I just got a video from YOu TUbe that made me bawl. It is really deep and touched my life. Watch it because it will touch your life too!!!
I love ya'll,
Dess
Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Update Smup-date
Hello Hello,
Things here have been going really well. Just to update ya'll. Our two bible studies that had homework went better than I ever thought they could or would. The first one we had was the one that was studying "Can we use our culture (Such as rap music or dance) to spread the gospel?"
SO I started out really studying. I found all these neat things to talk about in bible study BUT then I went to the Lord and He showed me a whole other thing. God showed me that I was very hurt by what had been said about me in bible study. That I needed to apologize and be honest with him. God also showed me that I was just looking up things to prove the guy wrong who had hurt me. The only scripture the Lord gave me was in 1 Samuel 16:7 "The Lord does not look at the things that man looks at. Man Looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Wow that was an EYE OPENER BABY!!! So when I went to bible study I said just what the Lord and told me to. Things really turned around. Even to the point of the guy mumbling fast and quietly after much discussion "Well I don't believe rap is completely bad" Joel, I, and the other lady just starred at him mouth open and everything. Since then the bible study has been soooooo much fun. God's ways are for sure better than ours.
Then came the next bible study. Our homework "Is suicide okay if you are terminally ill and have been sick and in pain for a long long long time" Hm DO you know what?: when I went to study I thought the bible would be more black and white than what it was. It doesn't say about suicide. It is all interpretation and what not. I was blown away. SO all of us came to the table blown away. Most of us that believed that suicide was bad, no matter what, came back with scratching our head and saying it is personal between you and God. The lady that believes suicide is okay didn't come back with any new thing but it is still good to go back and check the scriptures.
One of the things I was most most most excited about was a different lady said I have never studied the bible so much in my life trying to find answers. I squealed with delight. That is the whole point of the "Homework" that we search and seek God that much more. That we ask the Holy Spirit what He thinks and what HIS ways are. Oh it was such a joy to hear that.
So I still came away with believing suicide isn't the answer. I read the book "Same Kind of Different me" And it totally has me believing that even if you are on your death bed and can't move and what ever else God can still use you for His glory. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord Praise the Lord and Praise the Lord. But that is just me, you will have to find the answer for yourself. But the scripture I came away with from this whole suicide thing is in Jeremiah 10:23 "I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps."
Other than that things are going really well. Joel is working hard on chores Dad wanted done outside, like burn piles. Today Joel did a few and at the end of the day we roasted hot dogs, marshmallows, and snickers on the fire. It was fun.
We have also been picking apples in my parents two apple trees. HENCE the picture at the top of the page. I took that pic. Joel liked it the best and I am quite excited about how well it turned out.
Also my parents live on a game preserve. So we feed the deer, pet the deer, and even kiss the deer. Here is a pic of Joel feeding a buck. It is really fun here.
So that is it from us. We are taking each day as they come and making the most of it as we seek our Lord and Savior. I also wanted to update you on how the two bible studies went.
We love ya'll and pray God's blessings over you, over your friends, and over your family,
The Butlers
Things here have been going really well. Just to update ya'll. Our two bible studies that had homework went better than I ever thought they could or would. The first one we had was the one that was studying "Can we use our culture (Such as rap music or dance) to spread the gospel?"
SO I started out really studying. I found all these neat things to talk about in bible study BUT then I went to the Lord and He showed me a whole other thing. God showed me that I was very hurt by what had been said about me in bible study. That I needed to apologize and be honest with him. God also showed me that I was just looking up things to prove the guy wrong who had hurt me. The only scripture the Lord gave me was in 1 Samuel 16:7 "The Lord does not look at the things that man looks at. Man Looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Wow that was an EYE OPENER BABY!!! So when I went to bible study I said just what the Lord and told me to. Things really turned around. Even to the point of the guy mumbling fast and quietly after much discussion "Well I don't believe rap is completely bad" Joel, I, and the other lady just starred at him mouth open and everything. Since then the bible study has been soooooo much fun. God's ways are for sure better than ours.
Then came the next bible study. Our homework "Is suicide okay if you are terminally ill and have been sick and in pain for a long long long time" Hm DO you know what?: when I went to study I thought the bible would be more black and white than what it was. It doesn't say about suicide. It is all interpretation and what not. I was blown away. SO all of us came to the table blown away. Most of us that believed that suicide was bad, no matter what, came back with scratching our head and saying it is personal between you and God. The lady that believes suicide is okay didn't come back with any new thing but it is still good to go back and check the scriptures.
One of the things I was most most most excited about was a different lady said I have never studied the bible so much in my life trying to find answers. I squealed with delight. That is the whole point of the "Homework" that we search and seek God that much more. That we ask the Holy Spirit what He thinks and what HIS ways are. Oh it was such a joy to hear that.
