Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Interesting thought-- How should we pray for those who don't love the Lord?

A good friend of mine posted an interesting thought on this the other day, and I've been pondering it ever since. It is NOT, I'll warn you a very comfortable thought-- but it is one that I think we might all need to face if, that is, we hunger for more revival than can be found by sending a donation to the ministry of your choice now.

She pointed out that Paul gives us some insight... 1 Corinthians 16-24.

21The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
22If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
23The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
24My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

in the KJV it is phrased as Anathema Marantha. Wow. In other words, that person should be cursed because the Lord is coming. Other translations have it that Paul prayed a curse on those that don't love Jesus. That isn't comfortable, is it? In all my time, I don't think I have once prayed for a curse on those that don't love Him. Have you?

Be Blessed!


Grace

Menu Plan for the Week and My Musings!

Monday: Beef Burgoyne
Tuesday: whole wheat penne, leftover spaghetti sauce, spinach, cottage cheese, mozzarella, served with chicken breast.
Wednesday: pork chops, baked potatoes, roasted greenbeans
Thursday: Mexican inspired pork roast with jalapenos, refried beans whole grain tortillas usual taco fixings and veggies
Friday: New recipe day-- trying a pizzza recipe from Gourmet Nutrition-- Texas style pizza on tortillas, will serve with green salad
Saturday: Crockpot pork roast, mashed potatoes, green salad
Sunday: Cereal and sandwiches... (just make it as easy as possible)

Yay... it's morning! I am so tired today. I think the fact that it is still so cold here is hard to take in the a.m. I don't mind getting up, but I am having a hard time getting out of my warm bed. We haven't and (won't) turn the furnace on again til sometime in November... and it's currently 32f outside... inside, about 55. Which is where the furnace would be set anyway... but still!!

So, I'm sitting on my coach completely wrapped in a blanket... huddling up to my laptop for warmth. I'll go running in a bit this a.m. after the kids are out the door, I'll get my mile in for today.

Be Blessed!

Grace

Monday, April 28, 2008

Mystical Monday

Well... it's Monday...

Yesterday, I got up with ds and we got a two mile run in... well we ran a mile, walked a half, and ran a half, but it was two miles. It felt really good. We went out at about 7:30 a.m.

Today's Parade of Adventures:

Laundry-- it's inevitable!
Dishes-- likewise
Menu plan for the week-
Stationary bike 25 minutes HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)
Abs workout

Need to grade assignments for another class.

My fun weekly challenge-- drink at least 4 liters of water a day this week. I've got two 2.2 liter water bottles and I'll just keep one in the fridge and one out. Should help!!

I'm so pleased by the way... guess what?? I'm now down to 212 from a starting weight of 232. That's 20 lbs gone!! YAY!

I'm not losing as fast as the folks on the Biggest Loser, but let's face it... I also don't have six hours every day to workout!! LOL... I'm just thanking the Lord here that these pounds are leaving. I know it is increasing my health and my lifespan, and legacy that I leave for my kids. They will see me as healthy... and hopefully,will adopt healthy habits themselves.

Be Blessed!

Grace

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Super Sunday!

Normally, we go to church on Saturdays but today dd was performing with the younger girls from their GRACE liturgical dance group camp that the girls held over the last three months. It was fun to watch the little ones!!

The service today was quite good. Have you seen the "Last Lecture" on Youtube? It is really quite heart-breaking. If you haven't, I suggest that you might want to... but make sure you have tissues as this is this man's last lecture... he is dying of pancreatic cancer.

We were focused on Jesus' last lecture on this 6th Sunday in Easter. His parting words for us... are so full of reassurance. He will not leave us orphaned He promises. He will be back and the Advocate will be with us as well til then.

The paralells are fascinating... this professor is concerned with the legacy he leaves his children and that is why he gives the lecture-- not for his students, not for the 6,000,000 who have seen the Youtube videos, no... for his children. Sometimes I think we forget... that Jesus last words there are meant not only for his disciples, but for US who are His children.

He saw us in our times of brokenness, when the people we love pass out of this world, when our hearts are aching with pain, when we despair because of sin... He saw us and reaches out to us reminding...

For lo' I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Be Blessed!

Friday, April 25, 2008

Re-reading C.S. Lewis

I just read a good devotion from Ravi Zacharias ministries... it is written by Jill Carratini, and I thought it was excellent. It really made me stop and think...

In it she discusses a visit to a church where there was so much negativity. The emphasis was all on the should not's and shall not's... body piercing, tattoos, homosexuality, etc. The pastor at one point received Amen's from the congregation when he said that these people would not enter the kingdom of Heaven. She mentions how her heart fell at that word because Amen means - let it be.

