I have just completed an assignment that was all about blogging and how I can use it withing the classroom. It's crazy at how many things are out there to help students learn about ICT's and other technological tools.
It's the same with the tools God has given us to live this life. God has given us the Bible full of tools and stories of people who have gone before us. I have heard it said that the Bible is our Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Here are some things we can apply to our lives:
Ephesians 6:10-18 : The Armour of God
Matthew 6:9-13 : How we should pray
Luke 10:27 : Love God, Love others
1 Corinthians 13 : Faith, Hope and Love
Galations 5:22 : The Fruit of the Spirit
There are so many verses that Jesus gives us. Even picking one a week to focus on, we will become more and more like him.
Michelle x
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Monday, December 14, 2009
3 Things about the Holy Spirit
1. The Holy Spirit is a Person.
How can we know this to be true?
The Holy Spirit: -Can be grieved: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God” Eph 4:30 -Has a mind: “the mind of the Spirit” Rom 8:27 -Has knowledge: “knows the thoughts of God” 1 Cor 2:11 -Processes affection: “the love of the Spirit” Rom 15:30 -Has a will: “distributing to each one individually as He wills” 1 Cor 12:11
2. The Holy Spirit as the Promise.
The background to the story is that Jesus has just risen from the dead and is spending His last few days with the disciples before going back to heaven. He had some very important things to tell them, they would not see Him on earth again. They had been His closest friends for the last 3 and a half years. And he was leaving them with the responsibility of carrying on his work (which is found in Luke 4:18-19. Evangelising/spreading the good news, encouraging others, healing and deliverance). Jesus knew that they wouldn’t be able to complete this work of spreading the good news in their own strength and ability, and so one of His last conversations with them was to urge them to wait for a supernatural gift that would help them. This gift they were waiting for; found in Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised. In Acts 1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me."
This gift that the scriptures are talking about is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and his power
3. The Holy Spirit and his Power.
How can we know this to be true?
The Holy Spirit: -Can be grieved: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God” Eph 4:30 -Has a mind: “the mind of the Spirit” Rom 8:27 -Has knowledge: “knows the thoughts of God” 1 Cor 2:11 -Processes affection: “the love of the Spirit” Rom 15:30 -Has a will: “distributing to each one individually as He wills” 1 Cor 12:11
2. The Holy Spirit as the Promise.
The background to the story is that Jesus has just risen from the dead and is spending His last few days with the disciples before going back to heaven. He had some very important things to tell them, they would not see Him on earth again. They had been His closest friends for the last 3 and a half years. And he was leaving them with the responsibility of carrying on his work (which is found in Luke 4:18-19. Evangelising/spreading the good news, encouraging others, healing and deliverance). Jesus knew that they wouldn’t be able to complete this work of spreading the good news in their own strength and ability, and so one of His last conversations with them was to urge them to wait for a supernatural gift that would help them. This gift they were waiting for; found in Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised. In Acts 1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me."
This gift that the scriptures are talking about is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and his power
3. The Holy Spirit and his Power.
Acts 1:8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you The gift of power is not receiving the Holy Spirit in salvation. When people are born again, their conversion is dependent on and effected by the Holy Spirit in response to their repentance and commitment to Christ. The Holy Spirit, in salvation, draws people, convicting them of sin, then pointing them to Jesus and making His sacrificial death real. The Holy Spirit then enters people lives and baptises them into the Body of Christ, the church. Salvation is to be confused with the gift of power to carry out the task of evangelism. Even the disciples were saved before the day of Pentecost.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
SHOUT IT OUT
I was in Brisbane this week for a youth pastors intensive. I have never driven to Brisbane or in Brisbane, but I have been there before. Some of the roads are three lanes and that is even in the suburbs, it’s crazy (I live in Bundaberg and the most lanes we have are double). I didn’t have a map of Brisbane so I went onto google maps to get directions to my friend’s house and the place where the intensive is. I printed these maps out. Even though I had these maps, of parts of Brisbane I still got lost. Sometimes I couldn’t find where I wanted to go because it wasn’t on the map I printed.
On Tuesday morning when I was on my way to the intensive I nearly took a wrong exit. In Brisbane they have the inner city bypass, again three lanes. I knew I had to be in the far left lane so I wouldn’t take the wrong exit. But all of a sudden I started veering left. I looked up and I had accidentally taken the sunshine coast exit, I had to turn back into the right lane otherwise I would have gotten totally lost and probably missed most of the first few sessions at the intensive.
