In Sunday School last week, we have been talking about knowing why we believe in God. As hubby taught on Sunday, he said something that triggered deeper thought. He said - out of all the things that we read today - newspapers, internet, emails, other books, Oprah, Dr. Phil, etc. - that the Bible is the only thing that has to be proven to be true. And he is right!
Dr. Adrian Rogers was once asked by a fellow passenger what type of magazines he liked to read. He responded that he mostly read the Bible. The lawyer to whom he was talking said, "You mean in your profession you do not read any wider than that? How can you help people with their problems and needs? " Dr. Rogers responded with: "Man has only three problems: sin, sorrow and death. Every problem in the world is a subset of sin, sorrow or death and the BIBLE is the ONLY book on earth that has the answers to all three."
How wise! But why the war on the Bible? Because Satan hates it - he wants to see it destroyed. Some despise it - some destroy it - some distort it and MANY ignore it. Sadly, one of the greatest enemies of the Bible are those who call themselves Christians but only pay lip service to it.
Feelings are going to come and go, but the word of God never wavers. Is the BIBLE the word of God? Absolutely! Look at Jesus' view of the scriptures:
He acknowledged it as LAW.
He viewed it as the ultimate authority. When tempted, He said "It is written...."
He saw himself in the fulfillment of scripture.
He accepted it and ENDORSED it - Do we?
Get in the word today and spend some time with Him,
Kim
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Contentment
This summer I read Max Lucado's book: Cure for the Common Life and I was reminded of quite a few lessons that I have learned. Living a life on a teacher's salary has taught me a great deal about contentment. Yes, hubby and I have great schedules, plenty of time to spend with our child but, the bank account doesn't overflow with extra. Yet, our house is adequate and our cars do get us from point A to point B, we are able to educate our child in a Christian environment and we are able to live a moderate life with an occasional splurge. We obviously chose satisfaction over salary. But that is worth so much more.
One of my favorite Japanese proverbs is: "Even if you sleep in a thousand-mat room, you can only sleep on one mat." Rather that settling for the ancient Japanese proverb, if you turn to the scriptures, you find a similar warning: "It is better to have little with fear for the Lord than to have great treasure with turmoil." Proverbs 15:16
I would much rather be married to a man who is happy than one who is miserable working 70 hours a week in order to acquire more. The virtue of contentment is one to be pursued.
I am fortunate that I get to do what I love each day. Since I left public school and began teaching in a Christian school, I can't wait to get back to the classroom each day to teach my first grade babies about Jesus. Don't get me wrong, I adored all of the children that I taught in public school. However, you can have so much more of an impact when Jesus is welcome in your classroom.
I am blessed to have one of the sweetest classes that I have ever taught this year. I am blessed to have been given the opportunity to teach nineteen precious children to love reading, writing, to solve math problems and explore the world through the eyes of God. But more importantly, I have the opportunity to show them that God has a plan for their lives. He has filled them with skills and charming personalities and I count it a joy to serve my Lord in my first grade classroom.
Please pray for me each day as I lead these little ones to the cross -
Kim
One of my favorite Japanese proverbs is: "Even if you sleep in a thousand-mat room, you can only sleep on one mat." Rather that settling for the ancient Japanese proverb, if you turn to the scriptures, you find a similar warning: "It is better to have little with fear for the Lord than to have great treasure with turmoil." Proverbs 15:16
I would much rather be married to a man who is happy than one who is miserable working 70 hours a week in order to acquire more. The virtue of contentment is one to be pursued.
I am fortunate that I get to do what I love each day. Since I left public school and began teaching in a Christian school, I can't wait to get back to the classroom each day to teach my first grade babies about Jesus. Don't get me wrong, I adored all of the children that I taught in public school. However, you can have so much more of an impact when Jesus is welcome in your classroom.
I am blessed to have one of the sweetest classes that I have ever taught this year. I am blessed to have been given the opportunity to teach nineteen precious children to love reading, writing, to solve math problems and explore the world through the eyes of God. But more importantly, I have the opportunity to show them that God has a plan for their lives. He has filled them with skills and charming personalities and I count it a joy to serve my Lord in my first grade classroom.
Please pray for me each day as I lead these little ones to the cross -
Kim
Sunday, August 12, 2007
It's All About Relationships
" Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6;4-7
I love this passage of scripture. The principles mentioned in these few verses of scripture are the key principles that work in every relationship. How can we help others come to know and love God? I am glad you asked....
First of all - we have to love the Lord ourselves and have a great relationship with Him.
Then - according to this scripture - we are to take His word to heart - DAILY. If we are to lead others, we have to be close to Him.
