Tag Archives: scripture

What’s In A Name?

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Trying to catch up on the first five “Blogging 101″ days, this is day two’s assignment. We are told to consider changing the title of our Blog or as WordPress puts it…”edit your title and tagline”.

Yesterday I wrote about possibly changing my title but hadn’t quite decided on a new one and would love a little input from you readers.

Insight seems to be one of my stronger personality traits. Also, I love seeking guidance in my Bible and have always believed my writing is Spirit led; maybe not all of it but certainly much of it.

Yesterday, I came across this in 2 Timothy 2:7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Now, what drew my attention was the fact that I have been toying with THE INSIGHT PAGE as a possible title; or possibly just INSIGHTS.

I’m hoping some faithful readers will also give me some insight into this; what would make a good new name to replace My Precious Life, the Blog?

Buyer Beware

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Assignment number three in Blogging 101 is: follow five new topics in the Reader and five new blogs. I will complete that assignment but we may also blog a bit if we so desire. And I do.

One of my pet peaves is retail stores trying to trick customers into buying something at regular price by displaying it among sale priced items. Let me give you an example.

A huge display of Cola products was greatly reduced, with the low price being the predominant feature on the sign, and the brand name in significantly smaller print. Included in the display were a few cases of ice tea and I snatched one up at this low price.

My tea checked out at double the price advertised. When I complained, I was told it was only the Cola products on sale. A blank stare was the response to my question, “Why is the ice tea included in the display?” At this, the manager offered me the beverage for the sale price but I declined on principle. Buyer beware!

Tomorrow I will relate another incident, this time involving a child.

Leviticus 19:35 says “Do not use dishonest standards…”

 

If It`s Good Enough for God…

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A Catholic couple were guests in a protestant church once, and asked me what I thought of dancing in the church…this after watching a liturgical dance, of which they disapproved. I knew it was in scripture somewhere, and said so. (Let them praise his name with dancing…) Psalm 149:3.  (NIV) Where else do we praise his name if not in church?

All these years later it brings to mind other things which are sometimes frowned upon in a church…not all churches, but some. For instance some people raise their hands, or exclaim, “Praise the Lord!” when some hymns or anthems move them to emote their joy in the moment. (Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the lord) Psalm 134:2 (NIV)

Applause is another thing which is not welcome in some religious institutions. But you know what…sometimes we can’t help applauding a perfectly performed rendition of The Lord’s Prayer. Sure, we may be applauding the singer but the song or hymn is what stirs us to take such action, because that performer is elevating our level of worship. (Clap your hands, all you nations…) Psalm 47:1 (NIV)

In my book, and it’s the “Good Book”, if it’s good enough for God, it’s good enough for me. So, shall we lift up our hands, even clap our hands, bring on the liturgical dancers…enjoy praising the Lord…it`s what he tells us to do. (Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.) James 1:22 (NIV)

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Psalm 100:1 (KJV)

My Precious Life – Book and Blog

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Product DetailsYesterday, My Precious Life, the blog, realized ten-thousand views. That is something I never dreamed of when I started blogging in April of last year. This is blog number two-hundred-and-ninety-nine, and let me take this opportunity to thank all who have followed My Precious Life and thereby contributed to its success.

As happy as I am with this accomplishment, it would bring even more happiness to have these numbers translate into book sales.

Here is a brief overview of the book for those who have not read it yet:

Pain and poverty paved the way to peace and spiritual prosperity in the life of the author, Patricia Ann Boyes, ordinary person.

In this memoir she takes us from a three-year-old child witnessing her mother’s brutal beatings, to a seventeen-year-old suffering the throes of childbirth; through a bitter marriage breakdown, and on to new love, entrepreneurship, and a battle with cancer. 

This memoir will not compare with that of the rich and famous or with the extraordinary drama of the Malalas of the world, but it may compare in some ways with the lives of other ordinary people who also have a story to tell, lessons to learn, and obstacles to overcome.

It’s a story of believing God’s promises and learning life’s lessons.

Someone once said, “Don’t die with your words or your music still in you.”

The author has taken this advice.

I also took the advice of Jeremiah 30:2 “Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.”

The book may be purchased online or by ordering from a local book store. It is available in soft or hard cover and e-book.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_5?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A3048891%2Ck%3AMy+Precious+Life&keywords=My+Precious+Life&ie=UTF8&qid=1435275694&rnid=2941120011

http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D934986&field-keywords=my+precious+life&rh=n%3A934986%2Ck%3Amy+precious+life

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D67&field-keywords=my+precious+life

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/my-precious-life?keyword=my+precious+life&store=book

Thank you and happy reading.

