So, THAT'S why you do that!

 

I have been doing some reading, reflecting and researching this morning....yes, it's Thurrrrrrsday. As I'm sitting here, though, my dogs have decided that they would do everything in their power to get me off focus. "HA HA, pups! You only served to teach me a lesson!" (Yes, my dogs and I have learning and sharing moments.)

So, as I'm sitting here trying to read, Indigo (the 8 month old pup) begins crying. I look down and see that she is fervently staring at Midi Lou (the 9 year old mature free-thinker) while said crying is taking place. It turns out that Midi has Indi Bear's nylabone...and that just doesn't fly in our house. Not only does Midi have the bone, she is just laying with it in between her front legs. Normally, Midi Lousky Lou won't have anything to do with such "dog-like" things such as nylabones, but I have noticed that since Indigo has entered our lives, she tends to take an interest. At first, I thought it might be because she saw how much fun Indigo was having while chewing or that she realized her teeth needed a good cleaning. But, I have come to discover that Midi takes the bones just to keep them away from Indigo...even if she doesn't want to chew on them. What a bratty thing to do!

And then I started thinking about my life...cue the learning/sharing moments with my dogs...and wondered how many times I have fallen victim to this same type of behavior. More specifically, how many times do I take things from others just so they can't have them? I'm not talking about physical things, per se, but more of joy, hope, peace, laughter, happiness, grace, love, life...fill in the blanks.  Do I get so caught up in how my life is going, where I am headed, how I can get there, who is going with me, that I fail to see the harm and hurt I am causing others by my callous nature and selfish behavior?

If someone needs prayer, do I think more about them or more about how much MORE I need prayer? If someone is hurting, do my thoughts go towards helping in whatever way I can or do I think about the pain in my own life? Do I let my lack interfere with my giving?

So, I probably stretched that analogy too far, but it has me thinking and reflecting as I begin the day...

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me."  Phillipians 2.1-18

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i read this the other day...

...and thought it was a good reminder of grace.

Here you go:

TODAY'S VERSE: "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." II Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV) "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."' Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

TODAY'S THOUGHT: I don't understand suffering. Pain, heartache, sadness seem so antithetical to the love, joy and peace that we claim is the Christian experience. I don't understand why our first and only stop isn't Heaven instead of earth. But here we are and in this world we do have tribulation. All of us have crosses to bear. In his book, "Desiring God's Will", Dr. Benner writes, "We experience good and bad in our childhood. But Jesus' invitation is to accept the givens of our life and follow Him. We experience love and betrayal in our marriages and friendships. But Jesus' invitation remains the same, to accept the givens and follow Him. - We want to either fight against the suffering or ignore it. What Jesus asks is something quite different. - We can choose to acknowledge the suffering rather than ignore it. And while holding it, we can choose to look toward God. If we do, we discover God looking toward us." The mystery in all of this is God's grace. Grace stands between us and our pain. It is the salve for our breaking heart. It is the presence of God in the midst of our darkness. It is the strength in our weakness. God promises it will be sufficient. He promises. Today, don't turn away. Quit running. Lay down your burden and follow Christ. He is sufficient.

TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I come to You. Only You can be my strength. Only You can give me the grace I need. I look to You dear God for You promised Your grace will be sufficient.

(taken from "A one minute e-votional from Ron Ovitt")

my week in pictures #2

iPhone visual voicemail fix after tethering

So, if your visual voicemail stopped working after you installed the tether hack (and, trust me...it did - check your voicemail the good ol' fashioned way by dialing your number), here's the fix...

In Settings>General>Network>Cellular Data Network>Visual Voicemail replace wap.cingular with acds.voicemail after you install the tethering .ipcc file.

It worked for me...and hopefully will continue working.  If I have any issues, I will update the post.

food experimentation!

My great friend and neighbor, Debbie, has helped me step out of the box a bit when it comes to cooking (and eating!!!).  Usually, every Tuesday we will get together at her house and partake of a new food creation she has decided to make for her recipe blog.  I am fortunate enough to be the taster of all these fine concoctions...it's a gift I have, don't be jealous.

Today was probably one of my faves.  I actually was able to help with the cooking...we made homemade ricotta for the recipe...that was CRAZY interesting!!!  AND SO YUMMY!  Anyway, the recipe was a baked zucchini with a mousse....well, I will let Debbie's recipe blog give you the rest of the details.  Needless to say, I am a full and content bird right now!!!

Here's a snapshot of my full dinner (for better pics, visit her site):

YUM!