Some thoughts on Worship and Appearances

I KNOW THIS MAY BE LENGTHY, BUT PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE IF YOU CAN...

Ok, so in the Sunday School class that I currently attend we all take turns teaching a lesson. This past Sunday was my week to teach the lesson. I was really excited about the lesson from the moment I saw the title. The lesson was primarily on accepting others. There was a scripture from Romans and a passage from James.

Romans 15:7
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

James 2: 1-13
1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

The notes in the lesson brought up how we as Christians tend to (wether we think we are or not) judge others based on the clothing they wear. It talked about the rich man and the poor man in this passage from James, and how we need to see past these things. It talked about how judging the poor and the rich alike dishonors them and how God didn't look down on us to see our outward appearances before he sent his Son to save us from our sins.

So, the discussion in the class took a turn down a road that I SO did not want to go on, especially as a minister's wife. I knew where this discussion could go, and I knew that my dear husband (the youth minister) would/could become a topic in this discussion. And sure enough it happened.

There were a couple of women (that I still respect) that got on the topic of how we dress (should dress) at church. Several statements were made such as:

"I think that we should dress in a way that honors God."
"We are coming to the temple and we should have on our best."
"We get dressed up every other day for work, so why can't we give God our best on Sunday."
"What if someone's best is a pair of jeans and a t-shirt?"
"I don't think a deacon should be taking up the offering in jeans."
"I think that any time we come to worship God, we should be dressed in our very best."
"We come to the "temple" so we should dress appropriately"

Then there was this one that I KNEW WAS COMMING......"And if you are on STAFF, you really shouldn't wear shorts to a Sunday evening service."

After that comment was made, I tried to ignore it and move on.....but the next section in the book brought this same topic up AGAIN!!!! So, I had to face it, especially when this was said, "Yeah, Angie, you might just want to relay that message to Carlton that he really upset the Senior Adults." My only response at that time was, "Well, that is really between him and God, not me. So, on to the next scriputure...."

OK... since that moment I have had some time to think, meditate on it and pray and here is where I have come on this (let me know what you think....HONESTLY!!!)

First of all, he was actually on vacation that Sunday. We did not leave town, so that morning we got up and went to SS and church. He wore slacks and a shirt, but no coat and tie. Then that evening in question we were going to stay home but realized that the pastor was holding a special Lord's Supper that evening and we wanted to attend. Several of the guys (youth) wanted him to go to the movies after the service, so his thought process was, "I am on vacation, I am going to a movie after the service....I think I will wear shorts." The shorts he wore were khaki cargo shorts (I ironed them to a crisp), and he wore a polo style shirt with them. He definitely was not slouchy wearing basketball shorts and a t-shirt. The irony of this situation was that one of the choruses we sang that evening was "Come Just As You Are".

Second and more important than all that in my opinion is, "What does it really matter anyway?" (And I am NOT just saying that because the accused is my dear hubby) I can't think of anywhere in the Bible that the Lord tells us that we have to dress a certain way to come to worship him. The only scriptures I can find on the way we should dress is in reference to women and if we were to get literal with what the Word says......I don't think many women would like it one bit.

Another thought I had in response to one of the comments was, "If we should be dressed in our very best EVERY TIME we come to worship the Lord then that would mean that we should be dressed in our VERY BEST ALL THE TIME. Weren't we created to worhip Him? Weren't we created to bring honor to Him? Weren't we created to be in constant comunion with Him? If that is the case, and the comment they had is true, then when I went to the grocery store on Saturday in my wind pants, and a t-shirt that was a size too big, then I could not/would not be able to worship God. I beg to differ! If that was the case then I couldn't worship God while digging in the dirt with my children then could I, but that's not what the Bible tells me.

And for the comment "We come to the "temple"....." Isn't our bodies the temple
1 Corinthians 3:16
16Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

And furthermore, with this kind of attitude, what are we saying to the non-Christians out there. They already think that we Christians are rude, stuck-up, hypocritical, and the list goes on......
If we tell them that they have to dress a certain way to come to church, then we are telling them that Christ only wants them if they are ready to be "presentable" (in our terms of presentable) to Him. And that is FAR from the truth.

Gosh....I could just go on forever about this.......if you have a thought, please leave a comment.

Menu Plan Monday

Well, I am back....I SO need to get back on track with this stuff. I do have to admit that while I was consistantly planning menu's our diet seemed to be much more healthy. AND the grocery budget was very easy to stay within.......