So I still came away with believing suicide isn't the answer. I read the book "Same Kind of Different me" And it totally has me believing that even if you are on your death bed and can't move and what ever else God can still use you for His glory. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord Praise the Lord and Praise the Lord. But that is just me, you will have to find the answer for yourself. But the scripture I came away with from this whole suicide thing is in Jeremiah 10:23 "I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps."
Other than that things are going really well. Joel is working hard on chores Dad wanted done outside, like burn piles. Today Joel did a few and at the end of the day we roasted hot dogs, marshmallows, and snickers on the fire. It was fun.
We have also been picking apples in my parents two apple trees. HENCE the picture at the top of the page. I took that pic. Joel liked it the best and I am quite excited about how well it turned out.
Also my parents live on a game preserve. So we feed the deer, pet the deer, and even kiss the deer. Here is a pic of Joel feeding a buck. It is really fun here.
So that is it from us. We are taking each day as they come and making the most of it as we seek our Lord and Savior. I also wanted to update you on how the two bible studies went.
We love ya'll and pray God's blessings over you, over your friends, and over your family,
The Butlers
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
"JONAH" . . . . and other things of God!!!
I don't know which stories to start off with first or end on. So many things are happening with so little time to really think about it all.
Lets start off with the 3 Churches and Joel and I. As of Sunday we are offically the Lay-ministers. I don't have a dictionary definition for Lay for those that don't know but to my knowledge (and you can CORRECT me DAD BUTLER) but Lay-people are those that are not ordained or have not gone to school to be a pastor/minister. It is those that are in the church and step up to be a minister when there is not an "offical" one around. My parents for example are lay-ministers as well but have over the years become ordianed by the bishop.
Any way we have started the journay for these next three months of ministering to the three chruches. Can I tell you I already started to freak out. There is just a ton of stuff to lean on God for, to pray about, and to think about. I already feel over my head with one older gentlemen at one of the bible studies. (He just comes to our bible study because his church doesn't have one) Get this: He doesn't believe in dancing, whether to the Lord or other wise (uh-oh), He thinks Rap music is from the Devil (my own words) but he doesn't think we can use the culture of Rap or that kind to reach young people because it is not biblical.
You can imagine how the first bible study went with my parents. There was head butting and what not. I made a new rule in the bible studies, one I learned from our womens bible studies on the ship. If two people can't agree about a subject that is the homework for the week.
You know it really isn't bad that he doesn't believe in those things at all it is when he tells me I am "LESS of a Christ follower" or that "I don't really love Christ" because I do those things or believe those things. That is when it hurts and that is when I struggle. SO pray for me. I need God's wisdom but most of all GOd's love in my heart and forgiveness to love on this Man.
The second bible study wasn't sooooooooo bad (we have three, One for each church) I would like your input. I have until Next Wednesday to study. So a week from this wednesday. We couldn't agree, therefore it is our homework. It is Suicide; is it biblical. But We are going deeper than that. When you are terminally ill and are in so much pain is suicide okay. I said no, the older ladies said yes. I have a disadvantage being that I am young and have a limited prespective for I have not lived a full life and never been ill to the point of wanting to die. So any biblical points of view would be appreciated. I read the book "Same kind of Different as me" And it made me feel even more that suicide is wrong. Read it. It is a great book/tesimony.
Any way I feel over my head but at the same time called to what we are doing and know that it is almost good to feel over my head because I will lean on My Lord and Savior that much more. And I have and gotten some answers that even blew me away from Jesus.
Okay on to a more fun subject. JONAH!!!! Hehehe
Last week my dad came in with a Fish he just caught from the Lake. It was a beautiful fish. My little child came out when Dad brought it in. When I was growing up we would go fishing all the time. My dad being the biologist taught me how fun and fasinating the insides of a fish really are. Did you know that even when a fish is dead that the heart beats for a while after. And that you can see what the fish had for his last supper by cutting open his stomach AND you can see if the fish is a girl by knowing what her eggs look like on the inside. SO much fun I tell you.
When Dad brought up the fish I started being like a little kid again with my biologist dad. I first asked him to cut open the fih so I could see if the heart was still beating. It wasn't. I was a bit disappointed I wanted Joel to see. My next obeservation was that the fish had eggs. They are this pale yellow color. But my next question, which was the funniest of all was what did this fish have for it's last meal. My dad looked at the stomach from the outside and said "it looks like a menow" I was excited and watched my dad cut the stomach open. You wouldn't believe what happened next. Out popped a craw fish or a crawdad or a mudbug (as the Louisianians would know it) and it was ALIVE!!! He looked around stunned and shocked. I mean who wouldn't. I can only guess how Jonah felt when he was spit out of the whale. So we called him Jonah. I was so excited that I asked Joel to come with me so we could set this pour guy free in the lake. I was really suprised with the deadly bacteria in the fishes stomach that Jonah had survived this long. But dad explained it was his exoskeleton that probably kept him alive. Or for all of you: that is his hard shell on the outside with his soft body on the inside. We as humans have it opposite. Our skeleton is on the inside and our soft body are on the outside.
