Responsibility

I was watching a young man on the Judge Judy show yesterday who had borrowed his girlfriends car to go to a job interview. Afterwards he decided to go visit his grandparents and got into a car accident. The girls insurance would only cover half the costs of the repairs and she was suing him for the other half. What was amazing is that no matter what was said this young man (23 yrs) didn't believe he had any responsibility to pay even though he was responsible for the accident. Judy Judy grilled this man up and down and he would not change his stance...he believed someone else was responsible for his actions. Even at the very end he said that it was his girlfriends fault because she knew he had been in accidents before and she shouldn't have loaned it to him. Pretty unbelievable, huh?

I began my journey this morning in reading through the Bible in 90 days. As I was reading in Genesis I was struck by how Adam and Eve did the same thing. In Genesis 12 and 13 when they were asked why they had eaten from the tree of knowledge Adam first said, "the woman you put here with me, she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." Sounds like Adam doesn't want to take responsibility for his own actions...almost like he's blaming God for giving him Eve in the first place. Then when Eve is confronted, she says "the serpent deceived me , and I ate." She is blaming the serpent even though she made the choice to take that bite.
Later in Genesis 16:1-5 we see Sarai blaming someone else for her choices. She didn't want to wait on God to conceive so she gave her servant Hagar to her hubby Abram. Well, you can imagine what happens there, right? Hagar gets pregnant, Sarai gets upset when her servant has lost some respect for her and she tells her hubby that he's responsible for her suffering. This one always gets me when read it...you put another woman in your husbands arms and then get mad over the consequences?
And yet, we've all been there, haven't we? You do something you just know isn't quite the right thing to do (or maybe you do think it's the right thing to do) and then when things happen you don't like...it's very easy to play the blame game. I see this everyday with the young children I work with...but, sadly I also see it regularly with many adults. I have to challenge myself regularly as well to look at my actions and not try to blame someone else if I don't like the way things turn out.

2010 Goals

I'm having a hard time believing it's going to be 2010 in a few hours. Where did the time go? As a child I remember people saying that time seemed to go faster as you got older. I never understood that until a few years ago when it started happening to me. I don't know what causes it...maybe all the busyness in our lives? How do you slow down and still get the things done that need to be done? I'm not sure if I have an answer to that. But, I do know that creating a plan is necessary to make changes. I've come up with some goals for this coming New Year. Not too many to be overwhelming, but enough to make life interesting. :)

Spiritual:
1. Read through the bible in 90 days.
2. Read through the shelf full of unread Christian books I have.

Personal:
1. Eat healthier.
2. Exercise 4 days a week.

Marital:
1. Plan a date night once a week.
2. Get back in the habit of praying for dh daily.

Family/Home:
1. Spend more fun time with the kids.
2. Pray for each child daily.
3. Increase my food storage to a one year supply.
4. Get my garden going.
5. Get rid of more stuff!

Financial:
1. Pay off a loan.
2. Read Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover.

Bible in 90 days

Tomorrow starts the Read the Bible in 90 Days Challenge. I'm pretty excited about this. My book finally came yesterday (I was beginning to get a little worried it wouldn't arrive in time). I have been thinking about how I'm going to carve out time to read the 12 pages a day and have come to the conclusion that I just need to make it a priority and make it happen. There are always a gazillion things that need to be done...but this is the most important thing. I'm looking forward to seeing what God is going to reveal through his word.

If you would like to participate and can't afford the bible there are a limited number of scholarship bibles available.

From the Bible in 90 Days site:

“So many people indicated an interest in our scholarship Bibles that we’ve put the application online. Our ministry is tiny, but we are committed to helping people in need who themselves are committed to this reading. To be successful, we believe it is important to start with resources that are best suited for the purpose. We can’t help everyone, but will help those we can.”
If you have a genuine need and are committed to the challenge, please apply at the ministry’s website. If you are able to purchase the Bible yourself, or if you are just contemplating the idea, please reserve the scholarship Bibles for those with a genuine need.

