interesting figures...

...pretty darn interesting and shameful!!!

BREAKDOWN OF INCOME & TAXES PAID BY CATEGORY

Income Category 2006 AGI % OF ALL INCOME % OF INCOME TAXES PAID

Top 1%   >$388,806   22%   37%

Top 5% >$153,542 37% 57%

Top 10% >$108,904 47% 68%

Top 25% >$64,702 66% 85%

Top 50% >$31,987 87% 97%

bottom50% <$31,988 13% 3%

Data Taken From Kiplinger.com 1/27/2009

put a new song in my mouth...

Today's morning devotional was my life verse...

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."  Psalm 40:2-3

Mercy is when we don't get what we deserve.

Justice is when we get what we do deserve.

Grace is when we get what we do NOT deserve.

Thank you Jesus for your grace...

:)

New President...New Start?

Wow...as I watched and listened to the inauguration on cnn.com and on the radio, I was amazed.  I don't know or at least remember another one quite like it. 

 

The invocation delivered by Rick Warren was amazing...He was asked to think about taking "Jesus Christ" out of the prayer and he didn't.  Instead, Rick Warren chose to use multiple names in closing his prayer...Jesus Christ, Jeshua, etc.  Some believe that he spoke on unity instead of focusing on the Christian-way.  I took it in a different light...I believe that Rick Warren is a mighty man of God.  I thank him for delivering the prayer in the way that he did on Tuesday.  I think he was praying for unity among our American brothers and sisters in the fight for bettering our country and our world...and he did so in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ's name...AMEN to that brother Warren.  

And for those who think he shied away from the whole gay rights thing...I'm ashamed!  I read somewhere online that the quote, "He (God) is loving to everyone He has made" was being thought to include homosexuals and abortionists...well DUH!!!  God DID create everything and everyone and YES He DOES love everything and everyone that He created...including sinners!!!  FYI...we are ALL sinners!  

I am thankful that created me in His image and I believe that His image would be thankful for President Obama's choice in Rick Warren leading the invocation in His name.  I also believe that God has BIG plans for President Obama, his cabinet, this country, this world, and His people!  

Let's always focus on Jesus Christ as our example...He was sent to provide us with a "Dumbie Guide" for how to live our lives...afterall we are dumbies compared to Him, right!?

  

LOVE GOD AND LOVE OTHERS!!!

I am proud of our new administration and look forward with great hope...and YES we should pray for our leaders...both democratic and republican the same...for we have ALL fallen short of His glory.

throwing away the key to lies...

Back to school...Spring 2009 is in full swing! :)

As I opened my online course information for my World Civilization to 1600, I began to realize that this would be a long semester course for me.  I'm not much of a history buff...especially ancient history!  (However, Greg eats this stuff up...he's a nerd about history.)  Anyways, as I read through my course syllabus and requirements, I noticed that there will be much discussion on the history of religion.  My professor is of Middle Eastern descent and is a practicing Muslim.  I read on and discovered that much of our semester learning will be on Globalization and Universalism...two things that God's word warns us about!!!  I began to struggle with the thought of taking this course vs. dropping it due to its content...

I finished by printing off the 1st month's worth of readings and assignments and went on with my morning routine...well kinda routine, Micah doesn't go back to school until Wednesday! ;)

So, on with my "routine"...next up, my morning devotional led online by "Girlfriends in God."

The verse of the day = "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Corinthians 10:5

WOW!  I just LOVE how God knows our days and our "routines" before they even take place!  He knew that I was going to struggle with the thought of pursuing this class and He knew that I needed a reminder of His word...

I have prayed through my morning devo and have prayed over my textbook and course syllabus and I am pursuing this course for Spring 2009 with God's help and strength and wisdom and TRUTH, I will complete this course and cling to His word!  (who knows, maybe God will allow my discussion forums to breathe His truth into this course and into our professor's life.)

I have placed this verse in my book and also in my folder for this class...as a reminder that His word is TRUE and this class is only a small requirement for my schooling.  I pray that this semester will be an area of learned lessons...of taking each thought captive and making it true to Christ!

And I say it again...

I WILL... demolish arguments and every petition that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

can't you smell that smell...

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrances of the knowledge of Him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those tho are being saved and those who are perishing.  To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life."  (2 Corinthians 2:14-16a)

WOW, the devo this morning used the analogy of spilled milk and the sour smell it leaves for days...sometimes weeks!  Thinking about that all-to-well-known of a stench...and then thinking about how a negative attitude STINKS up a storm that can last or at least make an impression that could last up to a lifetime...WOW!  Father, I know that I can have a pretty NASTY attitude at times and I NEVER want to leave a stench when I leave a room or end a conversation!!!  Father, I pray that you create in me a clean/pure heart that portrays a sweet smelling aroma to others.  May I be the fragrance of life to my family, friends, fellow students, stranger at the grocery store, and beyond!  In Jesus' sweet smelling name I pray...Amen! :) 

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)

good heart = good tongue...

today's verse:

"We can make a large horse turn around and go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.  And a tiny rudder makes a huge ship wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong."  James 3:3-4

In a small country church, an altar boy who was serving the priest at Sunday mass accidentally dropped the glass of wine.  The priest struck the boy and shouted, "Get out and don't come back!"  That boy became Tito, the COmmunist leader.  In another cathedral, an altar boy who was serving the bishop at Sunday mass, accidentally dropped the glass of wine.  WIth a warm twinkle in his eyes, the bishop gently whispered, "Someday you will be a priest."  That boy grew up to become Archbishop Fulton Sheen.

(THE ABOVE TAKEN FROM WWW.GIRLFRIENDSINGOD.COM)

This lesson is so powerful to me as a mother & wife.  There are many times that my words are not positive to my kids or to my husband.  I am ashamed at some of the things that come from my mouth.  I think my heart is right, but I also know that I am a selfish person...so when I'm not busy with what I want to do, my words are positive and encouraging to my kids.  However, when I'm busy with a task or schoolwork, or even a silly little email, I do not choose to have the patience or desire to put my kids first.  Father, I pray today I start being intentional about my priorities.  I pray that my heart for You be apparent in my words to my husband and my children.  Father, I want to be like you and I want my children to feel Your love every time my mouth is open...even in times of discipline, may they know and feel my love and more importantly Your perfect love for them. Thank you in advance, God, for giving me the patience and positive words that you desire for my family.  In Jesus' name, AMEN!

Matthew 12:34-35 says... "The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart.  Good people have good things in their hearts, and so they good things.  But evil people have evil in their hearts, so they say evil things."

These verses scare me today as I think back and see how my words have been changing.  I am embarrassed to think and reflect on the foolish words that I have spoken recently.  Father, I ask your forgiveness today for the things I do and say that displease you.  I am foolish at times and pray for a better day when my words are encouraging and powerful rather than degrading and destructive.  I also pray that my attitude in speech is more positive as well.  When I speak to my husband, Lord I pray that my tone and my heart are full of love and grace!  In Jesus' Name, AMEN.

Thank you God for allowing me the freedom to speak and type what's on my heart.  I LOVE you and want to be more like your Perfect Son, Jesus! :)

contentment...

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." = 1 Timothy 6:6 NIV

"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  -Philippians 4:19 NIV

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness."  - 2 Peter 1:3 NIV

Dear Father, forgive me when I act like a child and want more.  Forgive me when I go from "I want" to "God wants me to have" in the blink of an eye.  I know You desire me to have a thankful heart - a contented heart that wants only one thing...more of You.  I say with the Psalmist, "The Lord is my Shepherd.  I have everything I need."  In Jesus' precious Name, AMEN!

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