S: Esther 4:16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I am my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
O: Though it did take Mordecai to prompt the young Queen Esther, she willing said she would possibly sacrifice herself for her people. She was willing to go in front of the king without permission in hopes that she could bring the promised destruction to an end.
A: I want to give myself up to God wholly, and unconditionally. I find it hard to so such in the world we live in. We are such a “flesh” people, always with strings. We need to stop holding on to the world, because nothing in the world is promised to us, and nothing will come with us once we die.
P: Dear God, help me to cut the strings that I hold here on Earth. Help me to see that you promised us grace in heaven, and help us accept that without prompting. I want to be able to make time for you, Lord, without the thoughts of all the chores to be done. Help me to empty myself of the worldly things.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Esther 3
S: Esther 3:9
“If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.”
O: Haman was a sneaky man, who took advantage of the king’s greed. He told the king about a “people” who was not following the king’s rule, and offered 10, 000 talents to the king for permission to destroy the people. The king didn’t ask about the people, didn’t ask any details. He just wanted the money so he agreed to Haman’s offer.
A: How many times in a week or much less, a day, do we take people at their word instead of gathering our own information about the source? How many times do we get blinded but money or promises of goodness and ignore the bigger picture?
P: Dear Lord, I pray that you help me to open my eyes to the big picture. Do not let me get blindsided by money or evil promises of good. Please help me to always seek the truth.
“If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business, that they may put it into the king’s treasuries.”
O: Haman was a sneaky man, who took advantage of the king’s greed. He told the king about a “people” who was not following the king’s rule, and offered 10, 000 talents to the king for permission to destroy the people. The king didn’t ask about the people, didn’t ask any details. He just wanted the money so he agreed to Haman’s offer.
A: How many times in a week or much less, a day, do we take people at their word instead of gathering our own information about the source? How many times do we get blinded but money or promises of goodness and ignore the bigger picture?
P: Dear Lord, I pray that you help me to open my eyes to the big picture. Do not let me get blindsided by money or evil promises of good. Please help me to always seek the truth.
Esther 2
S: Esther 2:20 (NABRE)
"Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him."
O: this obedience meant a lot to Esther and Mordecai. If Esther was not obedient, and let it be known who her people were, she and her whole family could have been killed.
A: Her obedience to her uncle is just as obedience to a parent should be. Just as out obedience to God should be. I want to be obedient to God that way. I know I need to work on that.
P: Dear God, I want to be obedient to you as Esther was. I want to be patient and listen and understand what obedience means. I want to follow your will immediately each day. Open my heart to the possibilities. Amen.
"Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him."
O: this obedience meant a lot to Esther and Mordecai. If Esther was not obedient, and let it be known who her people were, she and her whole family could have been killed.
A: Her obedience to her uncle is just as obedience to a parent should be. Just as out obedience to God should be. I want to be obedient to God that way. I know I need to work on that.
P: Dear God, I want to be obedient to you as Esther was. I want to be patient and listen and understand what obedience means. I want to follow your will immediately each day. Open my heart to the possibilities. Amen.
Esther 1
So again, this is my bible study following with a Good Morning Girls group fronm the Women Living Well website. We are using the SOAP method to record our notes from the passages. Here are mine from the first four days
Scripture
Esther 1:20 (New American Bible) Thus when the decree that the King will issue is published throughout the realm, vast as it is, all wives will honor their husbands, from the greatest to the least."
observation/ application:
Queen Vashti deliberately disrespected her husbands wishes. He wanted to show his people his beautiful wife, but she didn't want to go. We are called in several places in the bible to respect our husbands as the head of household. Regardless of who is the breadwinner, regardless of whether we think they deserve our husbands deserve our respect. Why? Because regardless of our sins, God still loves and respects us.
Prayer:
Dear God, soften my heart so that I may show respect to my husband as you would. Help me not to hold any faults of his against him. I want to respect him as your Church respect you.