And if we are to lead others, we can only so that if we have a close relationship with them too. We have to have a family like relationship with them.
We have to relate our life experiences to God's word as we share our life experiences with them so that they can come to know and love God if they sense His concern to the details of their lives.
Ladies, this passage has become so real to me since I left the public school system to teach in Christian Education. The whole reason I even entered the field of education was about relationships. With end of year testing pressure and the No Child Left Behind act, I felt as though the time that I should have been given to build and nurture relationships with parents was stolen from me. When I began teaching in a Christian school two years ago - that passion returned. I felt like a first year teacher all over again because the focus there was on- RELATIONSHIPS.
I was blessed this summer to run into a great friend that I once taught with - the Lord blessed us with an opportunity to reunite and continue to build a friendship that we shared several years earlier.I am just in awe of how God has worked to reconnect us in various ways. It just reminded me of how important our relationships with people are - it is how we witness.
Witnessing seems to be such a hard thing for so many. But it is really simple: Love God. Love on others around you. Talk to others about God as a friend as you live out your life daily. That kind of witnessing is more powerful than any sermon ever preached.
What do others see when they look at you? Are you helping others to know and love God?
In Him,
Kim
I love this passage of scripture. The principles mentioned in these few verses of scripture are the key principles that work in every relationship. How can we help others come to know and love God? I am glad you asked....
First of all - we have to love the Lord ourselves and have a great relationship with Him.
Then - according to this scripture - we are to take His word to heart - DAILY. If we are to lead others, we have to be close to Him.
And if we are to lead others, we can only so that if we have a close relationship with them too. We have to have a family like relationship with them.
We have to relate our life experiences to God's word as we share our life experiences with them so that they can come to know and love God if they sense His concern to the details of their lives.
Ladies, this passage has become so real to me since I left the public school system to teach in Christian Education. The whole reason I even entered the field of education was about relationships. With end of year testing pressure and the No Child Left Behind act, I felt as though the time that I should have been given to build and nurture relationships with parents was stolen from me. When I began teaching in a Christian school two years ago - that passion returned. I felt like a first year teacher all over again because the focus there was on- RELATIONSHIPS.
I was blessed this summer to run into a great friend that I once taught with - the Lord blessed us with an opportunity to reunite and continue to build a friendship that we shared several years earlier.I am just in awe of how God has worked to reconnect us in various ways. It just reminded me of how important our relationships with people are - it is how we witness.
Witnessing seems to be such a hard thing for so many. But it is really simple: Love God. Love on others around you. Talk to others about God as a friend as you live out your life daily. That kind of witnessing is more powerful than any sermon ever preached.
What do others see when they look at you? Are you helping others to know and love God?
In Him,
Kim
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Lord, It's Hot!
Lord, as you know, it is hot! But Lord, I also thank you for the comforts that you provide us to stay cool. There are many comforts: air conditioning in our home and cars, indoor jobs in air conditioned classrooms, ceiling fans, cool water to drink and so much more. Lord, help us to appreciate those comforts and remember those who are less fortunate.
Lord help us to focus on your blessings today,
Kim
Lord help us to focus on your blessings today,
Kim
Friday, August 3, 2007
Man of the Year Award
I was challenged by a fellow blogger today to give my hubby - The Man of the Year Award. It seems that she was motivated ( Thanks Leigh!) to reevaluate how we in the blogging community speak of our spouses. So she created the Man of the Year Award - Congratulations Hubby! I can think of a thousand reasons that you deserve it!
To respond to this challenge today, I turned to a list of my hubby's traits that I keep in my Bible - at some point while praying for him, I made a list of reasons that I am drawn to him:
He provides me a sense of security, he is wise, sensitive, nurturing, has great morals, a strong sense of country - he loves conservative politics. He is devoted to family, quiet, and like a boy scout - he is loyal, kind and brave. He is a gentle giant - and handsome too! The amazing thing to me is that out of my list of 15 traits - only one of them was based on his outward appearance. Mama was right - it is what is on the inside that counts!
(Drum roll please....) But I give him the Man of the Year Award for his INTEGRITY!
Proverbs 10:9 says, "He who walks with integrity walks securely."
He understands that life is not about working countless hours just to have more. He understands the importance of his role as a husband and father and how important it is to be home with us as often as he can. And he goes about it in his own quiet, humble manner. Lord, thank you for blessing me with a loyal man of integrity. He is my Man of the Year!
If you were to bestow that honor upon your man today, what would you say? Click (on the centered title above) for Man of the Year Awards link and join me....your hubby will be glad you did.
In Him,
Kim
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