And the Shofar Blew...

It is a rainy Monday.  I got in my gym clothes, got Bella dressed, and we ate breakfast.  When it was time to head out the door, she said, "Mommy, I don't want to get wet."  At the time, the rain was really coming down.  I said, "I don't want to get wet either."  I scooped her up off the couch, sat down, and put her in my lap.  We cuddled on the couch for almost an hour.  So, I didn't quite make it out to the gym, but I figure next year when both kids are gone for school, there will be plenty of time for the gym.
Bella has developed this unsettling habit of saying things are dumb, stupid, ugly, old, etc.  It doesn't even have to be brought about by emotion.  She will be watching television and say, "That person looks stupid."  We are at a complete loss of where this behavior came from or how to change it.  We tell her each time that it is rude to say negative things about people - no matter who they are or where they are.  We have put her in time-out and taken privileges away, all to no avail.  AAAHHHH!  It seems like we go from one parenting dilemma to another.

I am very tired today, anyway.  I stayed up late last night finishing, "And the shofar blew" by Francine Rivers.  A very weird name for a really great book.  I think that anyone who is involved in any type of ministry should read it - or really anyone who wants to serve the Lord.  It is a novel, but it presents the sad truth about the state of some churches in America today.  It was suggested to me by the wife of a pastor who is planting a church in Maryland.  When I was reading the book, I thought how easily it is to fall into the self-justifying traps that Satan lays out for us.  It is even easier to explain our behavior when we have ears willing to hear and accept what we have to say.  Being accountable to someone who will tell you the truth, even if it hurts, is so drastically important in our lives. It is sad that it is naturally the very thing we try to avoid.

Several years ago in January, I was challenged by someone to find a verse in the Psalms to memorize and focus on for the year.  After reading through the entire book, I could not find one single verse that I felt fit, but I felt like Psalm 15 was not only my verse for the year, but for my lifetime.  Since then,  I have returned time and time again to this chapter (and to chapter 16 as well) to weigh my attitudes, actions, and behaviors against what I read.

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.

 ¹ LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
       Who may live on your holy hill?  ² He whose walk is blameless
       and who does what is righteous,
       who speaks the truth from his heart
 ³ and has no slander on his tongue,
       who does his neighbor no wrong
       and casts no slur on his fellowman,
 ⁴ who despises a vile man
       but honors those who fear the LORD,
       who keeps his oath
       even when it hurts,
 ⁵ who lends his money without usury (interest)
       and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
       He who does these things
       will never be shaken.

Psalm 16

A miktam of David.

 ¹ Keep me safe, O God,
       for in you I take refuge.  ² I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
       apart from you I have no good thing."
 ³ As for the saints who are in the land,
       they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
 ⁴ The sorrows of those will increase
       who run after other gods.
       I will not pour out their libations of blood
       or take up their names on my lips.
 ⁵ LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
       you have made my lot secure.
 ⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
       surely I have a delightful inheritance.
 ⁷ I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
       even at night my heart instructs me.
 ⁸ I have set the LORD always before me.
       Because he is at my right hand,
       I will not be shaken.
 ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
       my body also will rest secure,
 ¹⁰ because you will not abandon me to the grave,
       nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
 ¹¹ You have made known to me the path of life;
       you will fill me with joy in your presence,
       with eternal pleasures at your right hand.