Kayla tagged me in a post of random questions. She came up with her own, which I will attempt to answer here.
1. What is your favorite holiday?
I would have to say Christmas even though it is sometimes a crazy time of year. I love to give gifts, I love
looking at the beautifully lit Christmas tree, and I love having my kids home. There are some things I
don't enjoy, but the good definitely outweighs the bad.
2. When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up? I can't remember too far back,
but for as long as I remember, I wanted to be a secretary and a stay-at-home mom. I was fortunate
to get to do both!
3. What hobby would you like to take up if you had more money/time? It's not really a hobby, but if
I had the time and brainpower, I would love to become a midwife. Childbirth was such a special time
and I would enjoy helping other women go through that experience. I secretly want to be in the right
place at the right time to have to deliver a baby!
4. What TV shows do you currently watch? Since I have cleaned up my television viewing, I don't
watch nearly as much. In addition to the Today Show, I watch reruns of old shows (Mash, Bob
Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, etc.). I also like Jeopardy. Paul and I watch television series on Netflix
(24, White Collar, Flashpoint, etc.)
5. How long do you spend getting ready on a typical morning? As little time as possible, but usually
only about 45 minutes (and it shows)!
6. What does your name mean?/Why did your parents choose your name? I don't know what my
name means and was too lazy to look it up, but I was named after a close friend of my parents.
7. What's the best gift you've ever received? A notebook on my 50th birthday which contained
personal letters from my family and friends. Such a thoughtful gift from my kiddoes!
Since I don't know how to tag other people and am not imaginative enough to come up with questions,
I guess I'll let some of Kayla's other friends carry on the questions!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Responding to Grace
I believe that God, through the Holy Spirit, has been trying to get my attention for several years now. I have not wanted to listen because deep down I knew what He had to say and I didn't want to hear it. Even worse, I knew I didn't want to obey it. Thankfully He didn't give up; I have heard Him loud and clear and I want to make the changes He is asking me to make.
I believe in grace. I really do. I also believe, though, that there is a lifestyle I am to strive for in response to that grace. I believe as a true follower of Christ I should be striving for purity, holiness, sacrificial living, a spirit of service, etc. I believe if I am not striving for those things, I am not being a true follower of Christ. For me, this has eternal consequences because my conscience condemns me.
God has been calling me to a life of purity. A major source of impurity in my life comes in the form of television. I watch shows that are not pure at all. They are full of coarse humor, foul language, sexual innuendos, sexual immorality, etc. I know I cannot read "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) and watch these shows with a clear conscience. There are books and movies I should not read or see for the same reason.
So why are these things so appealing? One major reason is because I LOVE to laugh and this kind of humor has become funny to me. I also like to connect with other people who are watching the same shows, movies, etc. I like to quote "funny" lines and understand the joke when those lines are thrown around. I also like to sit and be entertained--A LOT.
Now that God has my attention, though, some things are going to have to change. Television time will be drastically cut. My daily communication with God has got to improve. Bible study and prayer need to be a top priority in my life again. I don't want to be able to leave my Bible in the car from Sunday to Sunday. I want to need it every single day regardless of where I am or what I am doing.
I am asking God to keep Philippians 4:8 in front of me at all times. I want to live this kind of life. I think I ought to live this kind of life to show my appreciation for the grace God has given me and to be following God with "all my heart, soul, mind and strength."
I believe in grace. I really do. I also believe, though, that there is a lifestyle I am to strive for in response to that grace. I believe as a true follower of Christ I should be striving for purity, holiness, sacrificial living, a spirit of service, etc. I believe if I am not striving for those things, I am not being a true follower of Christ. For me, this has eternal consequences because my conscience condemns me.
God has been calling me to a life of purity. A major source of impurity in my life comes in the form of television. I watch shows that are not pure at all. They are full of coarse humor, foul language, sexual innuendos, sexual immorality, etc. I know I cannot read "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) and watch these shows with a clear conscience. There are books and movies I should not read or see for the same reason.
So why are these things so appealing? One major reason is because I LOVE to laugh and this kind of humor has become funny to me. I also like to connect with other people who are watching the same shows, movies, etc. I like to quote "funny" lines and understand the joke when those lines are thrown around. I also like to sit and be entertained--A LOT.
Now that God has my attention, though, some things are going to have to change. Television time will be drastically cut. My daily communication with God has got to improve. Bible study and prayer need to be a top priority in my life again. I don't want to be able to leave my Bible in the car from Sunday to Sunday. I want to need it every single day regardless of where I am or what I am doing.
I am asking God to keep Philippians 4:8 in front of me at all times. I want to live this kind of life. I think I ought to live this kind of life to show my appreciation for the grace God has given me and to be following God with "all my heart, soul, mind and strength."
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