Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering


It's time once again to be praying about what God would have us give to The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. I am passionate about missions and am very blessed to be a part of an Acts 1:8 church. We are ALL called to pray for missions, give to missions and go on mission. Even if we only go across town or across the street. Or even sitting at our computer at work. We can always be on mission for God.

Sometimes I get so excited about our missions offerings at church, that they tease me. I have been known to talk too much and too long about missions. Our treasurer tells people that many times someone has written him a check for our missions offering just to shut me up!! Well today, my pastor, who has a wonderful sense of humor also, sent me this cartoon by email.


It's me!!! Thanks Brother Kenny! Brothers and Sisters....it's time to get your wallets out!!

To learn more about The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, click on the title of this post.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Can God really teach an old dog new tricks?

Well duh.

God can do anything. One of my goals (not resolutions) this year it to STUDY the Bible this year. Not try to read it all the way through. Study, meditate, research. I find my self saying more and more as I read God's Word, "Huh! I never knew that!" I have even started writing in my prayer journal "What God taught me from His Word today" I'm lovin' it :-)

I'm reading in the book of Leviticus right now. I never really thought about what God could teach me about the way Aaron and his sons offered sacrifices and how they had to be consecrated and all.

In Leviticus 8:22 it says "And he brought the second ram, the ram of consecration. Then Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. V. 23 and Moses killed it. Also he took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot." He did the same with Aaron's sons.

Why would he do that? Alot of you probably already knew the answer to that, but to my shame I must admit that before when I read Leviticus I just kinda skim through because Jesus died for my sins and I don't have to offer sacrifices. So I never really thought about it. This year I want to know God more intimately. Why did He do that? Because Aaron and his sons needed to be consecrated to Him. They needed to hear Him with their ears. They needed to serve Him with their hands. They needed to walk in His paths. Blood on right ear, right thumb and right big toe.

Leviticus 14 talks about lepers. About how they were unclean and couldn't live with the rest of the congregation. But when they were cleansed they had to show themselves to the priests and there were certain steps in the cleansing ritual he had to follow. V. 14 says "The priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot." It was symbolic of the fact that he needed to be cleansed spiritually too. To hear God's Word, to serve Him in righteousness and to walk in His ways.

I don't have leprosy. But I need to be cleansed daily.

Jesus please make sure I have a drop of Your precious blood on the tip of my right ear, on my right thumb and on the big toe of my right foot. Cleanse me and make me a fit vessel to hear Your Word, to serve You daily and to walk in Your ways. Amen



Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Simple Pleasures

Over at Kelly's Korner today, she blogged about some of her simple pleasures. So it sounded like alot of fun, and I am not very busy today. Most of my favorite pleasures are simple...

Like having my Daffy Dog snuggle with me when I am sick like I was last week.

Getting unexpected email pictures of my grandchildren, like this one of McKenzie at a kids make-up party! She had her nails done and a pedicure too!


Another simple pleasure I have is having a snow day on Saturday with no where to go and no need to get dressed or put on make up...

Cheating with a Snickers bar every now and then like I did Monday...

Climbing into a bed with fresh, clean sheets...

Hearing one of the kids at church talk to Jesus....

A good cup of just plain old coffee with cream...

Coupon days with my grandchildren...

God giving me sweet, sweet memories of Tony and Roger...









and last but not least...

waking up on Saturday morning and realizing I can go back to sleep!!