Daily Archives: September 27, 2012
“Date Night” In A Jar
I’m sure I’m not the only one – but I’ve been stuck on Pintrest a few times this week, just browsing at what other people find interesting enough to ‘pin’. Anyway, I came across this idea and thought it would be perfect for Ty and I . We’re usually pretty good at occupying our time with things that need to be done and things we’d like to check out but as most couples find, there are the days where the conversation goes something like this:
Would you like to do something this weekend?
Sure!
What you wanna do?
Hmmm . . . It doesn’t matter . . .What you wanna do?
It doesn’t matter . . .
I know, I know. We live in the Land of Paradise (as one of my friend calls it) and all we can say is “It doesn’t matter”. Well not anymore a solution has arrived. So to create your every own “Date Night In A Jar” all you have to do is pick up some coloured popsicle sticks, a black sharpie and a drinking glass from your local dollar store. Next you just write the different date ideas on the coloured sticks. Now how easy is that? And after browsing random sites online I came across this list of ideas to use as a guide. Enjoy & Happy Date Night!
Pink Sticks: Activities Outside the Home – $$
Hotel stay for the night
Jacksonville Jaguars Home Game
Coupes Massage
Dinner and a movie (her choice)
Dinner and a movie (his choice)
Progressive Meal (drinks at one restaurant, appetizers at another etc; )
Pool/ Darts at a Local Dive Bar
Castle Fun Park
Drive-In Movies
Dessert-Only Date
Bowling
Coffee Date
Golf/Driving Range
Go to an Amusement Park
Aquarium/Museum/Cultural Tour
Go-Karting
Visit a Place Listed in an Entertainment Book
Go to the Zoo
Go Rock Climbing
Try a New Cuisine
Orange Sticks: Activities Outside the Home – $
Picnic
Canoeing
Raquetball
Iceskating
Go to the Beach
Go See a College Sports Event
Go for Ice Cream
Go for a Scenic Drive
Go Wander through the Mall
Yardsale/Antiquing/Thrift
Visit an Art Gallery
Visit a Local Farm
Go to a Book Store
Visit Another Town – Walk Around Main Strip
Listen to Live Music
Have Lunch at a New Restaurant
Go Out for Drinks
Visit a Tourist Spot in Our Hometown
Go Swimming
Go See a Local Band
Go Fruit Picking
Visit a Winery
Blue Sticks: At Home Dates – $$
Fondue Night
Takeout and Scrabble
Nachos and Yahtzee Night
Paris night: Baguette, French Wine, and Cheese
Chinese Food at the Warf
Sculpture a Block of Ice Cream (Get generic brand to ensure firmness)
Make (decorate) T-Shirts for Each Other
Indoor Unbirthday Party (for both of you)
Build a Hobby Shop Project Together
Champagne & Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Accomplish a ‘Home’ Project
Restaurant at Home (Recreate a menu from your favorite restaurant)
Make Ice Cream Sundaes
Green Sticks: At Home Dates – $0
Popcorn and a Chick-Flick
Crosswords and Breakfast for Dinner
Make a Dessert Together
TV Series Marathon
Homemade Pizzas and an Italian Movie
Cook Dinner Together – with Smooches
Bake Cookies Together – with Smooches
Read on the Couch Together
Sensual Back Rub Night
Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries & Bath Night
Carpet Picnic
Work-Out Together – set up stations: jump rope etc;
Total Theme Night – Dress, Dinner & Movie
Yellow Sticks: Activities Outside the Home – $0
Go for a Walk
Jogging
Hike in the Woods
Lie in the Grass & Find Shapes in the Clouds
Build Sandcastles/Snowmen (depending on the season)
Go People Watching
Go Snorkeling
Make Kites and go Fly Them
Roller Skating/Skateboarding
Explore a Local Park
Play Frisbee
Play Basketball
Go for a Bike Ride
Stargazing
Watch the Sunrise/Sunset
Take a Walk Around a Lake
Our Daily Bread – To The End
Read: Acts 1:1-8
It was my first day of class at the Moscow Bible Institute where I was teaching Russian pastors. I began by asking the students to give their names and where they served, but one student shocked me as he boldly declared, “Of all the pastors, I am the most faithful to the Great Commission!” I was taken aback momentarily until, smiling, he continued, “The Great Commission says we are to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. I pastor north of the Arctic Circle in a village nicknamed ‘The End of the Earth’!” Everyone laughed and we continued with the session.
The words of that pastor, who ministered in the Yamal (which means “end of the world”) Peninsula, carry great significance. In Jesus’ final message to His disciples, He said, “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Every corner of our world, no matter how remote, must be touched by the message of the cross. The Savior died for the world—and that includes people both near and far.
Each of us has the opportunity to take the gospel to people in our “end of the earth.” No matter where you are, you can tell someone about the love of Christ. Who can you tell today?
