Chuckle, Chuckle

Okay, I just got an email from a friend in SD telling me she came to my blog to browse and she came across a post from Christmas. Remember "Rockin Around The Christmas Tree"? Take a look back and read the comments from that post. I got quite a chuckle reminiscing. I just love having this blog. It's so fun to journal the happenings of life. I don't often go back and read old posts, but I did enjoy it today.
Also, just listening to XM on DirecTV and heard a song by Denver and The Mile High Orchestra and was so excited to hear a Christian big band sound! Really neat!
BTW, listening to XM is my alternative to TV......they have a great Christian station called The Message! Channel 826 for those of you with DirecTV. Check it out.
Now go to bed and get up in time for church tomorrow. Lorna, don't be late!!!! I love you!

1 Corinthians 10:23

"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.

Okay, so I fell of the wagon last night. I decided to watch Dancing with the Stars. That was fine, but after that I started channel surfing. Was I convicted? Yes, but I just ignored it. I turned on one of my favorite shows, The Office, and heard a one liner that was supposed to be funny. I was very bothered by it and turned off the TV and went to bed. I just asked God to give me strength and longing for Him more than the "tele". This morning I read "My Utmost For His Highest". We also read the children's version of "My Utmost" as a devotion for the whole family. There is an illustration and a short paraphrase. The picture was of a person watching TV! Why are we so amazed when God gives us those In-Your-Face, very clear lessons? I stand in awe every time!

I discovered something as I read Mr. Chambers this morning. TV is wrong for me. It may not be wrong for you, but it's wrong for me. See, I always try to justify my sin by comparing myself to others. I can't do that. God has a reason for laying this issue so heavily on my heart. Purity is a process. I'm a lifer....

Things Of The World

The Lord has been really dealing with me lately concerning the things I allow into my life. I have started asking myself the question, "Is what I'm doing drawing me closer to Jesus, or is it pulling me further away from Jesus?" What we do and choose in our lives will have one affect or the other. Everything can be done to glorify our Father in heaven. It's a matter of choice on our part. I have recently attempted to give up watching TV at night. This has been a bad habit of mine for quite some time. I've gone back and forth. Sometimes, especially after "life changing" experiences such as Camp and revival, I will commit to stop indulging in TV watching. However, slowly, but surely, the temptation seizes me and I renig. God has revealed something to me in recent days. Satan will use anything in his power to make us totally ineffective for God. He can decieve us with things that seem "good and harmless". Anything that will detract us from WHOLLY serving Christ is within his reach. Choosing Christ is always the BEST choice. Everything else pales by comparison.

I have started praying, daily, for God to give me a passion for 4 things:

• Jesus


• God's Holy Word


• Prayer


• Lost Souls

Hear what I'm saying. I'm praying for these things because I don't have them. I have allowed myself to be "duped" into thinking it's okay to let things of the world in. It's not okay. Does this seem radical? Probably. I hate to sound cliche, but WWJD? "He must increase, but I must decrease", right? (John 3:30)

10 Years Goes By Quickly

Tomorrow, Eric and I will celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. If you would have told me at our wedding that at 10 years we would have 3 children and be in full time ministry, I would have say, "Say what?" I always wanted children, but I never could see myself with them. Of course, now that I have Michael, Lauren and Emily, I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Eric and I have definitely had our share of ups and downs, but Christ has been our constant through it all. We celebrated our first anniversary in snowy South Dakota. That's seems like it was so long ago, but just yesterday at the same time. I have told our students that before they know it, they will be married and have babies. They don't believe me. Cherish your time while you're young. It goes by so fast! I have enjoyed reconnecting with lots of old friends today on Facebook and a lot of our students that we ministered to are married now and are having children. Wow! It really blows me away.

I love you, Eric. Our wedding invitation said, "Desiring God's will for their lives, and believing that includes each other....." I still believe it!