Saturday, April 24, 2004

I've moved!
Please bookmark my new place: http://www.metnal.com/julie

 

Friday, April 23, 2004

Sing Low... Sweet chariot...

There is a little frog in our wading pool right outside our window. He is only 2" long but he sounds much bigger. When David was up for Spring Break, the kids brought him in over night. I didn't realize till the next morning that David was serenaded to all night long by the lil bugger.

What do you do first...1 Sam 23:4 "Then David inquired of the Lord once again"

I'm reading through the Bible and have read the NT first, and am now wading through the OT. I'm now in 1 Samuel and there are so many things that catch my eye. But the one thing that really stopped me, made me underline it and sit back and read it again, was just a short little line; one I have read before and even done studies containing it, but it still is a good reminder.

"Therefore, David inquired of the Lord..." this is such a powerful statement. Even the word 'therefore' shows that it was because of the situation that David found himself in, that caused him to stop and 'inquire'. I did a word search and came up with 9 different times that David 'inquired' of the Lord in 1 &2 Sam. I'm sure there are more in a different word list, and I am very sure that he inquired more times than is recorded.

I want to remember to 'inquire of the Lord' before I step into a new situation; before I decide what is the right thing to do; before I 'attack the enemy'.

 

Thursday, April 22, 2004

Heart Check

Keeping your heart healthy is the big fad these days. And for good reason, because if your heart doesn't work so good.. life just kind of stops abruptly. In the same way life seems to stop and becomes meaningless when your 'heart' isn't right. It can happen when pain comes, or when responsibilities out number the hours in the day. Even though it may be a gradual increase, you don't usually see it until it's all on top of you. It can even happen when someone enters your life and grabs your attention, either in a good or bad way. No matter what the cause, the results seems to end up being the same; focus drops off of God and onto self. Frustration and stress hits and that can lead to self pity. Even positive things can get our focus off God and onto other things.

So, my heart check that has to happen at those times is: When was the last time I really read the Bible, not just skimmed it? When was the last time I had a good talk with my Father and did some good confessing and praising? When was the last time I reached out to someone else and tried to minister to them..Especially those who I have to put an effort out to do so?

Just doing these things in and of themselves doesn't take the problem or stress away per se. But it gives me a heart-refresher so that I can then think through the situation at hand better. It mostly clears my walk with God so that not only can I 'hear' from Him, but it just lifts that burden that happens when I'm separated from Him. It's important for life to keep your 'heart' healthy.

Just thought I should encourage you to do a 'heart-check' today.

 

Tuesday, April 20, 2004

Should have posted this in the morning!!


HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY, JESSE! Cory, you're just weird.... the end.


16th


Go to his blog and tell him hi there too!

 

Saturday, April 17, 2004

Dont Ya Hate It When......



 

Friday, April 16, 2004

Part of a very honest and humbling prayer about 10 years ago.
Me: God, You can have anything of mine you want.
God: How about your kids?
Me: umm. no.. you can't have my kids.
God: Why not?
Me: I'm afraid of what you'll do to them if I do.
God: Think about what I can't do through them if you don't.
Me: Oh wow, God, You're right again.. you can have my kids.

Since I prayed that prayer I have been a front row observer of what happens when a life is yielded to God. Some people tell Jim or I that we must be good parents, and while I might reply 'thanks', I know inside that it's all been God.

Maybe because it's easier to see God doing things in other people's lives; Maybe because it is because of the amazing things that have happened and are happening to my kids, but I continue to stand amazed at God's work. Amazed because some of the things wouldn't have been what I would have orchestrated if I were 'in charge'. And yet, looking at them I am humbled because of how perfectly God has moved everything together.

And even though I tend to talk about my kids the most, I stand amazed at how God has worked in and through my husband. He would be the first to say that he feels he has failed God more times than he can count, but even that.. isn't that what God wants us to admit to? That we can do nothing without Him?

Joy isn't always a sign of ignorance.. sometimes its caused by the knowledge that I'm not in control.. and God knows what He is doing.

 

Thursday, April 15, 2004

If you're going to get a virus.. this is the type to get!

Important virus alert!!


