Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
praying for one another
sunday night and monday night were my last small group and my last bsf for the summer. both were marked by the typical end of the session looking back and sharing. interestingly enough, even though both had different themes (1 corinthians and john, respectively) both nights really ended up focusing/reflecting on prayer and praying for one another.
every sunday evening in my small group we have the opportunity to share our requests with the and someone is picked at random to pray for each request. however, we do not serve a random God. i am amazed at how many times the person praying ends up being in a very similar situation to the one they're praying for or just has the perfect words of comfort to share. what a blessing to be able to bring your requests to some of your closes friends and let them share the burden of life with you. a while back i was driving and freaking out about something and right then called my friend rachel who prayed for me over the phone. instantly, i felt better. we do not do this often enough. as christians, praying for one another, sharing burdens, comforting one another is something we are told to do, but it is also something we should count as a privilege. how blessed i am to have such an amazing group of friends to laugh with to cry with and to just share life with.
monday evenings are done a little differently. we share our requests throughout the week with our leader who then shares them with the group monday nights and we're responsible for praying for the list throughout the week. how great it is to know that people are praying for you all week. i was looking back on the 33 weeks of bsf and realized that my prayer request the first week was to be able to make it on time on monday nights. if you remember, when bsf started i was working on the mainframe project and catching the 5:25 train into work in the mornings and the 7:20 train home most nights. i was worried that i would not be able to keep my commitment to bsf. however, looking back, there was not a single monday where i had to miss class because of work. that is the power of prayer. most women had very similar stories of answered prayers throughout the year. God doesn't care how simple or how seemingly small our requests are. he wants us to bring everything before him. look back at the book of john. in addition to the miracles such as raising lazarus from the dead, jesus is also the king of the incredibly simple. mary asked for wine. the disciples got fish. jesus provided the basics. he loves giving us things. all we have to do is ask. i know i'm one of those people who often thinks my prayer requests aren't important enough to get mentioned. however, as my friend jamie pointed out, why not? why not let fifteen women pray for me throughout the week for whatever it may be, even if it is just a free schedule on monday nights?
anyways... i guess my point is: pray for one another. find out your friends' burdens and bring them before the Lord. There is power in prayer and nothing is too big or too small for our God.
every sunday evening in my small group we have the opportunity to share our requests with the and someone is picked at random to pray for each request. however, we do not serve a random God. i am amazed at how many times the person praying ends up being in a very similar situation to the one they're praying for or just has the perfect words of comfort to share. what a blessing to be able to bring your requests to some of your closes friends and let them share the burden of life with you. a while back i was driving and freaking out about something and right then called my friend rachel who prayed for me over the phone. instantly, i felt better. we do not do this often enough. as christians, praying for one another, sharing burdens, comforting one another is something we are told to do, but it is also something we should count as a privilege. how blessed i am to have such an amazing group of friends to laugh with to cry with and to just share life with.
monday evenings are done a little differently. we share our requests throughout the week with our leader who then shares them with the group monday nights and we're responsible for praying for the list throughout the week. how great it is to know that people are praying for you all week. i was looking back on the 33 weeks of bsf and realized that my prayer request the first week was to be able to make it on time on monday nights. if you remember, when bsf started i was working on the mainframe project and catching the 5:25 train into work in the mornings and the 7:20 train home most nights. i was worried that i would not be able to keep my commitment to bsf. however, looking back, there was not a single monday where i had to miss class because of work. that is the power of prayer. most women had very similar stories of answered prayers throughout the year. God doesn't care how simple or how seemingly small our requests are. he wants us to bring everything before him. look back at the book of john. in addition to the miracles such as raising lazarus from the dead, jesus is also the king of the incredibly simple. mary asked for wine. the disciples got fish. jesus provided the basics. he loves giving us things. all we have to do is ask. i know i'm one of those people who often thinks my prayer requests aren't important enough to get mentioned. however, as my friend jamie pointed out, why not? why not let fifteen women pray for me throughout the week for whatever it may be, even if it is just a free schedule on monday nights?
anyways... i guess my point is: pray for one another. find out your friends' burdens and bring them before the Lord. There is power in prayer and nothing is too big or too small for our God.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
i love these girls
video rocker + frosty blanket = perfect seat for a movie
(aren't they cute when they're acting sweet?)
