Archives – July, 2009
“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”
—Psalm 39:4–5
Encouragement for Today
The psalmist asks God to remind him of life’s brevity. Why focus on this? Because we need to be reminded that we can’t accomplish everything we might want to. If we want to live a life of lasting significance, we must submit it to God and ask him what he wants us to do, what he wants to bless. Our own limitations and mortality drive us to God, which is where we need to be. While the world may urge us to focus on human potential, God asks us to focus on limitations—so that we depend on God, not ourselves.
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
July 31, 2009
Here is one actress/artist that should be a good model in the world of show business. She’s one talented girl with a big heart for people. She’s known to be adopting children and she’s got kids her own. There’s a heresay that she wanted to adopt a kid in the Philippines but the government didn’t want her to. Not sure why. But anyways, I’m not a real fan of her acting but I like the way she portrays herself. Unlike other artists who just flaunt their delinquent ways.
She has received three Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and an Academy Award. Jolie has promoted humanitarian causes throughout the world, and is noted for her work with refugees through UNHCR. She has been cited as one of the world’s most beautiful women and her off-screen life is widely reported.
Well, that’s Angelina Jolie. What about me? What do I excell at? I think I’m good with blogging. Maybe I should join my blogs in BoB Awards. Maybe I could win one of those Blog Awards.
If you think I am good in blogging and my blogs are qualified, please nominate me in the Best of Best Awards!
July 31, 2009
“If only there were a mediator between us,
someone who could bring us together.
The mediator could make God stop beating me,
and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.
Then I could speak to him without fear,
but I cannot do that in my own strength.”
—Job 9:33–35
Encouragement for Today
These words express Job’s longing for a mediator, someone who would come between him and his experience of God’s punishment so that Job could speak to God without fear. He recognizes his own lack of strength, his inability to speak to God without fear of punishment. Job’s words here are prophetic; they awaken us to how much we too need this kind of mediator. The mediator described here is exactly who we now have in Jesus—someone who came between us and the judgment we deserve, so we can speak to God without fear. Thank God for your mediator!
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
July 28, 2009
We haven’t done family camping yet. And I can’t wait to do one for us. I’m sure it’s going to be really really fun. My kids love outdoors and I’m sure they will enjoy it. Camping would take a lot of preparations, I guess. You can’t just go and not prepare camping equipment, can you? So what are the things needed to go and do camping that would make it extremely fun and at the same time, safe? I found a list of things to bring from shopwiki.com.
1. tent – you have to make sure that the size is enough for the family if you’re only taking one.
2. food – make it finger food. having barbecue will make camping more interesting.
3. good hiking boots – it would be fun to go hiking too and having a comfortable hiking boots is really recommended. and if you like to run, don’t forget your trail running shoes, too. I bought a pair of rebok running shoes when I thought we were going to climb Mt. Kinabalu. I’m sure I will use it if ever we go for family camping.
4. outdoor emergency equipment – this would probably include first aid kits and emergency lights.
5. of course, it would be nicer if you have camping backpacks. You’re sure you can pack a lot because usually camping backpacks are designed in such a way that you can get lots of things inside.
I may have left out some things to prepare before going out for family camping. It would be good to check out shopwiki.com because they have a list of those things and they will tell you which shops to get them.
July 28, 2009
“Do you think your words are convincing
when you disregard my cry of desperation?”
—Job 6:26
Job tells his friend that he can’t even hear what the friend is saying until the friend listens to Job first. If you disregard the state of the person you are trying to persuade, he or she will never be open to what you say. Job needed his friends not to explain things, not to accuse him, but to enter into his pain with him, to show they understood his pain. This is a fundamental relationship principle. True connection starts at the point of the other person’s state of mind and heart. Take time to tune in today in all your relationships.
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
July 25, 2009
“Put your hope in the LORD.
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed. …
Look at those who are honest and good,
for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.”
—Psalm 37:34, 37
Encouragement for Today
Sometimes it’s difficult to travel steadily along the right path. We see people who are not following God but are prospering. Sometimes they even deliberately make things more difficult for us. At such times, focus your eyes on God and his promises. Reaffirm your commitment to travel steadily on his path. Renew connections with others who are also on that path. Seek those things that make for peace. As you do all this, trust that “a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.”
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
July 22, 2009
I love hosting parties. I like to arrange our table for dinners. I love having tea parties at home. But usually, our parties start in October every year. Schenker’s birthday is in October. Samantha’s birthday and our wedding anniversary is in November. We celebrate Christmas in December and my husband’s and my birthday in January. Once October starts, I would be very busy planning for dinners/parties.
So this October, we’re celebrating my son’s 5th birthday. He specifically asked me whether we could celebrate his birthday in Megakidz, Midvalley mall. We’re not sure though because it is expensive to hold a birthday party there. Also, it’s a school break. Not sure whether his friends will be around to attend the party. Of course, I have to think of sending party invitations so I would know how many could attend.
Schenker’s and Samantha’s birthdays are exactly one month apart. So have to prepare in advance, especially on the finance department. Then a month later, there’s Christmas. And you have to think of gifts for friends and family members. There really is a lot of things happening for us, especially on the last few months of the year.
The good thing though is… I love doing it. I love preparing for parties. I love wrapping presents. I love cooking for guests (I just hate washing dishes). I love preparing our house.
July 22, 2009
“Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch,
but the diligent make use of everything they find.”
—Proverbs 12:27
view in context
Encouragement for Today
This is an apt verse for these belt-tightening times: make diligent use of everything you find. Frugality has always been considered a virtue (until recently, perhaps). Even if your particular situation is not dire, could there be some way you can make better use of your resources in order to free up more to give away? And if you are in difficult times financially, remember to make diligent use of what you’ve already been given. Ask God to help you become an ever more effective steward of what he has given you.
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
July 22, 2009
Looking at Sony Vaio now on my computer screen makes me want to have one. I am actually officially don’t have a computer now. The notebook I am using is my friend’s and he’s sending this to Pakistan. It’s supposed to be in April. I don’t know why it’s already July he hasn’t taken it back from me yet. Of course, I am glad because at least I have a computer to do my work. Otherwise I would be waiting for my husband to come home to be able to use his notebook. I don’t have any plans in buying a new notebook. My hubby just bought mine 2 years ago and it didn’t last long. I was quite disappointed with it.
But if ever I plan on buying a new one, I would go for quality ones. Never mind if it’s expensive as long as I can use for a long time. It’s quite worth buying a good quality stuff.
July 21, 2009
“The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it.”
—Proverbs 10:22
When the Lord blesses, riches are included. These riches enhance life and do not bring the sorrows that worldly riches can bring. The Bible warns about the potential traps of wealth, but it’s not wealth itself that is dangerous; it’s wealth without the blessing of God, wealth that is not a result of a godly life but of worldly pursuits. A Christian is not to eschew wealth but is to concentrate on gaining spiritual riches in the process of living a wise, godly life. Such a life is blessed … with no sorrow.
—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions
July 20, 2009
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