relationship grows deeper every day.
Prayer
This is what I want to pray: Lord get rid of this cold, please add some moisture to the air in Beijing and especially the air in my house. Help the people who regulate the temperature to keep it a little colder so more moisture stays in the air.
This is what I should pray: Thank you Lord for our warm home. Thank you for all your blessings. Please be with Jaime as she travels to the States today. Watch over us as we are apart. Help your church to grow, use us to bless others and draw them closer to your heart. Amen.
We had an LST party after worship. It was fun, the Miller family did a great job! I then went to my visit with the dentist.
The Daily Bible
Korah's rebellion, subsequent death, plague, and God's choosing of Aaron by the fruiting of his staff. Offerings and tithes are set apart as the Levites' wages and a tithe of all of that is to be the wages for Aaron.
Boundaries in Marriage
Saying no is required. In marriage one must say no to other things to say yes to marriage. You can't live like a single and expect a deep intimacy in marriage. You must forsake the other people, things, events, etc. to ensure your marital relationship grows deeper every day.
Prayer
This is what I want to pray: Lord get rid of this cold, please add some moisture to the air in Beijing and especially the air in my house. Help the people who regulate the temperature to keep it a little colder so more moisture stays in the air.
This is what I should pray: Thank you Lord for our warm home. Thank you for all your blessings. Please be with Jaime as she travels to the States today. Watch over us as we are apart. Help your church to grow, use us to bless others and draw them closer to your heart. Amen.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Grandma's, Moses, Triangulation
Yesterday
We went to Grandma's Kitchen & Guesthouse for lunch/breakfast. It is a beautiful, comfortable, very convenient place! And the food is great! We invited the servers to join our Let's Start Talking groups and Bible study groups.
The Daily Bible
Moses has two bad spells, first Miriam and Aaron speak against him with Miriam becoming leprous, then the entire nation of Israel refuses to believe the report of Joshua and Caleb and will wonder in the desert for 40 years and all 20 and older will die.
Boundaries in Marriage
Three's a Crowd shows how to deal with many intruders and begins with triangulation as it pertains to gossip, which can lead to greater triangulations. When A goes to C to talk about the problems in with B, then A is really gossiping and needs to go back to B to work out the problems and C should say as much.
Prayer
Lord God, thank you for blessings us with your Word, your love, and this world. Help us to treasure you, our relationship with you, and may we always desire to bring others into relationship with you. Give us opportunities to bless others, motivation to share your Word, encouragement to share your love, compassion to care for their hurts, divine appointments to reach out for you, and your love so they know it is all from you. Thank you for our Savior, amen.
We went to Grandma's Kitchen & Guesthouse for lunch/breakfast. It is a beautiful, comfortable, very convenient place! And the food is great! We invited the servers to join our Let's Start Talking groups and Bible study groups.
The Daily Bible
Moses has two bad spells, first Miriam and Aaron speak against him with Miriam becoming leprous, then the entire nation of Israel refuses to believe the report of Joshua and Caleb and will wonder in the desert for 40 years and all 20 and older will die.
Boundaries in Marriage
Three's a Crowd shows how to deal with many intruders and begins with triangulation as it pertains to gossip, which can lead to greater triangulations. When A goes to C to talk about the problems in with B, then A is really gossiping and needs to go back to B to work out the problems and C should say as much.
Prayer
Lord God, thank you for blessings us with your Word, your love, and this world. Help us to treasure you, our relationship with you, and may we always desire to bring others into relationship with you. Give us opportunities to bless others, motivation to share your Word, encouragement to share your love, compassion to care for their hurts, divine appointments to reach out for you, and your love so they know it is all from you. Thank you for our Savior, amen.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Happy Belated Birthday to Me!
Jaime bought me a guitar for my birthday and gave it to me yesterday! I'll be practicing every day.
Cloud and Fire, Holy Reality
Yesterday
The guys' study was at my house, minus Gary who has been in Sichuan and will now be traveling to Russia and Serbia/Yugoslavia. We will not be playing Settlers on Fridays nights any more, this will need to be a different time and activity separate from our study time.
Jaime leaves for the States on Monday...this weekend will be focused on us.
The Daily Bible
The Lord directs through cloud and fire that rest on the Tabernacle when and where the Israelites are to camp, then when the cloud or fire lifted it was time move out to follow the Lord. Moses is given 70 elders that will share the Spirit of the Lord and assist with administrative duties and the people are given quail to eat, which comes with a plague so that many who were murmuring died.
