Friday, January 30, 2009

Second night of Spiritual Uplifting: Hear What the Spirit Has to Say

We attended meeting last night for the second time this week.  Generally, Thursday's and Sunday's are our only meeting days but things shift around a bit when the Circuit Overseer visits.  Last night we had the Congregation Bible Study then had a wonderful talk by Brother Bicht.  Meeting let out about 8:50 pm and we had 141 in attendance.  It still amazes me how our little congregation continues to grow.

 

It was a rainy night and still is quite rainy and cool this morning.  In a couple of weeks I want to get some plants to put out for spring but they will have to wait as we are still under freeze warnings for a couple days over the weekend.

 

As I did on Wednesday I will share my notes from last nights talk. 

The talk was entitled "Hear What the Spirit Has to Say"

First Brother Bicht began with a detailed explanation of how the physical side of hearing works.  He gave us all the medical terms which I skipped writing down.  It did show that our physical hearing is truly a blessing and a gift from Jehovah God. 

Why did he give us this ability?

Check out scriptures at Revelation 2:11, 17, 29 etc.  They all begin with "Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit has to say to the congregation"  This appears seven times in the book of Revelation

Here Jehovah is not referring to literal "hearing".  (hearing:  a corridor into the mind)

There are only THREE instances in the entire Bible where Jehovah's God's personal voice is heard by people here on earth.

1.  @ Jesus Baptism

2.  @ the transfiguration

3.  Just before the last passover Jehovah said  "i both glorified it and will glorify it again"

He brought out that in Insight on the Scriptures (published by Jehovah's Witnesses) it brings out that some texts refer to the spirit as speaking while others say it has no voice of it's own.  It speaks THROUGH others.  The spirit works through others.

2 Peter 1:21 shows "For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit." (new world translation of the holy scriptures)

1 Peter 2:2 tells us

[and,] as newborn infants, form a longing for the unadulterated milk belonging to the word, that through it YOU may grow to salvation,

He brought out that babies are born with a natural longing for mother's milk.  Peter recognized that for us forming a longing for Bible reading and study may not be natural.  The brother stated the Bible says we have to do it, it doesn't say we have to like it.  :)  It may take us time to learn to enjoy our daily study and reading. 

We have to do MORE than just read the Bible.  There are over 4 Billion copies of the Bible world wide.  Many in the world have read the Bible and many can quote scripture.  But do they UNDERSTAND the Bible?  Do the KNOW God's name?  When they quote the prayer "hallowed be thy name" do they know the name they are supposed to hold holy?

Today Jehovah's spirit speaks to us through the writings and teaching of our Faithful and Discreet slave class.  They publish articles through our  magazines and books to help us understand the Bible.  We should be grateful for what we are provided .  He told of several years ago, when the watchtower was still delivered by mail and Brother Hugo Reemer from Bethel was visiting an elderly couple.  The magazine came in the mail and the elderly man explained to Brother Reemer that before they even remove the wrapper him and his wife pray to Jehovah that they are worthy of the information Jehovah is about to give them.  I thought this point was wonderful.  We need to show appreciation for the information we are blessed with.  We need to read ALL the information we are given, all articles, this shows we appreciate Jehovah, his spirit and all the hours the brothers and sisters spend helping to provide this for us.

He used a quote from Mark Twain that I hadn't heard before but really liked

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.”

(side note:  this quote really makes a lot of sense.  Many of us have the ability to read but if we do not use it we are no better off than an illiterate man)

Reading the Bible, Bible based articles and books, personal Bible Study, meeting attendance can help us to train our conscious.   Everyone has a conscious but many choose to stop listening to it.  Our conscious can become numb but we can train out conscious to work for us based on what God wants.  It can remind us of the way the spirit wants us to walk.

Isaiah 30: 21 And your own ears will hear a word behind you saying: “This is the way. Walk in it, YOU people,” in case YOU people should go to the right or in case YOU should go to the left.

Our conscious can be the "word behind you"

When the spirit talks are we listening?  How loud does the spirit have to talk in order for us to listen?

We need to learn how to control our thoughts and actions.  When bad thoughts may come to mind we need to learn to turn our thoughts to upbuilding spiritual things.  Memorize Bible books, apostles etc.

We then went over how our congregation has improved since the last visit of the Circuit Overseer:

Magazine placements, Bible studies, service are all up.

We have had 5 new baptized ones over the last two years (including me :)  )

We have three new pioneers (full time ministers that put in at least 70 hours a month in the ministry)

I look forward to our Sunday meeting and to the last talks from Brother Bicht for this visit.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Notes from Circuit Overseer Talk

I admit I'm still a bit of a "nerd".  When I am at meeting I always take notes.  I have found this helps me tremendously in remembering key points.

