Reading through the Bible in a year

I don't know how many of you do this but it's a wonderful blessing to read through the whole Bible.  I have to admit that this last time I read through the Bible, it was over 2 years but I'm just going to be done at the end of this year.  I read through the Bible in chronological order which was AWESOME because it showed me that I was not experiencing deja vu in reading some things but that the Old Testament DOES have things written twice in different books.  LOL  Thanks, Michelle, for getting me that plan two years ago!

This year, I'm going to follow a new plan.  It's from Discipleship Journal and it's a great plan because it has you reading just 25 days out of the month, which I think it SO realistic and freeing.  Admit it, there's ALWAYS a day we miss here and there and to allow us a few extra days to "miss" is wonderful.  Additionally, this plan has us reading through 4 different parts of the Bible each day.  It has bookmarks for you to keep in your Bible so that you can easily find and check off each section as you read.

If you'd like to see the entire thing printed out in one compact brochure, see here.

If you'd like to get the bookmarks, go here and here.

So, anyone want to join me??  Let's get into God's Word this year!

Tim Challies - "Letters to Luke"

As most of you know, I read a blog by a man named Tim Challies and I find him very insightful and with a great grasp of God and His Word.  Today he introduced us to a man who is an atheist who asked Tim if he could write to him to discuss God and atheism and Tim agreed.  Today was the first letter that Tim wrote to Luke which is a response to a letter that Luke wrote on his blog.  I think this will be an excellent read for any believer.

Here's the link to today's entry:  Letters to Luke

And here is the link to the blog if you wish to follow it all: Tim Challies

Record snow storm for Long Island!

It was wonderful!  We had a blizzard during the night and we have a winter wonderland.  We postponed the morning services to 4 pm so we still were able to worship and see the children perform their pageant.

Here are some pictures from today's shoveling (we got almost 2 feet!).

"Wives submit to your husband" = no opinion???

It's interesting.  In reading things online recently, I came across an opinion of a woman that I've heard before and it's always bothered me.  This is the idea that as Christian wives, we're never to question our husbands at all.  If our husband says "Let's move clear across the country." we're just to say "OK - thank you dear." and wait for his next instruction.  If he says "I think we need to sell all we have and invest it in this new business", you might be worried inside knowing that this won't work but saying "Yes dear" instead of voicing your thoughts.  I honestly don't see this supported in Scripture and I think it makes for a very dysfunctional marriage.

God created woman for man - to be a "help" to him.  The word "help meet" in the King James is "ezer" and is the same term that is used regarding the relationship between God and man in Scripture.  Psalm 33:20 says "Our soul waiteth for the Lord:  he [is] our help and our shield" and Psalm 121:1-2 says "I lift up my eyes to the hills.  From where does my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."  God is certainly not silent in our relationship is He?  He gives us His thoughts, His desires for us and reveals to us His heart.  Should we not do the same with our husbands?

I do not see how submission means to not give our opinions on things either.  By giving an opinion, I am not being unsubmissive at all but instead allowing my husband to have maybe more information or a different perspective on the subject.  In our over 24 years of marriage, there have been many times that my husband and I have disagreed about something, some big and some small, but we learned over the years to recognize the other person's relationship with Christ and the Spirit's voice speaking to them.  I've learned to stop and listen to him and to pray that God would align my heart with his wishes if that's what He desires.  I've also learned to respectfully and quietly present my thoughts on the subject and my husband has learned to not lead with an iron fist and a deaf ear but to utilize the "help" that God gave him in a wife and to see if what I'm saying is something that is absolutely valid and he needs to listen to.  We are not only husband and wife but brother and sister in Christ and God has used me to bring something to my husband's heart that he would not have thought of.  If I were to just sit back and never give my opinion, I'm no better than a slave or an employee rather than a part of "one flesh".

