I came across this intriguing article on MSNBC.com earlier today called Woman living la vida Oprah – Woman follows the gospel according to Oprah. 

A yoga instructor in Chicago decided to live life for one full year according to everything Oprah recommends, albeit somewhat tongue-in-cheek.  I found it to be a rather amusing article, based on her interview with Matt Lauer on The Today Show.  Her blog and website is http://www.livingoprah.com/, and she even includes a chart of all the things she is doing, including money and time spent. 

Oprah has such a fan-following and it is amazing to me that anything she says and recommends is a must-have.  Do people really do what she says?  This lady likened it to following the popular girl in high school.  I had to laugh at the analogy.    True, huh? 

All that said, I am still sickened and sad at Oprah’s misleading of the masses to a false religion, so far away from Christianity – away from the only way to our God, Jesus Christ.  I think this is an interesting commentary on how easy it is to build a mass following by getting popular in the material aspects of our lives, then easily leading them astray by the hand in the spiritual aspects.

Gulps

We took the kids for a walk around the neighborhood on Saturday.  Who needs to go to the zoo to see wildlife when you live in Florida?   (Chris and kids are in the background.)

Snake sunning on bush

Who

He was not small.

Growing Up, Gulps

A few days ago, I shared with you how the Lord was teaching me that He alone is my Solid Rock, my Firm Foundation, my Jesus forever.  My husband is not my solid rock (although he is handsomely solid   ), nor is the house, our paychecks, our families, my friends – nothing this world offers can ever be any kind of solid rock as much as it might appear that way.  This morning, I learned even more how God has been working this lesson in me.  Read on.

Today, I finally finished a Bible study I had been working through for quite some time by Catherine Martin called Pilgrimage of the Heart.  First, let me just tell you that if you have never done any of her studies, you are missing out on an incredible blessing.  I rank her right up there with Beth Moore’s studies.  Just incredible.  Anyhow, I started this study over a year ago…yea, yea…I know its only an 8-week study but I tend to pick up and put down studies pretty frequently.  God uses that in my spiritual walk, however, and I do finish them.  Whenever I pick a study back up, its always at just the right time.  I love how that happens – it always take my breath away.

Back to my story and God-moment today…

At the beginning of the study, Ms. Martin has the reader write a prayer/letter to the Lord about what is weighing heavy on your heart, etc.  At the close of the study, she has you review that letter and see how God worked in your life.

It seems I have come full circle with a prayer in the process of being answered, a pilgramage that my heart is certainly on right now as I learn to lean on Him alone as my Solid Rock.  This is one line out of what I wrote in my opening letter and prayer of this study over a year ago:

“With so much change…you have to be my rock…”

I was immediately humbled.  I know the Holy Spirit works and lives in me.  But to KNOW it like that…how do I even begin to express the awe that I felt upon reading those words I had written over a year ago and realizing where I am now?   I felt humbled.  Loved.  Cherished.  And there I fall, tongue-tied.

So many lessons learned today – the Holy Spirit IS working.  Prayers ARE being answered.  He IS growing me in HIS time.  It DOES help to write out and journal prayers.  Need I go on?

Be my rock, Lord Jesus.

God Stuff, Gulps

Matthew 7:25-27

25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Two Sundays ago, one of the songs we played for worship was The Solid Rock – a contemporary arrangement of the traditional hymn written by Edward Mote (1797-1874).  I love hearing the same words in new arrangements because I hear them anew and it stirs my soul to listen closely and truly listen.  Well, when I am not concentrating on making sure I get the chords right!   

The Lord God has been teaching me through His Holy Spirit lately to depend on Jesus as my Solid Rock, my Firm foundation in this world of shifting sands.  He is the ONLY solid rock.  This trust has been on my heart for some time now and I am sure it will be for some time to come.  I look forward to meditating on it some more.  For now, I would like to share the words of this great hymn with you…

The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; in ev’ry high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood support me in the whelming flood; when all around my sould gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found, dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand – all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.

What are you standing on that you think is solid rock? 

God Stuff, Gulps

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. -1 Corinthians 13:12

As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.  -Proverbs 27:19 

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  -2 Corinthians 3:18

When we see toddlers and preschoolers imitating us as adults, we all oogle in wonder and choruses of ooh’s and aah’s can be heard all around.  Give a little boy a tie, glasses and a newspaper and he is the most handsome thing to walk this side of the Mississippi.  Watch little girls dancing with their daddy’s and hearts melt all over the place. 

As our babies grow, they learn by imitation and Chris and I are continually amazed at how much they study us then copy our words, actions and habits.  Sometimes its funny, sometimes we are stunned at how smart they are, and sometimes it is…embarrassing.  Parenting offers up a mirror, and that mirror is often all to clear.

G has recently started reflecting…me.  In my not so glorious moments.  I was preparing dinner and he and S were sitting at the table waiting not-so-patiently for their meal when he decided to sit in the chair I usually occupy and play the part of “mommy.” 

“You!  Sit in the chair and eat!”

“S!  Use your spoon, hush, and eat!”

“1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8….9…10!   Ok…that’s it…to your room….now!”

And on and on and on the tape recording went. Chris was nearly doubled over in silent laughter.  My face was red.  G had intoned not only every word, but the intensity level as well.  *sigh*  Ok, so I know I am not the only mom to fuss at my kids at dinner or other times in the house.  But that my kids knew it so well?

Or does G just have a good memory?

Either way, it provided food for thought and a reflection to comtemplate.

God Stuff, Growing Up, Gulps