We Reminded Ourselves of A Funny Story... Well 2

The wife and I were talking the car the other day and we reminded ourselves of a funny story... well 2.

We talking about our unexpected trip down to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis last May and June. (If you don't know the story behind the trip read the post "Here It Is In A Nutshell". It is a 3 part story. http://alexmindmyslef.blogspot.com/2012/06/here-it-is-in-nutshell.html.) If you can believe that any good memories can come from that story, well there are a few.

One comes after Emmerson started to feel better and we were going to be able to go home. They told us that we had to take care of Emmerson for 24 hours before we could take him home (or should I say back home). I mean they went all out. They made us do everything for Emmerson. They even made us measure a bottle of formula out in front of them so they could make sure that we could do it. That part was funny because we had Brooklynn there with us. I'm sorry that was just pretty funny.

The second thing that was funny is that they wouldn't let Sunnshyne watch the rated 'PG-13' movies that they had. Why you might ask?? Well, the reason was simple. They told her that she couldn't watch them because Emmerson was under the age of 13. What?! Really?? He's a month old. He doesn't even care about the TV. But they wouldn't allow her to watch the any of the 'PG-13' movies and the kids movies choices were like Blue's Clues, Dora, and some Disney movies. We did watch Tangled thought. I did like that movie.


So those are some of the hidden funny stories hidden behind the trouble that we went through during that time.

Last Break - - February 25

Here is there the reading for today...

Matthew 22:37-39

New International Version (NIV)

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=NIV&search=Matthew%2022:37-39
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Last Break - - February 21

Here is the reading for today... I really like this story..

Judges 7

New International Version (NIV)

Gideon Defeats the Midianites

7 Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod.The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. ² The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ ³ Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.

⁴ But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”
⁵ So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” ⁶ Three hundred of themdrank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
⁷ The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” ⁸ So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.
Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. ⁹ During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. ¹⁰ If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah ¹¹ and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. ¹² The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
¹³ Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.”
¹⁴ His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”
¹⁵ When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.”¹⁶ Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.
¹⁷ “Watch me,” he told them. “Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. ¹⁸ When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’”
¹⁹ Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. ²⁰ The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torchesin their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” ²¹ While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.
²² When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. ²³ Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites. ²⁴ Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah.”
So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they seized the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah. ²⁵ They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%207&version=NIV
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Last Break - - February 20

Here is the reading for today...

Daniel 6

New Living Translation (NLT)

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

6 Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. ² The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. ³ Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

⁴ Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. ⁵ So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.”
⁶ So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! ⁷ We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. ⁸ And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” ⁹ So King Darius signed the law.
¹⁰ But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. ¹¹ Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. ¹² So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?”
“Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
¹³ Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”
¹⁴ Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.
¹⁵ In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.”
¹⁶ So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”
¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. ¹⁸ Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.
¹⁹ Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”
²¹ Daniel answered, “Long live the king! ²² My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”
²³ The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.
²⁴ Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.
²⁵ Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world:

“Peace and prosperity to you!

²⁶ “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.

For he is the living God,
    and he will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
    and his rule will never end.
²⁷ He rescues and saves his people;
    he performs miraculous signs and wonders
    in the heavens and on earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”

²⁸ So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel%206&version=NLT
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Bumps, Bruises and Stitches (Scars Above One of Our Eyes)

Emmerson is going to be our bumps, bruises and stitches child.

He is all over the place. He is pulling himself up on things and won't sit still. He crawls all over the place. We can put down on anything because he will crawl off of it.

He has bumped his head on the coffee table many times. He has crawled under the coffee table and gotten stuck because he couldn't sit up under it. He has pulled things over onto him. He is a wild child.

But he is just like his Daddy he his going to have a lot of bumps, bruises and stitches in his time.

And sometimes his sister doesn't help.

Which reminds me of a story of how I hurt my brother once.

My brother, who had just learned to walk, tripped over my big feet. I was playing Monopoly with my sister and was kneeling down by the coffee table and my brother tried to walk by and tripped. He hit his head (wow 4 words in a row that begin with "H") on the corner of the coffee table and split his head open right above his eye. He had to go and get stitched up at the hospital. So because of that accident (and it was really and accident) my sister, my brother and me all have scars above one of our eyes.

Last Break - - February 19

Here is the reading for today...

1 John 4:11-12

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204:11-12&version=NIV
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Last Break - - February 18

Here is the reading for today..

Romans 8:38-39

New International Version (NIV)

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=NIV&search=Romans%208:38-39
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Last Break - - February 17

Here is the reading for today...

Romans 14:19

New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

¹⁹ So let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard to build each other up.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2014:19&version=NIRV
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
Copyright © 1996, 1998 by Biblica

Romans 14:19 in all English translations

Beta May Be The Second Letter in The Greek Alphabet, But

So to be cheesy for Valentines Day I decided to get my wife a present.

Now, most of you are probably like "Duh! You are supposed to get her a present for Valentines Day." I know that and that is what I did.

I got her a Beta Fish. But not just any Beta Fish. I got her a blue and green beta fish. Then I told her that his name was July. Anyone getting this yet??

Well, his name is July because that is month that we were married in and he his blue and green because that was our wedding colors.

