Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Resting...




I love this painting and have posted it before. It is called "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" by Luc-Olivier Merson painted in 1879.

If you look closely you see Joseph sleeping on the sand, perhaps he is there as a first line of defense to protect his family. Mary, rather than subjecting the baby to sand, scorpions and insects found on the desert floor, rests peacefully between the feet of the Sphinx. The donkey stands and sleeps as donkeys do.

Here, in the middle of nowhere, under the stars, subjected to the elements rests the Son of God, His mother and father. We know God is watching, we know He has angels at the ready, should they be needed, but the only hint of Divine Protection is the faint light surrounding Jesus and Mary. A "night light" in the desert, if you will.

God does not feel the need to shine a light as bright as a star, He is All Knowing, All Seeing, All Powerful and needs not prove it to anyone. At first glance, He may be hard to detect but He's there, He is always there.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Yom Kippur


Today, September 28, 2009 is Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. This is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar and is all about repentance and atonement. The following is a prayer used today...

Normally this would be sung by a male Cantor, but this version is a little more modern...hauntingly beautiful!



AVINU MALKEINU אבינו מלכנו
Our Father, our King, we have sinned before You.
Our Father, our King, we have no King but You.
Our Father, our King, deal [kindly] with us for Your Name's sake.
Our Father, our King, bless us with a good year.
Our Father, our King, nullify all harsh decrees upon us.
Our Father, our King, nullify the designs of those who hate us.
Our Father, our King, thwart the counsel of our enemies.
Our Father, our King, exterminate every foe and adversary from upon us.
Our Father, our King, seal the mouths of our adversaries and accusers.
Our Father, our King, exterminate pestilence, sword, famine, captivity, destruction, iniquity and eradication from the members of Your covenant.
Our Father, our King, withhold the plague from Your heritage.
Our Father, our King, forgive and pardon all our iniquities.
Our Father, our King, wipe away and remove our willful sins and errors from Your sight.
Our Father, our King, erase through Your abundant compassion all record of our guilt.
Our Father, our King, return us to You in perfect repentance.
Our Father, our King, send complete recovery to the sick of Your people.
Our Father, our King, tear up the evil decree of our verdict.
Our Father, our King, recall us with a favorable memory before You.

Our Father, our King, make salvation sprout for us soon.
Our Father, our King, raise high the pride of Israel, Your people.
Our Father, our King, raise high the pride of Your anointed.
Our Father, our King, fill our hands from Your blessings.
Our Father, our King, fill our storehouses with abundance.
Our Father, our King, hear our voice, pity and be compassionate to us.
Our Father, our King, accept - with compassion and favor - our prayer.
Our Father, our King, open the gates of heaven to our prayer.
Our Father, our King, remember that we are but dust.
Our Father, our King, please do not turn us from You empty-handed.
Our Father, our King, may this moment be a moment of compassion and a time of favor before You.
Our Father, our King, take pity upon us, and upon our children and our infants.
Our Father, our King, act for the sake of those who were murdered for Your Set-Apart Name.
Our Father, our King, act for the sake of those who were slaughtered for Your Oneness.
Our Father, our King, act for the sake of those who went into fire and water for the
sanctification of Your Name.
Our Father, our King, avenge before our eyes the spilled blood of Your servants.
Our Father, our King, act for Your sake if not for our sake.
Our Father, our King, act for the sake of Your abundant compassion.
Our Father, our King, act for the sake of Your great, mighty, and awesome Name
that is proclaimed upon us.

Our Father, our King, be gracious with us and answer us, though we have no worthy deeds; treat us with charity and kindness, and save us.

Transliteration:
Avinu Malkeinu, hatanu l'phanecha
Avinu Malkeinu, ain lanu melech eleh attah.
Avinu Malkeinu, asei emanu l'ma'an sh'mecha
Avinu Malkeinu, barach aleinu shana tovah.
Avinu Malkeinu, batal mei'aleinu kal g'zayrot kashot.
Avinu Malkeinu,

Avinu Malkeinu chaneinu va'anaynu, ki ain banu ma'a'sim,
Asei im'manu tz'dakah va'chesed, v'ho'shi'ay'nu

The World...

I saw this linked at Deacon Greg's blog and thought it was a great way to start a Monday morning...catchy tune!

I love the World

I bet it puts a smile on your face too!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Failure...

I have a few blogs I check on a regular basis...The Anchoress Online being one of my favorites...she has passion, insight and imagination...what a combination. Today she posted this...it's worth a watch (or two).

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Creation...

I just read a great piece by Peter Beck about Genesis 1 and the Creation story:
...Every step in the creative process pointed to and prepared the way for God's greatest creation. He perfectly created a world in which man would live. He graciously provided the foods which man would need. All those things, God said, were good. When the time was right, then and only then, God created man. More than that, they are created in God's image, meant to be a human reflection of His divine goodness, His ambassadors here on earth. As such, man is more than an apex animal as evolution suggests. He is the apex of the creation itself. Everything has been done for this purpose.

With the creation of man, the Creation was complete. When God surveyed His masterpiece, He pronounced His handiwork "very good." No other response was possible as the creation, like man, reflects its Creator.


You'll want to go and read the whole article here...He's telling us things we should already know but may never have taken the time to really know!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Your Right Foot...

I'll admit, I've tried this several times...it's a shame to say I cannot control my own foot!

Subject: HOW SMART IS YOUR RIGHT FOOT?

