Alle turned one on Valentine day. Mark and I left for Florida the next day. Last night we had the kids over for supper. It startles me that she is now a grown up, mobile girl with a mind of her own. . When you put her down, she runs and plays. She eats a lot of food, all by herself. After supper, she got down and dropped her spoon into the oldest largest jug that we have, that is near the table.
Carrie got here late and Alle walked right up to her and gave her a hug and babble at her. Aunt Carrie reached in her back pocket, touched a button and handed Alle her phone. Satisfied, she walked over to me, got in my lap and watched a train go around in circles. Carrie was explaining to the rest of us that she learn last week when she kept the girls that Alle loved her for her phone. Alle, pushed a button and the screen went to a "buy now" add. When Carrie reached for the phone, Alle, with her bottom lip over her top lip, gave her Auntie a, "I am not amused look". Carrie fixed it and handed it back to her. Carrie took the phone to change to a game with music and color. For the long minute that it took Carrie to change the screen, Alle stared at her hard, with the same look. Alle retrieved "her" phone and touch the screen and it came back to the "buy now" add again. She was not at all pleased when her Auntie has the nerve to grab her new toy and gave her (the look) again. By now, we are all trying so hard not to laugh and losing the battle. In a battle of wills, I have a feeling that our little angel just might win. Wonder who was in charge at the Fleetwood house last night.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Truth is more fascinating than fiction or Pride=Sin
Truth is stranger and more fascinating than fiction. If you do not believe this, then you need to read Daniel chapter 4 of the Bible. Dr. David Jeremiah starts this chapter by describing the sin of pride.
"There is little doubt that the most fundamental sin is the sin of pride. That is the sin that caused Satan to become what he is. That is the sin that God says He hates more than any other. Pride is nothing more than an exaggerated and dishonest self-evaluation. It says;" I want people to notice me, to admire me, to praise me, to flatter me, to idolize me. I want people to ascribe to me a value, an importance, an honor, a reputation and a significance that I do not deserve. In effect, a prideful person puts himself in the place of God. A prideful person refuses to see himself as God see him."
Several verses in proverbs and James 4:6 show how much God hates this sin and why.
Read proverbs 8:13, 11:2, 16:5, 21:4 and 29:23.
Proverbs 16:1 8. "Pride goes before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall."
We are not talking about a good self-esteem that we all need as children of God so that we do not allow our self to be abused by others. We are talking about Pride.
Chapter four begins with King Nebuchadnezzar telling his story about another dream. Once again Daniel is the only one that can interpret the dream by the power of the Holy Spirit in him. This time he does not really want to because the warning is against the King. He begs the King to repent so perhaps he could be spared. Pride got in the way.
Later, the king is looking over his kingdom and says these words."Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power for the glory of my majesty?" While the words were still in the king's mouth, judgement fell on him.
I am not going to say what happened, read it yourself. But the last words that we hear from him seven years later, when he is restored are found in 4:37.
"Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are right and his ways are just and those who walk in pride, he is able to abase."
I looked up the word( abase) -to bring down, make lower in rank ( you think) to degrade, to humble, to humiliate , to bring low. I find it interesting that these are the last words we hear from this king. Chapter five starts with these words...".King Belshazzer made a feast"...oh no, hear we go again.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The Joy of the Lord is my Strength
Nehemiah 8:10" For the Joy of the Lord is my strength". Claire Cloninger describes this verse with a story about a river rafting trip taken by her husband. He heard a lot of laughter from the raft behind him. He turned just in time to see a large raft filled to overflowing with youngsters madly paddling. They were down's syndrome kids out for a joyous day of rafting on the rivers uninhibited with joy rarely seen. They were living in the moment.
Joy does not mean you will not have challenges, it is the ability to have joy through the challenges of life. We could learn a lot from watching these children.
Mark and I have always had a soft spot for children with challenges. We always give toys or jewelry to children at our shows. We are delighted at their reactions, but the best reactions often come from children with challenges. I saw a young lady with down's syndrome looking at our booth. She love all of the colors and told me that she like the way I decorated. I thanked her and told that "she got it". She understood the appeal of using the colors like I do. I did not want to give her a toy because she was too old, so, I gave her a small pink alabaster dolphin. She was so pleased with the small gift that her face lit up. Her mother told me that she collects dolphins and she told me that dolphins were her team mascot. She walked away still talking about my booth and her dolphin. It takes so little to make children happy. Some time God allows me a moment.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Joy does not mean you will not have challenges, it is the ability to have joy through the challenges of life. We could learn a lot from watching these children.
