ATTENTION: PCC Youth Group Parents....PCC Youth Group will be the FEATURED youth group on the Student Life Web Coverage TOMORROW MORNING at 7 A.M. you can log into http://www.studentlife.com/experiences and see our kids LIVE!!!!
In His Love, Cathy
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Happy Birthday, Scott!
Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband who turned 45 years young today! All these years later and he's still my handsome prince!
Oh yeah, that's not a girly cake...it's a strawberry cake made by Brittany for her Daddy:) Only a real man could pull off a cake like that! LOL!
Oh yes, thanks to the cross country team who gave him an Iron Man mask and a princess barbie...ya'll really made his day (especially Zach and Ethan)! I'll make sure he has those displayed in his classroom...I think he needs to wear the mask to meets!
In His Love, Cathy
PCC Youth @ Student Life 2010 - Covenant College
You can access each day's pictures from http://www.studentlife.com/experience/gallery.php?cn=10COVE04
Here's a few from the first day!
In His Love, Cathy
Here's a few from the first day!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Like A Child
I am like a small child struggling against her father, clinging ever so tightly to something I want - begging her Father not to take it away. But the Father knows what is best for her. He knows this thing she's clinging to isn't good for her. But instead of snatching it away and simply telling her, "No! You can't have this!" He wants her to make the choice. He knows that it is a lesson she must learn...a lesson that can only be taught by experience. So, He reasons with her - not just telling her why she needs to let it go but showing her how life would be so much better without this 'thing.' He knows how to best discipline His daughter so that she will grow and mature to make wise choices...after all He created her in His image and He knows her best.But as much as she desires to let this 'thing' go, as much as she desires to please her Father, she just can't seem to do so. It's so hard for her to give it up! Though she can see the good in letting it go, she can also see the good in keeping this thing in her life. But in keeping it, she will no doubt disappoint her Father. In keeping it, she risks disobedience. Outwardly, this thing shouldn't seem to have such a hold on her life should she keep it. However, the price for keeping it is huge...it will be a reflection of her heart...a reflection of her obedience, trust, and love for her Father. Though the choice seems easy to make - to give this thing up and please the Father - it isn't easy to her. It's so hard for her to relinquish this to her Father. It's so very difficult to just let this 'thing' go!
Then she reads, "Lord, we show our trust in You by obeying your laws; our hearts' desire is to glorify you!" Isaiah 26:9
She realizes her struggle is a reflection of her heart - who does she love more - her Father or this 'thing' in her life? She is gently reminded that her love for her Father is acted out by her obedience.
With this realization, the answer is clear. She loves her Father more, therefore, this thing has to go. It won't be easy, so she calls on her Father to help.
And true to His Word, her Daddy lifts her up in His loving arms, giving her the strength she needs to relinquish this 'thing' in her life. But a Father's job isn't finished, so He remains by her side, supporting her as she walks down life's challenging road - for He knows that the next 'thing' is just around the corner.
Whatever you are struggling with today, let it go...give it up to our Father who is far better and most capable of helping. Let Him deal with it - it's not worth struggling against Him on it. He is ALWAYS faithful to deliver on his promises! Trust Him and obey Him - He has your best interests in mind!
Grace and peace!
In His Love, Cathy
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Mindset
"Now determine in your mind to seek the Lord your God..." 1 Chronicles 22:19a (HCSB)
Our mindset is a powerful tool. Our mindset is an important factor in attaining our goals in life. As a math teacher, I see how one's mindset can impact success and failure in the classroom. Students who have a determination to understand and learn difficult material usually achieve success. Their mindset drives them to work hard, get extra help if needed, and the tenacity to stick with difficult material. Giving up isn't an option for them - they see themselves achieving their goal. And yet there are other students who give up on the very first problem - not even picking up a pencil to attempt it or raise their hand for help. They simply do not have the mindset for classroom achievement, for whatever reason. They are disinterested or they simply do not possess the self-discipline or tenacity needed. They do not visualize themselves achieving in the classroom and therefore they don't.
Our mindset also impacts our spiritual life. An aging David knew this well. So when it came time for him to pass the torch to his son, Solomon, he also passed along very wise advice to the new king - DETERMINE in your MIND to seek the LORD your GOD! I love the way this passage is written in the HCSB. In the NLT it reads, "Now seek the Lord with all your heart and soul." Same meaning, just a little different wording. The bottom line is the same - we are to deliberately have our minds set 100% on the LORD - LOVING HIM...and LIVING PURPOSELY for HIM!
Once we accept Christ, we are made clean. And though the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us, showing us how to live for Christ, we don't always listen. Therefore, having our minds set upon God and the things of God is CRITICAL in our Christian walk. We can no longer flit here and there through life without purpose. Our lives no longer belong to us. Jesus paid for us with HIS VERY OWN BLOOD - we are now HIS. Paul says, "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 3:20) Hence, we are to live every day DELIBERATELY for Him!