You have to try this. It is absolutely true. I guess there are some things that the brain cannot handle. You have to try this, it takes 2 seconds. It is from an orthopedic surgeon...

This will boggle your mind and you will keep you trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but, you can't. It's pre-programmed in your brain!

1. Without anyone watching you (they will think you are GOOFY......)
and while sitting at your desk in front of your computer,
lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand.
Your foot will change direction.

I told you so!!! And there's nothing you can do about it!
You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day
is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Mission Work...

If you're reading this on Saturday morning, we are in the middle of a mission project.

Along with other groups from Middle Tennessee, we're spreading out around Murfreesboro in hopes of bringing help and relief to some who are less fortunate. We'll be doing house work, home repair, yard work and various other projects. I'd like to ask for prayers that those receiving our help will feel God's touch, that those who are doing the work will feel like the hand of God and that God will hold back the thundershowers!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Les Miserable...

is one of my absolute favorite musicals! Even though I can appreciate the acting, wrting and singing, it's not above a parody...

This has been around a while but I couldn't resist bring back...Forbidden Broadway...

"At the End of the play, Bring it down"

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Trees...

A friend e-mailed me the following story...

I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse. After he had finished a rough first day (a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit) his ancient 1 ton truck refused to start.

While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.

On arriving at his home, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

Afterward, he walked me to the car. As we passed the tree my curiosity got the better of me and I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one things for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and children...So I hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. In the morning, I pick them up again."

"Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out to pick them up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."


We all need a tree.

Monday, September 14, 2009

A quick prayer



Saw this posted at Asbo Jesus and took a moment to fill in the dots...why don't you give it a try! Right now, in the middle of your day...don't spend lots of time thinking, just be spontaneous...that's what God asks when He tells us to pray without ceasing...

Saturday, September 12, 2009

What we make it...

We took grandson to the local county fair last night. At 5 years old, he was beyond excited and ran from ride to ride. Needless to say, we had a hard time keeping up!

I noticed two people there...both carnival workers. The first was a lady working the roller coaster for the little ones. Although she said nothing unpleasant to the children, her motions were slow, bored and unmotivated. While I know it might be hard to keep up your enthusiasm when dealing with hundreds of little ones...it takes a strong armor to keep out their laughter and joy. I watched her for several minutes and wondered what could be the cause of her unhappiness? The old proverb tells us not to judge another until we've walked a mile in their shoes, I don't want to be in hers. Not because of her line of work, but because of her lack of joy! I realized all I could do was stand on the side and lift her up in prayer...that she would find wonder in the world around her.

The second person was the man working the swings for the little ones. His excitement was infectious! The children didn't just lift their little hands to show him their stamps (pay one price to ride all night and you get a stamp on your hand), they had to "fist bump" with him. He smiled and laughed while putting them in the swings and while making his rounds to be sure everyone was fastened in correctly. And then the ride began...with music and BUBBLES! He had a machine that blew hundreds of bubbles into their paths as they went swinging by...and it was beautiful to watch! The shouts and laughter were worth the price of admission!

A little later I thought of the difference in attitude of the two workers. One was barely there and the other was full of joy...why? Although we all have struggles in our lives, it is up to us to chose the way we will face each day. Do we walk around throwing a pity party or do we choose to be joyful? It's a choice you see, and no one can take it away from us, unless we let them.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

4 Things

My brother-in-law sent an e-mail this morning titled "4 Things"...although it was a short message, it contains much wisdom:

Four things you cannot recover:
The stone----after the throw
The occasion---after it's missed
The word---after it is said
The time---after it is gone


I realized I would do well to remember these...

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Prayers

Although the Bible tells us we should "pray without ceasing", there are times when we feel the need to be very intentional about our prayer life. Specific, take time out of the day to talk with God...then again perhaps you feel the need to have someone pray with you but maybe there's no one available at the moment. Maybe you want more than just a simple prayer...

Visit this site , enter your prayer (quite anonymously) and light a candle. Others look at the site and join you in your prayer. If you post an e-mail address, they'll let you know. Somehow, sometimes, it's just really comforting to know that others are lifting up your needs and desires...

Saturday, September 5, 2009

It's that time!

If you live in my part of the world, today you will be happy because you'll hear the song and some very famous words "It's football time in Tennessee!"

Go Vols!

Friday, September 4, 2009

An old favorite


116 years ago today, Beatrix Potter wrote her classic tale of Peter Rabbit. She sent it in a letter to the 5 year old son of her former governess. He was ill and she wanted to cheer him up and help him pass the time. The letter included illustrations so he could meet Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter face to face.

This classic tale may have had somewhat humble beginnings but since it's publication in 1902 it has been read by millions. Thanks, Miss Potter!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Our Value

Are you guilty of undervaluing another? Do you see them as being this or that and nothing more?

Jesus lived in Nazareth for almost 30 years. His neighbors saw him fix tables and chairs and carry out the responsibilities of a carpenter. He worked with his hands, lived with his parents and did not appear to be anything more than a man. Imagine their surprise when He went to Synagogue and spoke with authority the words from Isaiah. This was way outside the role the had for Him! Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God was not accepted in His own country as any more than a workman.

So I ask again, are you guilty of undervaluing another? We all are. We assign roles for one another and have a hard time seeing anything beyond...even those people that we know well can and will surprise us. We can all be blind to depth of another. Pray God to open our eyes!