There’s a scripture from Matthew 7:13-14 (MSG) it says:
13-14"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
There are two points out of this verse that relates to my experience. The first is from verse 13, ‘Don’t look for shortcuts to God.’ Some people like bits and pieces of the Bible... the verses that suit them but they don’t get the full picture of God’s love and what he has done. It’s like when I didn’t have the full map of Brisbane, just bits and pieces and I still got lost.
The second point is from verse 14, ‘The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.’ I had the map of how to get to the intensive but I nearly went in the wrong direction because I was listening to music. I have to pay attention. It’s the same with our Christian walk; we can get distracted from all sorts of things, not necessarily bad things but we can veer in the wrong direction until it’s too late.
-Michelle
On Tuesday morning when I was on my way to the intensive I nearly took a wrong exit. In Brisbane they have the inner city bypass, again three lanes. I knew I had to be in the far left lane so I wouldn’t take the wrong exit. But all of a sudden I started veering left. I looked up and I had accidentally taken the sunshine coast exit, I had to turn back into the right lane otherwise I would have gotten totally lost and probably missed most of the first few sessions at the intensive.
There’s a scripture from Matthew 7:13-14 (MSG) it says:
13-14"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
There are two points out of this verse that relates to my experience. The first is from verse 13, ‘Don’t look for shortcuts to God.’ Some people like bits and pieces of the Bible... the verses that suit them but they don’t get the full picture of God’s love and what he has done. It’s like when I didn’t have the full map of Brisbane, just bits and pieces and I still got lost.
The second point is from verse 14, ‘The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.’ I had the map of how to get to the intensive but I nearly went in the wrong direction because I was listening to music. I have to pay attention. It’s the same with our Christian walk; we can get distracted from all sorts of things, not necessarily bad things but we can veer in the wrong direction until it’s too late.
-Michelle
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Power of One
Love... there are many types of love but there is a love that is so great!! Jesus talks about this love in John 15 :12-13 (NLT)
12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
WOW!!! Jesus showed us this type of love when he died on the cross for us, and we are to love people in the same way. What a great challenge. It was ANZAC day a few weeks ago, on that day we celebrate our freedom because of the sacrifice men women paid for us. Some of us may have gone to one of the services or marches and experienced an overwhelming ceremony honouring the lives of those who served and who still serve. There have been many books written about the ANZAC’s and some of us may have even had assignments on them. This is our heritage.
April 25th, 1915, was the day the Anzac’s landed at Gallipoli. Bill Gammage in 1974 said,
“The best Australians were loyal to their mates in every circumstance. One laid down his life by giving his gas mask to a friend; another shot through the arm, stayed with his wounded mate for seven days in ‘No Man’s Land’ at From elles, scavenging food and water from the surrounding dead and at night dragging him slowly to safety until at last he rescued him; a third gave up leave in England to search a Flanders Battle field for the body of a mate killed there; a fourth walked 28 miles to tend his mates grave.”(Cullen. E (2002) pg 53)
When we hear about the ANZAC’s we don’t hear much about God or whether or not some were Christians. According to historian Michael McKernan, two motives stand out as to why Australians volunteered as chaplains.
“First, many wanted to demonstrate they were willing to participate in the nation’s solemn moment of sacrifice. In this, they closely identified with the nation’s commitment to the war effort. Second, most wanted to provide the ministrations [or support] of Christianity to all of those who served in the A.I.F. and to make certain that no soldier was lost to the Christian faith. Evangelicals overwhelmingly concurred. Chaplains from the evangelical churches knew well the theme of ‘sacrifice’ and identified with the call to be willing to ‘lay down one’s life one’s friends.’
These men and women have shown us that we have the power to impact people's lives... Jesus also showed us. This power to impact other is love!!!
1 John 3:16 (NIV) 16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to do the same. TRUE LOVE!!!
-Michelle
12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
WOW!!! Jesus showed us this type of love when he died on the cross for us, and we are to love people in the same way. What a great challenge. It was ANZAC day a few weeks ago, on that day we celebrate our freedom because of the sacrifice men women paid for us. Some of us may have gone to one of the services or marches and experienced an overwhelming ceremony honouring the lives of those who served and who still serve. There have been many books written about the ANZAC’s and some of us may have even had assignments on them. This is our heritage.