Read the Bible in 90 Days

I'm going to be participating in a wonderful challenge over at momstoolbox. We're going to read the Bible in 90 days! I've tried reading through the Bible by myself several times over the past 20 years and I've never been able to finish. I found myself getting stuck in the Old Testament readings. This time, however, I'm confident that with a plan and a huge support group I will finish!
Amy, over at momstoolbox, has written the following guest post. Won't you join us?

Have you ever thought about reading the Bible... the whole thing, from start to finish?
I thought about it for years, and even attempted a few times on my own, before I discovered Bible in 90 Days, joined a group at my church and read the whole thing without stopping, cover to cover.
I was so blown away by the experience that I offered to facilitate it at my next church and have since facilitated several more times, trained facilitators and now plan to host an online community via my blog, MomsToolbox.
If you have ever considered reading the whole Bible, I cannot recommend strongly enough that you join me January 1- March 31, 2010, as I read and blog through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, bit by bit, in order, every day.

If you would like to join our online community, here’s what you’ll need to do:
Plan to set aside about an hour each day from January 1- March 31 for an incredibly enriching experience.
Get your hands on a Bible in 90 Days Bible from http://www.biblein90days.org/, or your local Christian bookstore.
Consider also purchasing the Bible in 90 Days Participant’s Guide which offers weekly questions for you ponder to gain more insight from your reading. (I’ll be using these questions for our weekly Twitter meet-ups.)
Consider purchasing the Bible in 90 Days Essential Bible Companion, which offers a snapshot of information to help you make it through each week’s reading without getting distracted by researching on the internet.
Bookmark my site, http://www.momstoolbox.com/, and plan to visit January 1- March 31 after you have completed each day’s reading to see what I learned and report in that you have read for the day.
Follow me on Twitter (@MomsToolbox) and plan to be on Twitter every Monday night of the program from 9-10 CST (much like a study meeting—just online!) when we can ask and answer each other’s questions. Use and look for the #B90Days hashtag for our group discussion.

I would bet some of you are asking “Why this particular Bible?” Here’s why:
The official Bible in 90 Days Bible is an NIV Bible, so it is an easy-to-read direct translation. This edition has large type, minimal footnotes and indicates where you should start and stop reading each day. Sure, you could accomplish this goal using your own Bible, but the statistics point to a huge success ratio for those using this official Bible... and not so much success for those who choose to use a different one. And don’t you want to succeed this time?

Although we won’t be meeting in person, my prayer is that via almost-daily online communication on my blog, as well as on Twitter we can still hold each other accountable, helping each other to accomplish our goal to read every word of the Bible attentively in 90 days.
I’d love to encourage you in this endeavor. It has been life-changing for me.
I cannot express how much reading the bible in 90 days has helped me with every study I have participated in and every sermon I have heard since then. I now know the context of the stories. I know where to find them... and I can clearly see how they are related. And to read about Christ and the fulfillment of countless prophesies just after you’ve read about those prophesies is amazing!
If you’re up for the challenge, I’m up for encouraging you every step of the way.
Pray about it. Think about it… And click on over to MomsToolbox.com to let me know if you’d like to join in the challenge and to learn more. But do it soon so you’ll be ready to start 2010 in His Word… all of it!
Hope to see you there!


A few links to add:
http://www.biblein90days.org/
http://www.momstoolbox.com/
http://twitter.com/momstoolbox

On Christ The solid Rock I Stand

He is my rock.....

Fasting

I've been fasting and praying today because of a blog post over at A Place Called Simplicity. I've never really fasted before...although I've skipped a meal.

It seems that the Canadian government has decided to stop all Visas allowing children from Africa who are waiting to be adopted by Canadian families.

As I've been pondering and praying about this I find myself wondering why it has become so difficult for families to provide a home for children who need it. Why are they made to jump through so many hoops? Why is it so expensive that it keeps many families from being able to adopt?

I've begun to get that head-achey feeling and hollow stomach that you get when you miss a meal. But, I know that I have the option to have dinner later. I know this isn't my day to day reality. It is for so many children in this day and age.

Each of us has the obligation to do something about this...even if you don't believe in the Bible that says we are to take care of the widows and orphans...it is just the right thing to do. What are YOU going to do to help someone today?