A Day of Rest

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“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

It’s Sunday…take time to RSVP this invitation of Jesus. Take time to stop, to unwind, to languish in the luxury of complete rest and relaxation and renewal.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

“Be still and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10)

Yes, be still; it’s Sunday…a day of rest.

Only One God . Period

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An overheard discussion about there being more than one God really caught my interest. How can that be? Coming from an unexpected source, the conversation threatened to collapse my whole system of belief…a belief that has been an integral part of my life since I was four years old.

Without getting into the nitty-gritty of what other religions, atheists, agnostics, or even Christians believe about God, let me just say that after pondering this weighty question, here is what I came up with.

I knew God before ever laying eyes on a Bible or becoming a Christian (which isn’t a criteria for believing in Him). How? Because when I was four years old, an elderly lady told me about him and taught me the “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer which at age seventy-eight, is still in my psyche, word for word. I was told about him and I believed.

It is generally perceived that the Ten Commandments (which I learned in high school when I was thirteen) were written by God and given to Moses to benefit the Israelites. Following is the first Commandment:

“I am the Lord your God…You shall have no other Gods before me…” (the Torah)

“There is no God except one God” (the Quran)

“I am the Lord your God…You shall have no other Gods before me…(the Bible)

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Book of Mormon)

God created all people, but there are those who choose not to acknowledge him, or to disown him altogether.

Let me put it another way. Suppose one of my children decides they don’t want me for a mother. Suppose they choose to ignore me and my rules and regulations for their lives. Suppose they choose to instead, adopt a friend’s mother or a mother-in-law to replace me. They have the free will to do that, but it does not change the fact that I am their mother. Nothing will change that.

So with God; we can ignore him, misinterpret him, disown him, put our own spin on him, but the fact remains…He is God…the One, the Only…God. Period.

Something to Think About

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“Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” This is from the scripture John 8:32 (NIV); and then in John 14:6 we read “I am the way and the truth and the life…” Both of these statements are attributed to Jesus.

But it could also pertain to knowing the truth about ourselves; our faults and shortcomings, which if we changed would free us to concentrate on being better people. Perhaps we would be less judgmental, less self-centered, or whatever it is that keeps us from being the best we can be.

When we stop and think about it, the truth always sets us free…free from a guilty conscience, free from lies that hold us in bondage, and free to live lives of peace without the inner turmoil of always wondering when an untruth will be discovered.

Maybe a good long look at ourselves would free us to know the truth…and embrace it.

Wise man, that Jesus: “…and the truth will set you free.” It is certainly something to think about.

A Time to Rend

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A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; (Ecclesiastes 3:7)

For some reason that word rend always reminds me of Easter and the day of the Crucifixion when “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38) because rend means tear. There was a reason for that tearing and the rend was never to be sewn. There is a time to sew, but that was not the time.

How many times have we said something we wished we hadn’t? And how many times have we not spoken out when we should have? It’s that simple…a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; both in King Solomon’s time and in ours.

Tomorrow: A Time to Love

A Time to Get and a Time to Lose

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A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; (Ecclesiastes 3:6)

That word “get” is a real catch-all; we get gifts, we get sick, we get well, we get well known, we get forgotten. There seems to be no end to what we can get…and the Bible tells us to “get wisdom” (Proverbs: 4:7) And then Solomon talks about a time to lose. In his case, because he didn’t use his wisdom wisely, reverting back to the “ways of the world”, Solomon lost God’s respect. A time to get and a time to lose.

To keep and to cast away reminds me of clothing, unworn for years, hanging in a closet, until the time comes get rid of it…”cast it away”. It happened to me just a few days ago. My youngest daughter had given me a dress that I had admired on her. That was 1997! After wearing it many times over the next few years, it somehow found its way to the back of my closet. Now, in still good shape, that dress has been passed on to a charity organization. A time to keep, and a time to cast away.

Tomorrow: A Time to Rend

A Time to Weep

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A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

Weeping and mourning go hand in hand at any funeral service, and laughing and dancing are a sure thing at weddings.

But have you noticed how weeping sometimes gives way to laughter after a funeral service, when the mourned one is remembered lovingly, with humorous traits being recalled? A time to weep, and a time to laugh.

Some cultures even celebrate their deceased with dancing. Nelson Mandela’s funeral was one of those, as mourners danced through the funeral home prior to the service.  A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

We have all had our times of weeping, mourning, laughing and dancing…it’s part of life…in Solomon’s time and in ours. The way I see it, these are all a celebration of life, one way or another.

Monday: A Time to Embrace