What awesome music, such anointed guys, I wish I had half the writing talent!! (not to say I have any writing ability...I just wish I did)
http://www.shaneandshane.com/
Their album Carry Away is great. you can check it out here, there are a few links to listen to samples of thier music.
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product/?item_no=CD12642&p=1006648#curr
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Ways to Reduce Stress
This is cool, it was sent to me from Dana.
"Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
"Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."
1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
June 23 Thoughts
Today I find myself in reflection of Psalm 23, its June 23rd, the Psalm of the day is that of a shepherd and his sheep.
I got up early today, I wanted time to really study this passage and not dismiss it as a childs memory verse. I heard a great sermon and illistration about Shepherding several years ago. I hope I can find some things today that do it justice.
Shelly's Thoughts
I love this passage. Sheep aren't that bright, they just go where the grass is, but they will eat away at a pasture until nothing is left, they don't have the sense to find new pastures...walk over here...they easily fall, off the mountion, they have no sense of diretion...hehe, my husband will tell you that about me. Sheep have no defense mechanism, they are helpless. They injure one another, they get wounded in the pasture, basically, they can't take care of themselves. They need a Shepherd. I fondly refer to humans as Sheople. We aren't much different than sheep.
Internet Info:
Here is a great commentary on this passage from Matthew Henry:
Many of David’s psalms are full of complaints, but this is full of comforts, and the expressions of delight in God’s great goodness and dependence upon him. It is a psalm which has been sung by good Christians, and will be while the world stands, with a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction.
I. The psalmist here claims relation to God, as his shepherd (v. 1).
II. He recounts his experience of the kind things God had done for him as his shepherd (v. 2, 3, 5).
III. Hence he infers that he should want no good (v. 1), that he needed to fear no evil (v. 4), that God would never leave or forsake him in a way of mercy; and therefore he resolves never to leave nor forsake God in a way of duty (v. 6).
In this he had certainly an eye, not only to the blessings of God’s providence, which made his outward condition prosperous, but to the communications of God’s grace, received by a lively faith, and returned in a warm devotion, which filled his soul with joy unspeakable. And, as in the foregoing psalm he represented Christ dying for his sheep, so here he represents Christians receiving the benefit of all the care and tenderness of that great and good shepherd.
Here is a tip about sheep and how insects harm them and how the shepherd cares for them with oil. In Ancient Israel, shepherds used oil for three purposes; to repel insects, to prevent conflicts, and to heal wounds. Bugs bug people, but they can kill sheep. Flies, mosquitos and gnats can be tortuous for livestock. For this reason, the shepherd annoints the sheep. He covers their head with an oil-like repellent, and the fragrance keeps the insects at bay and the flocks at peace.
Shepherding Tips, in case you were looking into a new profession, some notes from the pastor of Bethan Church in CT:
Sheep will trust and stay close to a shepherd who displays confidence and quietness but they will stay hundreds of yards away from one who appears anxious or insecure. They are pretty stupid creatures and have instead an innate ability to find a good shepherd. They have it because their life depends upon it. Cougars and coyotes will track sheep for days, returning to kill each day if not stopped. Foxes will attack a newborn lamb. Crows will pluck out sheep eyes. And even the ordinary can be dangerous.
Sheep can't tell the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous plants, or between good and impure water, and need the shepherd to lead them to safe pastures and pure water. Left to their own devices they eat and drink all the wrong things and get sick or die. Oh yes, and being creatures of habit, they would graze the same hills and pollute the same ground without moving on even after only dust and rock remained. They need a shepherd who can manage and continually guide them to the places that are right for them.
**Valleys are always a challenge for a shepherd because getting down the hills to them causes great fear in the sheep. So much so that mountain trailing is always a time of silence and even the dogs are trained to respect that. Any yelling, talking, or even signing can cause the sheep to panic, and they will easily fall off the narrow trails to their death. It would be nice if the valley never had to be traipsed, but in David's country, the area is mountainous and to get to new feeding grounds, the shepherd must lead the sheep down one mountain wall and across the narrow ravine or valley of danger, and back up the mountain wall on the other side in order to bring the flock to a new piece of the high country with its good grasses.
Discontented sheep can be a real problem too, because when one goes, the rest are likely to stampede right behind her. So a bell is often hung around the neck of the discontented. A single clang of the clapper at night means she is beginning to wander, and a rapid ring means she is running, sometimes from danger, but usually just because she is discontented and ready to go. The shepherd wants to get to her the minute he hears that bell start to tinkle so out goes the crook on his staff, to catch her by the leg and redirect her path before things begin to happen.
