WordFILLED Wednesday: Forgiveness...

After my bookworm revelations of yesterday...I now will admit that I read many, many Christian non-fiction books at a time. If you're like me you are given a book here, buy a book there, borrow a book here...and they all seem to be half way read.

I think I read them all at the same time for numerous reason. One, they are often rather deep and I cannot digest any more than a few chunks at a time. Two, I'm trying to conquer them with some amount of speed so that I remember who they belong to, etc. etc. Anyhew...

You know how God often repeats himself in scripture? Yeah, well...He does that in my life too. I'm not a really good listener...ahem. (Probably a lesson there in my level of patience in dealing with my rather similar 2 year old.) So, in my Bible Studies and in my many works of half read non-fiction...one theme has come glaring through this week...FORGIVENESS.

I know, ewwwww!

So, seeing as I do realize the warning at the end of the passage in Matthew...I decided I better really examine this out in my life. I don't want ANYTHING between me and God! ANYTHING!! And...it was there...that situation of several years past (yes, years) that had raised it's ugly head. Yes, I'd forgiven initially...but when slander, offenses and what-have-you continued...instead of forgiving I had gulped down that root of bitterness and nurtured it into a great, furry beastie! I had even found myself some "friends" who themselves had similar beasties to help nurture my beastie. Not the kind of friends you want folks...you want friends who tell you what GOD'S WORD SAYS!!! If someone pats your furry sin on the head and says, "Oh, I understand...he is just like mine." A doo run, run, run!!!

So, I re-forgave...and it's so freeing. BUT here is the thing I want to share...sort of my most recent revelation on forgiveness... If we picture God's forgiveness to us when we forgive others (which we should)...we must forgive like God...AND THAT MEANS...
-covering all our sins
-blessing us as if we'd done nothing wrong

I know....Ouch, ouch, ouch!!!

So, do you care more deeply for someone after you've forgiven them? You should. You should be praying that God will bless them! Yup, you read that right...BLESS THEM!!

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9

To Join WFW today head over to Amydeanne's...HERE! It occurs to me that I could have posted a very Easter post today...but oh well...this was on my heart instead. Probably a reason for that too!

Tube Tuesday: Veggie Easter!

The Oddities of a Bookworm!

I think I must be a bit unusual when it comes to my reading seasons. For me every season finds me never without a book...and have my nose buried in one incessantly. But, I do find major changes in which seasons I read fiction versus non fiction. There is also a direct correlation between the quantity of my reading and the quality of my housekeeping skillz.

For me SPRING is a big fiction reading season...because my Sweet Boobahs want to be outside. They no longer require my constant physical presence...but do require my watchful eye...so, I can cart about a book and read while they play. I spend a lot of time in the hammock or on the screen porch while they shovel sand, swing and blow bubbles.

My Sweet Loverbrains suggested that I might be "unreachable in my literary world" but I assure you that I can keep up with both worlds just fine. Thank you! Don't worry...crying or screaming definitely get my attention. Haha! I read fiction because it is easier to read in an "unfocused, MomE" sort of way. I can read a few paragraphs and still be understanding where it's all going.

WINTER is what I'd figure is most people's "snuggle up and read" season. When the kids are cooped up though...it's anything but restful and quiet reading time for me. I do enjoy deeper nonfiction reading though. It sort of goes with my "brooding, gray" mood. I can read a small portion and dwell on it and chew on it for days.

What's in my Spring lineup...some fun vintage British mysteries! I am taking a slight hiatus from my Agatha Christie goal (I'm gonna read them all in 2010)...I'm now reading...

Jane and His Lordship's Legacy by Stephanie Barron
Tell Me, Pretty Maiden by Rhys Bowen
Death of a Gentle Lady by M.C. Beaton
(if you haven't read her Agatha Raisin series your missing out on some laughs)

So, in case anyone was wondering about my bookworm tendancies...now ya know!

What are ya'll reading?...Any good mystery suggestions for me??

Caffeinated Randomness: Spring Rains...

Caffeinated Randomness fits me so well...every Friday! It's hilarious...any other day, I'm not sure I could be so random. Hey, I heard that snicker!! Okay, first cup of coffee *slurp*....

I don't particularly like rainy days. I know, I'm probably not alone there, right? Anyhew, I was just kind of struck by how Spring rains are so purposeful. Yes, yes...all rain waters the earth...yeah, I know. BUT Spring rain...washes those little red pods off the trees so the leaves can spread out and flowers can bloom. It washes away all the winter salt and gunk. (Yes, gunk is a word!) It wakes up the froggies and fishes by riling up the ponds and lakes. It probably wakes up the worms too...to feed all those early robins!

Oh, before I forget *GASP*....my Loverbrains is a wonderful, genius!!! Our washing machine is fixed. Yeah, happy little Bobbi dance! Now, I get to tackle all the mountains of laundry!! Er, yeah....hahaha! Thanks to all who prayed. I prayed all day yesterday after the part came (and I practically hugged the FedEx man) that I'd have a proper attitude if the part did not work. Like I said before...this was a big lesson in trusting him...and HIM! But, praise the LORD, He allowed the part to be "plugged in" within a half hour...and SPIN *warp speed*...it WORKS!!!

Tonight is a date night *I know could this just get anymore randomly exciting?*...I'm so excited. I already have my clothes picked out. With battening down the hatches...we really need to get out! Italian food...and maybe Cheesecake for dessert. Ummmmm...