Boundaries in Marriage
God is holy. God is life and the ultimate reality, so to be anything but holy is to move away from God. If every marriage were to strive for holiness, the following would be present:
Prayer
God you are holy, you are reality, without you there is nothing. Bless us to see you daily, to know you, to long for you and find you in every person we meet and activity we participate in. Lord, call us to your holiness. Call us to your reality. Bring us close to you and remove our sin. Bless us to be a blessing. Watch over us, be with the sick, hurting, and lonely people of this world, bring them into your tender loving arms. Remove the wicked, replace them with the righteous in positions of power and blessing. Let the world see the true nature of sinful leaders, leaders who would draw us closer to sin and Satan, then God let them know you as their God, Savior, Friend, and Beloved. You have all power and pleasure. May we grow in you to be like Jesus, amen.
The guys' study was at my house, minus Gary who has been in Sichuan and will now be traveling to Russia and Serbia/Yugoslavia. We will not be playing Settlers on Fridays nights any more, this will need to be a different time and activity separate from our study time.
Jaime leaves for the States on Monday...this weekend will be focused on us.
The Daily Bible
The Lord directs through cloud and fire that rest on the Tabernacle when and where the Israelites are to camp, then when the cloud or fire lifted it was time move out to follow the Lord. Moses is given 70 elders that will share the Spirit of the Lord and assist with administrative duties and the people are given quail to eat, which comes with a plague so that many who were murmuring died.
Boundaries in Marriage
God is holy. God is life and the ultimate reality, so to be anything but holy is to move away from God. If every marriage were to strive for holiness, the following would be present:
- Confession and ownership of the problems in each individual
- A relentless drive toward growth and development
- A giving up of everything that gets in the way of love
- A surrendering of everything that gets in the way of truth
- A purity of heart where nothing toxic is allowed to grow
Prayer
God you are holy, you are reality, without you there is nothing. Bless us to see you daily, to know you, to long for you and find you in every person we meet and activity we participate in. Lord, call us to your holiness. Call us to your reality. Bring us close to you and remove our sin. Bless us to be a blessing. Watch over us, be with the sick, hurting, and lonely people of this world, bring them into your tender loving arms. Remove the wicked, replace them with the righteous in positions of power and blessing. Let the world see the true nature of sinful leaders, leaders who would draw us closer to sin and Satan, then God let them know you as their God, Savior, Friend, and Beloved. You have all power and pleasure. May we grow in you to be like Jesus, amen.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Doc, Duties, Compassion
Yesterday
Our house guests left last night. Jaime and I watched "What's up Doc?" an old Barbara Streisand movie and went to bed.
The Daily Bible
The Tabernacle responsibilities are divvied up. The Levites are told where to camp, what to carry, and that Moses and Aaron are the only ones allowed to look at the objects inside the tents. Moses and Aaron go in, wrap up everything, then the Levites carry the wrapped objects to the next encampment.
Boundaries in Marriage
Compassion and Forgiveness are the focus of chapter ten. The idea is simple. Hardness of heart is what kills a marriage, so be compassionate and forgive. Identify with your spouses weakness, sin, or struggle, then love them. Don't judge them and take a higher ground stance, but stoop to bless them. Any time we are in a strong position, God wants us to use it to serve, whether in marriage, business, church, or the world.
Prayer
God in heaven, help us to honor you. Give us increasing understanding and relationship with your Spirit so that we can glorify you. Bless us with our daily needs, remove our sins, and give us compassion to bless others with your love and forgiveness. Keep us from sin, strengthen us to stand in your presence continually praising your glorious name.
God bless this world to know you. May you awaken more and more people to your glory, beauty, and truth. Draw me close to you so others can know you more. Remove my selfish pride and show me how to be more humble. Forgive me and bless me with a renewed heart and mind. God I feel empty this morning, fill me up with your love and holiness.
How am I to pray for my loved ones and the lost Lord? What can I do to refresh my relationship with you? How can I know you more?
As the morning dawn arrives, wake your children to pray for the widows and orphans, the sick and the dieing, the lost and suffering. God call us to pick up the cross and follow you to care for these children of yours. Give us servant hearts, and hands devoted to service and blessing.
You are glorious and holy God, like nothing else. Thank you for sharing your glory and grace with us, through Jesus I pray, amen.
Our house guests left last night. Jaime and I watched "What's up Doc?" an old Barbara Streisand movie and went to bed.
The Daily Bible
The Tabernacle responsibilities are divvied up. The Levites are told where to camp, what to carry, and that Moses and Aaron are the only ones allowed to look at the objects inside the tents. Moses and Aaron go in, wrap up everything, then the Levites carry the wrapped objects to the next encampment.
