Happy Birthday to my triplet siblings Logan, Laura, and Lucas who would have been 9 years old today. You are in Heaven singing and praising the Lord. You were with us only for a short amount of time, but it was enough to leave a life-long impression on our hearts. I love and miss you much! Even though I did not/ do not understand your brief life on this earth, the Lord knows and had/ has a reason for it. I trust in God. he will keep you, little ones.
Waiting For Me
For my triplet siblings Logan, Laura, & Lucas who are waiting for me
As the sun begins to rise,
Tears are falling from my eyes,
'Cause today's the dayYou went away.
I thought I'd have you forever,
I thought I's never lose you , no never.
This day is dedicated to you,
Thought the pleasant memories are few.
Sometimes I wish that I could die,
But then I see the birds fly
And I know you are somewhere out there,
Waiting for me.
A free spirit hiding,
Perhaps you are crying
But I know you are out there,
Waiting for me.
Oh, how I wish I could see you again,
Then you can tell me where you have been,
But the time is not now, but is to come
When the Lord Jesus calls me home.
Copyright ©2006 Nicole
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Friday, April 21, 2006
Interviews!
I have three teaching interviews on Tuesday morning before I go to work! I am so excited! On is for a place in Kansas and the other two are for places in Utah. Please be praying with me that God will lead me and show me what He wants me to do to.
I am also looking forward to next week because I will get to see some familiar faces! My youth pastor and his daughter are coming down (Brenda called last night me to ask if she could be in my room) and my pastor and his wife are coming down as well! It will be a good, but very busy week. I traded my half day of work on Friday to Tuesday so that I can try to spend some time with the folks from my church. My friend Jael will be here as well (she is actually coming in tonight). I have her in reserve for Saturday night so we can spend some time in the piano room, her playing and me singing.
Then, I will be out of town the next Saturday to go to a friend's house and church for the weekend. I am looking forward to a change in the monotonous right now. I certainly need the reprieve.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Been thinking a lot. Just have a lot going on. A lot to consider. Not sure where the Lord wants me yet. Pretty sure it's not "here", though.
Been thinking about the passage of Romans 12:1-3 (King James Version)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
What is our "reasonable service?" According to the verse, it is to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God."
Let's look at some definitions by way of Webster's Dictionary 1828 :
LIV'ING, ppr. [from live.]
1. Dwelling; residing; existing; subsisting; having life or the vital functions in operation; not dead.
2. a. Issuing continually from the earth; running; flowing; as a living spring or fountain; opposed to stagnant.
3. a. Producing action, animation and vigor; quickening; as a living principle; a living faith.
LIV'ING, n. He or those who are alive; usually with a plural signification; as in the land of the living.
The living will lay it to his heart. Eccles. 7.
LIV'ING, n.
1. Means of subsistence; estate.
He divided to them his living. Luke 15.
She of her want, did cast in all that she had, even all her living. Mark 41.
2. Power of continuing life. There is no living with a scold.
There is no living without trusting some body or other in some cases.
3. Livelihood. He made a living by his occupation. The woman spins for a living.
4. The benefice of a clergyman. He lost his living by non-conformity.
SAC'RIFICE, v.t. sac'rifize. [L. sacrifico; sacer, sacred, and facio, to make.]
1. To offer to God in homage or worship, by killing and consuming, as victims on an altar; to immolate, either as an atonement for sin, or to procure favor, or to express thankfulness; as, to sacrifice an ox or a lamb. 2Sam. 6.
2. To destroy, surrender or suffer to be lost for the sake of obtaining something; as, to sacrifice the peace of the church to a little vain curiosity. We should never sacrifice health to pleasure, nor integrity to fame.
3. To devote with loss.
Condemn'd to sacrifice his childish years to babbling ignorance and to empty fears.
4. To destroy; to kill.
HO'LY, a.
1. Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy,when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.
Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 pet.1.
2. Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; a sense frequent in Scripture; as the holy sabbath; holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; a holy priesthood.
3. Proceeding from pious principles,or directed to pious purposes; as holy zeal.
4. Perfectly just and good; as the holy law of God.
5. Sacred; as a holy witness.
Holy of holies, in Scripture, the innermost apartment of the Jewish tabernacle or temple, where the ark was kept,and where no person entered, except the high priest, once a year.
Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, the Divine Spirit; the third person in the Trinity; the sanctifier of souls.
Holy war, a war undertaken to rescue the holy land, the ancient Judea, from the infidels; a crusade; an expedition carried on by christians against the Saracens in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries; a war carried on in a most unholy manner.
ACCEPT'ABLE, a.
1. That may be received with pleasure; hence pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; as an acceptable present.
2. Agreeable or pleasing in person; as, a man makes himself acceptable by his services or civilities.
RE'ASONABLE, a.
