LADYBUGS

I came across this video from a technology blog I follow. I found it to be very interesting. The question of a built in moral code in every individual and where evil comes from is an age old question. I believe the answer can be found in God’s Word. Every human being is created in the image of God; therefore, they know right from wrong. Every human being is also born with a sin nature. As scientist explore those realities, the science will ultimately lead to the truth.

Click on the link below to watch the episode:
http://www.documentaryz.com/c18-psychology/1670-are-you-good-or-evil/

I just returned from the track where I attempted to walk the curves and “jog” the straights for one mile. On a side note, my inspiration for keeping this painful ordeal up is my niece’s blog.  Back to school was on my mind, and I was trying to visualize what I wanted the students to understand about being a good citizen, both physically and virtually.  I teach 3rd-5th graders, and our theme for this year is WALK of FAME. I am considering creating a video (after a little research on my part) of the requirements to be nominated for Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. I will show images of the sidewalk where the “stars” reside and highlight some of the better know names.  Then I want to show images and video of the requirements for our WALK of FAME. For the computer lab where I teach, they will be :

 
I will highlight people like Mother Theresa, Nick Vujicic, Albert Einstein, and others who exemplify the characteristics that bring about a blessed life. I envision putting stars on the wall outside my lab and naming the wall White Oak Intermediate Boulevard.  Every child will have a star with their footprint instead of hand print on it.  I am hoping it will be a visual reminder (at least while they are at school) of the characteristics they are working to maintain. I played around with the idea of having the wall empty when school starts and then have other students and teachers “nominate” them to go on the wall with a committee that decides when their star is placed on the wall.  I think I prefer having them all start out with their  star on the wall.  I may leave it there, or I may remove their star if they consistently do not exhibit the WALK characteristics, especially in regards to the rules for good Digital Citizenship.  Their star can be re-instated after they complete remediation that corrects the lapse in behavior.

This is what I want my students to recognize as characteristics they want to develop in their own lives: they understand they are a unique individual created for a purpose. That purpose is with a hopeful future in mind. They can not allow the perceived disadvantages and set backs leave them on a path of discouragement and self-loathing.  I was thinking of the phrase: Love your neighbor as you love yourself, and wondering about those people that do not love themselves.  Then I began to realize self-loathing is really just another form of selfishness (or self love). It is simply pride in their lives with a distorted definition.  We use the word love so loosely in our culture. True love is an action, not an emotion. That is why we can say we love someone one minute, and in no time we can not stand them. We are using the emotional term. True love is when we put our own wants and needs aside in order to serve another.

I realized while trying to shovel dirt to level the backyard for a swimming pool just now why I love to do this kind of work. It frees my brain to just reflect and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to me. The Holy Spirit reminded me of something He revealed to me over a year ago that I have not shared with many people. I am hoping it will inspire you to intercede for others. James 5 tells us to pray for one another. Revelation 8 speaks of the prayers of the saints ascending to God with the smoke of the incense. We know that God hears our prayers because His word tells us. I often look at praying as an action I take to affect my circumstances or those of whom I am praying for in the here and now. A few years ago, God changed my perspective on that. There was a young man in my church who had been involved in a terrible car accident a few years before and had serious injuries. The doctors explained they felt like they could repair the extensive internal damage, but it would require him to be in the hospital for 10 months to prepare his body for the surgery. He had a wife and two children at home, but believed this was the course of action God wanted him to take. He went in to the hospital in January. After many, many months of waiting and complications, the time finally came for the doctors to perform the surgery. After two failed attempts and more months of waiting, the surgery was a success. He was scheduled be home by Thanksgiving. A week after the surgery, he unexpectedly died. I did not have a close relationship with this man or his family. I had spoken to him once while taking something to the hospital for him from my Sunday School class. But I had prayed diligently and fervently for him all those months, sometimes fasting before and during his many surgeries. I attended the funeral without really knowing much about the family. It was a very nice tribute to him and his life, but did not bring about an emotional response from me. To my surprise, when I got up to leave and file past the casket, I lost it. I began crying uncontrollably. On the way home, I asked the Lord, “What was that all about?” The Holy Spirit revealed to me that my prayers had tied me to him emotionally. Then the Holy Spirit showed me something that amazed me. This man and I will be great friends in heaven, all because of the prayers offered up on his behalf. WOW! I can build my eternal relationships in heaven even if I never meet those people face to face on earth. When I get to heaven, those people I diligently prayed for will be close personal friends. Think of the implications of that. I just recently met a wonderful young man who intercedes for the women who have been tricked by the enemy into believing they have to make a choice to keep or abort their unborn child. He diligently prays daily for those women. Whatever the decision the mother makes, those children will be close, personal friends of his in heaven. Think of the thousands of relationships he is building through his prayers! Think of how much richer heaven will be for him because of his prayers. I have the same opportunity to build those relationships in the here and now. I pray I don’t neglect it!