Anyway the following pic is Jonah. Isn't God great for such suprises as this.
We love ya'll. Please pray for us as we continue to walk out this life and our salvation with Fear and trembling.
LOVE LOVE LOVE,
Dess
Lets start off with the 3 Churches and Joel and I. As of Sunday we are offically the Lay-ministers. I don't have a dictionary definition for Lay for those that don't know but to my knowledge (and you can CORRECT me DAD BUTLER) but Lay-people are those that are not ordained or have not gone to school to be a pastor/minister. It is those that are in the church and step up to be a minister when there is not an "offical" one around. My parents for example are lay-ministers as well but have over the years become ordianed by the bishop.
Any way we have started the journay for these next three months of ministering to the three chruches. Can I tell you I already started to freak out. There is just a ton of stuff to lean on God for, to pray about, and to think about. I already feel over my head with one older gentlemen at one of the bible studies. (He just comes to our bible study because his church doesn't have one) Get this: He doesn't believe in dancing, whether to the Lord or other wise (uh-oh), He thinks Rap music is from the Devil (my own words) but he doesn't think we can use the culture of Rap or that kind to reach young people because it is not biblical.
You can imagine how the first bible study went with my parents. There was head butting and what not. I made a new rule in the bible studies, one I learned from our womens bible studies on the ship. If two people can't agree about a subject that is the homework for the week.
You know it really isn't bad that he doesn't believe in those things at all it is when he tells me I am "LESS of a Christ follower" or that "I don't really love Christ" because I do those things or believe those things. That is when it hurts and that is when I struggle. SO pray for me. I need God's wisdom but most of all GOd's love in my heart and forgiveness to love on this Man.
The second bible study wasn't sooooooooo bad (we have three, One for each church) I would like your input. I have until Next Wednesday to study. So a week from this wednesday. We couldn't agree, therefore it is our homework. It is Suicide; is it biblical. But We are going deeper than that. When you are terminally ill and are in so much pain is suicide okay. I said no, the older ladies said yes. I have a disadvantage being that I am young and have a limited prespective for I have not lived a full life and never been ill to the point of wanting to die. So any biblical points of view would be appreciated. I read the book "Same kind of Different as me" And it made me feel even more that suicide is wrong. Read it. It is a great book/tesimony.
Any way I feel over my head but at the same time called to what we are doing and know that it is almost good to feel over my head because I will lean on My Lord and Savior that much more. And I have and gotten some answers that even blew me away from Jesus.
Okay on to a more fun subject. JONAH!!!! Hehehe
Last week my dad came in with a Fish he just caught from the Lake. It was a beautiful fish. My little child came out when Dad brought it in. When I was growing up we would go fishing all the time. My dad being the biologist taught me how fun and fasinating the insides of a fish really are. Did you know that even when a fish is dead that the heart beats for a while after. And that you can see what the fish had for his last supper by cutting open his stomach AND you can see if the fish is a girl by knowing what her eggs look like on the inside. SO much fun I tell you.
When Dad brought up the fish I started being like a little kid again with my biologist dad. I first asked him to cut open the fih so I could see if the heart was still beating. It wasn't. I was a bit disappointed I wanted Joel to see. My next obeservation was that the fish had eggs. They are this pale yellow color. But my next question, which was the funniest of all was what did this fish have for it's last meal. My dad looked at the stomach from the outside and said "it looks like a menow" I was excited and watched my dad cut the stomach open. You wouldn't believe what happened next. Out popped a craw fish or a crawdad or a mudbug (as the Louisianians would know it) and it was ALIVE!!! He looked around stunned and shocked. I mean who wouldn't. I can only guess how Jonah felt when he was spit out of the whale. So we called him Jonah. I was so excited that I asked Joel to come with me so we could set this pour guy free in the lake. I was really suprised with the deadly bacteria in the fishes stomach that Jonah had survived this long. But dad explained it was his exoskeleton that probably kept him alive. Or for all of you: that is his hard shell on the outside with his soft body on the inside. We as humans have it opposite. Our skeleton is on the inside and our soft body are on the outside.
Anyway the following pic is Jonah. Isn't God great for such suprises as this.
We love ya'll. Please pray for us as we continue to walk out this life and our salvation with Fear and trembling.
LOVE LOVE LOVE,
Dess
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