1. Having the faculty of reason; endued with reason; as a reasonable being. [In this sense, rational is now generally used.]
2. Governed by reason; being under the influence of reason; thinking, speaking or acting rationally or according to the dictates of reason; as, the measure must satisfy all reasonable men.
3. Conformable or agreeable to reason; just; rational.
By indubitable certainty, I mean that which does not admit of any reasonable cause of doubting.
A law may be reasonable in itself, though a man does not allow it.
4. Not immoderate.
Let all things be thought upon, that may with reasonable swiftness add more feathers to our wings.
5. Tolerable; being in mediocrity; moderate; as a reasonable quantity.
6. Not excessive; not unjust; as a reasonable fine; a reasonable sum in damages.
SERV'ICE, n. [From L. servitium.]
1. In a general sense, labor of body or of body and mind, performed at the command of a superior, or the pursuance of duty, or for the benefit of another. Service is voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary service is that of hired servants, or of contract, or of persons who spontaneously perform something for another's benefit. Involuntary service is that of slaves, who work by compulsion.
2. The business of a servant; menial office.
3. Attendance of a servant.
4. Place of a servant; actual employment of a servant; as, to be out of service.
5. Any thing done by way of duty to a superior.
_____________
Living Sacrifice:
having life or the vital functions in operation; not dead and to offer to God in homage or worship
Holy:
Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections
Acceptable:
That may be received with pleasure; hence pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; as an acceptable present
Reasonable Service:
Tolerable; being in mediocrity; moderate; as a reasonable quantity and In a general sense, labor of body or of body and mind, performed at the command of a superior, or the pursuance of duty, or for the benefit of another. Service is voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary service is that of hired servants, or of contract, or of persons who spontaneously perform something for another's benefit. Involuntary service is that of slaves, who work by compulsion.
__________
Have you thought about that? How often do we go about doing what we think we should do without even considering if it is what God would have us do? What is my reasonable service? To be a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. To give myself over completely to God to do as He would have me do. Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I put Him there. He shed His holy, perfect, sinless blood for an unholy, selfish sinner: Me. He took on my sins to allow me the opportunity to spend eternity with Him if only I accept precious gift. I accepted that gift over ten years ago and how am I living now? I serve an incredible God in whom I can not completely fathom, but I know all will be well because He holds me fast.
How has your reasonable service been?
Have a great Good Friday!
Been thinking about the passage of Romans 12:1-3 (King James Version)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
What is our "reasonable service?" According to the verse, it is to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God."
Let's look at some definitions by way of Webster's Dictionary 1828 :
LIV'ING, ppr. [from live.]
1. Dwelling; residing; existing; subsisting; having life or the vital functions in operation; not dead.
2. a. Issuing continually from the earth; running; flowing; as a living spring or fountain; opposed to stagnant.
3. a. Producing action, animation and vigor; quickening; as a living principle; a living faith.
LIV'ING, n. He or those who are alive; usually with a plural signification; as in the land of the living.
The living will lay it to his heart. Eccles. 7.
LIV'ING, n.
1. Means of subsistence; estate.
He divided to them his living. Luke 15.
She of her want, did cast in all that she had, even all her living. Mark 41.
2. Power of continuing life. There is no living with a scold.
There is no living without trusting some body or other in some cases.
3. Livelihood. He made a living by his occupation. The woman spins for a living.
4. The benefice of a clergyman. He lost his living by non-conformity.
SAC'RIFICE, v.t. sac'rifize. [L. sacrifico; sacer, sacred, and facio, to make.]
1. To offer to God in homage or worship, by killing and consuming, as victims on an altar; to immolate, either as an atonement for sin, or to procure favor, or to express thankfulness; as, to sacrifice an ox or a lamb. 2Sam. 6.
2. To destroy, surrender or suffer to be lost for the sake of obtaining something; as, to sacrifice the peace of the church to a little vain curiosity. We should never sacrifice health to pleasure, nor integrity to fame.
3. To devote with loss.
Condemn'd to sacrifice his childish years to babbling ignorance and to empty fears.
4. To destroy; to kill.
HO'LY, a.
1. Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy,when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.
Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 pet.1.
2. Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; a sense frequent in Scripture; as the holy sabbath; holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; a holy priesthood.
3. Proceeding from pious principles,or directed to pious purposes; as holy zeal.
4. Perfectly just and good; as the holy law of God.
5. Sacred; as a holy witness.
Holy of holies, in Scripture, the innermost apartment of the Jewish tabernacle or temple, where the ark was kept,and where no person entered, except the high priest, once a year.
Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, the Divine Spirit; the third person in the Trinity; the sanctifier of souls.
