right and wrong January 21, 2009

      Me and April were talking today about Tamar it got me thinking.

    The story of Tamar is found in Genesis. She was married to Judah’s eldest son and he died. Tamar was then married to Judah’s next oldest son (as was the custom) and he died too. The only son left was too young so Judah sent Tamar home to her fathers house to wait until he grew up. Well he grew up and no one came for her. She was almost past child bearing age. She knew she would have to take matters into her own hands.She was calculating.She planned out ever little detail. She would change her clothes and cover her face with a veil and sit on the side of the road and wait until Judah went down the street to shear his sheep. When he passed she posed as a prostitute and he slept with her. He also gave her his seal, cord, and staff for proof of payment. She became pregnant with twins(Perez and Zerah) and had proof they were Judah’s because she had his belongings. Judah said that Tamar was more righteous then him.

    How can the word “righteous” be applied to Tamar, who uses an act of prostitution to secure her future? Also, consider Judah: he lives seperate from his family(over guilt), marries a canaanite, hires a prostitute, fails to keep the law that was meant to protect widows, and the decrees that Tamar should be burned for a sin she committed with him!

   Neither one of them fits the current understanding of the word  righteous( right standing with God). But amazingly they both find their way into the ancestry of Christ!

   These two seriously flawed individuals are listed in Matthew among Jesus’ ancestors. Beautiful proof that God doesn’t wait until his people are perfect or have it all together before using them in his plans. Jesus became wholly human, including having sinful ancestors. He did not place himself above us but became one of us. And his choice was out of his grace, not our merit.

Share Your Hope January 19, 2009

       We had a great Sunday School class yesterday. We were discussing 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 where Paul is explaining to Christians there what will happen when Jesus returns to call his people home. It is 6 small verses packed with a lot of punch. 6 small verses that make for great conversation.

       Paul wants them to be comforted in knowing that it is o.k. if they die before Jesus returns. They can have hope in the knowledge. Some of the saints had died and some were getting older and they were starting to worry.

      Are you prepared to share with others where your hope comes from? If you are a brother or sister in Christ your hope is found in Jesus and his word.

      I encourage you to read, study,memorize, and whole heartedly grasp onto every word in your Bible. Be prepared in a pure, sincere, kind, loving, and humble way when someone asks. Be comfortable in the knowledge that has been given to you.

what a wonderful world January 16, 2009

my dad came and fixed my computer. i am so happy!!!!! I am very scared it will mess up again but I will try and have faith. I will be posting again soon but since it is friday night I will probably start back up monday.

 

It is a wonderful world!

Put Your Armor On December 29, 2008

First of all, I, Jamie, did not physically create post. But it is all mine. Our computer at home is on the blink, and has been for a few weeks now. Maybe too much Webkinz. Anyway, I’ve written a post and given it to my wonderful husband to post. I’ve missed you folks!
Everyone has a morning routine.A cup of coffee, a morning run, breakfast with the kids- there are patterns in our lives that add strength and purpose to our day.
Think about it for a moment. We’ve got the basis covered. Or do we? Clothes, hair, make-up…. the Apostle Paul says we have to be dressed in the “full armor of God” before we are really ready to face the world.
Ephesians 6:10-18 gives us insight about what we need.
-the “belt of truth” buckled around your waist
- your feet fitted with the “readiness that comes from the gospel of peace”
- the “shield of faith” to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one
- the “helmet of salvation”
- the “sword of the Spirit”, which is the Word of God
Think about how each one of these things helps you. When we think of this passage it seems we have something else to add to our routine. Find time at the beginning of the day to pick up
“the sword of the Spirit”.

i am starting to feel like snow white December 12, 2008

   After the mouse problem you would think i was done with the critters for a little while. But NO!!!

   Last night I went out to see a movie and left the kids with their brother and nick and hunter. The movie was awesome, Robin had to hold me while I cried on her shoulder like a baby. I always cry at movies. Anyway when I got home Alex had sent me a text with a picture of something strange. I could not tell what it was. I asked him to explain. Apparently someone opened the door and a bird flow in the house. It was a heavy down pore and I guess the poor thing needed somewhere dry.

   Now picture this, the boys shut molly, Rachel, And Oscar in the bath room. The bird flies upstairs and they corner it in Alex’s room. They shut Hunter up in Alex’s room with the bird and he catches it and puts it back outside. Needless to say, Alex’s room was then covered in bird feathers when I got home.