So how are we to have a mindset for the Lord? What are we to do? Colossians Chapter 3 gives a wonderful description on how. In fact, the first 4 verses of chapter 3 gives us a clear directive about our mindset.
"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." Colossians 3:1-4
Did you get all of that? This passage was packed with POWER! Let's dissect what Paul is saying here. First, as I've already mentioned, we have been given new life in Christ. Our response to this wonderful new life is that we are to have a MIND that is SET on the REALITIES of HEAVEN - our thoughts should be focused on the things of heaven, not of the earth! This verse was packed with conviction for me. I mean, how many times this morning, even, have my thoughts and concerns heavily focused on earthly things that really don't amount to a hill of beans? Another convicting truth in this passage is the FACT that we have DIED to this life! Our REALITY is CHRIST - NOT this world! Our reality is of HEAVENLY PROPORTIONS and APPORTIONS! I wonder how often we live out this truth in our daily lives? I mean, how much gravity do we give to the things of heaven as we go about our daily routine?
Another concept we must grasp in order to have a mindset for Christ is the reality that we are DEAD to SIN! Once we accept Christ, sin NO LONGER has any power over us! In fact, the tide has now turned - WE now have POWER over SIN because of Jesus Christ! So why is it that so many of us live defeated by sin? Why is it that we just can't seem to resist temptation? Why do repeatedly commit the sins we so despise? I believe that sometimes we fall into sin because we are not completely yielded to Christ. At other times, I think we feel weak and unable to resist sin's power. Satan delights in making us feel weak and helpless. His lie is that we are powerless against sin. The bottom line is that we DO HAVE POWER to resist sin! Unfortunately, we just don't claim that power!
Romans 6:10-11 says, "When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus."
Jesus Christ BROKE the power of sin on the cross. SIN HAS NO POWER over believers! BUT...in order to claim this power, we must have the mind set that we are also DEAD to the power of sin and ALIVE in GOD through JESUS! The power of sin in our lives has been completely removed and REPLACED by the POWER of GOD! How awesome is that? Colossians 3:5 says, "So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have NOTHING to do with sexual immoratily, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world."
With the power of Christ, we are to PUT TO DEATH the sinful things that lurk within us. We have been given the power to do this - the Holy Spirit to help us - we just need to have the determined mindset to claim this truth! In fact, the next time I'm tempted to sin, I think I will declare this truth - out loud if I have to, "Sin, you are the weakest link! You are dead to me by the power of Jesus Christ! Goodbye!"
We are to also have a mindset holiness...being tenderhearted, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. (Colossians 3:12) We are to have a mindset of forgiveness and love. (Colossians 3:13-14) We are to have a mindset of peace. (Colossians 3:15) We are to have a mindset for letting the "message of Christ, in all its richness" fill our lives. (Colossians 3:16) If our focus is directed vertically on the things of heaven, then those things horizontally positioned have absolutely no power over us!
So today, I'm determining in my mind to seek the Lord my God! What is your mindset?
For additional reading:
Proverbs 14:12
Colossians Chapter 3
Galatians 2:20
Grace and peace!
Love, Cathy
Our mindset is a powerful tool. Our mindset is an important factor in attaining our goals in life. As a math teacher, I see how one's mindset can impact success and failure in the classroom. Students who have a determination to understand and learn difficult material usually achieve success. Their mindset drives them to work hard, get extra help if needed, and the tenacity to stick with difficult material. Giving up isn't an option for them - they see themselves achieving their goal. And yet there are other students who give up on the very first problem - not even picking up a pencil to attempt it or raise their hand for help. They simply do not have the mindset for classroom achievement, for whatever reason. They are disinterested or they simply do not possess the self-discipline or tenacity needed. They do not visualize themselves achieving in the classroom and therefore they don't.
Our mindset also impacts our spiritual life. An aging David knew this well. So when it came time for him to pass the torch to his son, Solomon, he also passed along very wise advice to the new king - DETERMINE in your MIND to seek the LORD your GOD! I love the way this passage is written in the HCSB. In the NLT it reads, "Now seek the Lord with all your heart and soul." Same meaning, just a little different wording. The bottom line is the same - we are to deliberately have our minds set 100% on the LORD - LOVING HIM...and LIVING PURPOSELY for HIM!
Once we accept Christ, we are made clean. And though the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us, showing us how to live for Christ, we don't always listen. Therefore, having our minds set upon God and the things of God is CRITICAL in our Christian walk. We can no longer flit here and there through life without purpose. Our lives no longer belong to us. Jesus paid for us with HIS VERY OWN BLOOD - we are now HIS. Paul says, "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 3:20) Hence, we are to live every day DELIBERATELY for Him!
So how are we to have a mindset for the Lord? What are we to do? Colossians Chapter 3 gives a wonderful description on how. In fact, the first 4 verses of chapter 3 gives us a clear directive about our mindset.