Holy war, a war undertaken to rescue the holy land, the ancient Judea, from the infidels; a crusade; an expedition carried on by christians against the Saracens in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries; a war carried on in a most unholy manner.
ACCEPT'ABLE, a.
1. That may be received with pleasure; hence pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; as an acceptable present.
2. Agreeable or pleasing in person; as, a man makes himself acceptable by his services or civilities.
RE'ASONABLE, a.
1. Having the faculty of reason; endued with reason; as a reasonable being. [In this sense, rational is now generally used.]
2. Governed by reason; being under the influence of reason; thinking, speaking or acting rationally or according to the dictates of reason; as, the measure must satisfy all reasonable men.
3. Conformable or agreeable to reason; just; rational.
By indubitable certainty, I mean that which does not admit of any reasonable cause of doubting.
A law may be reasonable in itself, though a man does not allow it.
4. Not immoderate.
Let all things be thought upon, that may with reasonable swiftness add more feathers to our wings.
5. Tolerable; being in mediocrity; moderate; as a reasonable quantity.
6. Not excessive; not unjust; as a reasonable fine; a reasonable sum in damages.
SERV'ICE, n. [From L. servitium.]
1. In a general sense, labor of body or of body and mind, performed at the command of a superior, or the pursuance of duty, or for the benefit of another. Service is voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary service is that of hired servants, or of contract, or of persons who spontaneously perform something for another's benefit. Involuntary service is that of slaves, who work by compulsion.
2. The business of a servant; menial office.
3. Attendance of a servant.
4. Place of a servant; actual employment of a servant; as, to be out of service.
5. Any thing done by way of duty to a superior.
_____________
Living Sacrifice:
having life or the vital functions in operation; not dead and to offer to God in homage or worship
Holy:
Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections
Acceptable:
That may be received with pleasure; hence pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; as an acceptable present
Reasonable Service:
Tolerable; being in mediocrity; moderate; as a reasonable quantity and In a general sense, labor of body or of body and mind, performed at the command of a superior, or the pursuance of duty, or for the benefit of another. Service is voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary service is that of hired servants, or of contract, or of persons who spontaneously perform something for another's benefit. Involuntary service is that of slaves, who work by compulsion.
__________
Have you thought about that? How often do we go about doing what we think we should do without even considering if it is what God would have us do? What is my reasonable service? To be a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. To give myself over completely to God to do as He would have me do. Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I put Him there. He shed His holy, perfect, sinless blood for an unholy, selfish sinner: Me. He took on my sins to allow me the opportunity to spend eternity with Him if only I accept precious gift. I accepted that gift over ten years ago and how am I living now? I serve an incredible God in whom I can not completely fathom, but I know all will be well because He holds me fast.
How has your reasonable service been?
Have a great Good Friday!
Monday, April 10, 2006
Just another day in my world
Yesterday was interesting. I am usually in the infant nursery (0-6 months) Sunday morning during the church service, but we only had 3 babies and three workers, so I went to the other nurseries to see if I could be of assistance. They needed help in the 2 yr old boy nursery. What a handful those boys were! I was trying to keep an eye on one of them in particular. As I was tying his shoe, he kicked me in the face, pulled my hair, etc. What a pistol! I finally did get him calmed down by the end and he was even saying please and thank you (for marshmallows). I wonder what he'll be like next week...
It may be hard to see fruit with children of this age, but it will come later. Being consistent with children is a key. I do love working with the kids. Even if they try to hurt me. Seeing them come to know Christ will overshadow anything else they have done. I'm willing to go through it again.
Afterwards, I went on bus and we went bowling. I kept an eye on the little ones on the bumper lanes. It was quite humorous watching them bowl! I'm glad I got to help (I'm not on bus right now, but they needed a little extra help with some workers being gone).
Today, I had to laugh at my day care kids. One little girl drew on herself, said she didn't and then said her hand did it. Another girl said something and was tattled on, but what was said wasn't really bad at all: Peter, Peter, pumpkin-underwear. We usually say "Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater". I really do try not to laugh!
It may be hard to see fruit with children of this age, but it will come later. Being consistent with children is a key. I do love working with the kids. Even if they try to hurt me. Seeing them come to know Christ will overshadow anything else they have done. I'm willing to go through it again.
Afterwards, I went on bus and we went bowling. I kept an eye on the little ones on the bumper lanes. It was quite humorous watching them bowl! I'm glad I got to help (I'm not on bus right now, but they needed a little extra help with some workers being gone).
Today, I had to laugh at my day care kids. One little girl drew on herself, said she didn't and then said her hand did it. Another girl said something and was tattled on, but what was said wasn't really bad at all: Peter, Peter, pumpkin-underwear. We usually say "Peter, Peter, pumpkin-eater". I really do try not to laugh!
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