And this actually made me laugh outloud.. but that's not too hard to do.. anyway...
From Theophilus

THE HOKEY POKEY
Original Lyrics

Put your left foot in,
Your left foot out,
Your left foot in,
And shake it all about.
You do the hokey pokey
And turn yourself around
That's what it's all about.

THE HOKEY POKEY
Shakespearean Style

O proud left foot, that ventures quick within
Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.
Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:
Command sinistral pedestal to writhe.
Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke.
A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.
To spin! A wilde release from heaven's yoke.
Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl.
The Hoke, the poke -- banish now thy doubt
Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about.

Courtesy of Mikey's Funnies.

 

Wednesday, April 14, 2004

Bible/ NKJV/ "From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city)."

Follow the herd:

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 23.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your journal along with these instructions.

via Wilson

Never underestimate the power of a plant.

I planted asparagus two years ago. Don't ask me why.. it was a challenge I think. And yesterday I found my asparagus... only one. And today I saw a little fern that might be number two.
If you want a plant that you can't kill... plant a potato. They will continue to come back year after year.

Well, we have been unofficially unchurched for a month now. Just hanging at home and doing music and Bible together. The guys get out the guitars and play loud.. once in a while Jesse will bring up his snare.. and Jim and Cory will play the guitars, and everyone else just sings..or listens.. or the little ones dance and make lots of noise. Not very quiet.. but God smiles. "Make a new 'sound' unto the Lord". That's our motto.

Gads, Morgan leaves for AR in about 3 1/2 months. I know this isn't the last time I will see her.. or give her advice.. but help me out here. What would you give as advice to a young lady going away to college for the first time?

 

Sunday, April 11, 2004

We watch the Matrix Reloaded tonight. Did it seem over the top to anyone else? Did it have just a tad too many slow-mo scenes? I really liked Matrix. And I'm not so sure about this one. maybe it's me.. the guys seemed to like most of it.

Other news.. we are putting together a bug collection. If you have any cool looking bugs in your area.. Email me or catch me on AIM to see if we can connect on getting it from you. Preferable a dead insect but not squashed! We want to mount them on a styrofoam board and label them. We have some weird ones up here.. but not a lot of them.


 

Saturday, April 10, 2004

Fathers:
Matt 6:9 "Our Father in heaven, Holy is Your name"; Mark 14:36 And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You."

We are to call God our Father and Jesus called him Abba which mean Daddy. I think this is one name of God that tends to be hard to imagine for some people. I think it's because it evokes such an emotional response from our hearts. We each have such different ideas of what a 'father' is. How can we know exactly what God the Father is like?

Other names of God are more distant.. like Creator.. or Holy God.. those can be very personal, but not in the same way as 'father' is to us. The word 'father' either brings up favorable images for us.. or we cringe at the word.

My dad loved me. I have no doubt about that. But I didn't always think he had time for me... or that what I thought was important was important to him. So, as I grew older, that image of God being my Father was tainted with the image I had of my earthy dad. So, why did God choose to use the word 'Father' rather than 'parent'? What is it about the term Father or the image of a Father that He wanted to create in our minds? How would you describe a great father?

Most likely it would be one that would listen to you first off.. to see you as having value. He would be kind and loving but still require responsibility. He would require you to walk according to the rules he has set down... but his judgment would be fair and balanced. He would lead you and not lord over you. He would walk beside you in the area you were unfamiliar with. He would forgive at the first sign of repentance. He would lovingly but firmly expect you to mature and grow up. He would not be a hypocrite in the areas that he is asking you to perform in. Not only would he be the leader and 'tough' guy but he would be loving. He would give up his time to spend with you. He would stop what he was doing and listen and he would understand.
This is an accurate but not full picture of God the Father. You have to add in the needed element of Holy and Perfect to the list because even if our own dad's are like this, they are still human and still mess up. Whereas God never does; He is reliable to be perfect and holy all the time.
Read Matt 6 and 7 and see how many times 'your heavenly Father' shows up. And list all the characteristics it shows of your Father.

 

Thursday, April 08, 2004

I've been updating my list of theological definitions. It helps to have it handy when I am talking to someone so I can understand where they are coming from. If you can think of one that would be good to add, let me know.