April 25th, 1915, was the day the Anzac’s landed at Gallipoli. Bill Gammage in 1974 said,
“The best Australians were loyal to their mates in every circumstance. One laid down his life by giving his gas mask to a friend; another shot through the arm, stayed with his wounded mate for seven days in ‘No Man’s Land’ at From elles, scavenging food and water from the surrounding dead and at night dragging him slowly to safety until at last he rescued him; a third gave up leave in England to search a Flanders Battle field for the body of a mate killed there; a fourth walked 28 miles to tend his mates grave.”(Cullen. E (2002) pg 53)
When we hear about the ANZAC’s we don’t hear much about God or whether or not some were Christians. According to historian Michael McKernan, two motives stand out as to why Australians volunteered as chaplains.
“First, many wanted to demonstrate they were willing to participate in the nation’s solemn moment of sacrifice. In this, they closely identified with the nation’s commitment to the war effort. Second, most wanted to provide the ministrations [or support] of Christianity to all of those who served in the A.I.F. and to make certain that no soldier was lost to the Christian faith. Evangelicals overwhelmingly concurred. Chaplains from the evangelical churches knew well the theme of ‘sacrifice’ and identified with the call to be willing to ‘lay down one’s life one’s friends.’
These men and women have shown us that we have the power to impact people's lives... Jesus also showed us. This power to impact other is love!!!
1 John 3:16 (NIV) 16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
And we ought to do the same. TRUE LOVE!!!
-Michelle
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Youth - Place Your life before God
Well to start with, so much has been happeing at youth, we are in our fourth month and it's awesome!! April and May is our second term (you could say) out of five. This lot of 8 weeks has had the focus of offering. The last focus was Visionary... V.O... I spoke at the start of April on Offering and titled the message, Place yor life before God. Here is part of what was spoken about...
Romans 12 (msg) 1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
The first point is, PLACE IT.
The best part about life is that God is helping us. Philippians 4:13 says that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. God also says that he will never leave us or abandon us. We know we are not doing this thing called life on our own so let’s look at this verse more closely.
An offering; some versions say a living sacrifice. So what does this mean? When you look up the route meaning of offering: it means to offer up/ present unto/bring/lay forward.
It is a form of worship – and expression of devotion and respect. Throughout the Old Testament they had different offerings. The most common one would be the Burnt Offering. This offering would be taken up daily. To make payment for sins, a worshiper voluntarily brought an unblemished animal to the priest and laid his hand on the animal’s head to express identification. The priest then killed it and burned it up completely, symbolising the person’s total devotion to God. God took pleasure in these offerings, or sacrifices of worship because they foretold of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross.
The Australian Pocket Oxford Dictionary says that offer-ing: thing offered as sacrifice or in sign of devotion.
Now being apart of the new promise that God made through Jesus we don’t have to burn a lamb every time we want to show God that we love him and worship him. We can take our everyday, ordinary life—our sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. God is pleased with different sacrifices of worship: thanksgiving praise, humility, repentance, offerings of money, prayer, serving others, sharing with those in need.
We can make a decision to give these areas of our life completely to God – it doesn’t mean we can’t do them, because between you and me I love shopping. But when we do them God can speak to others through us. Personally living this Christian life at 90% is just not worth it. When we fully realise that our life is better in the hands that created and planned it than our own we will live much more fulfilled lives.
The Second Point is EMBRACE IT.
Romans 12:2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out.
The NIV says, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Transformed is like the word metamorphosis like the lifecycle of a butterfly. Renew in the Greek means ‘renovation or to renovate.
- Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking... so what does this mean. It’s like those books that asks you to find the pink surfboard with the yellow flower on the beach. You think it would be easy but when you look at the page there are like 50 surfboards and half are pink and have yellow stars or other shapes and it takes forever to find it or you just give up.
- But then you have the ‘where’s wally’ show. Again you have to find him but he has red and white strips and he is amongst cave people. He is still sometimes hard to find you most of the time you can pick him straight away. We went to the tennis...ect
Personally though I want to one who lives my life and people don’t have to search my life to find out that I’m a Christian, I want them to just know. I want to get to the point where I don’t have to even think about the positive things I do, that people just ask, ‘hey there is something about the way you live your life... it’s different but better.’ We live in a world where people don’t know what Christianity is anymore. I intend to change that.
This can only happen when we fix our attention on God and are changed from the inside out. So how do we do this?? One step is just do what we were talking about before. Place our life at Jesus’ feet and embracing what God has done for us. This change that is taking place is like a renovation. We knock down walls in our life, re-paint ect.
It is never easy doing this and it doesn’t happen overnight, it’s a work in progress as we Place our lives before God and Embrace what he has done for us.
- Michelle
Romans 12 (msg) 1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
The first point is, PLACE IT.