*************************************************
For some reason my computer is giving trouble about posting all on one post, so i will have to make separate posts. Sorry
Scripture
Esther 1:20 (New American Bible) Thus when the decree that the King will issue is published throughout the realm, vast as it is, all wives will honor their husbands, from the greatest to the least."
observation/ application:
Queen Vashti deliberately disrespected her husbands wishes. He wanted to show his people his beautiful wife, but she didn't want to go. We are called in several places in the bible to respect our husbands as the head of household. Regardless of who is the breadwinner, regardless of whether we think they deserve our husbands deserve our respect. Why? Because regardless of our sins, God still loves and respects us.
Prayer:
Dear God, soften my heart so that I may show respect to my husband as you would. Help me not to hold any faults of his against him. I want to respect him as your Church respect you.
*************************************************
For some reason my computer is giving trouble about posting all on one post, so i will have to make separate posts. Sorry
Way too long!
Oh my, it has been way too long since my last post. It's funny (and kinda sad) how life gets in the way of little things we want to do. Here is a quick update of the family:
Jeanne started preschool! We'll, technically she started in the preschool room with preschool curriculum at her daycare. The preschool she was going to go to at the public school she will attend next year was closed because of the amount of people moving to this area to get their kids in the k-5 classes. No biggie. She is doing great!
Hunter is almost 11 months. It is so hard watching him grow, but so amazing at the same time. He is pulling up and walking along furniture. He is sting almost the same things we are eating at the dinner table. He has even more hair. I am not planning on cutting it until a year, and people love to give their opinions on that. Yes he may look girly, but I promise if you listen to his (already) deep voice, he isn't.
My husband and I are doing well here in Little Rock. We both still enjoy our jobs, but enjoy being at home with the kids in the evening more. I am so proud of how hard my husband works to keep our family fed.
I started doing two bible studies. One is reading Proverbs 31, and focusing on one verse each day, trying to see how I a can be more like the mysterious Proverbs 31 woman. The other is with the Women Living Well ladies. I shod have started posting here too, and I will today so you can be my accountability partners also :) I will do days 1-4 in another blog so this one doesn't get too lengthy.
Happy reading!
Jeanne started preschool! We'll, technically she started in the preschool room with preschool curriculum at her daycare. The preschool she was going to go to at the public school she will attend next year was closed because of the amount of people moving to this area to get their kids in the k-5 classes. No biggie. She is doing great!
Hunter is almost 11 months. It is so hard watching him grow, but so amazing at the same time. He is pulling up and walking along furniture. He is sting almost the same things we are eating at the dinner table. He has even more hair. I am not planning on cutting it until a year, and people love to give their opinions on that. Yes he may look girly, but I promise if you listen to his (already) deep voice, he isn't.
My husband and I are doing well here in Little Rock. We both still enjoy our jobs, but enjoy being at home with the kids in the evening more. I am so proud of how hard my husband works to keep our family fed.
I started doing two bible studies. One is reading Proverbs 31, and focusing on one verse each day, trying to see how I a can be more like the mysterious Proverbs 31 woman. The other is with the Women Living Well ladies. I shod have started posting here too, and I will today so you can be my accountability partners also :) I will do days 1-4 in another blog so this one doesn't get too lengthy.
Happy reading!
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Asbestos Awareness
Asbestos.
Asbestosis.
Mesothelioma.
You have heard the words. You may have seen the commercials. But do you really know about asbestos? Asbestos was a popular mineral used in manufacturing and construction because of its sound absorption, its strength, resistance to fire, and because it was cheap. It was a great insulator in buildings and electrical work. It was used in ship yards, textiles, houses, buildings, schools, etc.
By the end of the 19th century, people started noticing ailments associated with the use and exposure to asbestos. in the 1920's, asbestosis was described in literature and by 1950's, a study was published linking asbestos to cancer.
