Same Words...Different Vehicle

I've been chewing on something since Sunday and I think I'm ready to put "pen to paper" er uh "fingers to keys." 

During an adult Sunday School class, we were discussing how Jesus got up early and went to a quiet place to pray.  He started his day with fresh perspective and "directions" from his Father. 

I was sharing how I struggle with prioritizing my daily quiet time.  Now I don't for a second believe that I'm the only long time Christian who doesn't put other things ahead of prayer and Bible study to the point that it sometimes...sometimes often...doesn't get done at all.  I check my email, read my book, watch t.v, work, check Facebook, almost anything...but sadly there have been long stretches where I don't "get around to" an organized quiet time.   I do read my Bible, and I do pray..but not as often as I need to. 

Since we were discussing it I shared how I have come up with a help for myself.  The website Bible Gateway has a cool feature.  If you go to the "newsletters" link you can sign up to receive direct to your email inbox "read through the Bible in a year" passages.  Each day you receive your passage.  You can also sign up for daily devotionals, if you like those.  These are by people such as Spurgeon or Sproul.  I have found that if I have it sent to my email then in the morning I just open up my email and there it is for me to read.  As I was sharing this, there was one group of people, sitting across the room who scoffed judgmentally and belittled this idea...I'm assuming because they prefer to hold the old book in their hands.   Maybe they felt that I was too lazy to open up the book.  Honestly I was hurt by how they acted over it.  I was just sharing something I had found that helped me. 

In hindsight, after much thought, I have come to realize that I believe it is a matter of accepting change.  For those people, the Scriptures manifest themselves in a book format.  And that has been true for me my whole life.  In fact as I type my beloved, personal Bible is in the shop being rebound...I've worn it out(thank you Peggy for having it done for me!)  But if you really think about it the Scriptures were originally recorded on scrolls.  We don't use those now do we?  It's just like the "pen to paper" phrase as opposed to "fingers to keys"  though we still write with pens and pencils, most of our writing is done on a computer now.  The same is true of our finances.  We receive all but 1 or 2 of our bills in email, as well as our bank statement.  Nearly everyone in our family has their own Kindle(someone has 2...H.)  We read more now than ever before.  It's just electronically...not out of a standard book.  Same words...different vehicle.  This is how I feel about receiving the Scriptures in my email.  It's the same words...different vehicle.  

For those of you who might disagree...I truly do understand the love of holding a book in your hands.  I still enjoy that myself.  But in my opinion there is absolutely nothing wrong with reading the Scriptures in email, on a Kindle, or on the internet.  Same words...whether it's a scroll, a book, or an email. 

Side note...I've determined that I will keep up with technology.  I don't want to be one of those old ladies who doesn't know how to do whatever the latest thing is, as a result I miss out on whatever will replace Skyping 40 years from now.   Not everything is good...but if it helps me get to a place where I am more organized, and I read the Scriptures more steadily then I'm all for it. 

Another side note...Lord that I would encourage and lift others up when they are honest and vulnerable.  Disparagement hurts.  J.

A Day Together - 03/10/12

We had the pleasure of spending most of Saturday with Eva!

Yes that IS hair!  Daphne puts it up in these twin ponytails:

And I don't know if you can pick it out...but do you see the one lone curl at her neckline? 

Can't you just see the potential?  And this picture really picks up the red tones she got from her Mama!

We had a project at church, but we stopped at Starbucks for breakfast.  She fed herself banana:

Then she shared her banana with Grandpa:

She pushed the stroller around the fellowship hall for literally hours.

But we had lots of fun with the barrel:

Playing peek a boo was TOO much fun:

The best part of the day was just feeling the depth and importance of our relationship with her.

She is precious beyond words. 

And when she spontaneously offered an adoring Grandpa an unsolicited kiss...

there were aww's and tears:

Crazy love with this girl!  What a privilege to be her Grandparents.  We love you Little Missy!  J.

03/08/12 - Real Time

Timothy and I are laying in bed...he's reading and I am writing this post.  Mattie and Dini(Peter and Daphne's cat - Houdini) are sitting on the dresser and window sill communing.  I can hear the baby just getting out of her tubby.  The t.v. is on downstairs...and I think every room has someone in it.  :) 

Every family, or life has a rhythm.  A beat that everything moves to like a dance.  About once every 10 days or so, we have taken to stopping at a local restaurant for happy hour in the bar.  Tonight we went to Bob's Burger & Brew.  We shared the chicken Quesidillas, and  Bob's Bonanza Burger.  Mostly we just needed some US time.  Sometimes life gets in the way and just sitting hand in hand, slouched down in the booth, drinking ice water and soda while we talk about our day, and other things like the great deal at the Sears Optical dept, and or paying the Electric bill...is just necessary.  We need it like we need air to breathe.  It was funny the waitress commented on how we matched...turns out we both put on orange shirts today, and didn't notice until she mentioned it.  HA!  This often happens to us, we are on the same wave length, at least where it comes to clothes. 

For us the beat becomes much more dramatic, loud, and driving at month end/beginning of the month.  My job requires a LOT more hours at this time.  So for about 8 days I work very long hours.  The 2nd week is our recovery week, where the tension eases, the fog lifts, and we can physically feel our lungs fill with new air.  We catch up on everything that took a back seat during that press of busyness.  We sleep more...thus we are in bed by 7:30, we make appointments, we pay bills, we straighten up the bedroom, etc.  Then life as normal resumes.  We are good for another 2 1/2 weeks until it begins again.  If I were being honest, I long for this cycle to end.  I look forward to a time when our rhythm is different, but for now it is what it is.  And again if I were being honest I find the slower pace of the middle of the month a little hard to tolerate.  The pressure does something to me, it drives me.  This isn't really good long term, but in short bursts it can be exhilarating. 

Well...it's coming up on 8:00 so I guess I better finish my evening routine and then it's off to catch up on sleep!  J.