Boundaries in Marriage
Compassion and Forgiveness are the focus of chapter ten. The idea is simple. Hardness of heart is what kills a marriage, so be compassionate and forgive. Identify with your spouses weakness, sin, or struggle, then love them. Don't judge them and take a higher ground stance, but stoop to bless them. Any time we are in a strong position, God wants us to use it to serve, whether in marriage, business, church, or the world.
Prayer
God in heaven, help us to honor you. Give us increasing understanding and relationship with your Spirit so that we can glorify you. Bless us with our daily needs, remove our sins, and give us compassion to bless others with your love and forgiveness. Keep us from sin, strengthen us to stand in your presence continually praising your glorious name.
God bless this world to know you. May you awaken more and more people to your glory, beauty, and truth. Draw me close to you so others can know you more. Remove my selfish pride and show me how to be more humble. Forgive me and bless me with a renewed heart and mind. God I feel empty this morning, fill me up with your love and holiness.
How am I to pray for my loved ones and the lost Lord? What can I do to refresh my relationship with you? How can I know you more?
As the morning dawn arrives, wake your children to pray for the widows and orphans, the sick and the dieing, the lost and suffering. God call us to pick up the cross and follow you to care for these children of yours. Give us servant hearts, and hands devoted to service and blessing.
You are glorious and holy God, like nothing else. Thank you for sharing your glory and grace with us, through Jesus I pray, amen.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
New Students, Marching Orders, Faithfulness
Yesterday
I went back to both classes - man, 3 hours of Chinese makes the mind very tired.
We had dinner at Peter's Tex-Mex, came home for our Bible Study. We had two three new people attend. Alice is from our building and works at the local hospital. She wants to believe, but isn't sure which religion is the right one. Rebekah is not believing, but interested in English and Lily brought her. The third woman is Jane, she has been a believer/Christian for 18 years, she came with Timothy and Stella.
We watched the first two episodes of Lost season 5 with our house guests.
The Daily Bible
The first Passover since the actual Passover in Egypt is celebrated. Those that were unclean because of a dead body are allowed to celebrate it.
The Israelites are counted and given their marching and camping orders.
Boundaries in Marriage
Chapter 9 deals with faithfulness. This is not a shallow faithfulness of simply keeping the body pure in marriage, that is only sleeping with your spouse, but this faithfulness demands complete fidelity. Giving parts of the heart away to addiction, dishonesty, or some lust will destroy a marriage.
Prayer
Lord I pray you bless the members of our Bible study. Let them grow to love you with their whole being, encourage them to share this relationship with their family and friends. Bless us to love you and love others with your love.
Watch over our friends as the travel back from Sichuan and others as they come to Beijing for our upcoming meeting. Bless our house guests with safe travel to their homes. God give us all daily divine appointments, opportunities to share your love and your Name with people who don't yet know you. Give us grace to bless them with so they can grow in your love.
Be with our family members that are pregnant, guide their children in your ways, direct the parents towards your ideals for parenting, and give them all generational health and blessings. Be with K and also Z - both of whom have Leukemia. Give them health and most of all your love, comfort, and a deeper desire for relationship with you.
Through the love of Jesus, amen.
I went back to both classes - man, 3 hours of Chinese makes the mind very tired.
We had dinner at Peter's Tex-Mex, came home for our Bible Study. We had two three new people attend. Alice is from our building and works at the local hospital. She wants to believe, but isn't sure which religion is the right one. Rebekah is not believing, but interested in English and Lily brought her. The third woman is Jane, she has been a believer/Christian for 18 years, she came with Timothy and Stella.
We watched the first two episodes of Lost season 5 with our house guests.
The Daily Bible
The first Passover since the actual Passover in Egypt is celebrated. Those that were unclean because of a dead body are allowed to celebrate it.
The Israelites are counted and given their marching and camping orders.
Boundaries in Marriage
Chapter 9 deals with faithfulness. This is not a shallow faithfulness of simply keeping the body pure in marriage, that is only sleeping with your spouse, but this faithfulness demands complete fidelity. Giving parts of the heart away to addiction, dishonesty, or some lust will destroy a marriage.
Prayer
Lord I pray you bless the members of our Bible study. Let them grow to love you with their whole being, encourage them to share this relationship with their family and friends. Bless us to love you and love others with your love.
Watch over our friends as the travel back from Sichuan and others as they come to Beijing for our upcoming meeting. Bless our house guests with safe travel to their homes. God give us all daily divine appointments, opportunities to share your love and your Name with people who don't yet know you. Give us grace to bless them with so they can grow in your love.
Be with our family members that are pregnant, guide their children in your ways, direct the parents towards your ideals for parenting, and give them all generational health and blessings. Be with K and also Z - both of whom have Leukemia. Give them health and most of all your love, comfort, and a deeper desire for relationship with you.
Through the love of Jesus, amen.
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