(aren't they cute when they're acting sweet?)
Sunday, May 9, 2010
story time with amanda
Today I was really hit hard by God. It wasn’t the greatest feeling in the world (the sword of conviction is painful), and mostly it made me want to scream, “Okay, God, I get it. Point made.” But it did make me appreciate an amazing God who has amazing love, kindness, and patience for pathetic sinners such as me. So, I thought I’d share. Here is the story:
For the last few months I have been training for a half marathon. All of the running and working out has become a constant in my life. If I miss a workout in the mornings I am usually disappointed and slightly antsy.
Today I was jogging along listening to my mp3 player when the Holy Spirit said, “do you put as much time and effort into studying God’s word as you do running?” Instantly, my response was, “but I listen to Christian music (sometimes) when I run. And I pray (sometimes) while I run.” To which the response I got was, “that’s not the same and you know it; it’s just a lousy justification.” I then put the conversation in the back of my mind, slightly ignoring it, and finished my run.
This evening at small group I was scanning for a passage in my Bible and happened to come across 1 Timothy 4:8 “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
I just started laughing to myself. God just does not give up! I try to disregard him once, so He comes back for round two...so this time, instead of paying no attention, I decided to dwell on it for a moment (I don’t want to know what round three would entail)...
Am I training to be godly? What kind of person would I be if I spent as much time obsessing over God’s word as I did obsessing over my speed? I would then truly be a woman after God’s own heart. What if I spent as much time fulfilling God’s plan for my life as I do putting in mileage? Could I light the world on fire?
No, running in and of itself is not a bad thing. But, I need to be careful not to make it an idol and put it before God.
I am so thankful for a God whose perfect love does not depend on my faith being perfect.
Moral of the story: God doesn’t tell us what we want to hear, He tells us what we need to hear. Are you listening?
For the last few months I have been training for a half marathon. All of the running and working out has become a constant in my life. If I miss a workout in the mornings I am usually disappointed and slightly antsy.
Today I was jogging along listening to my mp3 player when the Holy Spirit said, “do you put as much time and effort into studying God’s word as you do running?” Instantly, my response was, “but I listen to Christian music (sometimes) when I run. And I pray (sometimes) while I run.” To which the response I got was, “that’s not the same and you know it; it’s just a lousy justification.” I then put the conversation in the back of my mind, slightly ignoring it, and finished my run.
This evening at small group I was scanning for a passage in my Bible and happened to come across 1 Timothy 4:8 “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
I just started laughing to myself. God just does not give up! I try to disregard him once, so He comes back for round two...so this time, instead of paying no attention, I decided to dwell on it for a moment (I don’t want to know what round three would entail)...
Am I training to be godly? What kind of person would I be if I spent as much time obsessing over God’s word as I did obsessing over my speed? I would then truly be a woman after God’s own heart. What if I spent as much time fulfilling God’s plan for my life as I do putting in mileage? Could I light the world on fire?
No, running in and of itself is not a bad thing. But, I need to be careful not to make it an idol and put it before God.
I am so thankful for a God whose perfect love does not depend on my faith being perfect.
Moral of the story: God doesn’t tell us what we want to hear, He tells us what we need to hear. Are you listening?
Sunday, March 28, 2010
what i'm eating now...
this is a totally random post and you probably don't care, but food and the discussion of it has consumed my life lately (mostly because my friend, trupti, is in cooking school and making all sorts of fun and fancy things).
anyway, since cooking for one is mostly depressing and completely non-motivating, i've been keeping my food choices fairly simply and aiming for mostly healthy.
