Did you ever notice...

I was listening to a pastor on the radio yesterday as I was driving back from the airport where I dropped off my FIANCE'!!! Ok back to the real reason I was writing.

Well, this pastor was talking about one of my most favorite passages in the Bible ( the woman at the well). He was pointing out the fact that Jesus did not condemn her and made a point of stating that to those that did- her captors. I have always thought that it was interesting that Jesus turned the tables on them when they were expecting praise and at-a-boys.

Isn't it interesting that God never condemns a sinner, but rather bids them to come and receive salvation and He scourges the 'religious,' believers? I got to thinking about that and the verse that speaks of God chastening those that He loves and how that assures us that we are His because he disciplines us.

Well, it was a reality check for me so I thought I'd share.

IT'S OFFICIAL!

Well, it is official. Paul and I are engaged! He surprised me with the ring when he flew in for the week on Tuesday night. The poor guy...he planned to do it outside but the outside was not so cooperative! It was bitter cold but we were outside anyways. It was perfect! If you want details email me :)

Its in the blood!

Last week, I found out that I have anemia. The really good news about that is that there is an explanation for all of the symptoms I have been experiencing for the past year or so. The main symptom that was problematic was my increasing lack of energy. I am known for staying up quite late (12-1am ish) and for the past six months or so I can barely make it til 10pm!

Anemia by definintion is : one of the more common blood disorders, occurs when the number of healthyred blood cells decreases in the body. For more information www.anemia.com/.

This got me to thinking about how critical blood is to our everyday existence. And how we can live without limbs, and certain organs and other parts of our bodies but it's all meaningless with out blood; it is the one common denominator in the body. And this is true of human beings too. No matter what the nationality, disability, etc. blood pumps through all of our veins to maintain our existence. This got me to thinking about all the times and ways blood is used in the Bible. Blood that is shed that is considered a great sacrifice and valued. There was blood for sacrifices, door smeared on the doorposts during Passover which was to protect the home's inhabitants and then there is the ultimate....Jesus Christ shed His blood. Clearly blood is valued and now that I have a disorder that affects the one thing that is so highly valued.

I got to thinking about how sin is a lot like this disorder. This disorder doesn't just affect a certain part of the body or only strike during a certain time of year but rather it is here with me all of the time. If I do not take my medication I become rundown, weak and sluggish and the disorder becomes strong. How much is that like sin?! When we don't innoculate ourselves against it by praying, sticking close to God and confessing sin, we too become weak. Sin can over run your entire life without this 'innoculation.'