So here we go:

Monday - Summer Sausage, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes

Tuesday - Baked Chicken Supreme (in the crockpot), Shrek Rice (that's what Timothy calls it, but it is rice pilaf with mushrooms in it) and green beans

Wednesday - Church (Taco Salads) or Home for sandwiches

Thursday - Pork Chops, okra, carrots

Friday - Sunday.....still thinking.....I have several items that could be cooked, but I may be gone to my mother's with the kids (if the weather permits) and Carton will be at the Planet Wisdom conference in Houston with the Youth, so, those days may be nothing, or something very simple

For more menus, head on over to the Organizing Junkie's place.

Prayer Requests from some Company Girls

I stopped by Rachel Anne's this morning to find this prayer request. Please pray for this little baby (and the momma!) Also pray for Marsha's daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. They are in Kenya right now.

These are a couple of "Company Girls" Come join us if you would like! All you have to do is be yourself!

BLAH!

Why is it that the weather just can't stay in a happy spot for a few days??? The weather here has kind of reflected my mood lately! I guess I still haven't recovered fully from the trip and strep! Anyhoo....I am tired of feeling tired!

Really I guess there is quite a bit going on lately that has me kind of blah!!!! My Great-Uncle Jim passed away on the Saturday before we left for our ski trip. He was 94 years old. He was very dear to me, yet I hadn't made any time lately to go see him. He was a kind, sweet, and funny man. There was just a graveside service for him on Monday. I was on the road to Colorado.

Then while we were there my mother called about my Pappy (my Dad's step-father). He had become nonresponsive at the nursing home on Monday (of the trip) and they took him to the hospital. Come to find out he had been about 3 days without his medicines and was dehydrated. He is in a nursing home......aren't they suppose to make sure these things are taken care of!!! Anyway, he was taken to the hospital and never returned. He passed away on Friday. There was a family viewing for him on Monday and a graveside service for him on Tuesday. I couldn't attend either one. The drive from here to there is only 5 hours or so, but I had been so sick from the trip that I wasn't sure if I could make it or not. Turns out that the shot I got in the ER on Sunday really helped and I started feeling much better by Monday evening.

I just feel that there is so much going on that I have allowed myself to get under this nasty cloud. I haven't really talked to my father in almost 5 months. I talked to him briefly on Thanksgiving and on Christmas, and then the other day with the passing of Pappy I called him. Everytime I talked to him there was really nothing of significance discussed. Everything was very much on the surface, nothing too personal.

I want it to get personal with him! I am so tired of him hiding behind the alcohol and drugs! I want some answers from him. And on top of all this, I haven't followed through with the whole Bible/Book Study thing. It has been weeks since a post on that and for some reason I pick it up then put it down.

Please pray for me! I really need some lifting up lately!

Rachel's Ski Trip Pictures

Ok, I posted Timothy's pictures so now here are Rachel's. To begin with, we didn't realize that we could put her in Ski School until the end of the 1st day. SO, on that first day when she and I went to peek in on Timothy, and she saw what he was doing, she was NOT happy!!!! She wanted to do what T was doing! SO, when it was time for us to leave for a little while, she plopped herself down and pouted!

POUTING!!!! But too cute!

Now, we are on to something! Rachel found a "little mountain" (that's what she called it) It was a mound of snow about 8 feet high, with a little "man made" slide one side of it and she was determined to SLIDE!

And she DID....on her belly the first time!

WOW!!! LOLOLOL that was so much fun, she did it a few more times. I did it with her some too! We had a great time.....about 2 hours worth of fun!!!

Here she goes again on her bottom this time!

WEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE MY LITTLE MOUNTAIN MOMMY!!!!!!!!

OK, I told you we realized that she COULD do Ski School, so here we go! Day 1.

I didn't get any pictures of her ride up the "Magic Carpet". I had the video camera out at the time. But here she is at the bottom of the slope, on her back.

Someone offering help.

Finally getting up!

OH NO!!!! She spotted Timothy's group coming out!

She was about to get on the "Magic Carpet" but wanted to see Timothy first. Everytime she turned herself around to go see him, someone picked her up and turned her around. SO she and her strong-willed self just plopped down!