Breakfast choices* (i eat after i shower while i get ready for work so it must be fast, simple, and filling):
1. plain chobani greek yogurt with fiber one cereal, honey, and wheat germ
2. protein shake consisting of strawberries, almond milk, protein, flax seed, and wheat germ
3. oatmeal with honey and cinnamon (except for this weekend when i ate it with a mix of melted chocolate chips and peanut butter and it was delicious)
*note: i eat a banana pre-workout and most often either post workout or once i get to work so two bananas is usually part of my breakfast
lunch choices (packing a lunch is almost as bad as having to pick out an outfit- two things idespise doing and must do the night before work or my mornings are miserable):
1. turkey with jalapeno hummmus (i'm seriously obsessed with sabra jalapeno hummus- LOVE it), carrots, heart to heart crackers, baby bell cheese, apple
2. brown rice with either green giant vegetables or a light campbell soup
snack choices:
1. clementines
2. smuckers uncrustables pbj
3. kellogs fiber plus antioxidants or fiber one granola bar
4. almonds
dinner choices:
1. brown rice and black beans with added spices and onions
2. tilapia smothered with peppers, mushroom, onion, cheese (and avocado if i have any)
3. sweet potatoe topped with cheese
4. recently added: boca burger
dessert choices:
1. peanut butter delight (mix of fat free ricotta cheese and pb)
2. danon light and fit yogurt
3. banana "ice cream"- frozen banana, peanut butter, and honey mixed in a food processor
so, there you go, my basic foods are simple and straight forward. i do have more options in my life than this, but these are my default choices of the moment. i do more cooking on weekends when i'm not walking in the door after an hour commute and have some more time and motivation.
by the way, i am well aware of the fact that i eat a lot of food. and i'm aware that there is a lack of greens on the list- i love spinach but don't like buying it because it tends to go bad before i can eat it all and i love asparagus but never think about it
anyway, since cooking for one is mostly depressing and completely non-motivating, i've been keeping my food choices fairly simply and aiming for mostly healthy.
Breakfast choices* (i eat after i shower while i get ready for work so it must be fast, simple, and filling):
1. plain chobani greek yogurt with fiber one cereal, honey, and wheat germ
2. protein shake consisting of strawberries, almond milk, protein, flax seed, and wheat germ
3. oatmeal with honey and cinnamon (except for this weekend when i ate it with a mix of melted chocolate chips and peanut butter and it was delicious)
*note: i eat a banana pre-workout and most often either post workout or once i get to work so two bananas is usually part of my breakfast
lunch choices (packing a lunch is almost as bad as having to pick out an outfit- two things idespise doing and must do the night before work or my mornings are miserable):
1. turkey with jalapeno hummmus (i'm seriously obsessed with sabra jalapeno hummus- LOVE it), carrots, heart to heart crackers, baby bell cheese, apple
2. brown rice with either green giant vegetables or a light campbell soup
snack choices:
1. clementines
2. smuckers uncrustables pbj
3. kellogs fiber plus antioxidants or fiber one granola bar
4. almonds
dinner choices:
1. brown rice and black beans with added spices and onions
2. tilapia smothered with peppers, mushroom, onion, cheese (and avocado if i have any)
3. sweet potatoe topped with cheese
4. recently added: boca burger
dessert choices:
1. peanut butter delight (mix of fat free ricotta cheese and pb)
2. danon light and fit yogurt
3. banana "ice cream"- frozen banana, peanut butter, and honey mixed in a food processor
so, there you go, my basic foods are simple and straight forward. i do have more options in my life than this, but these are my default choices of the moment. i do more cooking on weekends when i'm not walking in the door after an hour commute and have some more time and motivation.
by the way, i am well aware of the fact that i eat a lot of food. and i'm aware that there is a lack of greens on the list- i love spinach but don't like buying it because it tends to go bad before i can eat it all and i love asparagus but never think about it
Saturday, March 13, 2010
i promise i'm not opinionated
but, for the sake of everyone's sanity, i came up with a few guidelines for the gym:
Please wear appropriate attire:
• a bra is required. this is NOT OPTIONAL- even if your top comes with a shelf bra and especially when it doesn't
• a shirt is required
• shorts that cover your butt cheeks are required
• jeans, polos, and flip-flops are not okay
• cowl-neck cashmere sweaters and oversized jewelry are not okay
There is such a thing as too slow:
• If you can play your Nintendo DS while walking on the treadmill, you’re going too slow. Or if you can talk on your cell phone the entire time
• If you are on level one of the elliptical and only going 2.0 miles per hour, you are going too slow
• If you’re on the bike and going negative miles per hour you might as well go home
• Less than five minutes spent on a machine provided you no benefits
Things I should not see while at the gym:
• Lifting your shirt to rub your stomach in the mirror
• TMZ or the history channel
• Children running around wildly
Other notes:
• Strong odors are offensive.