I was stricken by that. How can we as Christians who profess love for one another, and should have love within us for all... think that it is okay to say Amen to even one person being left outside God's grace?? What has happened?

Ms. Carattini then traces this trend all the way back to C.S. Lewis's sermon on "The Weight of Glory", Lewis began warning us about a dangerous trend occurring in Christianity. He referred to it as negativity. One example he gives is how many Christians today would say that the greatest virtue is unselfishness... instead of love.

Lewis points out that love is positive. Love reaches out to others. Unselfishness, however, is negative, and is still oddly focused on our own selves...

Words mean things. Amen means something...

Lord,

Please help me to discern what I should Amen, and what I should not. Give me ears to hear what is really being said, and to stand for your Love... no matter the cost.

Amen!

Be Blessed...

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Thursday!!

My legs are better. Just in time to go running on Friday... and the really horrible part of this is the forecast is for S-N-O-W. Honest! I am SO sick of running in the snow. Blech! I was looking forward to my first rain run.. and now, snow... again.

And we're supposed to be worrying about global warming?!?!

Today... taught at 8:30 a.m., I really wish I could get a discussion going. It takes some time though. I'm not sure why it is so difficult to get conversation moving... but it is. Made lasagna for supper... ff cottage cheese, lots of spinach, ww noodles. Yummy!

Tomorrow... I'm trying the portobella pizzas from Gourmet Nutrition, and pairing them with some roasted zucchini, and some chicken breasts. It just sounds good, and I have leftover sauce to use up.

So disappointed in the weather... so so disappointed... *sigh*

The perpetual laundry machine cranks ever onward...

Be blessed!

Grace

Monday, April 21, 2008

Monday, Monday!!

Woo boy! I am so glad that the Lord in His wisdom only put one Monday in a week. Not so much for me... my day is good, but poor dd!! I was dropping her off at school and her binder fell out of her messenger bag... paper everywhere!! I turned on the hazards and helped her scoop everything up, but I still think some papers escaped us. Hope she doesn't need 'em!!

Today's Parade of Adventures:

1. Laundry- In progress (it's always in progress--I have the perpetual laundry machine, if anyone's interested!)
2. Work out- Done! I did my 25 minutes of HIIT cardio on the e-bike. I hate the thing, the part that sits on the seat keeps falling asleep! Still... it does need to be done. Then I killed my lowerbody with squats, plie squats, leg lifts, deadlifts, hamstring curls, and finally, calf raises...
3. Dishes, sweep... general household maintenance
4. Prepare for class
5. Pick up kids
6. Make supper- Spaghetti Squash spaghetti for me, the rest of the family gets the noodles but the sauce is from Gourmet Nutrition, with turkey italian sausage because now I'm improvising...

Be afraid people!!

and Be Blessed!

Grace

Friday, April 18, 2008

Fridays Parade of Daily Adventures

Ah... the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft aglee... to quote Robert Burns, and if you remember what a fanatical Scot my hubby is... well, then you understand that quoting Robert Burns is a necessity.

My poor son is home sick. Sore throat, headache, stuffy nose etc., and so is dd. I have my babies home with me for the first time since, well, since summer almost... and because they are sick they are acting like babies. *Sigh*...

I had a good run this morning. I'm finding that getting out there and having the time by myself and with God is actually a form of prayer. I'm feeling more centered and relaxed. Although, I did miss my running buddy. Alex usually runs with me, but just was in no condition today. Poor kidd.

So... today's plans:

Laundry
Kitchen clean
Grade student assignments for:
Criminal Law
Criminal Procedure
Issues in Criminology
and Evidence

Supper: beef stirfry. Easy!

Thanks for the comments. I really love and miss all of you. But, when dh asks me to do something, I do it. I hope you understand, and that we can still chat on yahoo...

Monday, April 14, 2008

Journey to Wellness!

I am here to rave about a fabulous new cookbook! This thing is amazing. Gourmet Nutrition-- it's filled with good healthy recipes. So far every recipe I've tried from it rocks! I'm happy with them, the teenagers like them, and so does dh! I've made the stuffed zucchini, and the garlic spicy shrimp.

I have lost about 18lbs since the start of the year. I'm able to run a mile without stopping. A whole mile! And, I'm actively doing some weight training with dumbbells.

My next goals... by 7/4/08 I will be running 2 miles without stopping!! And, I hope to lose another 18 lbs between then and now... but we'll see what happens. I'm also continuing my work on eating right...

I feel very blessed! And I am... I'm already in better shape at 40 than I was at 39. Progress! I'm also doing a great bible study... Calm My Anxious Heart... lots of fun... and good information.

Be blessed!