    What is going on? Why are all these little creatures coming around? I don’t know, but I hope it doesn’t continue>

Mighty Mouse caught alive!!!!!! December 12, 2008

here is the little critter. he was successfully caught and given another home in a field to live. As you can see he is not the cute little thing my husband claimed him to be.

it’s time for a laugh December 6, 2008

    i just have to share what happened to me yesterday. for some reason I always have the most bizarre things happen to me.

   Let me first start by saying that I am really into this new saga of books i am reading. total fiction. Just something for the imagination ( fiction is good for me because my head can relax for a little while). But I have been reading this book on my 15 minute breaks at work ( any free minute to read a few pages and sometimes not so free). 

     Well for a time now I have been freaking out when I sit in my car because I hear something in there. Something moving. Something scratching. I had actually started to get use to it. Well, yesterday I was sitting quietly on my 15 minute brake reading my book and I SAW IT!!!!

    It was a huge mouse!!!! I can kill a spider and hold a snake but for some reason a mouse scares me to death! I jumped out of my van and called my boss crying ” Michelle, are you busy. Please come help me. There’s a mouse in my van!!!!”

    After she finished laughing she came out with a broom. We searched and searched. Had all the doors open. took everything out. opened the hood. Mr. Price came out and laughed at us.

    Then I decided it was time to call Michael. I told him what happened and as I explained how quiet it was Michael interrupted and said, ” Quiet as a mouse?” (I will get him for that). I had to tell him that I was not getting back in that van until a mouse was found. I was hysterical( crying). Michelle had to talk to him.

   He came and got my van and took it back to the dealership and I think it was the oil change guys trying to find the mouse. They didn’t find the mouse but they found a bed he had made under my radio in a compartment and in the back of the van he had made another bed in another compartment and he was filling my ac thing with acorns. That mouse had moved in.

    I still am not driving my van. Robin did offer to bring Oscar over to help in the hunt. Might as well he is better then any cat. He”s a mole hound. His natural instinct is to hunt small creatures.

Taming the tongue December 1, 2008

   Those of you who know me know that I have a mouth that has a hard time being quiet. I’m pretty much an open book. What I think comes out before I have a chance to think, ” Should I say that?”. This is probably one of those times.

   Before Michael and I had a chance Sunday to get out of the sanctuary ( isn’t it called that for a reason?) Michael was approached by someone who was not intending to show ” Christian Love” and they didn’t. Well, I jumped right into that conversation when I probably shouldn’t have. I was really upset.

   I had just asked God to forgive me for the way I felt about this person before communion and then this happens. God has really been working on me. Trying to tame my tongue and the question was raised ( by me), ” When are you suppose to speak up about the monstrosities of this world and when are you just suppose to shut-up?” It is in my nature to say something but now I think sometimes I need to bite my tongue. During Sunday School I decided to take a short walk to clear my head so I could concentrate on the lesson and while I was out I got hit again! COME ON! When I returned to class one of the girls said “God is growing you today.” Man, that was an understatement.

   How do you discern when to speak up and when to stay silent? Maybe I should just cut out my tongue.

A promise is only as good as the one who makes it. November 25, 2008

   Philippians 1:6- be confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

   Our intentions are always good. We start out with excitement, but before we reach the end we run out of steam. We all know what it’s like to have that disappointment. Unkept promises. Unfinished projects. Unfulfilled dreams. BUT when it comes to our spiritual life and God’s plan for us, we will not end in failure. The promise will be kept. The project will be completed. The dream will be realized. For one reason only and that is God’s work, God’s project, God’s promise. A promise is only as good as the one who makes it. Thank God that he always keeps his promises.

 

  What are somethings you are thankful for today?

it is not all about me! November 21, 2008

   Michael’s birthday was monday and I was really trying to make it special. I cleaned the house and had his favorite meal and UNC was playing basketball at 9. It was perfect for him. He had some cards to open and when he got to the one from my dad it got me thinking. It said ” son-in-law, Today it’s all about you! Tomorrow. It’s back to you- know- who!”. That was saying it was all about me!!! No it’s not!!! We got into a discussion about it and I was uncomfortable. Then Michael’s game came on and he sat to watch it. I walked by the kitchen and looked at the mess of dishes from dinner. Michael, I guess, saw me looking at the kitchen and said ” I will get it at half time, baby. you just sit down.”(wasn’t that sweet). well, that got me thinking, is it all about me? then there was some great play in the game and michael texted his friend Lonnie at work and said ” How about that so and so( can’t remember his name)” and the guy texted him back and said ” I missed it. I was doing the dishes.” hahahahahahahah!!!!!! I thought that was so funny. Now I know that it is not all about me. It’s about Angela too. hahahahahaha!!!!!!