bad habits

Today's Chat-A-Chini question is: What habit would you most like to get rid of?

Hmm. Do you ever trick yourself into thinking that a bad habit is just the way it is? That it is the way you were wired and that you can't help but act a certain way? Or how about you excuse yourself and say "This action is only temporary, I am excused for acting in a foolish way since it's only a short period of time."

I have been there many times. Each and every one of us have habits, probably many of them. Some of mine include: washing my dishes every night before bed, praying when I wake up and before I go to sleep, only buying shirts when I'm shopping unless I am forced to shop for pants, etc. I think you get the idea!

Out of all of the habits that I have, I think I would like to get rid of the feeling I get often that I am owed something. Whether it be from my family, friends, co-workers or God, I sometimes feel that I am owed an apology or a thank you, or that I deserve to be praised for certain actions. Certainly, it is nice to get an apology when someone has wronged you and a thank you when you have done something nice, but it is definitely not owed to me by any means.

There ya have it, the habit I would most like to rid myself of.

How about you? Any habits you could do without?

the posture of worship

Tonight at SPCC, I was reminded about what worship truly is. Corporate worship has always been my favorite part of a service, the place where I encounter God most. This is still true today, but I was reminded that this is not all worship is.

Worship is a posture. It is being willing to lay face down in front of God. A time where we give and it is about God rather than a time where we get and it is about us.

I can't tell you how many times I have left a service and said "It's too bad, I didn't get much out of worship tonight." This is not the way that it should be. And furthermore, worship is something I need to do everyday. The way I live my life should be a form of worship to God. I have not thought about it in this way in quite some time. It was very sobering, hearing the message tonight. A great reminder this Advent season to bow down before our Creator and just simply be with Him.

After all, that is what He wants. Just to spend time with His children. To hold us and to love us.. but we somehow manage to count this as a waste of time or just another thing on our list.

Will anyone join me this Advent season in working towards better worship posture?

Laurance: My Christmas Child

This Christmas, I am partnering with Compassion to try and find a sponsor for a little boy named Laurance from Tanzania. He is 6 years old and lives with his parents and 2 siblings. His parents seldom work and it is only due to his partnership with Compassion that he has a chance to attend bible studies and church services.

However, without a sponsor, Laurance has little chance of staying in school because he will eventually need to help out at home with chores and then later in life go to work. As most of us know, in order to break the cycle of poverty, we need to educate the young.

This is our chance.. to pray for this little boy, at least for the month of December. I will post things every few days as reminders about this and encouraging verses to help with prayer, etc. Please join me in this, it would mean so much to surround to this little boy with prayers and the love of God.

If while praying you feel led to sponsor little Laurance or another child from Compassion, please let me know and I can help you with the steps. Thank you and I hope that you will join me and Compassion in helping out "My Christmas Child".

So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
--Job 5:16

Happy Day

With it being the end of the semester, and everyone freaking out.. I just want to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Day!! It is so easy to get wrapped up in the stress: the papers and the projects then going to work and shopping for the holidays.

I have really learned this semester the importance of slowing down, prioritizing and playing. I just encourage everyone, and myself, to take some time to relax and to breathe.. to sing a silly song or color a picture. Counterproductive? Hardly! Things like this help us to let out some steam and take a look at the big picture.

So everyone-- Have a Happy Day, today- tomorrow and always :)

You never know how far a smile goes.

When each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives everyday that the sun rises.

-The Alchemist

You are God's own possession. 1 Peter 2:9

God loves you simply because He has chosen to do so.

He loves you when you don't feel lovely.
He loves you when no one else loves you.
Others may abandon you, divorce you, and ignore you, but God will love you.
Always. No matter what.

hypocrites

Here is a quotation from a column written by Terry Mattingly that I came across when reading a friend's blog.

"It's a good thing when sinners continue to oppose sin, even if they are still struggling with sin in their own lives...Sometimes, hypocrisy is what allows sinful people to be decent while they try to do what's right."

What do you think about this?