So like I said it was a little cheesy but she really liked it. She has been wanting a pretty beta fish for a while. So while beta may be the second letter in the Greek alphabet, but its a blue/green fish named July in our house!!

Last Break - - February 16

Here is the reading for today...

I am borrowing this from a friend that posted it on Facebook... This is what he said...

"Did a devotional about respect and I really enjoyed these verses. We should all remember them. 

Philippians 2:3

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself;"

Matthew 7:12

"Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."


And we should remember them. You are right.

Last Break - - February 15

Here is the reading for today...

1 John 4:7-10

New International Version (NIV)

God’s Love and Ours

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved usand sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:7-10

The Message (MSG)

God Is Love

^7-10 My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204:7-10&version=NIV
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204:7-10&version=MSG

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Last Break - - February 14

Here is the reading for today... A little love for Valentines Day.

John 3:16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%203:16&version=NIV
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+5:8&version=NIV
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

This Concert

So I am excited!! I got some things in the mail a little earlier than planned.

My Chris Tomlin tickets came!!!!

I have been wanting to see him in concert for a long time and next month I get I am going to see him at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. I wanted to see him when he was at the Morris in South Bend. But I couldn't. But I will in April!!

But what makes it better still... I get to see an amazing speaker Louie Giglio!! (watch the video) I have seen several of his videos online and I have wanted see him live. So I said if I ever get to see Chris Tomlin, I would want Louie Giglio there as well.

So I am really really excited about this concert!

                                 Louie Giglio Mashup of Stars and Whales Singing God's Praise

Last Break - - February 13

Here is the reading for today...

Micah 7:18

New International Version (NIV)

 

¹⁸ Who is a God like you,
    who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
    of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
    but delight to show mercy.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=micah%207:18&version=NIV
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Last Break - - February 12

Here is the reading for today...

Romans 8:28

New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.

Footnotes:

1. Romans 8:28 Or that all things work together for good to those who love God, who; or that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who

1. Cross references:

1. Romans 8:28 : Ge 50:20; Isa 38:17; Jer 29:11
2. Romans 8:28 : ver 30; Ro 11:29; 1Co 1:9; Gal 1:6, 15; Eph 4:1, 4; 1Th 2:12; 2Ti 1:9; Heb 9:15; 1Pe 2:9; 2Pe 1:10
3. Romans 8:28 : Eph 1:11; 3:11; Heb 6:17

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%208:28&version=NIV

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

GG

Big Couch

Brooklynn is so funny when we change things around while she is not home.


She went to stay with her grandparents so we could get the living room ready for the new furniture. When she came back it was all different. She looked confused and she look amazed at the size of the couch that was now in the room.

She sat down on it and tried it out. I think she likes it.

The next morning she woke up and we said "Time to go downstairs!" She said "Yeah to the big couch. Jared is sleeping on the big couch." (Jared had came over and stayed with us.)

I think it's great that she calls it the "Big Couch."

Last Break - - February 11

Here is the reading for today...

Matthew 5:43-48

New International Version (NIV)

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%205:43-48&version=NIV
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

We Finally Got It

So today was the day. We finally got it.

Furniture!!!

Sunnshyne and I have been wanting to get some furniture since we have been married and that now it finally happened. We are excited! We really needed some new furniture.

So Thursday night we went to American Freight and picked out our new furniture. We got a sectional couch, a coffee table and two end tables.  They delivered it Friday afternoon.

But once the furniture got to us, we discovered that we had to rearrange the living room. We were hoping that we could have left the living room the way it was but the couch did not fit where our old couch was like we wanted.

So finally after we got every thing back together, we had a nice new living room!

Last Break - - February 9

Here is the reading for today...

If you read my blog and you read these Last Break posts you might have noticed a trend in theme of this weeks Last Breaks. It was love. The reason why I posted so much about love this week is because it is on my mind as I preparing for a lesson this weekend. So I have been spending a lot of time thinking about God's love and it is largely due to this song... Jesus Culture "One Thing Remains". I encourage you to watch the video. (The video is 12 minutes but at least watch until the 5 minute mark)

May you be reminded that God loves you!

These are the lyrics to the song.

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains
One thing remains

Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me x3

On and one and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never ever have to be afraid
One thing remains

In death and in life I'm confident and covered by the power of your great love
My debt is paid there's nothing that can separate my heart from your great love

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/jesus_culture/one_thing_remains.html

Last Break - - February 8

Here is the reading for today...

Matthew 5:43-45

New International Version (NIV)

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=NIV&search=Matthew%205:43-45
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Last Break - - February 7

Here is the reading for today...

Psalm 136

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 136

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
² Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

⁴ to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
⁵ who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
⁶ who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
⁷ who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
⁸ the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
⁹ the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

¹⁰ to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
¹¹ and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
¹² with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

¹³ to him who divided the Red Sea^[a] asunder
His love endures forever.
¹⁴ and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
¹⁵ but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

¹⁶ to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.

¹⁷ to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
¹⁸ and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
¹⁹ Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
²⁰ and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
²¹ and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
²² an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.

²³ He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
²⁴ and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
²⁵ He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 136:13 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15

New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+136&version=NIV