Entries Tagged as 'Prayer, Praise and Thoughts'

Judges: Recap

So I’ve finally fished the book of Judges. It was a very good read. Easier than Leviticus and Numbers. Judges truly shows how God’s forgiveness is great. We are so quick to hold grudges against the ones who have hurt us. Especially if that person is close i.e, Husband, Wife, Brother Mother, etc. We are all human. We are born sinners. After reading Judges, I believe I have a better take on forgiveness and will try and be me forgiving.

Judges, finishes with the story of Samson. I’ve heard the story several times growing up. I’ve seen the movie and cartoon. I never knew it was in Judges. Man, poor samson. Well it would take a woman to take down such a strong man. lol.

Reading/Writing Hiatus

I have been to occupied to read the Bible. I have been to occupid to write this blog. Truth be told, I haven’t been to occupied at all. I’ve been lazy, complacecent, and selfish. Yes, I’ve had time to eat, play, live, drink, and be merry. I’ve been able to do these things through God’s grace and I haven’t acknowledged him one bit. Okay, I’ll stop beating myself up now and get back on track.

Tattoos: Right - Wrong - Forgiven - N/A

Growing up, I’ve been called artistic, weird, artsy, etc….  I consider myself somewhat artistic.  I can doodle.  I’m pretty good with computer graphics.  I can used colored and black pencils as well as charcoal.  I was always intrigued by tattoos.  The colors, style, imagery.  I have 4 tattoos now.  I got all four quite some time ago (several years).  One of these tattoos is a dragon and now that image is beginning to bother me.  I’ve been considering covering it up with some type of swirly design (tribal maybe) that has no reference or similarity to any animal/beast (mythical or not).  Are tattoos wrong in the eyes of God.  I haven’t read that passage in the Bible yet but I get the feeling they are.  It might be the fact that my parents always told me they were wrong but I wonder if it was just not to their particular taste.  Even if tattoos are wrong, is it bad to cover an image that you don’t think is “God-like”.  If you were foolish enough to tattoo the word “Satan” on your arm and years later you found God.  Would you be wrong if now, after receiving the Lord’s forgiveness, you chose to cover that satan tattoo with a flower or some other design.  Something I’m pondering.

A Short Prayer

I came across this short prayer on the jesus and I are tight website.  (link posted below).
I thought it was pretty funny but real.  I made some additions to it which are after the ending quote and are in bold.

“Dear Lord,
So far Today, I’ve done all right.
I havent’t Gossiped, I haven’t lost my Temper,
I haven’t been Greedy, Grumpy, nasty, selfish,
or over indulgent. I’m very Thankful for that.
But, in a few minuets, God, I’m going to get out of
bed, and from then on, I’m probably going to need alot
more help… “

I havent sulked yet
I havent lived in the negative
I havent thought of the past

http://www.jesusandiaretight.org/pforum/topicview/2049
http://www.jesusandiaretight.org

Living in the positive

Sounds, good.  But is it easy.  Well that depends on what your going through in life. Example: You just lost a job and your looking for a new one.  Stay positive!  Gets a little difficult after the third week of unemploment. 

Example2: You mom was just diagnosed with cancerous brain tumor and has weeks to live.  Stay positive!  Gets unbearingly difficult in the 4th week of her 5 week projectected life span.

We have all from peers and friends that the “best is yet to come” and that the blessing and fruits of hard labor (sticking it through) will manifest itself sooner than later. I believe that God knows the world we live in is a cesspool of negativity.  If your going through any type of life draining situation it’s easier to find ways to amplify your pain than reduce.  God places people in our path to tell us “keep fighting”,  “the best is yet to come”, “i don’t know, i don’t know, just keep praying” (wink at Pascale).

Having a positive attitude is definitely a choice.  I’ve heard speaking positive words and having a positive outlook on a bad situation promotes and eventually changes your situation around.  Even if that’s a load a crap, doesn’t it just feel better thinking positive?  I think so.  I’m definitely a negative feeling hoarder in that when going through a hard situation I tend to dwell and live in a negative space.  But when I do manage to surface for a positive breath of fresh air, I feel so much better.  I definitely have to make it more of a practice.

I forget to read, man the devil’s a liar

Well I guess we all know that already.  Why is it easier to watch an episode of Lost, go to the gym, visit Publix to buy some dessert or just about anything else than it is to read the Bible for 5-15 minutes.  Maybe I’m the only one with this issue but I truly have to schedule time to read.  Once I get reading, I can go for a good while but just to start.  Another problem is if I try reading to late in the evening I don’t last more than 15 seconds.  I’m in rems corridor before I can get past 1 chapter.  Oh well, I’ll just pray on it.

Tip: If you find yourself slowly getting addicted to Tylenol PM, trying reading the Bible at night.