Let's get scientific here. Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by prolong exposure to asbestos fibers. An occupational hazard to put it mildly. The fibers get trapped in the lungs and the tissue scars over it, thickening up the chest wall. The scarring makes it difficult to breathe and for oxygen to properly get into the blood. There is no cure for asbestosis. Doctors can help you manage your symptoms.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer (Yes, CANCER) that develops from cells of the mesothelium, or the protective lining in the body covering most of the organs. The most common site is in the pleura, which is the outer lining of the lungs. It can also happen in the lining of the abdominal cavity, the sac around the heart, or the sac that surrounds mens' testis. Mesothelioma can develop from exposure to ONE FIBER OF ASBESTOS. Symptoms may not appear for 20 to 50 years after exposure. That is a very scary thing! So the cancer may have been developing for years before you know it, and the cancer may be aggressive before it is diagnosed, making for a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis is more favorable, but even then, prognosis may be 5 years at best.
My uncle passed away from mesothelioma. My aunt watched as the cancer ravaged his body. At the end, he was hardly able to walk or talk. It was such a sad sight. No body should have to die like this. No one should have to watch their loved one go out like this.
Many veterans today are dealing with exposure to asbestos. Families of men and women who worked with asbestos were also exposed. The workers would come home with asbestos fibers on their clothing, children played with mom or dad, or all the clothes were washed together. Fibers were transferred, thus potentially exposing everyone in the house.
If you live in a house built before 1978 or if your kids go to school in a building built before 1978, there is a great chance it has asbestos in it. HOWEVER, that does not mean you have been exposed. As long as the asbestos is in tact, not messed with, etc, the fibers do not get out. Regulations are in place for abatement (removal of) of asbestos in schools when needed and where warranted. I worked with regulations and monitoring of asbestos removal in Louisiana for four years. Areas are sealed off, the material is kept wet or encapsulated so fibers can not escape, air monitoring is conducted before, during and after, and the waste was double bagged and properly hauled off. It is very important to know if your house had asbestos in it before you begin remodeling. General contractors can not remove asbestos. Only properly trained companies can do this.
Federal regulations for use of, exposure to, and handling asbestos did not begin until the 1970's. So anyone who worked with it prior to had exposure. Asbestos is still not completely banned in the United States. There are many regulations on what can and can not be used, but it is still allowed in some instances. Visit the EPA's website to learn more.
Let's back off of the scary now, ok? How about a survival story? Heather is a survivor of mesothelioma. Visit her site to learn her story. Share her story. Asbestos Awareness Week is April 1-7. Pass on the information. The only way to be prepared, to prevent exposure, is to be educated. The website http://www.mesothelioma.com/ is a great place to start looking at information on mesothelioma, asbestos, exposure, etc.
Asbestosis.
Mesothelioma.
You have heard the words. You may have seen the commercials. But do you really know about asbestos? Asbestos was a popular mineral used in manufacturing and construction because of its sound absorption, its strength, resistance to fire, and because it was cheap. It was a great insulator in buildings and electrical work. It was used in ship yards, textiles, houses, buildings, schools, etc.
By the end of the 19th century, people started noticing ailments associated with the use and exposure to asbestos. in the 1920's, asbestosis was described in literature and by 1950's, a study was published linking asbestos to cancer.
Let's get scientific here. Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by prolong exposure to asbestos fibers. An occupational hazard to put it mildly. The fibers get trapped in the lungs and the tissue scars over it, thickening up the chest wall. The scarring makes it difficult to breathe and for oxygen to properly get into the blood. There is no cure for asbestosis. Doctors can help you manage your symptoms.Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer (Yes, CANCER) that develops from cells of the mesothelium, or the protective lining in the body covering most of the organs. The most common site is in the pleura, which is the outer lining of the lungs. It can also happen in the lining of the abdominal cavity, the sac around the heart, or the sac that surrounds mens' testis. Mesothelioma can develop from exposure to ONE FIBER OF ASBESTOS. Symptoms may not appear for 20 to 50 years after exposure. That is a very scary thing! So the cancer may have been developing for years before you know it, and the cancer may be aggressive before it is diagnosed, making for a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis is more favorable, but even then, prognosis may be 5 years at best.