Till this lady came along. Then as she was walking Rachel to the side to get ready to go in, Rachel reached out for Timothy. ( I wish I had the video going at this time, it was so sweet to hear her yell, "T" and him to say, "RACHEL!!!"

ALAS....she got her way.... and they hugged!!! Aren't they so sweet!!

After this little scene Rachel told the instructor that she wanted to go in! I think she just got mad and didn't want to do it anymore! The whole struggle getting to Timothy was quite a scene, but in the end it was really sweet! She was just as happy sitting in the "No" and eating it!!!

TIMOTHY'S SKI TRIP PICTURES!!!!!

I took tons of pictures of the kids, but not one of Me or Carlton! Anyway, here is Timothy's set.

This was his 1st day in Ski School! He was so excited and ready to go!

Here he is getting on the "Magic Carpet" for the first time!

Proud of himself! And realizing I still had the camera out!

Getting a gentle nudge!


Taking off and a little scared.

He made it to the bottom of the hill that time, but crashed instead of stopping!

This was day 2 of Ski School.

Flying down the hill!

PIZZA!!!!!! That's what they call it now! When I first learned to ski they called it "snow plow!" either way it means......"stop!!!!"

He made a little turn and is coming down the home stretch!

I DID IT MOM!!!!!! Thumbs up!!!!

I was SO proud of him! The first day he did fuss a little and wanted to quit and get out of there! But he didn't give up and he kept trying and eventually was taking that little ride up the "Magic Carpet" and coming down with no problems!

Now for a funny/scary story: Carlton picked him up on day 3 a little early. The instructors told him that Timothy had ridden the chair lift that morning or afternoon.....anyway, Carlton thought "Ok, I'll take him up the lift for the "bunny slope". When they got to the lift, Carlton said Timothy told him, "I didn't ride that!" Carlton asked him if he was sure, because the teacher had told him he had. But Timothy told him..."No, I didn't ride that." Carlton said he thought, "Oh, well, we are here SO up they went.

As they approached the top, Carlton was telling Timothy what he would need to do in order to get off the chair. As they got closer, Carlton got his poles together, and reminded Timothy that he had to push off to get off the lift. When they finally got to the top, Carlton pushed himself off, turned around to check on Timothy and didn't see him. HE WAS STILL ON THE LIFT!!!!!!!! Then Carlton said all of a sudden he heard the loud thump, and it was Timothy, he just jumped off the lift. He had a good 3 or so feet to fall, and landed on his feet!!!!!! Oh My!!!!!! I am so GLAD I didn't see that! I would have just about lost it to see my little man making the turn to come back down on the lift, only to jump right off!!!!

I couldn't believe it! BUT, he did it!

100th POST!!!!

***I meant to post this before the one on the Kitchen and Pictures.....but I just got so caught up! Anyway, here is what I had PLANNED for my 100th post!***

WOW I would have never thought I would have gotten to this place. This is my 100th post! I can't believe it! I decided to list 100 things about me. These may be things from the past, the present, or things I wish for the future. Some things funny and lighthearted, some sad and shocking. I prayed about what to put on this list, I wanted it to be raw, (I actually started this list a few days ago so that I could think and would have the time to do it all) ......you don't have to read it all if you don't have time, I know is a lot, but I thought "What the heck!"

1. Born Sept. 4, 1973




2. Found the Lord in 1989




3. have one brother




4. have an aunt that is only 6 months older than me, we were more like sisters




5. attended 6 different elementary schools




6. 2 different middle schools




7. 4 different high schools




8. lived in about 15 or more houses as a kid (those are the ones I can remember!)




9. my parents were married at the ages of 16 and 17




10. they divorced when I was 10




11. remarried when I was 15




12. recently split up again




13. I love them both and it hurts




14. my brother was in prison for 2 1/2 years for stealing 2 watches and not following through with his probation!




15. he is doing so much better now!! Praise God!!




16. he is happy and engaged and that makes me happy for him




17. I had had 6 concusions as a kid (all by the age of 18)




18. I drank way too much at the young age of 13 and 14




19. was raped at a party when in the 8th grade




20. but never told anyone until I told Carlton ( about 6 years later)




21. he cried with me that day, I will never forget it!




22. 1 college University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (whew!!) okay there was 1 semester of a junior college!