Mark and I have always had a soft spot for children with challenges. We always give toys or jewelry to children at our shows. We are delighted at their reactions, but the best reactions often come from children with challenges. I saw a young lady with down's syndrome looking at our booth. She love all of the colors and told me that she like the way I decorated. I thanked her and told that "she got it". She understood the appeal of using the colors like I do. I did not want to give her a toy because she was too old, so, I gave her a small pink alabaster dolphin. She was so pleased with the small gift that her face lit up. Her mother told me that she collects dolphins and she told me that dolphins were her team mascot. She walked away still talking about my booth and her dolphin. It takes so little to make children happy. Some time God allows me a moment.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Nehemiah read or read Nehemiah
Tuesday is the last day of Nehemiah study for the Tuesday morning group and I am still in Florida. I finished the last page last night, so this morning I decided to read the entire book in one sitting. If you have not done this, I recommend it. I have to admit that I skimmed through the long list of names found in many chapters. There is so much to glean from these chapters. This morning chapter 8 and 9 leaped of the page.
Nehemiah 8:2-3 , 5-8 9:3 paraphrased... Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assemble and read it aloud from daybreak until noon to all who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the Book of the law.When Ezra opened the book, standing on a platform, all the people stood. Ezra praised the Lord and all the people lifted their hands and responded amen amen. Then, they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Then, the Levites instructed the people so that they could understand what was being read. Later in the month, they read from the Book of the law for a quarter of the day and spent another quarter of the day in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God.
WOW what a revival, worship service and celebration. Can you imagine, we have trouble staying focused for a few minutes. They listened attentively for half a day while standing up. The least we can do to grow in our relationship with a Father who loves us, is to sit in our nice comfy chair and read his word, pray and worship Him.
Nehemiah 8:2-3 , 5-8 9:3 paraphrased... Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assemble and read it aloud from daybreak until noon to all who could understand. All the people listened attentively to the Book of the law.When Ezra opened the book, standing on a platform, all the people stood. Ezra praised the Lord and all the people lifted their hands and responded amen amen. Then, they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Then, the Levites instructed the people so that they could understand what was being read. Later in the month, they read from the Book of the law for a quarter of the day and spent another quarter of the day in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God.
WOW what a revival, worship service and celebration. Can you imagine, we have trouble staying focused for a few minutes. They listened attentively for half a day while standing up. The least we can do to grow in our relationship with a Father who loves us, is to sit in our nice comfy chair and read his word, pray and worship Him.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
being in the place where God wants you
Day 1
To be willing
Nehemiah 11:2 " And the people blessed all those who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem,"
Kelly finishes day one with these questions and observations. "Where is the Lord asking for your willingness. What changes are you afraid of and what do you fear giving up. We may not always like it. We may be weary or discouraged. But never underestimate the importance of simply being physically present in the place where God wants you.
Sometimes obedience simply means showing up"
I am back home after three weeks in New York. It was a wonderful and hard experience.
To be willing
Nehemiah 11:2 " And the people blessed all those who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem,"
Kelly finishes day one with these questions and observations. "Where is the Lord asking for your willingness. What changes are you afraid of and what do you fear giving up. We may not always like it. We may be weary or discouraged. But never underestimate the importance of simply being physically present in the place where God wants you.
Sometimes obedience simply means showing up"
I am back home after three weeks in New York. It was a wonderful and hard experience.
Yesterday at 2:20 A.M., I wrote how I felt on my cell phone and posted it and it went into cyber space somewhere. So, I am going to try again to tell how I feel.
We were wonderfully blessed by the experience, but I was so ready to come and see the kids. Yet, I was torn about leaving Breezy Point when I saw so much need still around me. That night, we heard there is a DR in Mississippi, we signed up and are ready to go if they need us.
Last night, we had some of the kids and all of the grand kids over for supper. We will have Drew and Megan over for breakfast and plan to see Alle today on her birthday. My heart breaks because I will not be here for her birthday party on Saturday.
I feel like a girl with a split personally. Part of me is a home body, perfectly content to stay home and kiss and hug the grands, feed the family, go to church and bible study and play tennis. But the other part wants to go out into the world and travel and help others. Red cross has given us that opportunity to serve. This week, when we were walking on ice, loading forty pound boxes in the rain, one volunteered asked, "what would make a middle age person think that this is a good idea." The answer has to be, the people.
When we flew out yesterday, Mark said," look out the window, we may never see that sight again" and I agreed. But today, after studying Day two of our study of Nehemiah, well, you never know. Chapter 12 is about the celebration of the building of the wall and the return of the people to their city. Nehemiah started with inspection of the wall and went full circle to walking on and celebrating the restoration. Maybe, just maybe, one day, we will be able to go back and see Breezy point restored to it's former glory...a community restored, by the grace of God. There is always hope.
When we flew out yesterday, Mark said," look out the window, we may never see that sight again" and I agreed. But today, after studying Day two of our study of Nehemiah, well, you never know. Chapter 12 is about the celebration of the building of the wall and the return of the people to their city. Nehemiah started with inspection of the wall and went full circle to walking on and celebrating the restoration. Maybe, just maybe, one day, we will be able to go back and see Breezy point restored to it's former glory...a community restored, by the grace of God. There is always hope.
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