- I told my wife that a husband is like a fine wine; he gets better with age. The next day, she locked me in the cellar.
- Girls are like phones. We love to be held, talked too but if you press the wrong button you'll be disconnected!
- When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.
- Behind every successful man is a surprised woman. - Maryon Pearson
- You laugh because I'm different...........I laugh cause I just farted!
- What are the three words guaranteed to humiliate men everywhere?'Hold my purse.'
- Men are like bank accounts.Without a lot of money they don't generate a lot of interest.
- Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the heck is the ceiling.
- Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson
- Energizer Bunny arrested, charged with battery.
Tickle-Me Tuesday
Inspirational Sunday
"And God took Israel's troubles to heart."
Judges 10:16b (MSG)
Rae's Thought: There's a major misconception that God is a holy tyrant who enjoys seeing His people suffer, especially if they deserved what was coming to them. Some people have a hard time believing that He actually cares. God couldn't possibly waste His time caring about us little people, right? Wrong!
God cares...more than we could ever imagine. Did you know that, when you hurt, He hurts - even when you've brought the troubles upon your own self? The Israelites had brought their own destruction upon themselves. He'd warn them about what would happen if they turned from Him and worshipped other gods. In fact, He warned them repeatedly. Did they listen? Maybe for a little while, but then, the temptation to stray proved hard to resist. What happened? Exactly what God said would happen. They were overtaken by other nations. They cried out to God. His first answer was, "Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble." (Judges 10:14) They cried out again and even got rid of the other gods. Finally, God moved on their behalf.
Verse 16 paints a totally different picture from the uncaring tyrant some believe God to be. He couldn't bear seeing the Israelites in misery, even though they'd disobeyed Him over and over again. He couldn't stand to see them in pain. William MacDonald (Believer's Bible Commentary) tells us that this verse "gives us some insight into the Lord's great heart of tenderness. Like a father, He was moved by the plight of His wayward children. Their misery called for His mercy." God is not the cold and unloving being people paint Him to be. He doesn't find delight in seeing His children suffer. He doesn't enjoy watching us go through the fire, nor does He take pleasure in punishing us when we disobey. His attitude is not, 'You deserved it, so you deal with it'; it's 'You deserved it, but I'll deal with it.'
Personally, it's awesome to know that I serve a loving and caring God - one who, even when my struggles are of my own doing, is merciful and willing to move on my behalf.
Random Thoughts Thursday
The spirit of Michael Jackson lives on in my 5 year-old nephew, Sidney, future rockstar!
Inspirational Sunday
You're the only one that knows me.
Love it when you hold me.
I'll never find a love like this.
Now I'll never be lonely.
Look at what you've shown me.
I'll never find a love like this.
Natasha Bedingfield
Rae's Thought: This week's quote comes from one of my favorite songs, Love Like This, by Natasha Bedingfield. Although it's actually a secular song, I think it describes perfectly the love God has for His children.
You're the only that knows me. In John 10:14, Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd who knows his sheep. Second Timothy 2:19 tells us 'The Lord knows those who are his.' Now, you may say, "Sure God knows me, but is He really the only one that knows me? I mean, my family/friends/significant other knows me too." They may know you, but God knows you. He knows you down to the very fiber of your being. He knows every cell, every DNA strand, every hair on your head. Psalm 139:15 (Msg) says, "You know me inside and out. You know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, how I was sculpted from nothing into something." God knows you even better than you know yourself! He knows how you think, what you're gonna do years from now...God knows EVERYTHING about you. He even knew you before you even existed.
Love it when you hold me. So, you may wonder how on earth can the Lord hold you? Psalm 73:23 tells us that He holds us by our right hand, meaning He guides us. But He does so much more than that. Isaiah 66:13 says, "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you." When God comforts His children, it is equivalent to Him taking us in His arms and holding us. There's just something about being able to rest in God's arms.
Now I'll never be lonely. Once you join the family of God, He's with you forever. He promises, in Joshua 1:5, that He'll never leave us of forsake us (forsake: to leave someone who needs or counts on you). That means He'll be a constant in your life. Friends and family may leave you, but not God. He's there through good times and bad. Feeling lonely? Well, have you asked God to fill that loneliness with His presence? Try it and watch Him do just that.
Look at what you've shown me. Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). Being children of God opens our eyes to things that nonbelievers don't get to see (unless, of course, God gives them a glimpse). We look at the world differently, seeing it through God-inspired glasses. And when we look - I mean, really look - we notice how the Lord truly is good.
I'll never find a love like this. As much as your family, friends, spouse, or significant other may love you, their love can't touch the love of God. In her book, Praying God's Word Day By Day, Beth Moore states "The child of God who trusts God's love possesses security in salvation. We can know the Father will not reject us." I believe if people really knew and understand how much God loved them - if they truly experienced His love - we'd have a lot more people experiencing true freedom. He delights in His children. Out of all His creations, we're His most cherished. God is so in love with us, y'all! He longs for us to be in relationship with Him. 'How priceless is your unfailing love!' (Psalm 36:7) Unfailing, meaning He will always love us, no matter what. We may disappoint God with our actions, but we can never make Him stop loving us. Absolutely NOTHING can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). You know what's awesome? He knows you - the real you - and He still loves you. He loved you enough to sacrifice His only Son so that you may have eternal life. He knew you'd sin and hurt Him - knowingly and unknowingly - yet He chose to love you anyway. I agree with Natasha Bedingfield: we will never find a love like this!
Fitness Friday
So, I've decided instead of checking my progress every week during my 50/50 Challenge, I'm gonna check once every 5 weeks.
This is the end of week 5. I should've lost 5lbs...but, I didn't. I lost 3lbs, though, so I'm not complaining. I also lost a total of 4 inches, including 1.5 in in my waist!
Hopefully, the next 5 weeks, will be even more successful.