 

Wednesday, April 07, 2004

If you have recieved a Quilt square block.. for something.. please finish it and return it ASAP! Thanks!! No need to comment.. just AIM me if you have questions.

 

Monday, April 05, 2004

For all you who say I spell creatively.... at least I do pretty good with grammar! :)



You are a MASTER of the English language!


While your English is not exactly perfect,
you are still more grammatically correct than
just about every American. Still, there is
always room for improvement...


How grammatically sound are you?
brought to you by Quizilla


Most of this travel was done as a child... My dad had a whole month off during the summer as he worked for the school district.. and we just traveled. I guess I need to go North and East now!



create your own personalized map of the USA

 

Sunday, April 04, 2004

Searching for a test!

I am looking for one or two reliable personality tests for my Self Esteem Study. Here's the first Test.
Here's an overview of the various results of this test.



Here's another one. Let me know which one you prefer or if both help you in different ways.
Here is the description of the Jung test results.


Take these and tell me if they seems to describe you well.. Thanks.

I just mowed my lawn for the first time this Spring and I have one question: Where do the rocks come from? Everytime we mow, we have to go through the lawn and pick up these rocks. And they're BIG rocks. It's one of those mysteries of life.
Other than that.. there's something totally refreshing about having a lawn that has been mowed on a sunny day.

 

Saturday, April 03, 2004

I actually got to talk to a celebrity! One of those famous people that you hear bits and pieces about.. but are quiet enough in the background so their name never hits the headlines of The Enquirer. The kind that may step out of bounds once in a while.. but never public enough to create a stir.. just enough to keep that mysterious image alive..
Domi, that was a fun conversation!!

 

Friday, April 02, 2004

Morgan and I had a 'girl's movie night' as we usually do when the boys are gone on some scout outing. We get to watch the chick flicks without any peanut gallery popping in their opinions. This time we watched Chicago and Muolin Rouge. Chicogo will not be seen by my young boys at this point :P, but we enjoyed the storyline. The way they told the girl's story through song and dance was intriging. Richard Gere was great. He's pretty talented. But this wouldn't be a movie I would choose to sit through again.
The other movie we watched was Moulin Rouge. Now that was a mental trip! The first time through the movie we felt like we were on fast forward! But that was a movie we enjoyed watching a few times during the days we rented it. There were a few scenes we fast forwarded through for the younger kids.. but the music was great! Ewan is an awesome singer! We really enjoyed that movie. I don't know what I heard about it when it first came out, but I had the impression it was very racy. Yes, there are some parts that we avoid around the kids.. but all in all.. it's fun!

 

Thursday, April 01, 2004

I wish I was good at practical jokes for days like this. No one believes me!!! And problem number 2..is I'm soo gullible.. they love me for it!

   

Sun Dappled Country Roads

  • Pic by Morgan at Kabota Gardens, Tukwila, WA.

    Family...                               

    morgan

    jesse

    cory

    metnal

    Metnal's forums


    AIM
    Email
    Prayer Request: Misconstrued accusations have been made about Jim through the leadership at the church. Long story.. just pray it gets resolved correctly.

    Friends and Aquaintances...  

    ****=recently updated

    Birthday Card Sign-up

     


    free hit counter

     

    Places...                                

    Caedmon's call

    Gord's Place

    Cody's Place

    Shembbs

    Zeal for truth

    Just for Fun...                       

    Learning Style Qhuiz~

    Personality Test~

    20 Questions Game

    Learning...                           

    Deeper Articles Blog~Updated

    Self Esteem Study~Updated

    Music...                                

    be magnified*lyrics and music

    KLOVE*good listening~

    Men of God Radio*Cory's a DJ soon

    Archives...                            

    current
    07/01/2003 - 08/01/2003
    08/01/2003 - 09/01/2003
    09/01/2003 - 10/01/2003
    10/01/2003 - 11/01/2003
    11/01/2003 - 12/01/2003
    12/01/2003 - 01/01/2004
    01/01/2004 - 02/01/2004
    02/01/2004 - 03/01/2004
    03/01/2004 - 04/01/2004
    04/01/2004 - 05/01/2004

    This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

     

     

    Weblog Commenting by HaloScan.com

     

    .::blog powered by Blog*spot::.

     

     

     .::photo by Morgan©2003::.