I guess I'll wrap up by randomly saying that it's gonna be sunny today...but a high about 20 degrees lower than our usual lately. So, the Sweet Boobahs will be after me all day to go outside and play. They'll think I'm being mean when I say it's too cold. I'll hold them off until after naps...when the sun hits the backyard and raises it about 10 degrees. Then, they'll go outside...and their little noses will run...and they'll complain about being cold. No, I don't have ESP...just BTDT. Incidentally, BTDT appeared in my comments lately...and it took me three days to figure out what it meant! HAHAHA!

All my love to you chiccies...here's hoping your weekend is filled with random love and funtimes!!

Deep Thoughts in my Coffee Cup

I love hearing a good quote and then hunting it down and reading the entire article that goes with it. Yes, most of this is because I'm paranoid and don't want to recommend or accept something that isn't the gospel truth...ie. the BIBLE. It does make for some interesting reading though. Depending on the era...it can make for some deep thinking too.

My most recent hunt was for, "A keen observer once said to me, "You Christians seem to have a religion that makes you miserable. You are like a man with a headache. He does not want to get rid of his head, but it hurts him to keep it. You cannot expect outsiders to seek earnestly for anything so uncomfortable."

Now, if you choose to be a mighty quote hunter like myself...you need to scribble down key words so that you don't drive yourself mad looking them up on Mr. Google. For this one I managed to grasp "keen observer" and the concept of a headache but can't get rid of head. It still took some searching. Plus, I wondered who in the world wrote this...

Turns out to be...an article by Hannah Whitall Smith...who I didn't know anything about. Segue into her bio....she was a saved Quaker who wrote "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life" in 1870. I love this bio blip..."Smith was by no means a dour servant of Christ but rather, her life expressed the joy found in complete surrender." Just a good reminder to SMILE...if you are truly filled with JOY!!!

To sum up her article. She challenges whether a Christian can have, not just forgiveness of sin, but freedom from sin. "But you will say that no man can redeem himself by his own power, and no man can live without sin. Amen to that. But if men tell us that God's power cannot help us and redeem us out of sin, we cannot accept it!"

Of course, there is a good quote within the quote...where she quotes Dr. Chalmers..."We can now walk before God in peace and graciousness. How can we believe that God would be allied with a persistent sinner? How will we, recover from such a catastrophe, continue that which first involved us in it? The cross of Christ, by the same mighty and decisive stroke with which it took the curse of sin away from us, also surely takes away the power and the love of sin."

So, that's my deep thoughts in my cuppa for today. Grab yourself and fresh, warm cup and read it...after you've read your BIBLE (first things, first)...here ya go!

____
Sadly, it has come to my attention that Ms. Smith's life ended with her not understanding this truth, that she herself wrote about. She became deceived and a full supporter of the Universal Church Movement...a proclaimed heretic, not hero. It is truly sad to discover that she didn't fully grasp the truth of "happiness versus holiness" for after reading more deeply about her...I'm sure that the truth of that doctrine could have comforted her during her very sad and troubled last days. To read more of her gritty ending...go here! I'm not deleting this post...as I feel that this particular article holds important thoughts for every true believer.

"An examination of Smith and her book is not complete without asking if the goal of the Christian life is happiness or holiness. Our days might be bitter, but God’s love remains sweet. In the light of the admissions by the Apostle Paul of times that even he was temporarily “cast down” (2 Corinthians 7), we cannot expect to be happy constantly until we get to heaven."
~Personal Freedom Outreach

picture courtesy of farm1.static.flickr.com

WordFILLED Wednesday: Spring Sheep!

My Shepherd...cares for me with love and compassion. I matter to him..and so do you. Even when we try to run away, intentionally or unintentionally, he uses his rod and staff to guide us back to the right path.

My Shepherd...knows me. He knows every single one of His sheep...by name. He loses none of His sheep...ever! Maybe more importantly, I know my Shepherd's voice. The more you hear a voice...the more easily you recognize it!

My Shepherd...died for me. He became a lamb. He put himself between me and the predator of sin. He actually died to prevent me from experiences eternal separation from Him.

My Shepherd...became a lamb. Bleeding from thorns meant for me. Sacrificed on an altar, called Calvary. My Shepherd...became a lamb!!

Please join WFW...at Forever His!

Tube Tuesday: Thoughts on Holy Week!

I spent a lot of time looking for a good Easter/Palm Sunday video. Let's just say there's not a lot out there! This one made me cry...and think a lot of things.

I wonder what ever happened with the servant of the high priest? He was miraculously healed by Jesus during his arrest. FYI- Peter didn't mean to cut his ear off, ya know...he meant to split his head in two! Not that it matters...but I wonder if he ever became a follower of Jesus.

Mary pondered things in her heart. I wonder how much she remembered from his birth and childhood that she put together at the end. WOW! Heartbreaking...to this mother's heart!!

Even though it's not really in this video...I want to remind you that the reason Palm Sunday or the Triumphal Entry is soooo important isn't that they hailed him as King and then crucified him later exactly. That day...the day of the Triumphal Entry was right before Passover. The Jews didn't know it but they were choosing their Passover Lamb...Jesus Christ!!! They screamed it over and over...

"Hosanna!" means, "Hooray for salvation! It's coming! It's here! Salvation! Salvation!"

And "Hosanna to the Son of David!" means, "The Son of David is our salvation! Hooray for the king! Salvation belongs to the king!"

And "Hosanna in the highest!" means, "Let all the angels in heaven join the song of praise. Salvation! Salvation! Let the highest heaven sing the song!" ~JP

Just a brief ending note...I liked this video until the very end...where they sign it as "Your bff, Jesus"...Am I the only one who finds that slightly irreverent? I mean, yes...I can see how technically He is your best friend forever...but He's also GOD, folks!! I guess it's the same reason I don't like people calling him the "man upstairs." Anyhew...just my two cents...for what it's worth!