To tell wives that they are to never question their husband, never give an opinion or an insight is to me a very dangerous, marriage damaging and crippling advice.  I'm certainly not saying that we're to argue with our husbands or question everything they do but if something doesn't make sense, ask for more clarification.  If you see an issue with an idea they have, give your insight as a woman and child of God. If your husband even needs a correction from a sister in Christ, please by all means do so.  Know that it will not always be received well but if we keep our mouths shut all the time, their "help" is as good as a GPS with no compass.

Be discerning and always approach your husband with something that might be difficult after much prayer and self-evaluation.  Are you doing this in pride because you know more than him?  Are you doing this because he's an idiot who should know better?  Pray that God will shut your mouth if it needs to be shut or to allow your husband's heart to have been softened already to that particular issue.  With prayer and wisdom, you will not be a nag or hinderance to your husband but instead a sweet partner "help" who is led by the Spirit and completes and compliments him perfectly.

In the homestretch!!

We're getting to the homestretch of the play at church.  Tonight will be our last practice before we hit 3 performances in a row.  Tonight traditionally has been "wacky practice" where people dress up in weird clothes and we do weird things but this year, we need the time to go over a few scenes that are very complicated and need a bit of fine-tuning.  I'm still going to pop in a burp or something as a sound-effect, however.  :)

Please pray that God will use this play to touch the hearts of many.  It's great to see responses to the play even if it's just "Wow" as people walk out the door.  A LOT of hard work went into this - thousands of man hours and with a cast of over 80 and a crew of almost 40, it's certainly no little show and it is wonderful being a part of something that God may use to reach people for His glory.

Soli Deo Gloria!!

Being a diligent listener - our responsibility for church

Tim Challies is a blogger and author who I highly respect.  He has a great entry today on just what OUR responsibility is in regards to church and specifically the Sunday service.  Excellent words for all of us.

http://www.challies.com/archives/christian-living/being-a-diligent-listener.php

Menu Monday

So this week is going to be busy yet again thanks to the play but I think I have food planned out.  Here we go:

Monday - Tortellini Alfredo with ham, salad
Tuesday - Breaded chicken tenders (I'll make extra), mashed potatoes, gravy, peas
Wednesday - Cranberry pork roast, rice, broccoli
Thursday - lasagna, salad
Friday - DH and I will eat at the yacht club and then I need to be at church around 7 or so for the play
Saturday - porterhouse steaks, mashed potatoes, some sort of veggie (I'll be home around 5 from the play)
Sunday - Cast party - I'll make cocktail meatballs in the crockpot at church to serve.
Monday - Taco soup, salad

This week has me at church on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights for play practice and work.  Then the play is Friday night, Saturday at 2 and Sunday at 4 with the cast party after the Sunday show.  It will be fun!  The play went really well with just a few glitches and I'm sure the rest of them will be even better!  :)

SILVER BELLS

Well, I have been sucked into the vortex that is known as the "Church Christmas Drama".  Our church does a huge production each year and this year there was a sound man but no one who was available to actually trigger the sounds (music and sound effects).  Since I'm the "expert" on this computer program that we have (and "expert" is in quotes for a reason because I barely know all of the features of the program myself but am learning a bit ahead of everyone else),  it was mentioned to me that a person was needed and, after checking with hubby about it, I went ahead and said OK.  The director was thrilled because she knew that she wouldn't have to teach me what to do since I know this program already.  So in the last few weeks, I've been to MANY hours of rehearsals and spent many more hours doing programming of the computer and setting up sounds.  It's been a lot of fun and the program is wonderful.

"Silver Bells" is a modern-day rendition of A Christmas Carol.  We see Mr. Benjamin Smith, a wealthy businessman in the role of Scrooge and his assistant is a single mom.  We follow through the past, present and future to visit a children's mission, a deaf church (we truly have a deaf church at our church and the deaf come and sign a beautiful song) and the home of Mrs. Jones and her 3 children, one of whom is ill.  It's a wonderful show where the Gospel is presented and tonight was the first show that was performed before a packed house.  We had over 700 in attendance tonight and it was great.

Here's a little taste from our dress rehearsal yesterday: