The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree

It is amazing how you can see yourself reflected in your own child.  Michael and I both have a bad habit of going and going until we can’t anymore and then being tired or sick as a result.  Today I saw that reflected in my little girl.  Usually if there is some kind of noise than we know Abby is fine.  Today Michael went to investigate when he realized that the house was too quiet.  We found Abby asleep in the middle of the floor in her room.  She literally played herself to sleep.  Michael snapped this picture of her under her favorite blanket.  I don’t think the apple falls very far from the tree with me either.  My dad will go all day doing something and when he finally sits down in his chair in the evening he’ll pass out.  He’s been known to wake up in the living room at 2am because he fell asleep.

Something I am hoping to do is being a reflection of my Heavenly Father.  I know that I am nowhere near there yet, but I am growing.  Because of what Jesus did for me by taking the punishment I deserved and giving me grace unending, I am free to obey out of love and not out of duty.  I feel that I am also free to grow and learn, and to change in a way that I wouldn’t be able to without the gospel.  I am still learning about how much the gospel has an effect on my everyday life, my ability to change, and my lens through how I see the world.  But what I do know is, by seeking God I am going to become more like him.  And that is thrilling to me!

I am reading the book NOTE TO SELF by Joe Thorn.  It is about preaching the gospel to yourself and it gives you concrete ways to do it.  It is written as a note to yourself.  Each short chapter starts with “Dear Self,” here is an example that I read this week and loved:  “Dear Self, …It is unfortunate that you forget your need to seek God, for though you are right that God is enough, you forget that he is only found to be enough by those who seek him.  Seeking God means that in all you do, you keep his honor in your mind, his Word in your heart, and his glory as your goal – so you are seeking to actually know him and make him known.”

Topless Woman Clothed in Fine Linen

I have been reading some advice on how to write a blog.  And even though I am not really interested in reading writings about writing itself, I suppose it is good advice.  The one piece that I am going to try first is writing something every day.  I may not post something everyday, but I am going to try to write something every day.

So here are some of my thoughts
Recently there was a woman who decided to walk around topless in New York City, in Union Square.  True story! It was published on MSN's front page.  She did it in order to prove in New York City that it wasn't illegal.  Couldn't she have just stood in the street and held up a sign?   The only thing that woman proved was she has no shame!  She did get rewarded with attention, and that was probably what she was after.  If she walked around topless in my town, I hope she would be arrested.  I probably sound like a judgmental church lady.  This isn't a woman who is being exploited as a sex slave, or not seeing any way out using her God given body and sexuality to make money. She is doing this of her own volition to prove that it's not "illegal".
Like the sinner that I was and still am without the imputed righteousness of Christ: I hope she hears the truth about Jesus, feels the weight of her sin, sees her desperate condition, runs to Jesus in repentance and faith and is saved from hell.  Then I hope she puts a shirt on. Better yet, I hope that Jesus gives her fine linen.

Revelation 19

Celebration in Heaven

    ¹ After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying:
   Hallelujah!
Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,
² because His judgments are true and righteous,
because He has judged the notorious prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality;
and He has avenged the blood of His slaves
that was on her hands.
   ³ A second time they said:
   Hallelujah!
Her smoke ascends forever and ever!
   ⁴ Then the 24 elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying:
   Amen! Hallelujah!
   ⁵ A voice came from the throne, saying:
   Praise our God,
all His slaves, who fear Him,
both small and great!

Marriage of the Lamb Announced

    ⁶ Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying:
   Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty,
has begun to reign!
⁷ Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory,
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and His wife has prepared herself.
⁸ She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.
   For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.

You can read the story here: http://now.msn.com/living/0520-nyc-topless.aspx