If the gospel they don’t hear,
So we must proclaim its message
To the world—both far and near. —Sper
Before Creation
Today’s Scripture:
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world… – Ephesians 1:4, NIV.
Today’s Word:
Did you know that God chose you before the foundations of the earth? Before the worlds were ever formed, He knew you. And, He didn’t create you to be average. He didn’t create you to barely get by. No, He created you to excel! Not only has He chosen you, but He has equipped you with everything you need to live and thrive in this life. He has deposited seeds of greatness inside every person. But in order to tap into those seeds of greatness, you have to believe this and act on it.
Too many people today are going around with low self-esteem, feeling inferior like they don’t have what it takes. But that is living a lie. And as long as we have a poor self-image, we’re not going to experience God’s best. In order to be all that God has called us to be, we have to see ourselves as chosen, valuable and victorious.
Today, meditate on this truth. Let it sink down deep into your heart. Let it build confidence and security in you. As you understand your value in the eyes of God, you’ll be empowered to live the life of victory He has prepared for you!
Prayer for Today:
Father God, thank You for choosing me. Thank You for equipping me. Help me to see myself the way You see me. Show me Your ways that I may walk with You in confidence and trust all the days of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Our Responsibility – God’s Responsibility
by Joyce Meyer – posted September 27, 2012
do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. —Matthew 6:34
Every believer has the responsibility to live right—to be a doer of the Word and not just a hearer. Motivated by the reverential fear of the Lord, we can learn to live carefully and begin to make a difference in the world we live in. You and I need to be careful about what we allow into our spirits and how we live our lives.
Proverbs 4:23 says to guard our heart with all diligence because out of it flows the issues of life. I believe we should have a careful attitude about how we live—not a casual or a careless one. We need to be careful about what we watch, what we listen to, what we think about, and who our friends are.
I’m not saying we need to live according to the strict and demanding dictates of man. Some would say we must not wear makeup or that we must wear colorless clothing from our necks to our ankles. That is nothing more than legalistic bondage to a bunch of rules and regulations. I had a very legalistic relationship with God for years and was miserable, so the last thing I want to do is teach legalism.
What I am saying is that we shouldn’t compromise. We should recognize our responsibility as Christians to live our lives in such a way that unbelievers will be attracted to God by our behavior.
James 4:17 says, “. . . any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin.” In other words, if we are convicted that something is wrong, then we must not do it—even if we see a hundred other people doing it and getting by with it. They may seem to be getting by with it, but sooner or later, we will all reap what we sow.
We know that worry and anxiety are not characteristics of a godly Christian. Yet still, many Christians worry. You can choose to worry, or you can reject worry and choose to live with joy and peace. Most people don’t want to hear that message, and they seem to find an odd comfort in thinking that worrying is beyond their control. It is not. Worry is a sin against God.
As long as I’ve been in the church, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone make that statement. But it is sin. It is calling God a liar. It is saying that God is not sufficiently able to take care of you and provide for your needs.
Faith says, “God can do it.” Worry says, “God isn’t able to help me.”
When you worry, you not only call God a liar, but you have also allowed the devil to fill your mind with anxious thoughts. The more you focus on the problems, the larger they become. You start to fret and may even end up in despair.
Think of the words of the great apostle: “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]” (Philippians 4:13). Or think of the words from the psalmist: “Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5).
Jesus told His disciples not to be anxious and, as quoted above, not to worry about tomorrow. But He did more than teach those words; He lived them out: “And Jesus replied to him, Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have lodging places, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20). That wasn’t a complaint but a simple fact of life. Jesus trusted His Father’s provision for Him even when He didn’t know where He would sleep or what He would eat.
Jesus taught that we are not to worry about anything in life. He wasn’t speaking about planning and thinking ahead. He was saying that some people never act because fear holds them back. They can always tell you ten things that can go wrong with every plan. Jesus wants us to live a stress-free life. If you are worrying about what might happen, you’re hindering God from working in your life.
I heard about a couple whose daughter was diagnosed with a serious illness that wasn’t covered by insurance. The parents were struggling to pay all the medical bills. Not knowing what else to do, they both went into their bedroom for a lengthy time of prayer. Afterward the husband said, “It was really quite simple. I am God’s servant. My responsibility is to serve my Master. His responsibility is to take care of me.”
The next day, the doctors told them that their daughter was eligible to be part of an experimental surgery and all expenses would be paid. The wife smiled and said, “God is responsible, isn’t He?” What a testimony to their faith and trust in God who remains faithful and responsible at all times and in all things. God is no respecter of persons. What He does for one, He will do for another (see Romans 2:11). I encourage you to stop worrying and start trusting in Him.
Lord God, I know that worry is a sin against You. In the name of Jesus, help me overcome all anxieties and worry and enable me to trust You to provide for every need I have. Amen.
From the book Battlefield of the Mind Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2006 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.
I Am Lady Fab 