Then there is the problem with cast sheep. Often if a sheep is heavy with lamb or wool it will lie down on uneven ground and then roll over on its back into a shallow recess. When it does it is like a beetle, unable to roll back. On its back, the gasses will gather, the limbs, stuck out straight in the air, will stiffen, and it will die. And it is very seldom that the stupid sheep has sense enough to bleet for help. The shepherd has to notice the sheep is missing form the flock, find it, message its legs, and turn it upright, and use his rod to guide it back to the flock. And he has to pour oil on her head and nose, first as an insecticide and second as a calming, for with this treatment the hated blow flies go away.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want [be without, be lacking].
2 He makes me lie down[to stretch ones self out] in green pastures, [this does not mean food...this means a place of rest, a habitation] he leads me beside quiet/still waters, [not rushing, the sheep would be swept away, still here means "a state or condition of rest"]
3 He restores [to bring back, to repair, to refresh, to turn back] my soul [we tend to think of this as oh this place deep down somewhere...in this case it means alot more than just some untouched place...self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion, that which is breathing]
He guides [alot of times when we ask for Guidance, we mean we want a Guide...this is it, here, the literal meaning...GUIDE, to lead, to bring to. As in when God led the Moses and his people out of Egypt, with a pillar of fire, this term is used a total of 39 times, all in the old testement] me in paths [to provide a trench, especially for the purpose of fortifying] of righteousness for his name's [reputation, fame, glory] sake.
4 **Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff [support of every kind], they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table [a kings table, private use] before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint [to be fat, grow fat, become prosperous] my head [literally head, but i liked this part, the beginning, the total, the sum] with oil;*see the section about oil and protection above
my cup [to hold together] overflows/runneth over. [when i hear things I think of a little teacup with liquid runnning out and all over the saucer and onto the table and onto the floor, as a mom I think if a mess that will need to be cleaned up...but the literal meaning of "runneth over" is SATURATION]
6 Surely goodness [to be good, be pleasing, be joyful, be beneficial, be favorable, be happy, be right] and love/mercy [goodness, which we just covered, kindness and faithfulness] will follow [not like a lost puppy, but AIMS TO SECURE] me all the days [how many days? A L L] of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Shellys Notes:
The Lord is the one who keeps me close, provides for me, protects me, I am not lacking in any way,
He makes me to stretch out and rest
He brings me back to life!
He Guides me, he brings me to fortification, all for His Glory;
He's with me, silently leading me to the next place of rest, there is not reason to fear that my needs will not be met on the journey or when I arrive, i will be cared for in every way.
I can approach the throne of grace with confidence that I will be protected, prospered and healed;
I am held together and saturated with goodness, kindness and faithfulness, all of my days!
I got up early today, I wanted time to really study this passage and not dismiss it as a childs memory verse. I heard a great sermon and illistration about Shepherding several years ago. I hope I can find some things today that do it justice.
Shelly's Thoughts
I love this passage. Sheep aren't that bright, they just go where the grass is, but they will eat away at a pasture until nothing is left, they don't have the sense to find new pastures...walk over here...they easily fall, off the mountion, they have no sense of diretion...hehe, my husband will tell you that about me. Sheep have no defense mechanism, they are helpless. They injure one another, they get wounded in the pasture, basically, they can't take care of themselves. They need a Shepherd. I fondly refer to humans as Sheople. We aren't much different than sheep.
Internet Info:
Here is a great commentary on this passage from Matthew Henry:
Many of David’s psalms are full of complaints, but this is full of comforts, and the expressions of delight in God’s great goodness and dependence upon him. It is a psalm which has been sung by good Christians, and will be while the world stands, with a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction.
I. The psalmist here claims relation to God, as his shepherd (v. 1).
II. He recounts his experience of the kind things God had done for him as his shepherd (v. 2, 3, 5).
III. Hence he infers that he should want no good (v. 1), that he needed to fear no evil (v. 4), that God would never leave or forsake him in a way of mercy; and therefore he resolves never to leave nor forsake God in a way of duty (v. 6).
In this he had certainly an eye, not only to the blessings of God’s providence, which made his outward condition prosperous, but to the communications of God’s grace, received by a lively faith, and returned in a warm devotion, which filled his soul with joy unspeakable. And, as in the foregoing psalm he represented Christ dying for his sheep, so here he represents Christians receiving the benefit of all the care and tenderness of that great and good shepherd.
Here is a tip about sheep and how insects harm them and how the shepherd cares for them with oil. In Ancient Israel, shepherds used oil for three purposes; to repel insects, to prevent conflicts, and to heal wounds. Bugs bug people, but they can kill sheep. Flies, mosquitos and gnats can be tortuous for livestock. For this reason, the shepherd annoints the sheep. He covers their head with an oil-like repellent, and the fragrance keeps the insects at bay and the flocks at peace.
