Thursday, November 27, 2008

In Honor of Thankful Day




Quality time with my family growing up was spent many times as we sat around our table to eat. Sitting around the table three times a day was not unusual for my family. I have to say there were moments this tradition seemed old fashion, got taken for granted and even thought of as menial.

Now grown and having a family of my own I have learned to treasure time spent in conversation with my family around the table. Perhaps because it is not an everyday occasion. I'd like to say it is because I have realized how important conversation, relationship, quality time with those you love really are.

These thing are important to God too . If you have a daily walk with Him and are giving your time to know Him, you might have noticed this fact yourself. He talks often about getting together around a table to spend holy quality time with Him breaking bread. You might also have noticed that God likes a party just as much as we do. Scripture says there is a rejoicing party in heaven every time one gives there life back to God! Remember the prodigal son? How his father adored him and gave him his ring claiming him as his own. The son had shown when he left he wanted nothing to do with the family by leaving with his share of the fortune. But even though the son had once disowned his family, his father, the Dad had never given him up for loss. The Father killed his fatted calf that day and had a feast in deed! He celebrated his son home coming!

He talks of throwing us a great feast when we arrive in heaven. A feast prepared for us by himself. I don't know about you but my mouth is watering at not just the food but the joy and laughter around that thanksgiving dinner feast!

Today I decided to study up on two topics in the Bible, Two words to be precise: Table and Feast!

Here are some of the scriptures I found to help me celebrate how wonderful God is!

Psalm 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ( we can enjoy a feast, God's love, his presence, joy, right in the middle of our hard times.)

Jeremiah 52:33
So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king's table.
Matthew 26:20
When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
Luke 24:30
When he was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
Hebrews 9:2
A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.
Deuteronomy 16:10
Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you.
Psalm 36:8
They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.
Proverbs 15:15
All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
Matthew 8:11
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 13:29
People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
John 7:37
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.

May we all be joyful, and thankful as we celebrate our feast this year. Whether it is around a table or not spend, time with those you love . Recline as Jesus did at the table of his hosts and enjoy the presence of your loved ones. Sure we have differences. But no more than there are between you and Jesus the God whom while we were still sinners died for us on a cross.
Love, Laugh, Forgive, And for goodness sakes be Thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Love, Love, Love! ( its amore! )



Woman is God's designed gift to man. Imagine Adam at the alter and God bringing Eve up the ile to present Adam with his daughter. Can you see the tears rolling down God's face as he is about to give his only daughter away? Then right in that moment Adam rolls his eyes and says God couldn't you have made her a bit thinner or perhaps with blond hair instead of brown. NO Way he did that!

Think of it, in the bible God showed Adam his need first before presenting him with Eve. He brought all the animals two by two and placed them in front of Adam to name. This one is a buck...this one his doe, this one a bull and his Heifer and so on. In all the animals Adam did not find a mate, a companion for himself. He was incomplete. Thus from Adam God fashioned him a woman.

To the men reading, the Woman God has placed beside you is not an accident but a gift! Ladies Listen up! The man God placed beside you is his gift also to you. No mistakes were made. God has a plan and will complete it in you both as you seek oneness and grow in your companionship. The race you began on the starting line of Marriage was oneness/companionship. It is an on going race that only with God can you be victorious. Only with God can you live in forgiveness and understanding becoming the companions you both desire in one another:)

We were reminded this weekend to do our best to see each other as God's gifts. Especially when we are about to loose our tempers or voice our frustration over the little details that bug us about each other.

Our own faults always seem petty and our spouses large and cumbersome. When we realize each of our own imperfections as the logs in our own eyes we can more compassionately address the spec in our spouses. For God says Truth is only to be spoken in LOVE! Truth by itself is cutting and harsh. But Truth in love brings healing, mending and peace:)

A story: Three old maids live in the same house. One of them is upstairs about to place her foot in the bath tub when she yells down to her sisters "Wait... was I getting in the tub or out of it?" One of the sisters rolls her eyes and starts up the stairs to help her sis out. When she reaches the middle stair she yells out " hey was I going up the stairs or down them? " The third sister sitting at the kitchen table rolls her eyes and knocks her hand on the wooden table saying " for goodness sakes, knock on wood, I am so glad I am not as bad as you two! As soon as I see who is at the door I'll be right up to set you both straight!"


May God's Love Surround You!
My husband and I had a most marvelous "Weekend to Remember." It is a marriage conference everyone should attend. Even those just considering marriage, to know what marriage is really designed to be and is all about. I just wanted to share a tid bit of what we learned over our lovely weekend! Don't be surprised if I keep adding tidbits of Love knowledge here and there over the next few months. We learned so much and writing one blog only about it would be tragic!

A special Thanks to Alicia for giving us the tickets to go for free! Also to my parents whom made going possible by caring for our kids. My husband and I feel like we have the tools needed to make sure nothing, especially the worlds culture can bring our marriage down!

God bless you all, Tabby (nora)

Monday, November 10, 2008

Its the only way I know!


The new family in the neighborhood overslept and their six-year-old daughter missed her school bus.

The father, though late for work himself, had to drive her. Since he did not know the way, he said that she would have to direct him to the school.

They rode several blocks before she told him to turn the first time, several more before she indicated another turn. This went on for 20 minutes - but when they finally reached the school, it proved to be only a short distance from their home.

The father, much annoyed, asked his daughter why she'd led him around in such a circle.

The child explained, "That's the way the school bus goes, Daddy. It's the only way I know."


Isn't that the truth in so many of us? We do, we go, we speak, we live the way we were taught plain and simply because that is the way our parents did things and it is the only way we know? Much of what we learn wrong we pick up by the media from the worlds way of doing things. Other times we say whats good for the goose is good for the gander and do as our friends or acquaintances do, say, act, etc. Man can we take a long time to get a short distance. One would think that right and wrong would be neighbors, living right across the street from one another. Then why in the world does it take us years sometimes just to walk across to the other side?


The Bible is said to also be translated in this way Basic, Instructions, Before, Leaving, Earth. Another phrase I like to use is life's road map to truth, happiness, joy, peace ,and love that never runs out! Thank God that he has given us practical advice all the way from whats right and wrong, to who to hang out with and who not to go along with.


My aunt once told me she thought a major step in cooking a roast was to first cut it in half. Later, after many years of being on her own, she found out her mom only did that cause her pan was too small to fit the roast in whole.


Some things we do are harmless and laughable. But what about the yelling at our children. Trying to mother our spouses or change them into our liking instead of loving them for who they are for better or for worse? What about back stabbing, down talking our husbands when they are not around to hear us, just cause our friends always do? What about always calling your children names because you were always called names growing up? Will they live up to those names instead of the greatness God has in them to be nourished?


These are just thoughts to think about. But I know I want to go the way God has intended for me and not follow a path others have taken just because it is the only one I know!


I am going to be a great mom today! How about you? I am going to be a loving, understanding, patient, person today! How about you? God has placed the potential inside of each of us! Nothing is impossible with HIM!


May God bless you with a sence of victory over another mundane day of following in the worn down path, going the wrong way, or the long way just becasue it is the only one you know!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Laughter is Possible!



























































Job 8:21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.