"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory." Colossians 3:1-4
Did you get all of that? This passage was packed with POWER! Let's dissect what Paul is saying here. First, as I've already mentioned, we have been given new life in Christ. Our response to this wonderful new life is that we are to have a MIND that is SET on the REALITIES of HEAVEN - our thoughts should be focused on the things of heaven, not of the earth! This verse was packed with conviction for me. I mean, how many times this morning, even, have my thoughts and concerns heavily focused on earthly things that really don't amount to a hill of beans? Another convicting truth in this passage is the FACT that we have DIED to this life! Our REALITY is CHRIST - NOT this world! Our reality is of HEAVENLY PROPORTIONS and APPORTIONS! I wonder how often we live out this truth in our daily lives? I mean, how much gravity do we give to the things of heaven as we go about our daily routine?
Another concept we must grasp in order to have a mindset for Christ is the reality that we are DEAD to SIN! Once we accept Christ, sin NO LONGER has any power over us! In fact, the tide has now turned - WE now have POWER over SIN because of Jesus Christ! So why is it that so many of us live defeated by sin? Why is it that we just can't seem to resist temptation? Why do repeatedly commit the sins we so despise? I believe that sometimes we fall into sin because we are not completely yielded to Christ. At other times, I think we feel weak and unable to resist sin's power. Satan delights in making us feel weak and helpless. His lie is that we are powerless against sin. The bottom line is that we DO HAVE POWER to resist sin! Unfortunately, we just don't claim that power!
Romans 6:10-11 says, "When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus."
Jesus Christ BROKE the power of sin on the cross. SIN HAS NO POWER over believers! BUT...in order to claim this power, we must have the mind set that we are also DEAD to the power of sin and ALIVE in GOD through JESUS! The power of sin in our lives has been completely removed and REPLACED by the POWER of GOD! How awesome is that? Colossians 3:5 says, "So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have NOTHING to do with sexual immoratily, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world."
With the power of Christ, we are to PUT TO DEATH the sinful things that lurk within us. We have been given the power to do this - the Holy Spirit to help us - we just need to have the determined mindset to claim this truth! In fact, the next time I'm tempted to sin, I think I will declare this truth - out loud if I have to, "Sin, you are the weakest link! You are dead to me by the power of Jesus Christ! Goodbye!"
We are to also have a mindset holiness...being tenderhearted, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. (Colossians 3:12) We are to have a mindset of forgiveness and love. (Colossians 3:13-14) We are to have a mindset of peace. (Colossians 3:15) We are to have a mindset for letting the "message of Christ, in all its richness" fill our lives. (Colossians 3:16) If our focus is directed vertically on the things of heaven, then those things horizontally positioned have absolutely no power over us!
So today, I'm determining in my mind to seek the Lord my God! What is your mindset?
For additional reading:
Proverbs 14:12
Colossians Chapter 3
Galatians 2:20
Grace and peace!
Love, Cathy
Monday, July 19, 2010
Thyroid Cancer, Osteoperosis, Diabetes & Me
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and you restored my health.
3 You brought me up from the grave,[a] O Lord.
You kept me from falling into the pit of death.
Psalm 30:2-3
Thankful is an understatement of how I feel this morning. I've just returned from a doctor appointment where I've found out for the first time in years, bloodwork has returned with highly favorable results. Most of you know this, but for those who don't, I am a cancer survivor. I had thyroid cancer. My thyroid had to be completely removed. I underwent treatment. And I've been on a high dose of synthroid for 10 years. Ever since my thyroid was removed, I've routinely paid homage to my specialists office every 4 to 6 months - each time required bloodwork - bloodwork which always showed the presence of thyroglobulin. Thyroglobulin can only be produced by active thyroid cells. Because of the type of cancer I had, any surviving thyroid cells are bad. Even after surgery and treatment, there is always a chance that a few remnant cells survived. In order to keep them surpressed, I had to remain on high doses of synthroid. Today, for the first time EVER in the 10 years since my cancer diagnosis, my thyroglobulin level was ZERO!!!! Nilch! Nada! None! I'm taking this to mean I'm CANCER FREE! Hallelujah!
So, what does this mean? It means my doctor was finally able to reduce my synthroid dosage. High dosages of synthroid also takes it toll on the body. For one, they believed this high dosage was causing the increased migraines I suffered. In addition, I was diagnosed with osteoperosis today, due to being on such a high dosage for so long. But wait, there's more! I am also having diabetic/glucose issues, which can also be a side effect of the synthroid. They are doing further tests for diabetes. All of this can explain so many of the health issues I've had over the years - especially over the last couple of years when it seemed my health was in a downward spiral - pointedly the recurrent ankle/foot injuries over the last six months and the difficulty in their healing!
Even though I have osteoperosis and I quite possibly have diabetes, my heart is GLAD and I am THANKFUL! A day without the fear of cancer is a blessed day indeed! My God has rescued me, yet again!
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.
Psalm 73:26
In His Love, Cathy
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