"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"

so.  h-hm.  mm-k.  good title, eh? 
well, here we go.  along with what i posted last night in titus, this section has been tearing on my heart lately.  titus 3:1-5ish.(niv)  "remind the people... to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.  at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.  we lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  but when the kindness and love of god our savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."  i emphasized the peace-keeping part of this last night.  tonight i want to emphasize the teaching of us all having imperfections in our past and not to think that if we're in an upswing currently, it's ok to slander those that are in their downswing. 
sometimes it is so easy to find faults in others.  it's kinda satisfying.  it kinda makes us feel better to know that there are others that are worse off than we are.  or maybe it helps us dislike them like we always wanted to.  maybe there are those type of people that you just don't feel right about... there's always something that you think isn't right... and then you find out something that just confirms your suspicion.  it's like an ah-ha!  i was right.  they are sinful.  well, you know what?  so are you.  we all are.  what that person needs isn't an "i told you so" or that sort of treatment.  what that person needs isn't a lecture on how to correct their behavior.  what that person needs isn't a cold shoulder or anything of that nature.  love.  that's what he needs. 
i think that "show true humility toward all men" would be reaffirming jesus' teaching of "do unto others and you would have them do unto you" (matt. 7:12), don't you?! 
we need to, above all other things, love each other.  we are to show others the love of God.  romans 12:9-10 says "don't just pretend that you love others.  really love them.  hate what is wrong.  stand on the side of the good.  love each other with genuine affection [brotherly love], and take delight in honoring each other."  we can hate the wrong that people do... but what we need to, and should do, is LOVE ONE ANOTHER!  we should never stop loving one another.  romans 13:8 confirms, saying, "pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others.  you can never finish paying that!  if you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law... (vs 10)Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements."
1 john chapter 4, starting in verse 7 and finishing off the chapter goes on and on about love and loving and being loved.  maybe this question should be considered: what effect does truly understanding the sacrifice of the cross have on our patience and love with others?
when you come across someone that you think is undeserving of your love, think again!  you and me and they all are children of God.  He sent his son to die for ALL OF US.  not just the ones that behave the way you want or you think is right.  He loves all of us and we ought to show the same mercy for not a single one of us is blameless and there isn't a sin that is worse or better than another sin. 
Eph. 4:32, "be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."  we should be kind and loving because it is what God has done for us and commands of us.
perhaps forgiveness is key in this as well.  maybe i'll do a diddy on forgiveness tomorrow night.  enough has been said tonight.  please dwell on these thoughts.  pray.  maybe a change of heart is needed.

tots that learn

both AleeMay and Jones are kinda at the same stage of learning right now.  they both are crazy about letters and letter sounds and reading and listening for sounds.  it's so cute to see them both so anxious to learn!  of course AleeMay is in kindergarden so i don't get to experience her excitement as much as i do Jones'.  i've really have been getting a kick out of him lately.  he's always been gung-hoe about watching pbs, or anything on that screen, but lately he's really really really been picking up on the educational side of the shows.  the other day, he came out saying that he just LOVES the letter "j".  then he started singing about "juh" and "jay" and trying to find words that started with "juh".  he also will just latch onto words when he's being spoken to.  for instance, i'll say, "you need to clear your place." and he'll say, "kuh, kuh, CLEAR" and then "puh, puh, PLACE".  sometimes he'll say the letter that makes those sounds.  othertimes i'll have to help him. 
i was almost giggling out loud last night when i experienced some of AleeMay's joy in the same sort of thing.  yesterday she must've been absolutely exhausted because after she came home from school and ate lunch, she just DROPPED at quiet time and slept for a good 3.5 hours on the couch.  usually she just reads for quiet time.  irony played its role because Boo and Jones really faught their naps (of course).  but anyway, because of that 3.5 hour nap, she really wasn't very tired at bedtime.  in fact, she came in to our bedroom just after i had drifted off and wanted to ask me a question about the next day's activities ---more on that later---.  anyway, i could see that she wasn't very tired, but she's really easy to make fall asleep just by laying next to her and breathing slow (like you're sleeping).  since i was doing that -because i was asleep- i knew she'd drift right off, so i asked her if she wanted to snuggle with me.  it took a little longer than usual, but it was HILARIOUS when she was almost asleep (i actually think she was mostly asleep) and i heard, "duh... druh... drum." and then she was out (for real). 
it just made me giggle that these two are SO into learning that they really are thinking about it all the time.  i love my little learnin' tots.  i love them all, but it's so exciting and fun to be able to see their brains ticking.

