“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
Yeah!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Ephesians 5:19-20
“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
That sounds good.
That sounds good.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Breakfast
prompted a song, inspired by this throwback to catchy ninetys advertising:
Lentils in the morning, lentils in the evening, lentils at suppertime,
with lentils on the stovetop, we can have lentils anytime!
Mmmmm :).
Lentils in the morning, lentils in the evening, lentils at suppertime,
with lentils on the stovetop, we can have lentils anytime!
Mmmmm :).
Monday, October 20, 2008
A Breath of Fresh Air
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
- Psalm 51:12
(today's biblegateway.com verse)
- Psalm 51:12
(today's biblegateway.com verse)
Friday, October 17, 2008
What makes me ridiculous...ly wonderful :)
I tried to pay my parking ticket online, but I guess since it's an electronic ticket, it's not possible to do so until after 5 pm.
Out of curiosity, I wondered whether it might be worth contesting. So I gave it a go!
Enjoy!
_____________________________ (The Following is what I sent as my contest)
Recently I have been in the hopeful pursuit of a new job! Following the completion of my philosophy test today, I set out to look into downtown Columbus' restaurant scene (I think it would be fun to be a waitress!) and, having seen the restaurant 'Barley's' on my way down High Street, decided to stop off at one of the meters and secure an application! I couldn't wait!
Keys in bag, bag on my shoulder, wallet in-hand and one foot out the door I surveyed my change purse... only to find seven pennies. In a flash of hope I recalled mom's center console -- the change haven! As it was, I had tapped into this resource for my last parking venture, and only the pennies remained -- 11 to be exact.
Pennies in hand, carefully recounted, I headed for the meter. Suppose it didn't take pennies? It was worth a try, anyway.
One penny in -- no difference. I tried again with
two more -- still no consequence!
My critical thinking skills kicked-in, and lead me to Yankee Trader, where an employee kindly granted my request to exchange 15 pennies for a nickel and a dime. (Surely I wouldn't need too much money to walk back down to the restaurant afterward!) I headed back to the car, hopeful as ever.
nickel in -- 3 minutes! We're getting somewhere!
dime in -- 3 minutes! ? Wait...
3.. or is it 8?
Maybe the numbers were a little difficult to read.
Now, I am a pretty brisk walker, but not quick enough to get to the restaurant and back in three minutes. What could I do? I remembered the money mom gave me before she left for the weekend, got a dollar, and headed back for more change. On the way back, I passed one of High Street's merchants with whom I had earlier exchanged smiles in transit, and rather than walk back to the store, decided to explain what had happened and ask the kind sir whether he had change for a dollar.
Kind indeed! -- Though he did not have enough to exchange for the dollar, he had an array of nickels and dimes and pennies, and (pennies omitted--he must have known better)generously gave them to me without accepting my dollar as a trade. I walked back to the meter, relieved and really ready to pick up an application!
A few nickels and dimes later, I re-evaluated the meter. Was that thirty five minutes or twenty five? I supposed thirty five, and headed for Barleys.
The sign on the window told me it was open at 11. Every day? Every day. I conferred with my phone, and found it was only ten twenty-something am. Seeing the bright side, I realized that it gave me a good excuse to walk around downtown to see what other restaurants I might find -- and I had just about as much time as was left on the meter! Off I went!
I wandered, smiled, got a couple suggestions from others about where might be good to work, got an application (!), inquired about employment elsewhere, and realized it was just about time to get back.
Having just left the Hyatt (I saw online that their restaurant was hiring!) I was on the opposite side of the street from my car and the restaurant, and decided that, rather than cross the street and head all the way down and backtrack to get back to the car, (I'm pretty certain that side of High Street had seen enough of me earlier,) I would just make use of the crosswalk further down the side I was currently on.
On the way down, I glanced at the car to make sure it was safe; free of papers on the windshield and whatnot. Nice and clear! I figured I still had a few more minutes.
Waiting for the crosswalk to do its thing, I checked out the phone -- it was 11:03! -- I would have to do this fast! After a couple of traffic exchanges, I followed the lead of the white-light man at the other side, and finally -- finally!-- went over to pick up my application.
Application-in-folder-in-purse I headed back, relieved, to the car and got in. I put the keys in, sang along with the CD as I got myself arranged and -- what could that be! Found the orange paper waiting for me underneath the wiper.
Bummer.
I unbuckled, got out and picked up my surprise.
Perhaps youguys receive more that you like of these ticket-contests, so I understand if you're a little worn out by the stories, but if you happen to have some mercy to spare, I'd gladly accept it!
If not, I understand that's just the way life goes sometime. At least I know now it's about time to replenish the center-console's change-wealth :). (And that meters aren't keen on pennies!)
Regardless of your decision, it might be good to check that meter out to make sure others will be able to read it better -- surely I could have just done the math and counted as I put the change in, but in my excitement at the time I guess it didn't occur to me!