Last night our Circuit Overseer was here.  We had 134 in attendance which has become pretty average lately.  We used to average about 70 or so and on Sundays 90.  Our little congregation has grown!   Brother Bicht's talk last night was titled  "Follow Jesus' Pattern In the Ministry"

He said he would make it easy to remember his pattern and gave us the 4 "M"s
Motive
Method
Message
Manner

Jesus was always motivated by love for Jehovah and love for people.    1 Peter 2:21 tells us that Christ left a model for us to follow.

Jesus used the same method as we Jehovah's Witnesses do today.  He preached "house to house" (Acts 20:20)

Jesus' message is also the same as we preach today.  We tell people the good news of the Kingdom.  We share with them what the Bible fortells for our future and what Jehovah has planned to rid the earth of all of the violence, hatred and death..  (Isaiah 65:17)

Jesus' manner was composed of three things zeal, boldness and impartiality.   Jesus knew as we do today that people's lives were at stake and therefore preached with great zeal. (Acts 5:28)
It may take much prayer on our part to be bold.  Many are shy and get comfortable preaching door to door but when it comes to talking to workmates, schoolmates, other family members we hold back.  We, too, need to be bold.
We want to be like Jesus and never "pre-judge".  We never know who is looking for the truth found in God's word the Bible.  We want to be like Jesus when he talked to the Samaritian woman at the well and share zealously, boldly and without partiality.  (John 4:6)

I enjoyed the meeting last night.  Other than the circuit overseer's talk we had our Theocratic Ministry School and Service Meeting.  We always learn much.  Sharing in association before and after meeting is always wonderful.  Last night I was able to see a sister who has a new six week old daughter.  The lil' one has grown so much in just six weeks and is such a pretty little thing.  When I first started attending my congregation about 2 and half years ago there were not many children at all.  Now there are many kids of various ages.  It's always wonderful to hear the little ones of about 2 and up answer questions.  The circuit overseer made sure to include parts last night that made it easy for them to participate and give short answers.  I love to see how proud they are of themselves when answer.

If anyone has questions about my religion please feel free to ask.  You can also visit the following link to look up anything you may wonder about on your own.  Official Site


Monday, January 26, 2009

Do I need a "do over"

You know, I think I have been a pretty good mom to my kids.  So far, no one is on drugs or binge drinking.  I keep them near me most of the time.  I watch their association.  They know there is a God and his name is Jehovah.  They can all cook, bake, clean house and do their own laundry.  They know that money doesn't grow on trees no matter how many quarters we plant.  There is one thing that bothers me though.

The don't listen to me.  Oh, I know, everyone says their kids don't listen.  My kids mind us.  They will call or come to us for advice and then DO JUST THE OPPOSITE.  I have seen issues with my oldest for awhile now.  Depression and mood disorders run in my family.  I could see she was headed there.  Finally last night I told her she really needs to see a doctor and maybe get on a little something to help her mood swings.  

She was here over the weekend with her boyfriend and their son.  I don't think I once heard her call her boyfriend by name.  She called him by several profanities.  No matter what he did or what he tried it was wrong and she hollored at him.  I told her this is not normal.  She said "he's an ass he deserves it, he's cheated on me before."

So, leave him.  Move on.  Don't bicker and fight with your son around.  I made her mad.  She has not called me all day.  This is a girl that calles me about 10 times each day.  

I asked my husband what I have done wrong.  My kids do not seem grateful for all that I do for them.  I drive 30 miles one way to take my son to his classes.  He gets out, slams the door and heads for the school.  No, thanks for the ride mom.  Many days, since it is such a drive with the traffic I find a place to park and wait, sometimes up to four hours.  Does he have consideration to come out as soon as class is over. No, he has to finish this or that or talk to this one or that one.  

I just don't get it.  I have tried my best to teach them and yet things seem to come back at me.  

So, there is a new lil' one on the way.  Aiden will arrive some time in May.  My kids don't seem excited.  They keep telling me "with you as a mom boy is this kid  doomed."  

My kids always had new clothes on their backs.  Treats (most of the time home made) after school when they were younger, they got all the latest toys and gadgets sometimes even when we couldn't afford them.  I cooked dinner every night.  (now that they are older they help from time to time).  We have cable and internet (although I am mean and limit what they can watch.. no rated R and I have a program that blocks junk on the internet).  They tell me I am too strict but they are very loved.  I tell them daily I love them.  There are kids that would just LOVE a mother like me... so why do I feel inadequet?  

I wonder, will I be a good mom for Aiden?  I want to do my best.  I want to be a stay at home mom.  I want homeschool him.  I think that many of the issues my kids have gone through has alot to do with what they have been exposed to in school.  It's so full of junk these days.  


Monday, January 19, 2009

For Today

What would I like to accomplish today?