I was just talking to my Father about all the tasks I need to complete over this weekend: finish a presentation for the technology conference, write a few blog posts for my technology blog, check out the latest Web 2.0 tools, get the twelve iPods synched and loaded with apps for my students, spend time with my husband and son, go to the grocery store AFTER I plan the menu for the week ( I don’t normally do it in that order)…

I realized as I was thinking through the next two days and talking to God, I bring a lot of stress on myself when I try to think about what others expect and think of me. Sometimes when I get overwhelmed with “preceived expectations”, I find myself getting discouraged. The only thought I have that can bring me out of the discouragement is my hope in Heaven. I allow myself to realize this life is but a vapor. Because my Father loves me and made a way for my sin to be atoned for through the blood of His Son, Jesus, I can look forward to a day when all my stresses will be GONE!

That is when I realized my audience in this life should be….my Father. If I am looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith, the “perceived expectations” will not be a factor in my decisions; therefore, I can not possibly have unmet expectations. My goal for myself will be to follow the advice of Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

I just saw a clip of this year’s Oprah episode where she gave all of her favorite things to the audience members – iPads, and VW beetles! The audience, no doubt, was crazy with delight! Oprah seemed to enjoy the joy she was able to share with them. This was my thought. What if someone in the audience just sat there, never responding to the good news that now they were given these wonderful gifts. When the cameraman noticed their complacency, he gets concerned and asks why they are not excited. The person responds by saying they do not want any of that stuff! Oprah would no doubt be amazed and possibly hurt by their rejection. She must think something is terribly wrong with that person to turn down such a wonderful act of kindness and free gift.

But, how do you think God must feel when we reject the most precious gift of all – restored relationship with Him through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

My main project this summer was to renovate my bathroom. I decided a totally new look was the best way to go. I proceeded to tear out all the built-in cabinets and vanity. Of course, I ran in to some road blocks along the way. A plumber had to be called to replace the shut-off valves for the sink and toilet. The screws holding the shower door to the porcelain were rusted tight and would not budge. With the help of my husband (he is an electrical engineer and did the wiring of the new outlet and light switches AND light fixtures), my mother and brother (they purchased my new toilet AND installed it), and my sister (she gave me the money to purchase a new vanity), the job was finally completed today. I just finished removing the old caulk from the shower and replacing it with new caulk. As I was working on it, a flood of joy came over me when the thought came across my mind that my Dad was proud of me. You see, my Dad could do ANYTHING! He build the house my mother is living in now. He kept my 1966 Ford Convertible Mustang running, taking out the engine and repairing it, then putting it back in. He repaired our garage door about 20 years ago, and said he thought we would have to replace it in a few months. It is still working! My brother, Joe Don, takes after my Dad in that he, too, can do anything.