• Not working out is not okay- if you are just going to bounce up and down on the yoga ball and take pictures of yourself with your legs in the air then go home
• When a boy glances at the treadmill of the girl next to him, increases his speed to match hers, and then ends up falling off the back, it is hilarious
*side note: i have moved my workouts to the morning and have found it a lot less frustrating. i just need to start going to bed earlier to make up for losing sleep in the morning.
speaking of frustration: i may never be allowed to shop at target again... last week i bought and returned four pairs of headphones. i'm not picky, i just don't want ones that fall out of my ears or are uncomfortable. and, to make matters worse, i spent tuesday night adding a ton of music to my mp3 player and on wednesday morning it died after half a song. luckily, best buy took it back (i just bought it in november) and they had a pair of headphones megan recommended that actually work. so, after fours days of irritation i have a working mp3 player and headphones that don't fall out of my ears.
random side note #2: if carolyn sends me the pictures she took when we went skiing i'll post them, but don't hold your breath.
my day today was so impressive i think it deserves some recognition:
• Got up at six and worked out
• Took a nap from nine to eleven
• Made beef taco nuggets for lunch then cleaned my apartment
• Took a nap from three to four thirty
• Worked on my BSF and made snickerdoodles
• Now I’m about to prepare a Sunday School lesson for tomorrow (gotta love last minute notification) and then GO TO BED!
Please wear appropriate attire:
• a bra is required. this is NOT OPTIONAL- even if your top comes with a shelf bra and especially when it doesn't
• a shirt is required
• shorts that cover your butt cheeks are required
• jeans, polos, and flip-flops are not okay
• cowl-neck cashmere sweaters and oversized jewelry are not okay
There is such a thing as too slow:
• If you can play your Nintendo DS while walking on the treadmill, you’re going too slow. Or if you can talk on your cell phone the entire time
• If you are on level one of the elliptical and only going 2.0 miles per hour, you are going too slow
• If you’re on the bike and going negative miles per hour you might as well go home
• Less than five minutes spent on a machine provided you no benefits
Things I should not see while at the gym:
• Lifting your shirt to rub your stomach in the mirror
• TMZ or the history channel
• Children running around wildly
Other notes:
• Strong odors are offensive.
• Not working out is not okay- if you are just going to bounce up and down on the yoga ball and take pictures of yourself with your legs in the air then go home
• When a boy glances at the treadmill of the girl next to him, increases his speed to match hers, and then ends up falling off the back, it is hilarious
*side note: i have moved my workouts to the morning and have found it a lot less frustrating. i just need to start going to bed earlier to make up for losing sleep in the morning.
speaking of frustration: i may never be allowed to shop at target again... last week i bought and returned four pairs of headphones. i'm not picky, i just don't want ones that fall out of my ears or are uncomfortable. and, to make matters worse, i spent tuesday night adding a ton of music to my mp3 player and on wednesday morning it died after half a song. luckily, best buy took it back (i just bought it in november) and they had a pair of headphones megan recommended that actually work. so, after fours days of irritation i have a working mp3 player and headphones that don't fall out of my ears.
random side note #2: if carolyn sends me the pictures she took when we went skiing i'll post them, but don't hold your breath.
my day today was so impressive i think it deserves some recognition:
• Got up at six and worked out
• Took a nap from nine to eleven
• Made beef taco nuggets for lunch then cleaned my apartment
• Took a nap from three to four thirty
• Worked on my BSF and made snickerdoodles
• Now I’m about to prepare a Sunday School lesson for tomorrow (gotta love last minute notification) and then GO TO BED!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Thank you, Smitten Kitchen, for the best brownies I've ever made:
http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/01/best-cocoa-brownies/#more-5631
I may never make boxed brownies again.
What makes this recipe so perfect?
1. it has everyday ingredients
2. it took just the right amount of time (long enough that i got to feel like i used my kitchen but no so long that i got impatient)
3. they are absolutely delicious
http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/01/best-cocoa-brownies/#more-5631
I may never make boxed brownies again.
What makes this recipe so perfect?
1. it has everyday ingredients
2. it took just the right amount of time (long enough that i got to feel like i used my kitchen but no so long that i got impatient)
3. they are absolutely delicious
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