He is my refuge

Psalm 91 (New International Version)

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

Gratituesday

I've been reading at Heavenly Homemaker for a while and she has been hosting a meme called Gratituesday. It's been nice to see people writing about the things that they are grateful for. You don't see that very often.
I was struck today while rocking 2yo dd as she woke up from her nap...I am so grateful to be able to parent my children...for the time that I have them...for the ones that are still at home and for the ones who have moved out.
You can be going through some really difficult times and you can easily get wrapped up in the challenges and forget the good times. The time we have with our children is short. Enjoy them while you can.

Small Thing

Today's Small Thing was a thought provoking one. It's about leaving behind baggage that keeps you from going where God wants you to go in your life. One suggestion was about refusing to listen to God's direction.
How many times have I found myself in a bad situation because I didn't follow God's direction? I've been trying harder to allow myself to listen to what God wants me to do...then I find myself "tweaking it" so I end up doing what I want to do. So...what am I going to leave behind? My stubbornness...that keeps me doing what God truly wants me to do.

30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge Day 4

Todays challenge is to let your husband know that you appreciate and value the work that he does. My challenge is that my husband was one of the many teachers in California who got a pink slip in the spring. His last paycheck came this past Friday. I'm working on keeping a positive attitude and not one of worry. I'm also trying to show him that I can be very frugal with the money that is coming in. And doing a lot of praying that the right job will come through for him.

30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge Day 2

Today we are to give our husbands praise for their willingness to serve others. My dh is very good about doing what needs to be done for his mom and older brother who lives with her due to some handicaps. He's been doing it for years and doesn't get enough kudos for what he does from other family members who sit back and do nothing. Anyone have some of those? In retrospect, I've come to realize I've been stingy with my own praise and with the "thank you's" that should happen on a daily basis.
It's time for a change.....

"..through love serve one another." Gal. 5:13b

Small Thing

Today's Small Thing is to take Isaiah 51:1 and print it off, post it up, or use it as desktop decor. Meditate on the process the Master is using in your life and know that He is preparing you as only He can.

Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness
and who seek the Lord :
Look to the rock from which you were cut
and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
Isaiah 51: 1.

Clean Heart Challenge

This weeks Clean Heart Challenge is about learning to trust in God. This can be very difficult to do because throughout our lives we learn not to trust in people…we get let down all the time. But, that’s because as people we are not infallible. Your expectations might be that someone you trusted very much has let you down…so maybe God will too? But, we need to remember that God is always there. We may not be able to see it when we are in our most difficult situations, but He is there.

Here is the verse for the week:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

And a prayer from The Clean Heart Devotional that I will be praying:

Dear Heavenly Father,
There is so much to done and the task seems so overwhelming. I pray that you would give me the strength to start, and finish, what needs to done. I give myself to you to make the changes in me that need to begin. And as I go about each day this week, I pray that I would not drift from You, but lean on You for understanding and for you to direct my path. I submit myself to You and trust You with my life and all my heart. Direct me Lord. Be there to catch me when I fall, and give me the strength I need to continue on. I trust you Lord. Be with me now and throughout this week, and the rest of the year, as I look to You to finish the tasks that are ahead of me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

I hope you all have a blessed week.

Clean Heart Challenge

I decided to take part in this challenge because I truly believe that you have to be “clean” on the inside before being able to be “clean” on the outside. I’ll be talking to God this week about cleansing my heart of the anger and discontentment that is so difficult to get rid of. Here is the prayer for this week.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I’m so sorry for the things in my heart that have hindered me from doing what you have called me to do. (Take a moment to list the heart issues you need to bring up to the Lord). I have procrastinated and ignored my duties, things have piled up, and I’m suffering, along with my family, because of it. Lord, please forgive and my attitude toward keeping my home. I’ve looked at it as a burden, instead of a blessing and a way of showing Christ-like love towards my family. Please help me as I pursue cleanliness in my home, to find peace in my heart. I pray that as I seek You throughout this journey, that you would reveal to me any issues in my heart that may still need to be addressed. Please guide me Lord and help me to get my home in order, but most importantly, let my heart be one that speaks of selflessness, happiness, and contentment in my words, as well as my actions. Create in me a clean heart Lord, and bless me as I pursue a clean home as well.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Prayer is taken from a page in the Clean Heart devotional.