The best part about life is that God is helping us. Philippians 4:13 says that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. God also says that he will never leave us or abandon us. We know we are not doing this thing called life on our own so let’s look at this verse more closely.
An offering; some versions say a living sacrifice. So what does this mean? When you look up the route meaning of offering: it means to offer up/ present unto/bring/lay forward.
It is a form of worship – and expression of devotion and respect. Throughout the Old Testament they had different offerings. The most common one would be the Burnt Offering. This offering would be taken up daily. To make payment for sins, a worshiper voluntarily brought an unblemished animal to the priest and laid his hand on the animal’s head to express identification. The priest then killed it and burned it up completely, symbolising the person’s total devotion to God. God took pleasure in these offerings, or sacrifices of worship because they foretold of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross.
The Australian Pocket Oxford Dictionary says that offer-ing: thing offered as sacrifice or in sign of devotion.
Now being apart of the new promise that God made through Jesus we don’t have to burn a lamb every time we want to show God that we love him and worship him. We can take our everyday, ordinary life—our sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. God is pleased with different sacrifices of worship: thanksgiving praise, humility, repentance, offerings of money, prayer, serving others, sharing with those in need.
We can make a decision to give these areas of our life completely to God – it doesn’t mean we can’t do them, because between you and me I love shopping. But when we do them God can speak to others through us. Personally living this Christian life at 90% is just not worth it. When we fully realise that our life is better in the hands that created and planned it than our own we will live much more fulfilled lives.
The Second Point is EMBRACE IT.
Romans 12:2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out.
The NIV says, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Transformed is like the word metamorphosis like the lifecycle of a butterfly. Renew in the Greek means ‘renovation or to renovate.
- Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking... so what does this mean. It’s like those books that asks you to find the pink surfboard with the yellow flower on the beach. You think it would be easy but when you look at the page there are like 50 surfboards and half are pink and have yellow stars or other shapes and it takes forever to find it or you just give up.
- But then you have the ‘where’s wally’ show. Again you have to find him but he has red and white strips and he is amongst cave people. He is still sometimes hard to find you most of the time you can pick him straight away. We went to the tennis...ect
Personally though I want to one who lives my life and people don’t have to search my life to find out that I’m a Christian, I want them to just know. I want to get to the point where I don’t have to even think about the positive things I do, that people just ask, ‘hey there is something about the way you live your life... it’s different but better.’ We live in a world where people don’t know what Christianity is anymore. I intend to change that.
This can only happen when we fix our attention on God and are changed from the inside out. So how do we do this?? One step is just do what we were talking about before. Place our life at Jesus’ feet and embracing what God has done for us. This change that is taking place is like a renovation. We knock down walls in our life, re-paint ect.
It is never easy doing this and it doesn’t happen overnight, it’s a work in progress as we Place our lives before God and Embrace what he has done for us.
- Michelle
Making Time is important
So many things happen in our lives each day and it is amazing how we get caught up in the small and insignificant things. As some of you know I am studying primary school teaching and I have learnt that making time and prioritising is important especially with assignments and the like. I am also the youth leader at my church, Heritage Christian Centre. Doing both youth and uni can be time consuming but when you look back over your week, it is like wow.
I just want to encourage you that life can get busy and things can come into your life that you may not like or want but when you make time for God everything seems to fall into place.
-Michelle
I just want to encourage you that life can get busy and things can come into your life that you may not like or want but when you make time for God everything seems to fall into place.
-Michelle
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Are you a Visionary??
Last night at youth we had to people come to the Lord, one for the first time and also a recommitment. Also I spoke about being a Visionary.
Proverbs 29:18 says - Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish... Without vision we will never get anywhere in life. It is like we are on a rocking horse, using all our effort to rock that horse. After exhausting our enery we are no closer to who or what we want to become.
So where do you want to get in life? Some people have never had a vision for the future. Some have a vision but are stuck; you don’t know what to do next. Thirdly some people have had a vision but were discouraged in some way and have abandoned that vision.
The story of Joseph in Genesis is a great example for us. He had no vision, then he received one. When he told his brothers they shut him down... he was stuck. However... he never gave up on that vision, the vision God gave him. He was created for a purpose and because he kept going he fulfilled that vision and dream.
So vision; many people have heard of a vision statement, mainly to do with businesses. For them a vision is a guiding image of what success looks like. It answers the question what do you wish to become. For us as Boom Youth our vision is that we would be a Voice and not an echo. This is a corporate vision, it is not meant to give you vision but to stir up your personal vision. So what is your vision?