23. UMHB is the OLDEST college in TX, NOT Baylor!!!




24. found out I had a horseshoe kidney while in college




25. did missions in Oregon and Washington one summer




26. Met Carlton on the worship team for the BSU (BSM)




27. got engaged Dec. 1993




28. got married Jan. 4, 1997




29. taught in a private school




30. started teaching in public schools in 1999




31. had first child in 2002




32. had second child in 2004




33. love my husband




34. love my kids




35. love my God




36. love my church




37. love to listen to music (most kinds)




38. love mushy romantic movies




39. like scary ones too! (not the bloody, yucky kind, but the suspenseful kind)




40. i use to love riding horses, but haven't ridden one in years!




41. at one time my hair was down past my waist




42. the hubby would still love it that long




43. I have two big dimples (hince the name DimpleQueen)




44. my bestest friend in college gave me that name




45. I named her "Chickamay" (from the movie "Nell")




46. I have another nickname from college "Onjee!!" Long story there!! but funny one!




47. I know some sign language




48. I like to use sign language in my worship




49. I love Timothy's smile




50. and his big blue eyes




51. I love Rachel's laugh



52. and her strong will (although right now it really gets to me, I know that it will be an attribute that will make her a stronger woman than me!)




53. I love My Boy's calf muscles!! HeeHee




54. and the smell behind his ears......(go ahead, call me weird!!!)




55. I love dark chocolate




56. Diet Dr. Pepper




57. junior mints




58. raisinetts




59. and STARBUCKS!! (but it is a little too costly for me to have all the time!)




60. I won a Starbucks card from a blogger friend!




61. i use to be a hitter (of myself that is) ask me about it and I will share




62. struggled from the time I was in college



63. it has only happened one time in the last 8 months...which is the longest it has been!
    



64. I use to LOVE my job as a Special Ed. teacher




65. sometimes now I feel it's all about the legalities and not teaching anymore!




66. I hope to make some kind of difference in this world




67. i love people, babies to elderly




68. I have the gift of compassion (the hubby will tell you that for sure)




69. I love to visit people in the hospital




70. I desire to grow closer to God daily




71. but I struggle




72. I want my children to see Christ in me




73. I want them to hunger for Him!




74. I want to love my hubby more!




75. I want to feel loved




76. I long to feel needed




77. although I know I am needed (sounds crazy I know!)




78. my goal is to get my house in order




79. right now I feel that it is a disaster at times




80. I want that Sanctuary for my family




81. I want to start more family traditions




82. I use to be very close to my family




83. but not since I have been married and moved around so much



84. I have not been on birth control since before I had Timothy




85. not actually trying to get pregnant but if it happens.....




86. I would love to have more children but am afraid to




87. I am planning to have a hysterectomy this summer if I am not pregnant




88. I fear being alone




89. I often feel like I am "not liked by others"




90. I know it is Satan that puts that thought in my head




91. I doubt WAY too much!




92. I have a hard time trusting people




93. I am a stacker! ( I stack things up everywhere!)




94. I know I am a princess to the KING despite all the mess Satan throws at me.




95. I love listening to Timothy make up "God songs"




96. I am so very thankful I have an understanding husband.




97. This is my favorite story of Timothy and Rachel in the back of the car.




98. This is my favorite funny picture of Rachel.



99. I am thankful for my "blogger" friends



100. I am thankful for the new "real-life" relationships I am currently forming.

Well, there you have it...... 100 things.....wow that was a lot! Some of those 100 things all came out kind of random. I have looked over the list a few times, added, deleted.........but stopped it at 100! Now you probably know a little too much about me, but OH WELL!!!! As you can tell I am still growing in my walk with the Lord. I still struggle with issues. We all have some don't we?? Maybe mine are a little more than your's or your's may be a little more than mine, either way we all have them and NONE of us are perfect!

Potty Trained!!!!!!

Well, since I have forgotten my camera again today, so I have no pictures of Christmas or the ski trip, so I have decided that I will share our latest achievement with you all.

RACHEL IS POTTY TRAINED!!!!

I am so thrilled! She has finally done it! On the trip to Colorado she only had one accident going up and one coming home and both times she cried. And both times were right at the end of the trip, when the bus and van were not stopping as often because they were so ready to get to the destination. I was so sad for her. I praised her for being such a big girl and staying dry that whole time. She did so good! Her little jar of beads (i started with her as an incentive) is almost full and we will be going to get earings! I am still not sure if we will get pierced or clip-ons but either way, she will love them! I wear clip-ons a lot so she won't mind. Besides she is still so tempermental about things that if she didn't like the way it felt or didn't like the initial pain, she would want them out, and if she wanted them out, then she would find a way to get them out! I wouldn't want to put her through that until she can completely understand it all......okay.....I just talked myself into getting clip-ons for her!

