What are you investing in?

So today is Monday and it's a holiday. I have the day off from work. Well at least from my paying job. I have been working on my homework assignment almost all day. I took a break a couple of times to eat. The class that I am working on is "Introduction to Christian Education." Months ago I read a passage in one of the books that really spoke to me. It was talking about Christians studying the Bible. At the time I started this book I was participating in a Bible study in my home. I really loved it but alas the time came to move on. Since then my studying of the Bible has not been as regular as it was. I have been doing my best to practice "first fruits" and give Jesus the first part of my day by reading my Bible in the morning. Some mornings get the better of me though. This brings me to the textbook. Here is the paragraph I read:

"If Christians are studying the Bible in church, Sunday School, and in home Bible studies, why aren't they valuing it enough to integrate it into their lives? The answer is that pastors and leaders are doing the Bible study, not the average Christian. The average Christian is passively receiving someone else's Bible study. Since the Christian is sitting and listening, what he or she is investing in is sitting and listening!"     

OUCH

That speaks volumes! I think back to all the years that I was the one sitting and listening but not doing the studying. The years that I was a stay at home mom but never picked up my Bible on a regular basis. Oh, I raised my sons to love Jesus. We sang all the songs, did the "Father Abraham" motions, went to church and Sunday School regularly. I always carried my Bible with me. But how many times did my young sons ever really see me sit and study the Bible. They saw me study school books (yeah, I've been going to school forever), they saw me read novels of all kinds, craft books, cook books, magazines. You name it and I was reading it (okay not the bad stuff).

 

Oh, how I wished they had seen me studying the Bible more. I wished that we had sat down together every day and had Bible time together. I just didn't think of it. My sons know how much I love the Lord and His Word. They see me read my Bible and study. They've been in my home during my Bible studies with my friends. There is no doubt in their minds, but I think there is some in mine. I don't know how much they read or how much they love God's Word. It's not that they don't love God or read His Word but how much? Are they sitting and listening or doing?

I can't answer that question but I can tell you this one thing. That when my sons finally bless me with grandchildren they will see grandma reading her Bible and we will be sitting together having Bible time. Yes I will still be singing "Jesus love me" and doing the motions to "Father Abraham" but I am going to make sure that my grandchildren grow up with a love of God's Word and a thirst to know it intimately.

So, what are you investing in?

Random Thoughts...

Random thoughts...

• It's a beautiful day out today...75 degrees is the forecast
• I need to take a long walk in the sunshine
• That research paper isn't writing itself
• The lyrics to "Giants Do Die" has been stuck in my head for 2 weeks
• God is a Great Big God and can take care of any of my problems
• Coldstone ice cream sounds really good
• I'm glad I have Monday off, Yea
• I have the best friends in the world
• My sister is funny and I love her 
• I want to go to the coast and sit on the beach

Got to go

My journey to good health begins

My friend Gayle has been a real inspiration to me when it comes to Eating Clean. You can check out her blog below. It's called "Blessed to be a Blessing." She has been faithfuling eating clean and exercising and lost so much weight and looks and feels great. This is what I aspire to do.

What is eating clean you might ask? It's eating food in it's most natural form. No processed foods. No preservatives. I Have just finished reading the book and have sort of started eating clean but I am not quite there yet. I have rid the house of most processed foods but there are still some chocolates hanging out tempting us. Well their about to be taken to the office and shared with those not watching their waistlines.

For those of you who see me on a regular basis you know that I have been suffering from problems with my back. I saw a specialist at UCLA Spine Center on Monday. I had prayed that I would not have to have surgery and the first thing the doctor said to me when he walked in the room was "Well you have a couple of bum discs, but you won't need surgery." Praise God. Basically the only treatment is to lose weight and take physical therapy to learn to do specific exercises and stretching techniques.

So now my journey begins...

I love tea

It will come as no surprise to those who know me that I love tea. Hot, cold or even luke warm. Any way I can get it. I would rather drink tea than anything else. Growing up we always had sweet tea and when I say sweet tea I mean SWEET tea. As I got older my mom cut back on the sugar until she finally cut sugar out altogether. That didn't set well with my siblings so she ended up making two pitchers of tea, one with and one without sugar.

In the last few years I have started to explore the ritual of afternoon tea. I still don't know everything there is to know about it but I can throw a tea party and not be laughed at. I love scones (the British version of a biscuit) with lemon curd and jam; I can make a really great Victorian Cake; and I know the proper way to brew tea.

About a year ago my friend Christy and I started a women's Bible study in my home on Monday nights. This was my opportunity to get out my tea pots and try different tea. Yum yum. We would have Tea and Conversation. The conversation of course being about Jesus. This was a good time for all of us to get to know more about each other, more about our Savior and a chance to taste test different teas. We found some that we liked and some that we didn't. 

Alas, our schedules got out of control and it became to difficult to fit everything in so the studies are no more. There is a time for every season and a time for everything we do. It was time to end the study but not the friendships and of course tea time. I will be having a tea party soon.

With all that said, get out your tea pots and get together with some friends and have Tea and Conversation. You won't regret it.

Blessings,

Sheila

The Year of Dreams

Well, the new year is finally here. We knew it was coming but I don't think any of us thought it would get here so soon. I certainly didn't. There are so many things I didn't get done in 2008 and here it is 2009.

This past Sunday Pastor Mark spoke about 2009 being the year of dreams. Old dreams restored, dead dreams resurrected, and new dreams to be discovered. There are some dreams that I have that I have given up on. I won't necessarily mention them but they are there. I believe that God is resurrecting those dreams and I will not give up on them again. It may take my lifetime or even after I'm gone for them to happen but I believe they will.

Here are some goals I have for 2009 - Not my dreams but attainable none the less

• Serve God more fervantely
• Simplify my life
• Study my Bible more
• Add a specific prayer time
• Spend more time with family
• Write to my friends
• Eat healthy and exercise (hopefully I'll lose weight)
• Concentrate on my school work (which I should be doing right now)
• Set budget and stick to it
• Spend less and save more
• Pay off as much debt as possible

There was a quote I wrote down that I really like that Pastor said about faith. 

"Faith is laying hold to nothing and holding on until the nothing turns to something."

What are your dreams? Your nothing? Don't give up on them. If they're from God then He will see that they come to pass.

Keep dreaming.

Queen Sheila

(only in my own mind)