Do you have a vision for your life? The vision that God has predestined you for?? Are you a visionary??
I want to be... I choose to be a visionary.
Action steps:
1. Start to think, ponder, dream about who and what you want to become.
2. Ask God to show you things and write them down.
3. Think of steps you can take to achieve your vision.
- Michelle Buckle
Proverbs 29:18 says - Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish... Without vision we will never get anywhere in life. It is like we are on a rocking horse, using all our effort to rock that horse. After exhausting our enery we are no closer to who or what we want to become.
So where do you want to get in life? Some people have never had a vision for the future. Some have a vision but are stuck; you don’t know what to do next. Thirdly some people have had a vision but were discouraged in some way and have abandoned that vision.
The story of Joseph in Genesis is a great example for us. He had no vision, then he received one. When he told his brothers they shut him down... he was stuck. However... he never gave up on that vision, the vision God gave him. He was created for a purpose and because he kept going he fulfilled that vision and dream.
So vision; many people have heard of a vision statement, mainly to do with businesses. For them a vision is a guiding image of what success looks like. It answers the question what do you wish to become. For us as Boom Youth our vision is that we would be a Voice and not an echo. This is a corporate vision, it is not meant to give you vision but to stir up your personal vision. So what is your vision?
Do you have a vision for your life? The vision that God has predestined you for?? Are you a visionary??
I want to be... I choose to be a visionary.
Action steps:
1. Start to think, ponder, dream about who and what you want to become.
2. Ask God to show you things and write them down.
3. Think of steps you can take to achieve your vision.
- Michelle Buckle
Saturday, January 31, 2009
BOOM YOUTH
Well it finally came!!! My first youth night for the year... Ok for those who don't know, I am the new youth leader @ Heritage Christian Centre. I have been waiting for this night to come... I was soo excited and the night went really well!!! We started off with a song and then got into some games with food... gota love cheeze balls. Then we had a shopping challenge and one of our reguar boys won. Our youth music team finished their song set (They had a new song called 'Saved' by CCC in America).
I shared with the youth about why we are called Boom Youth. Our Church's mission statement is, ‘To provide an active example and witness to the community of the reality of Christ within our lives and within our church.’ Boom Youth is called to be a VOICE and not and Echo.
Boom Youth exists to empower young people, that is you, who are purpose built by God, who stand up, step out and shake the status-quo of the previous generation. If we work together we can empower each other to stand up, step out and shake the status-quo.
I spoke from In 1 Timothy 4 and how we as a youth group have a voice and can share about God. And how they should not worry about what other people say, especially if it is to do with the fact that they are young, as in chapter 12 Paul writes; Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
I wasn't sure how many people to expext... but we had around 70 people and we had 1 recommitment. God is truely amazing!!
-Michelle
I shared with the youth about why we are called Boom Youth. Our Church's mission statement is, ‘To provide an active example and witness to the community of the reality of Christ within our lives and within our church.’ Boom Youth is called to be a VOICE and not and Echo.
Boom Youth exists to empower young people, that is you, who are purpose built by God, who stand up, step out and shake the status-quo of the previous generation. If we work together we can empower each other to stand up, step out and shake the status-quo.
I spoke from In 1 Timothy 4 and how we as a youth group have a voice and can share about God. And how they should not worry about what other people say, especially if it is to do with the fact that they are young, as in chapter 12 Paul writes; Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
I wasn't sure how many people to expext... but we had around 70 people and we had 1 recommitment. God is truely amazing!!
-Michelle
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Habits of Mind
What is a habit of mind? At uni we have learnt about Arthur Costa and his 16 Habits of Mind.
'A "Habit of Mind” means having a disposition toward behaving intelligently when confronted with problems, the answers to which are not immediately known. When humans experience dichotomies, are confused by dilemmas, or come face to face with uncertainties--our most effective actions require drawing forth certain patterns of intellectual behavior. When we draw upon these intellectual resources, the results that are produced through are more powerful, of higher quality and greater significance than if we fail to employ those patterns of intellectual behaviors.' (http://www.habits-of-mind.net/whatare.htm)
The 16 Habits of Mind Arthur has developed are:
1. Persisting
2. Thinking and communicating with clarity and precision
3. Managing impulsivity
4. Gathering data through all senses
5. Listening with understanding and empathy
6. Creating, imagining, innovating
7. Thinking flexibly
8. Responding with wonderment and awe
9. Thinking about thinking (metacognition)
10. Taking responsible risks
11. Striving for accuracy
12. Finding humor
13. Questioning and posing problems
14. Thinking interdependently
15. Applying past knowledge to new situations
16. Remaining open to continuous learning
Why do you think it is important to know these habits? These habits are actually attributes of what humans do when they behave intelligently. Costa says that these attributes are the characteristics of what intelligent people do when they are faced with problems.