My little girl is growing up!!!! *heavy sigh*

My "Boy" and 11 Years!

This is "My Boy". That is what I have called him since I can remember. We met my freshman year in college (Fall of 1992). I remember the weekend my mother helped me move in to the dorm. She was thrilled when she overheard someone say that the ratio of girls to guys was 4:1. She looked at her friend and said, "Well hopefully that means I won't have to hear about a boyfriend any time soon!" Little did she know. HeeHee!

With in the next couple of months I met My Boy. He was leading the worship team for the BSM (BSU for those of you who were in college around the same time!) and I was on the worship team. (leaving out many details) One day he asked me to go with him to get some drinks from Sonic. So off we went. On that day he said to me, "Wouldn't it be nice if God told you who you were going to marry?" I said, "Sure it would make things a lot easier." Then he said, "What would you say if I asked you to marry me right now?" (totally thinking he was joking) I said, "You don't even have a ring!" (Years later I found out from him that his thought that night was...."You greedy Grinch!") HeeHee! I didn't think he was serious or anything!

Weeks later I remember walking from the Student Center to my dorm and seeing My Boy sitting on a swing. He was wearing jeans and a red long sleeved t-shirt and he was reading his Bible. I stopped and looked at him for a few minutes before he recognized me there. On that day I knew this was the MAN I would marry! (I get teary now just remembering that sweet moment!)

On December 16, 1993, My Boy asked me to marry him at the top of the Tower of America's in San Antonio. It was one of the greatest nights of my life. I loved him so much that I could hardly stand it! I was so excited! Little did we know the ceremony wouldn't come for 3 more years!!! Yes I said 3! Talk about a long wait. But I will tell you it was worth waiting!

We were married on January 4, 1997. The happiest day of my life. (I don't have a scanner or I would show you some pictures!) He sang to me that day, of which I thought he might but there had not been any talk about it so it was a surprise.

From that day on we have had our ups and downs like any married couple. There have been many times that I have let him down, and many times that he has let me down, but through it all our love for each other and God has kept us together. He loves me and I love him and that is all that really matters. That love has been tested many a time, but God saw to it that we were reminded of that love.

We have had two beautiful children together. (once again, I don't have a scanner to put older pictures on here) He is a wonderful Father to them. He will play with them, allow them to climb all over him, let them "help him", scare them, teach them, pray with them, sing with them, correct them, love on them, and he'll even paint Rachel's nails! He's a good Daddy!

I love My Boy and I am so thankful that God put us together. I hope and pray that our next 11 years are sweeter than the first!

Here are just a few older pictures of him and the kids that I could round up:

A Purpose and some randome stuff

We are still on Christmas break, but I am in Crested Butte, CO with the church, both kids are in ski school and I am on the laptop of a dear friend. I am loving it! Some peace and quite time to catch up and reflect. I spent some time this morning going to many of the blogs "checking up" on my blogging buds. There seems to be a recurring theme in them all. Many of you (us) want there to be some kind purpose for your blog. Whether that purpose be to host giveaways, host Bible studies, or just to have a place to "hang out" with other people who share the same interests as you. We all want there to be some kind of purpose.

I want to be real! I want to share my life with those who are interested. I want my "light" to shine as the Lord told us in His word. I want to get and give encouragement from and to others. I want to use this place here to share my heart, but more importantly to share the heart of God.

Now for the random stuff.......I WON A PRIZE!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!! My friend the Mail Girl had a little game and I won. I won a $20 Starbucks card!!! I am so excited!!

Another thing....do any of you want to make some small changes in your home. Another bloggy friend of mine, Rachel Anne, over at Home Sanctuary is hosting a daily "small things" post. Each post lists one thing that you can do that day. If you want, and are the competetive type, then you can keep an HONEST tally of your points and at the end of the month there will be a drawing for a prize. This is the prize for January.

Well, there is so much more to say but it will have to wait a few days....I have to go take pictures and video of the kids right now! I WILL be posting those sometime after Jan. 7th, so come back to see them!

God bless you all and I hope your new year is off to a great start!
Angela