Shepherding Tips, in case you were looking into a new profession, some notes from the pastor of Bethan Church in CT:
Sheep will trust and stay close to a shepherd who displays confidence and quietness but they will stay hundreds of yards away from one who appears anxious or insecure. They are pretty stupid creatures and have instead an innate ability to find a good shepherd. They have it because their life depends upon it. Cougars and coyotes will track sheep for days, returning to kill each day if not stopped. Foxes will attack a newborn lamb. Crows will pluck out sheep eyes. And even the ordinary can be dangerous.
Sheep can't tell the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous plants, or between good and impure water, and need the shepherd to lead them to safe pastures and pure water. Left to their own devices they eat and drink all the wrong things and get sick or die. Oh yes, and being creatures of habit, they would graze the same hills and pollute the same ground without moving on even after only dust and rock remained. They need a shepherd who can manage and continually guide them to the places that are right for them.
**Valleys are always a challenge for a shepherd because getting down the hills to them causes great fear in the sheep. So much so that mountain trailing is always a time of silence and even the dogs are trained to respect that. Any yelling, talking, or even signing can cause the sheep to panic, and they will easily fall off the narrow trails to their death. It would be nice if the valley never had to be traipsed, but in David's country, the area is mountainous and to get to new feeding grounds, the shepherd must lead the sheep down one mountain wall and across the narrow ravine or valley of danger, and back up the mountain wall on the other side in order to bring the flock to a new piece of the high country with its good grasses.
Discontented sheep can be a real problem too, because when one goes, the rest are likely to stampede right behind her. So a bell is often hung around the neck of the discontented. A single clang of the clapper at night means she is beginning to wander, and a rapid ring means she is running, sometimes from danger, but usually just because she is discontented and ready to go. The shepherd wants to get to her the minute he hears that bell start to tinkle so out goes the crook on his staff, to catch her by the leg and redirect her path before things begin to happen.
Then there is the problem with cast sheep. Often if a sheep is heavy with lamb or wool it will lie down on uneven ground and then roll over on its back into a shallow recess. When it does it is like a beetle, unable to roll back. On its back, the gasses will gather, the limbs, stuck out straight in the air, will stiffen, and it will die. And it is very seldom that the stupid sheep has sense enough to bleet for help. The shepherd has to notice the sheep is missing form the flock, find it, message its legs, and turn it upright, and use his rod to guide it back to the flock. And he has to pour oil on her head and nose, first as an insecticide and second as a calming, for with this treatment the hated blow flies go away.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want [be without, be lacking].
2 He makes me lie down[to stretch ones self out] in green pastures, [this does not mean food...this means a place of rest, a habitation] he leads me beside quiet/still waters, [not rushing, the sheep would be swept away, still here means "a state or condition of rest"]
3 He restores [to bring back, to repair, to refresh, to turn back] my soul [we tend to think of this as oh this place deep down somewhere...in this case it means alot more than just some untouched place...self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion, that which is breathing]
He guides [alot of times when we ask for Guidance, we mean we want a Guide...this is it, here, the literal meaning...GUIDE, to lead, to bring to. As in when God led the Moses and his people out of Egypt, with a pillar of fire, this term is used a total of 39 times, all in the old testement] me in paths [to provide a trench, especially for the purpose of fortifying] of righteousness for his name's [reputation, fame, glory] sake.
4 **Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff [support of every kind], they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table [a kings table, private use] before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint [to be fat, grow fat, become prosperous] my head [literally head, but i liked this part, the beginning, the total, the sum] with oil;*see the section about oil and protection above
my cup [to hold together] overflows/runneth over. [when i hear things I think of a little teacup with liquid runnning out and all over the saucer and onto the table and onto the floor, as a mom I think if a mess that will need to be cleaned up...but the literal meaning of "runneth over" is SATURATION]
6 Surely goodness [to be good, be pleasing, be joyful, be beneficial, be favorable, be happy, be right] and love/mercy [goodness, which we just covered, kindness and faithfulness] will follow [not like a lost puppy, but AIMS TO SECURE] me all the days [how many days? A L L] of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Shellys Notes:
The Lord is the one who keeps me close, provides for me, protects me, I am not lacking in any way,
He makes me to stretch out and rest
He brings me back to life!
He Guides me, he brings me to fortification, all for His Glory;
He's with me, silently leading me to the next place of rest, there is not reason to fear that my needs will not be met on the journey or when I arrive, i will be cared for in every way.
I can approach the throne of grace with confidence that I will be protected, prospered and healed;
I am held together and saturated with goodness, kindness and faithfulness, all of my days!
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