Well, not long ago I was finally forced into the world of Facebook.
Oh my.
I obediently put in my school information.
Oh my.
I was suddenly swamped with friend requests from aqaintances from High School. These were people that I knew barely more than their names 25 years ago... we never hung out or talked or really knew each other. And now they want to be my friend? How strange is that?
Of course there were others, and I did find some people that truely were my friends back then... but the fact is it's been 25 years and we have gone different directions in that length of time. I feel awkward there.
But then there is another catagory of friend. I did have some good friends 25-30 years ago that I had lost touch with. People I spent a lot of time with, and people who had a profound impact on my life. Those have brought back some wonderful memories, and a few regrets as well. I hate that I lost touch, and even deliberately walked away from some of them. But now there is a chance to renew those contacts. That's cool.
But I wonder about this blog/facebook/texting community in general. It's a great way to keep up long distance, and a great way to find old friends... but it's not enough. I see kids texting conversations... why not talk? What about body language and tones of voice? What about handshakes and hugs? What about a shared meal or a cup of coffee? What about focusing on the person you are with and eye contact? We are physical people, and we need physical contact... does the next generation realize that?
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Right
A couple of weeks ago I was teaching a self-defense class to some teenage girls at a local church. As the morning flew by I became aware of a wonderful sense of “rightness”. I had the girls’ attention. Some moms sitting off to the side asked good questions; the words were effortless; I felt a connection with my students. But these were really only the results of the “rightness”, not the cause of it. At the end I had the feeling that this was exactly what I was supposed to be doing in that moment in time, even that it was the very reason for my existence; it was what God created me to do. It was very profound.
As I thought about and enjoyed this feeling of “rightness” later in the day, I was reminded of other times I had felt this way. Often there are fleeting glimpses of the experience I am talking about, but only a few times in my life has it been this profound. I remembered giving my testimony at a Ladies’ Luncheon, and I remembered my first degree Black Belt test. I would not have been able to do either of those without that feeling of absolute rightness from God. And then I remembered a particular time alone with God several years ago. I had been going through some pretty major emotional upheaval, dealing with some very painful things from my past. One evening I was walking and praying, as was my habit, and I realized that every day for 3 months I had felt God’s presence and He had spoken to me in some way. It was a glorious realization, and I found myself telling God how wonderful this relationship with Him was, and if it took those painful events of the past to get me there, it was worth it. I was shocked at my own words to God, but when I stopped and thought about it, I realized it was totally true. It was worth anything to know God in that way.
I was feeling pretty good as I remembered these experiences of “rightness” with God. These were moments when I not only knew in my head that I was where God wanted me to be, but I felt it in my heart as well. I believe in a Sovereign God who holds my whole life in His hands, who has a plan for me and will carry it out for His glory and my good. In those moments I could feel His glory and my good in a very profound way.
And then God spoke to me. “So, are you going to walk away from that just because you are disappointed with your life? Are you going to give up this relationship we have simply because you don’t have enough money to pay the bills?”
Oh. O God. No.
For the past few years we have struggled financially, and I had let anger and bitterness over our situation creep in - anger with myself, with my husband, and with God (who is, after all, in control). That bitterness had come between me and my husband, and between me and God. I knew it was there, I had talked to God about it, but I couldn’t seem to root it out. In this moment of reflection on God’s good providence, He pointed out the stark contrast of what was really in my heart; a bitterness about my current circumstances and about where I happen to be in His plan right now.
In God’s grace and mercy He didn’t leave me lying on the floor in my misery. God wasn’t beating me over the head with my own attitude; rather, He changed it in an instant. I cannot explain it, but suddenly a joy and peace filled my heart, along with the realization that where I am right now is a good place. It’s not just good in hind sight, after you walk out the other side of your trouble; it is good now, in the midst of it. I am right where God planned for me to be, and His plan brings Him glory and me good, not just in the future somewhere, but right now in the middle of it.
©Rebecca A Givens, 11/11/2009
As I thought about and enjoyed this feeling of “rightness” later in the day, I was reminded of other times I had felt this way. Often there are fleeting glimpses of the experience I am talking about, but only a few times in my life has it been this profound. I remembered giving my testimony at a Ladies’ Luncheon, and I remembered my first degree Black Belt test. I would not have been able to do either of those without that feeling of absolute rightness from God. And then I remembered a particular time alone with God several years ago. I had been going through some pretty major emotional upheaval, dealing with some very painful things from my past. One evening I was walking and praying, as was my habit, and I realized that every day for 3 months I had felt God’s presence and He had spoken to me in some way. It was a glorious realization, and I found myself telling God how wonderful this relationship with Him was, and if it took those painful events of the past to get me there, it was worth it. I was shocked at my own words to God, but when I stopped and thought about it, I realized it was totally true. It was worth anything to know God in that way.
I was feeling pretty good as I remembered these experiences of “rightness” with God. These were moments when I not only knew in my head that I was where God wanted me to be, but I felt it in my heart as well. I believe in a Sovereign God who holds my whole life in His hands, who has a plan for me and will carry it out for His glory and my good. In those moments I could feel His glory and my good in a very profound way.