As God has given us the ability to think I believe it is up to us whether or not we use our thinking wisely. Especially when we know that this life is full of situations we do not know the answer to instinctively.
Those of us who are leaders should take a hold of these habits as they can help shape our thinking so we can become the best leader we can be.
Keep reading these blogs as I research each habit more in depth.
-Michelle
'A "Habit of Mind” means having a disposition toward behaving intelligently when confronted with problems, the answers to which are not immediately known. When humans experience dichotomies, are confused by dilemmas, or come face to face with uncertainties--our most effective actions require drawing forth certain patterns of intellectual behavior. When we draw upon these intellectual resources, the results that are produced through are more powerful, of higher quality and greater significance than if we fail to employ those patterns of intellectual behaviors.' (http://www.habits-of-mind.net/whatare.htm)
The 16 Habits of Mind Arthur has developed are:
1. Persisting
2. Thinking and communicating with clarity and precision
3. Managing impulsivity
4. Gathering data through all senses
5. Listening with understanding and empathy
6. Creating, imagining, innovating
7. Thinking flexibly
8. Responding with wonderment and awe
9. Thinking about thinking (metacognition)
10. Taking responsible risks
11. Striving for accuracy
12. Finding humor
13. Questioning and posing problems
14. Thinking interdependently
15. Applying past knowledge to new situations
16. Remaining open to continuous learning
Why do you think it is important to know these habits? These habits are actually attributes of what humans do when they behave intelligently. Costa says that these attributes are the characteristics of what intelligent people do when they are faced with problems.
As God has given us the ability to think I believe it is up to us whether or not we use our thinking wisely. Especially when we know that this life is full of situations we do not know the answer to instinctively.
Those of us who are leaders should take a hold of these habits as they can help shape our thinking so we can become the best leader we can be.
Keep reading these blogs as I research each habit more in depth.
-Michelle
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
??Purpose??
"A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not the purpose of a ship."
A Christian in the church is safe, but that is not the purpose of a Christian.
Yes we are instructed to have fellowship one with another as a church but what is our true purpose??
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
We are not called to stay but to go!!
A Christian in the church is safe, but that is not the purpose of a Christian.
Yes we are instructed to have fellowship one with another as a church but what is our true purpose??
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
We are not called to stay but to go!!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Falling In Love... With Jesus
I have been reading the amazing book, titled "Falling in Love with Jesus". I haven't finished reading it yet, I am only up to the third of fourth chapter and it has taken me years to even get this far. I love reading but I have to get into the book to keep going. I have really enjoyed reading it so far and I would recommend it to any women out there who are struggling with wanting a husband. This book had shed some light and will motivate you to just fall in love with Jesus.
There is this quote on the back of the book and some people who have read my facebook status would have read this. "If women would yearn for closeness with Jesus the way they yearn for closeness with an earthly mate, their lives would be absolutely transformed." How amazing is this statement. The authors of this book open up their lives for us as readers to delve into their lives and learn and grow.
This book has shown me that it is important to put God first in all things especially in this area of our lives. When we trust him he will bring the right man or women into our lives. I’m sure that there is not ‘one’ specific person out there but God has already written the book of our life and I for one want to get to know the one who knows what is going to happen next.
This book talks about how we progress through three stages in our relationship with God and it can be the same with our earthly partner: First Love, Wilderness Love, Invincible Love
The books shares on Mary of Bethany’s life in regards to these three stages.
- First Love: Luke 10:38-41
- Wilderness Love: John 11:1-44
- Invincible Love: John 12: 1-8
As you read these verses you will notice how Mary grows in her love for the Lord and how it reaches this last stage of Invincible Love. The book shares that unfortunately most believers never make it to this last stage. They love God and have times of intimacy with Him but their lives are devoid of passion for Him.
I don’t know about you but I want to reach this last stage of Invincible Love, that no matter what happens in life whether great or tragedy, I want to know that I have a tender, and mature relationship with Christ.
There is this quote on the back of the book and some people who have read my facebook status would have read this. "If women would yearn for closeness with Jesus the way they yearn for closeness with an earthly mate, their lives would be absolutely transformed." How amazing is this statement. The authors of this book open up their lives for us as readers to delve into their lives and learn and grow.