Thank you and take care,
Ashley :)
:: UPDATE ::
They weren't having any of it.
Bummer.
Oh, the lessons.
Out of curiosity, I wondered whether it might be worth contesting. So I gave it a go!
Enjoy!
_____________________________ (The Following is what I sent as my contest)
Recently I have been in the hopeful pursuit of a new job! Following the completion of my philosophy test today, I set out to look into downtown Columbus' restaurant scene (I think it would be fun to be a waitress!) and, having seen the restaurant 'Barley's' on my way down High Street, decided to stop off at one of the meters and secure an application! I couldn't wait!
Keys in bag, bag on my shoulder, wallet in-hand and one foot out the door I surveyed my change purse... only to find seven pennies. In a flash of hope I recalled mom's center console -- the change haven! As it was, I had tapped into this resource for my last parking venture, and only the pennies remained -- 11 to be exact.
Pennies in hand, carefully recounted, I headed for the meter. Suppose it didn't take pennies? It was worth a try, anyway.
One penny in -- no difference. I tried again with
two more -- still no consequence!
My critical thinking skills kicked-in, and lead me to Yankee Trader, where an employee kindly granted my request to exchange 15 pennies for a nickel and a dime. (Surely I wouldn't need too much money to walk back down to the restaurant afterward!) I headed back to the car, hopeful as ever.
nickel in -- 3 minutes! We're getting somewhere!
dime in -- 3 minutes! ? Wait...
3.. or is it 8?
Maybe the numbers were a little difficult to read.
Now, I am a pretty brisk walker, but not quick enough to get to the restaurant and back in three minutes. What could I do? I remembered the money mom gave me before she left for the weekend, got a dollar, and headed back for more change. On the way back, I passed one of High Street's merchants with whom I had earlier exchanged smiles in transit, and rather than walk back to the store, decided to explain what had happened and ask the kind sir whether he had change for a dollar.
Kind indeed! -- Though he did not have enough to exchange for the dollar, he had an array of nickels and dimes and pennies, and (pennies omitted--he must have known better)generously gave them to me without accepting my dollar as a trade. I walked back to the meter, relieved and really ready to pick up an application!
A few nickels and dimes later, I re-evaluated the meter. Was that thirty five minutes or twenty five? I supposed thirty five, and headed for Barleys.
The sign on the window told me it was open at 11. Every day? Every day. I conferred with my phone, and found it was only ten twenty-something am. Seeing the bright side, I realized that it gave me a good excuse to walk around downtown to see what other restaurants I might find -- and I had just about as much time as was left on the meter! Off I went!
I wandered, smiled, got a couple suggestions from others about where might be good to work, got an application (!), inquired about employment elsewhere, and realized it was just about time to get back.
Having just left the Hyatt (I saw online that their restaurant was hiring!) I was on the opposite side of the street from my car and the restaurant, and decided that, rather than cross the street and head all the way down and backtrack to get back to the car, (I'm pretty certain that side of High Street had seen enough of me earlier,) I would just make use of the crosswalk further down the side I was currently on.
On the way down, I glanced at the car to make sure it was safe; free of papers on the windshield and whatnot. Nice and clear! I figured I still had a few more minutes.
Waiting for the crosswalk to do its thing, I checked out the phone -- it was 11:03! -- I would have to do this fast! After a couple of traffic exchanges, I followed the lead of the white-light man at the other side, and finally -- finally!-- went over to pick up my application.
Application-in-folder-in-purse I headed back, relieved, to the car and got in. I put the keys in, sang along with the CD as I got myself arranged and -- what could that be! Found the orange paper waiting for me underneath the wiper.
Bummer.
I unbuckled, got out and picked up my surprise.
Perhaps youguys receive more that you like of these ticket-contests, so I understand if you're a little worn out by the stories, but if you happen to have some mercy to spare, I'd gladly accept it!
If not, I understand that's just the way life goes sometime. At least I know now it's about time to replenish the center-console's change-wealth :). (And that meters aren't keen on pennies!)
Regardless of your decision, it might be good to check that meter out to make sure others will be able to read it better -- surely I could have just done the math and counted as I put the change in, but in my excitement at the time I guess it didn't occur to me!
Thank you and take care,
Ashley :)
:: UPDATE ::
They weren't having any of it.
Bummer.
Oh, the lessons.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Today's Verse
comes from Romans 12
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
It's such a mystery to me what God wills. Elusive as it is, it's on my mind a lot -- if I can only know what God wants of me, how He wants me to live my life, then I could carry it out and please Him with it. Or at least that's how my thoughts seemed to guide me. It's good to think about, but does there come a point where we spend too much effort trying to think about it, and not enough actually doing it?
There was this inspirational poster hanging in my 8th grade English classroom that read
Thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits, habits become your character, and your character becomes your destiny.
If this is the case, which my logic consents that it is,
and if we can better know God's will by the renewing of our mind
(and if it can be rightfully supposed that our thoughts begin in our mind)
then does that mean the first step to better understanding God's will might be
to change the way we think?