While I was caulking just now, I pictured my Dad watching me from Heaven and smiling. It brought me great joy. Then the Holy Spirit whispered in my heart, “Why don’t you believe your Heavenly Father is proud of you?” I immediately thought of all my failings… failing to go to church, failing to pray more, failing to read my Bible, failing to tell people that Jesus is the Only Way, Truth, and Life. “How could my Father be proud of that?” I thought. Then the Holy Spirit reminded me that “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 God’s Word tells us that we are the righteousness of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Condemnation comes from our enemy, Satan. In Revelation 12, Satan is described as the one who accuses us before God day and night. But have no fear, for we have an advocate before the Father. His name is Jesus Christ.
1 John 2:1 says My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

I wrote in an earlier post how I was dreading the drive to Oklahoma to attend our 2010 Baylor Reunion, hosted by my former college roommate and her husband. After having returned from an INCREDIBLE weekend, I was thinking about how if I had known how the weekend was going to be (far above and beyond ANYTHING I could have envisioned or imagined), I would have not dreaded the road trip one bit! My husband and I were “on the road” for eight hours on Friday before arriving at the lakehouse around 5 p.m. As I sat on the balcony overlooking the lake and enjoying the beautiful sunset, I commented to Charles (my other Baylor friend) how THIS was a vacation. The weekend consisted of wonderful food and plenty of snacks, a beautiful view of the lake, an adventure on SeaDoos, a relaxing time of floating on the lake, a competitive game of Wii bowling, a tour of the neighborhood on golf carts, a tour of the lake on a large, comfortable boat with great music, and lots, and lots, and LOTS of laughter!! Then I commented to Charles that this is heaven. The food, facilities, recreational vehicles, and all the rest were amazing…but the true wonderfulness of the weekend was the people we were with. I love being with these people! The relationship between and amongst each other is what made the trip. I have not laughed that often or hard in a long, long time.

Now, to my point. God’s Word in Isaiah 64:4 says, “For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! ” If I just knew the reality of how wonderful Heaven is going to be, I would not have the difficulty I encounter with this “road trip” I am on.

I was eating blueberry pancakes with my youngest son this morning, looking out the window and getting really excited about seeing my friends from college this next weekend. It surprised me, because up until now I have been almost dreading it. Not that I don’t want to have a reunion with my college roommates and friends. I love the times we have gotten to be together in the past. We are spread out over two states, and it is very difficult to find the time to all meet. The last “reunion” we all had together must have been 20 years ago! But this reunion is going to require a road trip. A L-O-O-O-N-G road trip! My college roommate has a lake house north of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mike and I will leave early Friday morning to go to Irving and pick up my other college roommate. (two hours on the road). Then we will head north for another six or more hours! As the time approaches for the event to take place, I began to think more and more of the L-O-O-O-N-G car ride. That seemed to be all I could focus on. I was beginning to be filled with dread. For some reason, this morning I was just imagining the fun and fellowship I was going to experience when we arrive Friday evening. That mental picture filled me with joy and anticipation. The dread was TOTALLY GONE!

That got me to thinking. (Or perhaps, more than likely, the Holy Spirit starting speaking to my spirit). That is what I do ALL the time! Most days, I get up and allow my mind to be filled with dread over having to do this or having to do that. I’m focusing on the wrong thing. The Bible tells me that life on this planet is just the road trip. The destination is fellowship with God through His Son Jesus Christ, and fellowship with the other members of God’s family forever and forever and forever. And just like God provides wonderful fellowship even here on this planet, I know the “road trip” is not going to be a dreadful event like I envision.

Yes, it is that time of year again.  Vacation Bible School is one of the highlights of my year! I can remember vividly VBS when I was a youngster…even before I became a Christian, I can still remember that “feeling” I would get when we said the pledges to the United States flag, the Christian flag, and especially the Bible.  We would sing, “The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for me, I’m standing firm on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E, BIBLE! I realize now it was the Holy Spirit dealing with me even then.  This year, East Mountain Baptist Church chose to round up questions and drive home answers with Lifeway’s Saddle Ridge Ranch.  Here is what we learned:

Day 1- Who Am I? I am God’s greatest creation. Psalm 139:14 “I will praise you, because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works, and my soul knows that full well.