This book has shown me that it is important to put God first in all things especially in this area of our lives. When we trust him he will bring the right man or women into our lives. I’m sure that there is not ‘one’ specific person out there but God has already written the book of our life and I for one want to get to know the one who knows what is going to happen next.
This book talks about how we progress through three stages in our relationship with God and it can be the same with our earthly partner: First Love, Wilderness Love, Invincible Love
The books shares on Mary of Bethany’s life in regards to these three stages.
- First Love: Luke 10:38-41
- Wilderness Love: John 11:1-44
- Invincible Love: John 12: 1-8
As you read these verses you will notice how Mary grows in her love for the Lord and how it reaches this last stage of Invincible Love. The book shares that unfortunately most believers never make it to this last stage. They love God and have times of intimacy with Him but their lives are devoid of passion for Him.
I don’t know about you but I want to reach this last stage of Invincible Love, that no matter what happens in life whether great or tragedy, I want to know that I have a tender, and mature relationship with Christ.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
What does Church mean to you?
Well, after thinking about this, I believe it is about a family. Remember those Christmas reunions where you haven't seen your cousins, aunts and uncles in five years and you finally meet them; those cousins who have had kids that you have never met. In all of this you spend the day getting to know each other again, reminiscing about the last time you met. At one stage everyone is sad because there are some family members who can't make it. There are some cousins you don't really want to see because they rubbed you up the wrong way last time, but now you dust it off and go and chat and play and beat each other up again ... Oh the good times.
This is what I want to see Church like. It doesn’t matter where you meet as long as everyone is there. ‘Church’ to me are the people. We are a family. We meet every week, sing together, listen together, pray together and chat together. We share what has happened during the week, reminisce about good times, share our dreams for the future, and encourage those who are struggling. We are a family.
F - Forgiveness
A - Acceptance
M - Mindful
I - Interested
L - Listen
Y - Yourself
These are 6 things I believe are the genetic make-up of a FAMILY. Forgiveness: it doesn't matter how bad we are offended at someone, we always forgive them because we are related. Acceptance: We put away where we come from, what we do for a living, and love each other for who we all are. Mindful: My older brother always watched out for me, at school, on the bus, hey that is what a big brother or sister is for and I believe this should be seen in the church. Interested: It is not just a 'How are you?' but a 'Really... How are you?' I want someone who is interested in me and doesn't just past me with a hi-bye type of attitude (I'm still working on this in my own life... you can even get busy in church- take a chill pill and stop) Listen: Again this is about not being self-centered and really paying attention to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Finally - Yourself: This is a big one... so many of us put on a mask every Sunday (and for girls - literally hehe) and we hide who we really are, we don't want people to see that we are not 'perfect' and that sometimes we are hurt or get down.
The underlying thought for all of this is LOVE and it should be a given, it is what we are all seeking and it is what we should be giving. GOD is LOVE.
I pray as we think about these things that we consider... well I am a part of the church, am I doing these things? We can't change overnight but all it takes is one step at a time.
God Bless
This is what I want to see Church like. It doesn’t matter where you meet as long as everyone is there. ‘Church’ to me are the people. We are a family. We meet every week, sing together, listen together, pray together and chat together. We share what has happened during the week, reminisce about good times, share our dreams for the future, and encourage those who are struggling. We are a family.
F - Forgiveness
A - Acceptance
M - Mindful
I - Interested
L - Listen
Y - Yourself
These are 6 things I believe are the genetic make-up of a FAMILY. Forgiveness: it doesn't matter how bad we are offended at someone, we always forgive them because we are related. Acceptance: We put away where we come from, what we do for a living, and love each other for who we all are. Mindful: My older brother always watched out for me, at school, on the bus, hey that is what a big brother or sister is for and I believe this should be seen in the church. Interested: It is not just a 'How are you?' but a 'Really... How are you?' I want someone who is interested in me and doesn't just past me with a hi-bye type of attitude (I'm still working on this in my own life... you can even get busy in church- take a chill pill and stop) Listen: Again this is about not being self-centered and really paying attention to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Finally - Yourself: This is a big one... so many of us put on a mask every Sunday (and for girls - literally hehe) and we hide who we really are, we don't want people to see that we are not 'perfect' and that sometimes we are hurt or get down.
The underlying thought for all of this is LOVE and it should be a given, it is what we are all seeking and it is what we should be giving. GOD is LOVE.
I pray as we think about these things that we consider... well I am a part of the church, am I doing these things? We can't change overnight but all it takes is one step at a time.