My uncle passed away from mesothelioma. My aunt watched as the cancer ravaged his body. At the end, he was hardly able to walk or talk. It was such a sad sight. No body should have to die like this. No one should have to watch their loved one go out like this.
Many veterans today are dealing with exposure to asbestos. Families of men and women who worked with asbestos were also exposed. The workers would come home with asbestos fibers on their clothing, children played with mom or dad, or all the clothes were washed together. Fibers were transferred, thus potentially exposing everyone in the house.
If you live in a house built before 1978 or if your kids go to school in a building built before 1978, there is a great chance it has asbestos in it. HOWEVER, that does not mean you have been exposed. As long as the asbestos is in tact, not messed with, etc, the fibers do not get out. Regulations are in place for abatement (removal of) of asbestos in schools when needed and where warranted. I worked with regulations and monitoring of asbestos removal in Louisiana for four years. Areas are sealed off, the material is kept wet or encapsulated so fibers can not escape, air monitoring is conducted before, during and after, and the waste was double bagged and properly hauled off. It is very important to know if your house had asbestos in it before you begin remodeling. General contractors can not remove asbestos. Only properly trained companies can do this.
Federal regulations for use of, exposure to, and handling asbestos did not begin until the 1970's. So anyone who worked with it prior to had exposure. Asbestos is still not completely banned in the United States. There are many regulations on what can and can not be used, but it is still allowed in some instances. Visit the EPA's website to learn more.
Let's back off of the scary now, ok? How about a survival story? Heather is a survivor of mesothelioma. Visit her site to learn her story. Share her story. Asbestos Awareness Week is April 1-7. Pass on the information. The only way to be prepared, to prevent exposure, is to be educated. The website http://www.mesothelioma.com/ is a great place to start looking at information on mesothelioma, asbestos, exposure, etc.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Valentine's Day
With all the brouhaha going on today, all the girls gushing over gifts from their guys, flowers, candy, dates, etc, I sit here and smile. My husband is not one of those poor fellows struggling to decide how to impress his girl, how to surprise her, how to surpass last year, how to beat the crowd to the last bouquet of flowers because he waited until the last minute…
Years ago, maybe. But now that I am married, older, maybe wiser, I think that I would be more offended to receive flowers on Valentine’s day just because everyone else is doing it. I would rather him show me love every day. Or get me a token on any given Wednesday just because. Though, I don’t need a token, card, flower, candy to prove his love for me. They are nice things and appreciated surprises when they happen throughout the year.
I don’t see why women insist their guy give them something on this day. Like it is owed to them. Why should you receive something on one specific day? How about a small gift after you tell your husband you are carrying his child, or better yet, after you deliver that child. Or maybe something when your first child starts school. Or other accomplishments. Or how about just because it is any given day that your guy wants to remind you he is totally, completely in love with you. Why do we celebrate one day a year to parade our love around in a show-off way?
No, this is not coming from a woman scorned or sore because I didn’t receive anything. My husband did give me a bouquet of dark chocolate bars. Even though I definitely appreciate them, and appreciate the gesture, I told him he didn’t have to do it. Then he laughed and said “That’s why I gave them to you on Wednesday (Feb 11).” Smart man.
We don’t really know much about the saint we are supposed to be celebrating on Valentine’s day. Not much is known about Saint Valentine. There are two historical stories that are similar, but different, about this Saint. One is said that he was imprisoned for helping and marrying Christian couples when it was a crime. So I can comprehend the connection of the celebration of love with Saint Valentine. I don’t know. I am just over the big balloons, stuffed animals, over-priced flowers. I will be stopping by the store to pick up some chocolate because I am a girl who likes chocolate. It is good for the soul.
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