Well, I would like to finish my master bathroom.  Yesterday I finished under the counters and the closet.  Today it needs a good deep cleaning.  I would like to have my daughter help get the back screen porch back in order and cleaned up so as we get warmer days I can set out there and enjoy them.  There are two pieces of screen that need replacing thanks to grandchildren.  I think what we are going to do is put lattice around the bottom of the whole screen porch.  It is quite high in the air and they tend to try and lean against the screen and it is not a safe thing to do.   Once we get the screens replaced I think will will go around the entire thing with lattice to give it a bit more safety.  

I would also like to install a clothes line out there to hang towels and sheets from time to time.  I love the smell of line dried bedding and towels.  Not to mention it helps on our electric bill.  If hubby won't do lines maybe I will purchase a couple of those wooden clothes driers for out there.  
I also need to figure out how to pay for some of the things my son needs for his senior year.  We are so broke right now and he needs art supplies for a class that cost almost 70 bucks and he needs his cap and gown and graduation invites.   I am hoping we get our w2's soon and we can get at least some money back to help with these expenses.  I am not sure how all of that will work out this year.  

I also want to get at least two kitchen cupboards cleaned out today to made room for baby things that will be coming in the coming months.  

Kait is visiting this coming weekend with my wonderful grandson Colby.  By the weekend I want to have the safety latches installed on the kitchen cupboards.  I have had them over six months and hubby still hasn't installed them so I guess it isup to me.  I tend to end up with alot of the household projects b/c he never gets to them.  MEN!  


Sunday, January 11, 2009

Busy Weekend

Well, Friday we went to my daughter Kait's and she passed us a ton of baby stuff.  Two large bags of clothes, a baby swing, a bouncey seat, a tub, a boppy pillow/gym, a bumbo seat, toys, diaper bags, bibs, etc.  Aiden's shelves are now full and my closet now is overflowing.  It is great though it will help so much.  

I spent Friday night washing all of the clothes and hanging or folding them.  They had been put away clean but were in storage for awhile so I freshened them up.  Saturday a.m. I finished up my last load of baby clothes and moved on to our laundry.  Instead of just doing towels from my bathroom may daughter Em and I went through the house and found all of the dirty towels.  In her room, my son's room, their bathroom and mine.  I ended up doing three loads of towels.  Those are all caught up.  I did a load of my clothes, some blankets and table clothes.  Tomorrow I have a load of darks and some whites to do.  I will probably start tonight and finish up in the a.m.  It is nice making our own laundry soap and saves us so much money.  I did do the baby clothes in dreft and probably will for the first month, after that I will do his in the home made soap too.

Today we had to run to the flea market this afternoon to get vacuum bags.  For some reason it is the only place we have been able to find bags for my vacuum.  There is a vaccum repair guy there and he sells them.  I was in and out in 20 min and got the vacuum bag, hubbies' candy, oil for my lamp and a bunch of fresh produce.

Yesterday I marinated a london broil.  This afternoon hubby grilled it and Em and I cut up veggies and roasted them.  We did potatos, yellow squash, green peppers and onions.  They were SOOO good!

I have also gotten familiar with facebook and found a lot of old friends.  

It has been so nice here in Florida the last two days.  The weather has been cooler and I have had the house open and airing out.  It made we long to have some lines to hang my clothes out to dry.  That will probably be a project I attempt next weekend.  This weekend I put a shelf above my dryer to hold all my dish towels and cleaning rags.  The weather is supposed to take a turn and get even colder.  Many of the days ahead show highs of only 65.  I LOVE days like that.  Hubby loves them too as he works outside and cooler weather is so much more comfortable.

Well, off to do some more work.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Coming out of the closet....

With out tripping is now much easier thanks to my weekend project of re-doing my closet in order to make room for baby.

No, we are not going to store him in there but we need room for all his "stuff".

My closet started out with one huge long shelf and a rod underneath when we first moved in.  About a year ago the rod collapsed as it was only plastic.  Hubby ripped out the shelves and I "redneckified" the closet.  I put double rods at each end.  I staggered mine so that my dresses could hang in the back but I could also have a lower rod.   I did hubby's end with one just above the other has he doesn't have long clothes to hang.  Then in the empty space on the wall when you open the door I had a huge six foot book case with all my books, mags, papers etc. stored. 

I unloaded the book case, pitched what I could and moved the book case to the foot of my bed.  We then purchased new shelves for that wall which I staggered for baby's stuff.  It gives me room for burp clothes, bibs, blankets, sheets and all his hanging clothes. 

Here are the updated pics:

DSC05876

 

DSC05875

Our ends of the closet:

DSC05877

 

DSC05878

 

So with the book case moved I adjusted the shelves so that I have room for a lamp and my Bible reading/study material.  Nice comfy place to study.

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Almost 20/20-

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