God Bless
Dissipation & Decisions
The definition of DISSIPATION according to the back of my TNIV Bible is: Living only for your own pleasure; wasting your life on foolish or evil pleasures.
Wow what a bold statement! When have we not done this? Tonight at youth we were in our care groups and we were discussing decisions we make and how it is important to choose the ones that are right. When I say 'right', like c'mon how do we know what is the right decision to make, there are soo many choices and a lot of them seem right. They don't seem to be dangerous, or harmful to me, what do I choose.
Proverbs 16: 25 says, "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."
I believe this is where we have to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit who will guide us to the 'right' decision. Back to the word dissipation and the decisions we make, there is a lot to consider. I believe if we are not listening to where God wants us to be and only act on decisions from our own feelings, this is where the 'way... leads to death'. Wasting our lives on foolish things is a wrong decision, some great questions I have been asking myself; How much time do I spend on things that do not produce something of worth in my life? Do the things I do contribute to my studies, my growth as a person and in God, Am I living to build my relationships with other people? There are so many decisions we make every day and it is hard to get them all right, like what our parents always tell us - we need to think before we act.
What a challenge... to get up every morning and say 'God, there are going to be so many decisions I will have to make today, Please help me choose the path that will lead to life and not destruction.'
Wow what a bold statement! When have we not done this? Tonight at youth we were in our care groups and we were discussing decisions we make and how it is important to choose the ones that are right. When I say 'right', like c'mon how do we know what is the right decision to make, there are soo many choices and a lot of them seem right. They don't seem to be dangerous, or harmful to me, what do I choose.
Proverbs 16: 25 says, "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."
I believe this is where we have to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit who will guide us to the 'right' decision. Back to the word dissipation and the decisions we make, there is a lot to consider. I believe if we are not listening to where God wants us to be and only act on decisions from our own feelings, this is where the 'way... leads to death'. Wasting our lives on foolish things is a wrong decision, some great questions I have been asking myself; How much time do I spend on things that do not produce something of worth in my life? Do the things I do contribute to my studies, my growth as a person and in God, Am I living to build my relationships with other people? There are so many decisions we make every day and it is hard to get them all right, like what our parents always tell us - we need to think before we act.
What a challenge... to get up every morning and say 'God, there are going to be so many decisions I will have to make today, Please help me choose the path that will lead to life and not destruction.'
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Shaped by a Jeweller
I’ve been thinking… and that’s scary :) Why does it take so long to actually listen to what God is trying to tell us? It seems like we are holding onto something and we know it is not healthy for our lives but we want to keep it. We are hurt if we don’t have it. God has been challenging me to give up certain things that are not necessarily bad, but are unhealthy for me. I know God will ask of us to get rid of different things in our lives and it is hard to let go but when you come to a point where nothing else matters except God this is when you decide to let go. It always seems that we leave it to the point when we can no longer take it; no longer live the way we are living. A lot of us have heard is preached from the stage yet we still don’t grasp what is being asked of us. I have heard an analogy. When you buy a diamond ring you see it for its beauty but you don’t see what it has been through.
First it has been separated from the rest of the group and is cleaned. This cleaning is not just an easy washing, someone had to scrub away the dirt. This rock has started out the size of a golf ball, how did it get to the size of a 1 carat diamond? The edges had to be cut away, these edges were not bad but it was necessary for the purpose of the stone. The stone is shaped and polished and in time it becomes a beautiful piece of jewelry. The stone would not have fit into the clasp on the ring until it had been shaped. This is what is happening to us, to me. God has an amazing purpose and for us to be able to “fit” we to have to be shaped, scrubbed, polished. This process hurts but the final product is beautiful!
I want to encourage all who read this that even though you may be going through a tough time the final product is worth it.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me will all your heart.”
First it has been separated from the rest of the group and is cleaned. This cleaning is not just an easy washing, someone had to scrub away the dirt. This rock has started out the size of a golf ball, how did it get to the size of a 1 carat diamond? The edges had to be cut away, these edges were not bad but it was necessary for the purpose of the stone. The stone is shaped and polished and in time it becomes a beautiful piece of jewelry. The stone would not have fit into the clasp on the ring until it had been shaped. This is what is happening to us, to me. God has an amazing purpose and for us to be able to “fit” we to have to be shaped, scrubbed, polished. This process hurts but the final product is beautiful!
I want to encourage all who read this that even though you may be going through a tough time the final product is worth it.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me will all your heart.”
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