The 4th-6th graders watched this video to drive home the point:

Day 2-Does God Care About Me? 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.”
This is the video for that lesson:

Day 3- What Is God’s Plan For Me? Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Here is the video for the story of Zaccheus:

Day 4- How Can I Be Like Jesus? Philippians 2:5 “Let this attitude be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” The video is the trailer for Evan Almighty. We discussed how Jesus told us to take His yoke upon ourselves, because his yoke is easy and His burden is light. In other words, being like Jesus is not suppose to be hard. We simply need to hear and OBEY!

Day 5- What Do I Do Now? James 1:5 “If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
We watched a portion of Beth Moore’s speech given in 1992 to the ladies at Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin, Texas where she describes a situation where God demonstrated to her He gives all the grace we need to make in through each day.

It is such a blessing to be a part of the family of God, where everyone works together demonstrating God’s love through the use of the gifts He has given us. Below is the Animoto of our time together this week.

“NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US”

Ephesians 3:20

image found at http://diannemalone.com/blog/?p=1108

Now you may be saying, “Hey, aren’t you a technology teacher? Surely you know that you should never type in all CAPS unless you want people reading your post to picture you YELLING!” Yes, I know.  That is exactly the picture I want you to have. I am screaming at the top of my lungs to anyone who would be willing to listen.  God is able, God is able, God is able.

I’m sitting at my kitchen table having just laid down my Bible. I was listening to Job on my iPod as explained by one of my favorite Bible teachers, Jon Courson. I received a phone call from my 22 year old daughter from Mississippi. She is downtown Jackson with her fiance where there is a tent revival going on.  God met with her last night in a way she has not ever experienced before. I wish you could have heard the tone in her voice! It made me reflect on how God has shown Himself mighty in my childrens’ lives, and I am so grateful as I type this, I am in tears.

I so needed Ephesians 3:20 as a reminder to me this past week. I have had these little annoyances, and have been consumed by these small worries regarding my childrens’ lives and finances.  You see, Amber is getting married to a wonderful man of God in November and will be moving to Jackson. They need a place to live, and no obvious way to provide that place.  My son who is now living in Brandon (outside of Jackson) will be out of his duplex next month with no obvious place to go or the means to provide for a place. Then both of their cars are going in the shop for repairs. I get so overwhelmed (distracted) with life’s issues so easily.

Jim and I were listening to Jon Courson preach on Job the other day as we cleaned out the gargage. Jon Courson was talking about the amount of money Michael Jordan makes in a year’s time.  He broke it down by hour and minute, and it was insane the amount of money he makes.  But then, he compared Michael Jordan’s salary to that of Bill Gates, and it was incomprehensible!

This morning as I was driving back from spending the night at my in-laws, I was thinking for some reason about Bill Gates and his financial situation.  I tried to envision what his relationship with his wife was like.  Then I remember…he has a daughter…doesn’t he?  I got to thinking about the prospect of his daughter living her life without knowing how much money her dad has. What would that be like? It was in that moment the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “Nina, that is exactly how you are! I own the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:10) I spoke this world into existance! I own it ALL, and you are bothered, worried, anxious about Me providing your children a place to live or a car to drive!

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the precious reminder that YOU ARE ABLE.  But the last part of that verse cannot be ignored.  He is able according to the power that works within us.  What is that power?  It is the power of the Holy Spirit to move in my heart and mind and show me the truth about my circumstances.  I get so distracted by life’s issues because I am prone to believe my enemy’s lies. The Holy Spirit was placed in my life when I trusted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior to be my comforter, guide, AND teacher of the truth.

You will never get to the place in your life where you can rest assured that GOD IS ABLE until you have seen the truth about your situation.  You are a sinner. (Romans 3:23) The penalty of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) God loved you so much, He did not want you to have to die in your sin and be separated from Him. (Romans 5:8) God sent His one and only Son to take your place and pay your penalty. (John 3:16) If you will confess (agree with God that truth is truth) with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved and the Holy Spirit will be given to you to teach you truth. (Romans 10:9-10)

My prayer for myself and you is that we would see our circumstances in the light of the truth of God’s Word.

GOD IS ABLE, GOD IS ABLE, GOD IS ABLE!!!