And then God spoke to me. “So, are you going to walk away from that just because you are disappointed with your life? Are you going to give up this relationship we have simply because you don’t have enough money to pay the bills?”
Oh. O God. No.
For the past few years we have struggled financially, and I had let anger and bitterness over our situation creep in - anger with myself, with my husband, and with God (who is, after all, in control). That bitterness had come between me and my husband, and between me and God. I knew it was there, I had talked to God about it, but I couldn’t seem to root it out. In this moment of reflection on God’s good providence, He pointed out the stark contrast of what was really in my heart; a bitterness about my current circumstances and about where I happen to be in His plan right now.
In God’s grace and mercy He didn’t leave me lying on the floor in my misery. God wasn’t beating me over the head with my own attitude; rather, He changed it in an instant. I cannot explain it, but suddenly a joy and peace filled my heart, along with the realization that where I am right now is a good place. It’s not just good in hind sight, after you walk out the other side of your trouble; it is good now, in the midst of it. I am right where God planned for me to be, and His plan brings Him glory and me good, not just in the future somewhere, but right now in the middle of it.
©Rebecca A Givens, 11/11/2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Cool Tool: Verse Card Maker
http://www.mcscott.org/index.html
ok, this is just too cool. Go to the website above, type in a Bible reference, and it will print out the verse in a front/back flashcard type format. Can't get any easier than this!
ok, this is just too cool. Go to the website above, type in a Bible reference, and it will print out the verse in a front/back flashcard type format. Can't get any easier than this!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Psalm 18:46-50
Jehovah liveth, and blessed is my Rock,
And exalted the God of my salvation;
(Even) the God who giveth me vengeance,
And (who) subdued peoples under me.
Thou art He that deliverest me from mine enemies;
Yea, Thou liftest me up above those that rise against me;
Thou hast delivered me from men of violence.
Therefore will I give thanks unto Thee, O Jehovah, among the nations;
And to Thy Name will I sing praises:
Who giveth great deliverance to His King;
And showeth loving-kindness to His Anointed,
To David and his seed for evermore.
David wraps up this wonderful psalm with a summary of what God has done for him. I find it interesting that here and in the previous passage he talks about foreign nations and aliens. They bow before him and he proclaims the name of Jehovah to them. He also refers to his seed, the everlasting Anointed One who would rule after him; this can only refer to the coming Christ. Here at the end David looks into the future and sees his own nation, he sees Christ, and he sees the gospel coming to the Gentiles. That means me! What a glorious thing!
This is the last section of a series of my own thoughts on Psalm 18. Click here for Part 1 I used The Book of Psalms by Perowne.
And exalted the God of my salvation;
(Even) the God who giveth me vengeance,
And (who) subdued peoples under me.
Thou art He that deliverest me from mine enemies;
Yea, Thou liftest me up above those that rise against me;
Thou hast delivered me from men of violence.
Therefore will I give thanks unto Thee, O Jehovah, among the nations;
And to Thy Name will I sing praises:
Who giveth great deliverance to His King;
And showeth loving-kindness to His Anointed,
To David and his seed for evermore.
David wraps up this wonderful psalm with a summary of what God has done for him. I find it interesting that here and in the previous passage he talks about foreign nations and aliens. They bow before him and he proclaims the name of Jehovah to them. He also refers to his seed, the everlasting Anointed One who would rule after him; this can only refer to the coming Christ. Here at the end David looks into the future and sees his own nation, he sees Christ, and he sees the gospel coming to the Gentiles. That means me! What a glorious thing!
This is the last section of a series of my own thoughts on Psalm 18. Click here for Part 1 I used The Book of Psalms by Perowne.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Educational (and fun) Listening
Over the past few years I have enjoyed listening to educational stuff. It really makes traffic and housework tolerable. I love The Teaching Company courses, my older kids and I have loved everything we have listened to. They do, of course, cost money (unless you can borrow them from a friend like I do, or check them out at the library, Hoover used to have a lot of them). The library also has lots of books on tape.
Podcasts provide a great FREE resource on almost any subject you can think of. My favorites are Ravi Zacharias and R.C. Sproul. You can search for these, and many other Bible teachers, on itunes. Pretty much any radio show now has a podcast.
Below are links to pages with many links to educational courses, as well as free audio books:
http://www.productivity501.com/free-academic-podcasts/78/
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/free-audio-book-and-podcast-resources/
http://www.openculture.com/2006/10/audio_book_podc.html
http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/offers/howItWorks.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0562495469.1257624340@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfadeikijfglmcefecekjdffidfkh.0
http://librivox.org/
https://www.listenersbible.com/
http://www.sermonaudio.com/main.asp
http://oedb.org/library/beginning-online-learning/skip-the-tuition:-100-free-podcasts-from-the-best-colleges-in-the-world
http://www.mckenziestudycenter.org/audio/
Covenant Theological Seminary
Westminster Shorter Catachism
Podcasts provide a great FREE resource on almost any subject you can think of. My favorites are Ravi Zacharias and R.C. Sproul. You can search for these, and many other Bible teachers, on itunes. Pretty much any radio show now has a podcast.
