What are you thinking?!

We went to this tiny little congregation this afternoon that meet in a 10 by 25 foot room next to a automotive store. There were 13 members there plus us 9.....it was a neat experience, very humbling and makes you appreciate so many things. The lesson tonight was especially thought provoking- I want to share my notes with you- and ask you to think about it too.

The title of the lesson was "Checks from the neck up" (if that seems a little different, just think cultural differences.)

The mind is like a well. What goes into it will be drawn up.

"Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2:5-10

Three check ups for our minds-

I) Set our minds. Colossians 3:1-2- "Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth."

We need to be sure our minds are focused on the right things. II Corinthians10:4-5

II) Renew our minds. -The old one is taken away and you get a new one. Romans 12:2-3

Matthew 15:18- "But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. "

Ephesians 4:22-24 - "and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth."

III) Gird our minds. Gird means to put on the right garments.

Luke 12:35

When we gird our minds properly we will understand why we are on the earth: to be servants.- John 13:3-5

Philippians 2:7 and I Peter 1:13-15

As Christians we must know what is right and what is wrong. And do it.

Be holy in all manner of living. I Peter 1:15- "but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living"

What you store up there [the mind] is what you show the brethren.

And the end of the matter is this:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

What are you thinking?

I know this is very simple, but upon reflection of the passages we must all be challenged to examine ourselves, and keep our minds pure and on the right track. There is so much out there, Satan is so alive and anxious to entrap us. Let us not grow weary in renewing our minds and living Christ-like lives this week.

Have a great week!

The Last Sunday in February

It seems that I write a lot of posts about Sunday! Lot's of things happen on Sundays here!!

Every Sunday morning at 5:45 the little man that sells pineapples down at the open air market starts calling out his wears....I can hear it all the way in my room!! Pine ap-PUHLLL!!! Over and and over...I usually am up at 6 and Nathan and I walk down to the market and get fresh fruit for the week. Sunday morning is the best time to do the market shopping, but since it is Sunday, and buying fruit and vegetables for 9 people for 1 week would take way to long.... we do most of the shopping on Saturday. The Saturday market may not be as varied but, we find what we need, and finish a quick trip on Sunday.

This morning Dad walked me down because Nathan hurt his foot the other night kicking the football barefoot...poor guy! :( We got a watermelon and bananas...and just as we were heading home it started pour rain! It's amazing how fast a little squally rain cloud will blow off the ocean and rain for 5-10 minutes and be done! You could tell we were outsiders 'cause we were the only ones on the street! Dad carrying a huge watermelon and I had a bag of bananas...the Trinis all duck under doorways and under the booths! The market can be teeming one minute and deserted the next! But we were headed home and to the showers so we just ran through the rain!!

We worshiped with a small congregation about 20 minutes drive North East- Williamsville church of Christ. It's a small congregation, but old, 40 years and that's old for this island. Dad preached the sermon on how a church is to function...it was good! He's getting more and more comfortable preaching. For someone who used to be an auditor, he's doing a great job! But of course I'm not partial!! ;)

The people at Williamsville are so sweet. They are a truly friendly congregation and we loved worshiping with them. We saw an old friend from several years ago- she's married to a great guy and going to have her first baby in June...so that was a sweet reunion. The people here are so loving...it's easy to love these people.

I wish every one of you could hear and join in the singing down here...it's a wonderful experience. They sing with their heart and soul...we could all learn a lesson from that!

The rain cleared off, like it usually does! And the drive home was beautiful! The sun was warm and lovely...everything was fresh and clean! :) This island is so beautiful. The bamboo groves are fascinating, the flowers are exotic and the sea breeze is always there! (as are the mosquitoes, but that's another story!)

The local churchs don't have Sunday evening worship so the rest of the day is quiet and relaxing. We had a nice lunch, (I made roast goat; not bad at all!!) we took naps, played games, had a "scrounge the fridge and popcorn" supper then we all watched The Princess Bride. That has got to be the funniest movie! We all laughed and quoted it the whole time!! I love my family and how we always enjoy each other. :)

Today was a good day. God blessed us with another day to worship Him in safety. We are blessed beyond measure and my life is daily blessed by my family and time here. What a wonderful God we serve!

Have a beautiful week and count your blessings! :)

Photo for the day....

We get to see lots of very neat things here in Trinidad...this house is one of them. There is something about an empty house, so lonely....it's fascinating...why is it empty?

Anyway. I'm trying to snap a few of the things I see. :)

14 February 2011

"Jehovah did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all peoples: but because Jehovah loveth you, and because he would keep the oath which he sware unto your fathers, hath Jehovah brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that Jehovah thy God, he is God, the faithful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations." Deuteronomy 7:7-9

"Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth." I Corinthians 13:4-8

Happy Birthday, Anna!

Today is Anna's birthday. I remember the day she was born....and I'm so blessed to have such a sweet sister in my life. She helps me not be a bump on a log and realize I need to lighten up sometimes. Thanks, sweetums! I love you!

Some mid-week thoughts...

Last night, that would be Tuesday, night we went to mid-week Bible class at Gasperillo, a small congregation near our house.

The brother the presented the class did a wonderful job with the study from the book of Philippians.

Here are some of the things he said and we have all heard them before, but somehow hearing them again from this preacher in Trinidad really made me think. (I wish you could hear the accent and how it changes the emphasis.)

"We cannot attain perfection. But we can attain excellence."

"If something is not in our minds, it won't come out of our mouths."

"If you open you mouth to say "That's just the way I am" remember that when you signed on to be a Christian you signed on to change."

"What we do says louder than what we say"

I found these very encouraging and thought provoking.

I hope you have a good weekend!

A Glad Heart, revisited

Shake, shake, rattle, a splash of water hits glass, you tip your head back and swallow. You sigh and close your eyes as you wait for the medicine to take effect. For the headache to leave, the back pain to ease or the fever abate. We've all done it; people will continue to need and use medicine always. And the relief is extreme. You can lift your head, you can focus your eyes, and see the beauty around you.

“A glad heart doeth good like medicine” Truly did Solomon through God’s wisdom know what he was talking about! How important it is for our hearts to be glad. Our attitudes are reflected by the condition of our hearts. When we have brushed the dust of apathy or coping out of the corners of our hearts and filled it afresh with the gladness of God’s salvation, the relief will be tangible.

Sometimes we need to put a little effort, “gird up the loins of our minds” and shape up our hearts. It’s up to each person to cultivate the heart.

First: Count your blessings. There is always something to be thankful for! Pollyanna had it right when she played the ‘glad game’. Do you have food? Be glad. Be thankful. Do you have clothes on? Be thankful. Be glad. Write them down, say them out loud, do something to remind yourself of your blessings. How quickly our minds will react because our souls are thankful for even small things: sometimes it just needs reminded.

Second: Look out your window and view something beautiful. Is it winter out there? Cold and gray? God made grays and brown along with the greens, reds and yellows. Do you live on a busy street in town? Lift your head up to the skies and glory in the blue. Raining? That’s ok, the people before the flood never experienced that first beautiful spring rain- scented, soft, gentle and sparkily.

Third: Thank God for His grace and long-suffering. I wish it wasn't so easy as Christians to get busy with life and almost forget how blessed we are to have salvation. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9

Does the sun shine more brightly when our hearts are glad? Or do we see the same sun out of beautified hearts? Fill your heart with gladness. Shine your glad heart into you life and see once again how beautiful God has made your life. Feel the relief of trusting God with a glad heart.

Have a beautiful day!