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Titus

i've been a church-goer for as long as i've been alive... i'm pretty sure... so i was shocked all but spitless wheni found a new book i'd never heard of!  it's called titus.  it's only three chapters long and it's in the new testament of ... get this, the BIBLE! 
well, ok, it's not a "new book" and it wasn't really like i happened upon it.  i've known about it.  i heard about it in the song (you know, the books of the bible song) and stuff.  i knew it was before philemon (which, by the way, i'm pretty sure i've never read before either) and hebrews, and after all those other t-books ---again, because of the song--- but really?!  it's a durn good little book!  it did take me three days to read it, but that's only because i was reading a chapter per day.  what a nice little diddy on how we should be.  i just got out my handbook and it's titleing titus as the book ministering to liars and lazy gluttons. 

well howdy duty.  i guess now i feel like i shouldn't have written this blog.  much less added that tidbit.  ok, i guess i must've needed an eye-opener.  apparently i'm a liar and/or lazy glutton.
ok, wait.  i know i'm not a liar.  so i guess maybe i'm JUST a lazy glutton.

that doesn't really make me feel too much better.  so let me just read some more in this handbook. 

ha!  it's not the case.  i'm not a liar, or a lazy glutton!!!  it was more like i thought.  paul is advising titus what to look for in his church leaders.  my favorite part of the book kept me busy yesterday trying to be godly.  i don't know what verse it was, but paraphrased it said, "women need to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, and to keep BUSY IN their home, and to be good wives."  (emphasis is mine, because the paraphrase was mine) 
anyway, i liked that.  so i thought i'd share.  as for you men, "live a life of dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance... all with a cool temper."  i also really liked chapter three when paul talked about respecting the government.  to me it seems like the people in society that are the hardest and most negative about the president and the way the government is, are christians.  that's always bothered me.  this lesson of respecting the government doesn't seem to be something that is pushed or taught in church anymore. 
furthermore he goes on and on about being peacefull.  he's not talking about peace vs. war, although peace is peace.  his emphasis seems to be regarding insults and fights.  we are to be bighearted and courteous.  we are to stay away from mindless, pointless arguing.  hm... interesting.  the more i read the Bible the more i like it.  ;)
oh and btw.  titus was titled "ministering to liars and lazy gluttons" because titus was in crete and crete was full of cretans.
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Struggles

i started reading the Bible again.  at our yardsale this summer, a friend gave me the "one year bible".  it's a bible that is formatted in days so that you read a little/lot of old testament and a little new testament with a chapter (or so) of psalms and a verse in proverbs each day.  since i started in august (or whenever it was that i started) i didn't start in genesis, like i've always tried to do before.  starting in genesis is so repetitive since i've tried that so many times.  i always get tuckered out at approximately the same area... book... chapter... page... verse... ok, maybe the same word!  (begat)  anyway!  so, i like this new approach and i like that i didn't start on jan. 1st.  thanks friend!
well, starting a couple weeks ago, i began to falter in my readings.  i would sleep in and forget, or just forget.  i don't know why because i was really enjoying being in His Word and picking up on a lost habit that is so freakin' rewarding it's stupid not to do!!!  i KNOW this.  i KNOW that when i was/am reading His Word daily i feel better, i act better, i probably even smell better.  but i'm struggling with it again. 
because of this struggle, i'm also struggling in other areas.  please pray for my dilligence in being in a daily habit of prayer and devotion. 
also pray that i have the fortitude to make sure and do what is best for me and my family BEFORE i get on this stupid computer each day!  i mean, really.  seriously.  is fortitude the right word here???  well, whatever.