Below are links to pages with many links to educational courses, as well as free audio books:
http://www.productivity501.com/free-academic-podcasts/78/
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/free-audio-book-and-podcast-resources/
http://www.openculture.com/2006/10/audio_book_podc.html
http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/offers/howItWorks.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0562495469.1257624340@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfadeikijfglmcefecekjdffidfkh.0
http://librivox.org/
https://www.listenersbible.com/
http://www.sermonaudio.com/main.asp
http://oedb.org/library/beginning-online-learning/skip-the-tuition:-100-free-podcasts-from-the-best-colleges-in-the-world
http://www.mckenziestudycenter.org/audio/
Covenant Theological Seminary
Westminster Shorter Catachism
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Psalm 18:37-45
(I started this series on Psalm 18 2 years ago... and just found the last 2 sections of it in my works-in-progress file. This section was complete, the last one nearly so. I can't believe I never posted them or sent them out.... guess I got distracted by something else!)
I pursued mine enemies and overtook them,
Neither did I turn again, until they were consumed.
I have smitten them, that they were not able to rise,
They are fallen under my feet.
For Thou hast girded me with strength to the battle;
Thou hast bowed down under me those that rose up against me,
Mine enemies also Thou hast made to turn their backs before me,
So that I destroyed them that hate me.
They cried, - but there was none to save them, -
Even unto Jehovah, but He answered them not.
And I beat them small as the dust before the wind,
Like the mire of the streets I emptied them out.
Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people;
Thou hast made me Head over the nations:
A people that I know not, serve me.
At the hearing of the ear, they obeyed me,
The sons of the alien came crouching unto me.
The sons of the alien faded away,
They came trembling out of their fortresses.
Earlier David told us how God delivered him from his peril, now he tells of God giving him victory over his enemies. He was not only victorious, but he totally destroyed those who fought against him. His enemies are gone completely. One day God will completely do away with the enemies of His children. We have three enemies: 1) our own sin nature, 2) Satan, 3) the world. In Heaven none of these will be able to affect us anymore!
I pursued mine enemies and overtook them,
Neither did I turn again, until they were consumed.
I have smitten them, that they were not able to rise,
They are fallen under my feet.
For Thou hast girded me with strength to the battle;
Thou hast bowed down under me those that rose up against me,
Mine enemies also Thou hast made to turn their backs before me,
So that I destroyed them that hate me.
They cried, - but there was none to save them, -
Even unto Jehovah, but He answered them not.
And I beat them small as the dust before the wind,
Like the mire of the streets I emptied them out.
Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people;
Thou hast made me Head over the nations:
A people that I know not, serve me.
At the hearing of the ear, they obeyed me,
The sons of the alien came crouching unto me.
The sons of the alien faded away,
They came trembling out of their fortresses.
Earlier David told us how God delivered him from his peril, now he tells of God giving him victory over his enemies. He was not only victorious, but he totally destroyed those who fought against him. His enemies are gone completely. One day God will completely do away with the enemies of His children. We have three enemies: 1) our own sin nature, 2) Satan, 3) the world. In Heaven none of these will be able to affect us anymore!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Darkness
ok, this piece is definately depressing, and as I told my e-mail list, I hesitated to send it out. There is no resolution at the end, but sometimes life is just like that. So read it but don't stop there, go back and read Forever, and How He Loves Us. Those are much better places to end!
Darkness descends;
What do I do with it?
Despair
I don’t care
I don’t think
I don’t fight.
I feel
I sink
I hurt.
I can’t see
I can’t breath
I can’t move
The dark cloud covers all
It fills all
outside, and inside.
Where is truth?
Truth that I can breath
and see
and feel?
Truth that blows away the darkness?
© Rebecca A Givens, 09/16/09
Darkness descends;
What do I do with it?
Despair
I don’t care
I don’t think
I don’t fight.
I feel
I sink
I hurt.
I can’t see
I can’t breath
I can’t move
The dark cloud covers all
It fills all
outside, and inside.
Where is truth?
Truth that I can breath
and see
and feel?
Truth that blows away the darkness?
© Rebecca A Givens, 09/16/09
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Thousand Gifts
A long time ago I first posted and linked to The Thousand Gifts. The beginning of November, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, seems the perfect time to talk about this again.
The concept is simple. Start a list of things you thank God for. Big things, small things, everyday things, special things. And add to it until reach 1000... but I have to warn you, this is addictive and when you get to 1000 you won't be able to stop! My current list is almost 500, but when I lost my Bible last year I had to start over because my list was in it.
This list truly changed my attitude on many occasions. Looking back over it reminds me of what God has given me. And I find myself looking for things to thank Him for.
I encourage you to go over to Holy Experience and read her original post, she has quite a way with words and pictures.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
David Crowder : How He Loves
This song has been stuck in my head all week. It so reminds me of what I posted last week, Forever.
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…
He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
Well, I thought about You the day Stephen died,
And You met me between my breaking.
I know that I still love You, God, despite the agony. ...
They want to tell me You're cruel,
But if Stephen could sing, he'd say it's not true, cause...
Cause He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
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