Stuff That Matters in Life

Katy’s Weblog

This daily devotional book by Charles Stanley should be kept next to your Bible. In fact, it’s a sturdy hardback probably about the same size as my Bible.

Each day’s devotion begins with a short passage to read from the Bible. A key verse follows that highlights the main idea for the day.

Then comes half to three-quarter page of instructions from Charles Stanley. His writing is to the point, easy to read, yet profound; I’ve always enjoyed his books. The day’s devotion ends with a one to two line prayer.

I Lift Up My Soul is similar to any other daily devotional guide. As with any daily devotional guide, it’s an aid to maintaining a disciplined quiet time in God’s Word but does not give much depth of Bible study. 

Disclosure:  Thomas Nelson provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for this review. Opinions are entirely my own.

In the early 80’s when I was in seminary, I was looking for an internship with a church. At the time, the concept of ABC (American Born Chinese) ministry was just beginning to emerge. English-speaking-only Chinese churches without a Chinese congregation were starting to be planted in Southern Cal. (Multi-cultural Asian American churches has not even been conceived.)

Read more of “Church entrepreneur”

Remodel

Filed under Generalby Joyful

Several years ago, we remodeled our kitchen. Our house was built in the 70’s and the kitchen was the original cabinets and tile counters. The style at the time of my remodel was light cabinets and granite counter tops. A stainless steel kitchen sink was a must. I wanted a butcher block countertop table in the middle of the kitchen as an island, but there was not enough room for one.

Next I wanted to get new patio furniture around our pool. Adirondack chairs would be a nice look, but I didn’t want to spend the money. We opted for cheap plastic chairs and a decent glass table.

Now I am hoping to remodel our family room now that the leak in the chimney has been fixed. This room really needs help! Now that the prices are more affordable, a flat screen TV is part of the plan.

After that I want to re-do the front landscape…and on it goes.

I may just move instead.

This post is brought to you by your friends at www.butcherblockco.com

This low iodine diet for 4 weeks is not very restrictive, yet, it’s a change in habit that I find a little disconcerting.

I reach for a homemade cookie made by a friend, and I can’t take a bite.

I am thirsty for a glass of milk to drink with my meal, and I have to drink water instead.

I want to make a quesadilla for breakfast – sorry, no cheese allowed.

I learned a bit about making changes in life:

– In order for a habit to be changed, there must be very strong motivation, some dire results if the change is not made.

– You must keep it on top of your mind at all times, otherwise it’s so easy to slip back into old habits without even thinking.

– The change will be very unnatural. It goes against our imprinted grain.

– Even a small change in my diet affects my whole life. Not a day goes by that I do not think about this low iodine diet. I am constantly thinking about what I will eat at the next meal.

– The change, if the results will be a greater good, is worth it.

We were cleaning out our cabinet of of DVDs and VHS tapes. It’s amazing how the industry has changed.

I remember my daughter had a friend in second grade whose parents owned a video rental store. They would bring in a popular children’s movie for the class to watch during party days. My daughter is now in 10th grade and that store, needless to say, no longer exist. (I hope the nice family found another source of income.) The Blockbuster store down the street from us sits vacant for the last few years.

From the days of video tape rental stores on every corner, to mailing Netflix DVDs, to now just click and play Netflix TV shows and movies using our Wii – it’s only been a period of probably less than 10 years.

I suppose for people who want more options, there’s direct tv and with many directv packages. We looked into directtv and we used to subscribe to cable TV, but Netflix works much better for us now.

What has not changed is sitting and watching a screen.

I am sure that one day, that will change too.

This post brought to you by your friends at www.alliedsatellitetv.com.

I found this lying around in my house, part of an article by John Piper from DesiringGod.org.:

What we mean by the sovereignty of God is captured in paragraph 3.2 of The Bethlehem Baptist Church Elder Affirmation of Faith. The dozens of biblical passages used to support this paragraph are found in the online version.

3.2 We believe that God upholds and governs all things—from galaxies to subatomic particles, from the forces of nature to the movements of nations, and from the public plans of politicians to the secret acts of solitary persons—all in accord with His eternal, all-wise purposes to glorify Himself, yet in such a way that He never sins, nor ever condemns a person unjustly; but that His ordaining and governing all things is compatible with the moral accountability of all persons created in His image.

That just about covers everything about everyone!

The skeptic may say that it is inconceivable that even a god can do all that. But of course, that’s the point of who God should be, isn’t it?

I receive comfort in knowing that nothing is outside the control of a God who loves me. What is there to fear?