If this is the case, what are we to think about?
In my mind instantly clicked the recollection of a verse marked, in part, by the words 'think about such things.' A little Biblegateway.com - searching and we have:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
- Philippians 4:8
So then, we ought to think about what is
true
noble
right
pure
lovely
admirable
excellent &
praiseworthy
in such a way that our mind will be transformed as a result of that thought (I think God will take care of this)
and we might have a better idea of what God is all about.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
It's such a mystery to me what God wills. Elusive as it is, it's on my mind a lot -- if I can only know what God wants of me, how He wants me to live my life, then I could carry it out and please Him with it. Or at least that's how my thoughts seemed to guide me. It's good to think about, but does there come a point where we spend too much effort trying to think about it, and not enough actually doing it?
There was this inspirational poster hanging in my 8th grade English classroom that read
Thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits, habits become your character, and your character becomes your destiny.
If this is the case, which my logic consents that it is,
and if we can better know God's will by the renewing of our mind
(and if it can be rightfully supposed that our thoughts begin in our mind)
then does that mean the first step to better understanding God's will might be
to change the way we think?
If this is the case, what are we to think about?
In my mind instantly clicked the recollection of a verse marked, in part, by the words 'think about such things.' A little Biblegateway.com - searching and we have:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
- Philippians 4:8
So then, we ought to think about what is
true
noble
right
pure
lovely
admirable
excellent &
praiseworthy
in such a way that our mind will be transformed as a result of that thought (I think God will take care of this)
and we might have a better idea of what God is all about.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Verse of the Day
“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
- Jeremiah 29:11
PRAISE THE LORD,
such the relief.
Just stumbled across this!
"Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus."
-My Utmost For His Highest
- Jeremiah 29:11
PRAISE THE LORD,
such the relief.
Just stumbled across this!
"Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus."
-My Utmost For His Highest
Friday, October 10, 2008
Verse of the Day
“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.”
-Proverbs 19:20-21
I always saw the latter verse exclusively before; now that the two are together, I'm helped to gain a new understanding of how to keep in step with God's purpose.
Gloria a Dios.
:)
-Proverbs 19:20-21
I always saw the latter verse exclusively before; now that the two are together, I'm helped to gain a new understanding of how to keep in step with God's purpose.
Gloria a Dios.
:)
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Today's Verse
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”
- Proverbs 27:1
True that.
- Proverbs 27:1
True that.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Verse of the Day
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”
- Proverbs 29:25
Surely a word study could clear this all up pretty quickly, but for the sake of working through my thoughts, I'll avoid that resource.
Back in the old days, everytime I thought of what it was to 'fear' God, it seemed to me that meant we were to be afraid of Him. In some respects, I guess that could still be true -- He is God, and as such is very capable of a lot, some of which may be very scary -- now though, my mind settles on a different concept of fear.
More current thoughts about the fear of God bring my mind to settle on an idea of respect for Him. This is not any sort of respect though -- this is a reverence which, when applied, is poignant enough to alter our thoughts, make our decisions -- enough to remodel our entire being.
When we respect someone, do we not have a high regard for his opinions? Does it not lead us to desire to please him absolutely, that we might not let him down in any way? Do we not long for his favor?
Upon first reading through the verse, I wondered how fearing men could possibly be dangerous -- then it occured to me; man is deceitful, self-interested and constantly inconstant. To fully please man is to assume many different identities at one time, to define no parameters for personal character, and to make a life out of compromise. To fully please man is impossible, and would make for a destructive and dangerous life, indeed.
So why do we try so hard to do it?
Why do we endeavor so dutifully to earn the affections of all mankind when God's is the only significant opinion?
More later, perhaps!
- Proverbs 29:25
Surely a word study could clear this all up pretty quickly, but for the sake of working through my thoughts, I'll avoid that resource.
Back in the old days, everytime I thought of what it was to 'fear' God, it seemed to me that meant we were to be afraid of Him. In some respects, I guess that could still be true -- He is God, and as such is very capable of a lot, some of which may be very scary -- now though, my mind settles on a different concept of fear.
More current thoughts about the fear of God bring my mind to settle on an idea of respect for Him. This is not any sort of respect though -- this is a reverence which, when applied, is poignant enough to alter our thoughts, make our decisions -- enough to remodel our entire being.
When we respect someone, do we not have a high regard for his opinions? Does it not lead us to desire to please him absolutely, that we might not let him down in any way? Do we not long for his favor?
Upon first reading through the verse, I wondered how fearing men could possibly be dangerous -- then it occured to me; man is deceitful, self-interested and constantly inconstant. To fully please man is to assume many different identities at one time, to define no parameters for personal character, and to make a life out of compromise. To fully please man is impossible, and would make for a destructive and dangerous life, indeed.
So why do we try so hard to do it?
Why do we endeavor so dutifully to earn the affections of all mankind when God's is the only significant opinion?
More later, perhaps!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
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