i'm convicted.  i'll go read and study.  <3
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Our Song (the inspiration of my blog title)

So Simple lyrics by WideAwake
Our story goes for miles
All the tears and smiles
Occupy the pages of our history
And our styles always changing
Our world is rearranging
We are the victims of uncertainty
But it's so simple you and me
Will be just fine
I know
Love is strong it keeps holding on
Even when we go against the flow
I don't care
What, why, or where
As long as I'm with you
With you

I don't know if this world's big and round
I just wanna be with you
When the sun goes down
I don't know if this world's big and round
I just wanna be with you
When the sun goes down

Lots of time for learning
Gonna keep this candle burning
Day by day until we reach forever
This treasure we've been given
The song that we're singing
Will bind our dancing hearts together
All I am
My heart
My hands
All that I hope to become
There's no hiding 'cause we're uniting
All who we are as one
Well right here today
When I'm old and gray
I just wanna be with you
With you

I don't know if this world's big and round
I just wanna be with you
When the sun goes down
I don't know if this world's big and round
I just wanna be with you
When the sun goes down

Oh yeah
It's more than a feeling
This is the real thing
That we got here
We're flirting with greatness
God's been so gracious
And he's holding on to you
And me
And we
Can rest easy now

I wanna be with you

I don't know if this world's big and round
I just wanna be with you
When the sun goes down
I don't know if this world's big and round
I just wanna be with you
When the sun goes down

i guess i'll venture out and BLOG

so after several years of blogging on myspace i'm venturing out into the world of real blogs.  i have learned a lot and this time i'm blogging as a journal---kinda.  i'm not writing this for friends or family, but rather for the sake of preserving memories, spiritual journaling,  and the enjoyment of writing.  hopefully i'll attach pictures and get this looking all snazzy and professional looking with probably a few spelling errors here and there. 
let me introduce my blog family: Rehself Family.  names are to be changed to protect their innocence (and mine).  my eldest is 11, i will refer to her as AdeJay.  secondly is AleeMay (5) followed by Jones (4).  next is Boo (2), followed by StarBoy (almost 1).  i am the lovely bride to Otter Pop.  i am Anwat and if you want a more detailed "about me" section read my short autobiography to the side.  i'll let you know it took me about three hours to do that little diddy up.  i wrote up a hum dinger, but it was apparently more than 1200 words because it kept prompting me to fix the error "too many words".  i wish it would've just told me how many words i needed to delete because i kept shortening it and shortening it and shortening it... until, well, three hours later i gave up and wrote that little diddy.  if you have found this blog by chance, or on purpose, i hope you enjoy my ramblings. 

james four, ten

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Romans 12:3b

"...Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you."

Romans 12:6a

"God has given each of us the ablilty to do certain things well..."

In my Bible study last week we were given Rom. 12:3 as a thinking point for the week. We were challenged to take the week in study and thought in "learning to come to grips with the real you".

We need to run a diagnostic, a self-assessment. Be careful how you think of yourself (Rom. 12:3 -in another version- "...to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think..."). Assess where you really are, not where you think you are or hope you are ("...but to think soverly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." So then, how do we run an accurate self-assessment? 1.) By looking in His Word and renewing our mind. 2.) By asking His people and getting honest feed back. And then, lastly, 3.) by doing a personal evaluation because a healthy view of ourselves allos us to serve God to the fullest.

This week I have read through Ephesians and then reverted back to Romans 12. Questions that I considered while reading and studying were: When and with whom do you have the greatest freedom to be yourself? In what situations do you find yourself projecting strong or weak reactions to keep people at a distance? By the end of the week (today) I am supposed to write down the top three people who have had the greatest positive influence on my life. Also I am to list my top three strengths and weaknesses.

So, I have personally been studying His Word (1) , and have had my personal evaluation (3). Now, I am asking for your help with number two. I need some honest feed back. Please give me a list of what you honestly think are my top three strengths and then my top three weaknesses.

James 4:10 "When you bow down befoe the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor."