Okay, so the first seven are totally stolen from Facebook.
1) I've lived in more countries than states.
2) I have a minor in music and used to be considered a woodwind
specialist - making joyful noise on bassoon, Bb/bass clarinets,
alto/tenor saxes, oboe and horn - all to the ability of performing each
at the university level (with the exception of oboe) and surpassing
those who could only play one. Nowadays, I have a clarinet and a saxophone somewhere in storage collecting dust.
3) I have never read, nor do I ever intend to read Harry Potter. I
don't know why anymore, I just have no desire. The same goes for The
Hunger Games and Twilight. I have also never watched the movies for any
of those.
4) Every New Year's Day, my tradition is to watch the
entire Lord Of the Rings Trilogy complete with the seven hobbit meals.
Usually I invite a bunch of people and it's potluck style - sorry,
Staten Island, it will be just me and my love this year... laying
around, vegging out, watching Frodo rescue Middle Earth.
5) I count everything. Seriously.
6) I hate carrying cash. In Michigan, everywhere accepted credit card
(even the mom and pop diner). Here in NYC, it's not the case. I was in
Long Island City the other day and had to make sure I had cash to stop and get a
sandwich from the deli. So frustrating.
7) Speaking of money...
at one point, I was so far gone financially, that I was contemplating
bankruptcy (and suicide, honestly)... but I am living proof that you CAN
pull yourself out of that mess. I'm not a professional financial
adviser, but I can help if anyone wants --- it's hard work and it takes
dedication and it takes giving up a lifestyle of "spend-spend-spend" but
it's SOOO worth it.
8) I rarely ever make my bed. I only really make it if I cleaned and there's not much else to clean. It's not like it takes a long time and it's not hard to do... I just don't do it.
9) I love burning candles in the winter time. In the summer, I love fresh air... but in the winter? Gotta have the vanilla or the cinnamon or the pine scented candles going!
10) There are bottles of ketchup and mustard in the trunk of my car. They were leftover from an event. They never made it to wherever they were supposed to go and now they smell rotten. So now, instead of removing them, I just avoid using my trunk.
11) I've lost my ability to flirt with anyone besides my boyfriend. It's a good thing, I suppose. However, it hurts my ability to barter with prices or anything, really.
12) I was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at the age of 20. My knees have no cartilage and they crack and grind. I really need to have some work done on them, but I'm waiting to get my oral work done first.
13) I have a small jaw and horrible teeth. Part of that is genetics... part of it is poor oral hygiene. Unfortunately, the latter wasn't corrected soon enough in my adult life and now I'm having massive amounts of work done. I received a small grant to help, and with Care Credit and dental insurance, I'm just doing it. It's rough financially, but it will be worth it... eventually.
14) I self-treat major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. M"ly MDD diagnosis came after I wanted to end my life... after a long series of unfortunate events, culminating in a break-up (which was, looking back, the least unfortunate event, but sometimes life is so dark in the moment...). My PTSD diagnosis came much earlier and the trauma from which that stems was the first event in said series. Both are being managed without medication (not something that's for everyone, so please don't think that I'm advocating no meds - chemical imbalances are no joke), sometimes well and sometimes with struggles. I still have nightmares. I still need to be an introvert and not face the world at times. I'm still afraid of the dark. I still struggle with my own self-worth and abilities... but I am. I keep on keepin' on.
15) I used to smoke. I used to do drugs. I used to drink a lot more than I do now. I call it part of my growing up process. It got me into a lot of trouble at times for which I'm not proud. My recovery from those periods has made me who I am today - not the use, the recovery.
16) I have a Christmas card problem. Seriously. I have boxes and boxes of Christmas cards in storage. Every year, I have MORE than enough for the year... and yet... I buy more. It's obnoxious, really... but they're all just so darn cute! I can't help it!
17) I have something wrong with some of my toenails. They are thick and yellow. It's gross, so I cover them up with nail polish.
18) I have a list of things to do. It's called a 101 list and the goal is to complete everything on my list within 1001 days. Everything from "learn to play guitar" to "join a yoga class" to "watch a tornado tear it up" is on the list. So far, I've completed 26 of the 101 things. The things I've done include "buy a new computer" and "get make-up lessons" and "participate in a 5k." My favorite thing to cross off, though, has been "fall in love." It was one of the things that I couldn't control, but that I still dreamed of and prayed would happen within that time frame. It did. So great!
19) I don't drink water like I should. I drink soda, coffee, tea, juice, beer, wine... basically anything and everything BUT water. #fail
20) I always store one extra of everything. Everything, that is, except toilet paper. I have an extra shampoo, body wash, dish soap, etc on hand in case I run out all of a sudden... because apparently that happens :P
Friday, November 29, 2013
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Promotion!
So, perhaps this is the post for which everyone is waiting. I'm sorry to keep it so long, but I truly wanted to transition and transition to the best of my ability without misleading anyone toward thinking that I hate my job or love my job if in fact it were the opposite.
I am still transitioning, but that's okay.
You see, five weeks ago, I was the missions intern at Project Hospitality. I was the "go to" gal for any project under the community outreach department. It was a great position and I am every so grateful for that opportunity. I learned a lot and I met a lot of people. I took on new projects and built them. I took on old projects and fixed them (or attempted to do so). I could shred paper, lick envelopes and write support letters. I maintained databases of churches, school and food pantries on Staten Island. I did whatever needed to be done and to the best of my ability. I may not have always been happy, but I knew there was a reason that I was there and my hope was to maintain my joy no matter what. They say good things come to those who wait - I want to change the last word to "persevere."
It is kind of like a dream... intern to middle management. No one makes that jump. There is only one way this happened and I believe it to be divine appointment. No one BUT God could have arranged this. I thank Him for it everyday, even on extremely hard days like yesterday.
In the first 20 minutes, I received no fewer than 20 emails and 10 phone calls... all about turkeys. A lot of turkeys came in yesterday... and a lot of turkeys went out to families who need them. It's a lot of work and it's such good work and at the end of the day, I know I've helped a lot of people.
So, what do I do when I'm not passing out turkeys? Well, first of all, I oversee two programs: Food and Nutrition Services for those living with HIV and AIDS... and Emergency Food pantry and soup kitchen. The programs include 6 full-time staff and several full-time volunteers. We run programs 6 days every week. We feed hundreds of people every week, especially now that food stamps have been significantly cut. We serve anyone who walks through our doors that needs food. We not only offer canned goods and boxed shelf-stable things, we also give frozen meats and fresh fruits and veggies when they're available. We try to provide enough food for 3 days. We cook and/or provide food for other programs within the agency.
Like I said, it's good work and I am so blessed!
I am still transitioning, but that's okay.
You see, five weeks ago, I was the missions intern at Project Hospitality. I was the "go to" gal for any project under the community outreach department. It was a great position and I am every so grateful for that opportunity. I learned a lot and I met a lot of people. I took on new projects and built them. I took on old projects and fixed them (or attempted to do so). I could shred paper, lick envelopes and write support letters. I maintained databases of churches, school and food pantries on Staten Island. I did whatever needed to be done and to the best of my ability. I may not have always been happy, but I knew there was a reason that I was there and my hope was to maintain my joy no matter what. They say good things come to those who wait - I want to change the last word to "persevere."
It is kind of like a dream... intern to middle management. No one makes that jump. There is only one way this happened and I believe it to be divine appointment. No one BUT God could have arranged this. I thank Him for it everyday, even on extremely hard days like yesterday.
In the first 20 minutes, I received no fewer than 20 emails and 10 phone calls... all about turkeys. A lot of turkeys came in yesterday... and a lot of turkeys went out to families who need them. It's a lot of work and it's such good work and at the end of the day, I know I've helped a lot of people.
So, what do I do when I'm not passing out turkeys? Well, first of all, I oversee two programs: Food and Nutrition Services for those living with HIV and AIDS... and Emergency Food pantry and soup kitchen. The programs include 6 full-time staff and several full-time volunteers. We run programs 6 days every week. We feed hundreds of people every week, especially now that food stamps have been significantly cut. We serve anyone who walks through our doors that needs food. We not only offer canned goods and boxed shelf-stable things, we also give frozen meats and fresh fruits and veggies when they're available. We try to provide enough food for 3 days. We cook and/or provide food for other programs within the agency.
Like I said, it's good work and I am so blessed!
Monday, November 11, 2013
Psalm 107
Again, a chapter in my daily readings struck me. It's interesting to know that different things really stick out on certain days because of what I may be experiencing. The latest reading that just made me sit back in awe was Psalm 107. May God reveal a great truth in your heart through this reading.
from east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands,
Psalm 107
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered from the lands,from east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle
to a city where they could settle
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the plans of the Most High.
So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
and broke away their chains.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.
Some became fools through their rebellious ways
because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the plans of the Most High.
So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
and broke away their chains.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.
Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
Some went out on the sea in ships;
They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.
He turned rivers into a desert,
They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.
He turned rivers into a desert,
flowing springs into thirsty ground,
and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
He turned the desert into pools of water
and the parched ground into flowing springs;
there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could settle.
They sowed fields and planted vineyards
that yielded a fruitful harvest;
he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
and he did not let their herds diminish.
Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled
and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
He turned the desert into pools of water
and the parched ground into flowing springs;
there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could settle.
They sowed fields and planted vineyards
that yielded a fruitful harvest;
he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
and he did not let their herds diminish.
Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled
by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
he who pours contempt on nobles
made them wander in a trackless waste.
But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
and increased their families like flocks.
The upright see and rejoice,
but all the wicked shut their mouths.
Let the one who is wise heed these things
he who pours contempt on nobles
made them wander in a trackless waste.
But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
and increased their families like flocks.
The upright see and rejoice,
but all the wicked shut their mouths.
Let the one who is wise heed these things
and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Womens' Sankofa
The Reformed Church in America has started a series of Sankofas. These are varying bus trips around a specific theme. They did one about racism and racial diversity through the multiracial initiatives office in the spring. This last September, they offered the first ever women's sankofa journey.
First stop:
Marble Collegiate Church. This church, where I so long to call home but the journey is honestly too long, has quite a history. Of note for our journey is the leadership of Mrs. Peale. Ruth Stafford Peale was married to the famous author and pastor Norman Vincent Peale. Alongside her husband, she co-created Guideposts (yeah, the heartwarming magazine we all love) and the Peale Foundation.
Random ride laugh:
I'm not sure how many of you have tried to pee in a coach bus bathroom. It's a trip even if the bus is parked. Those bathroom as small even for kids, let alone a full-sized (and then some) adult. So, in case you are not also aware, let me describe Manhattan traffic for you. Stop. Go. Speed up. Slow. Slower. Stop. Creep. Creep. Go. STOP! Gooo.... nope. Stop. Go. Stop. Go. Add in some turns (read: SHARP turns) and as you can imagine, even sitting on the bus is a trip. Standing would be much more difficult. Now imagine standing (or at least attempting to) while trying to pull your pants back up after using the restroom. Hilarious. Simply hilarious.
We headed to the sight of the first female ordination in the RCA: United Church of Spring Valley in Spring Valley, New York. It is a quaint little town in the Hudson Valley... that was not built for a tour bus. It was a nice town, though. Joyce Stedge was the first woman to be ordained into the RCA in 1973. You can read a little synopsis about it here.
Moving along - We headed further into the Hudson Valley to Pawling, NY. This little town is home to the Peale Center, founded by Mr and Mrs Norman Vincent Peale. Yes, I already mentioned them above, at Marble.
Lunch:
Normally I wouldn't document what I ate... but my lunch was amazing! If you're ever in Pawling, NY, you should DEFINITELY get a Chicken Parmesan Wrap from Vinny's. You will be happy you did.
We traveled northward for the rest of the day. We traveled until we reached Auburn, NY. Auburn is home to a wonderful community and the home of an American hero: Harriet Tubman. You can visit the Harriet Tubman Home as a museum now. We were treated and were able to hear her great-great-niece talk about her aunt and the legacy that she has carried in her honor. What a great surprise!
Continuing through northern New York, we headed toward our final destination for the night: the hotel and dinner :) We stayed close to Seneca Falls, NY and were able to enjoy a nice, relaxing night in a hotel with a fabulous dinner. After a restful night, we were back on the bus.
We headed to the Women's Rights National Historical Park. On July 19th and 20th in 1848, the first women's rights convention was held on the grounds of the now preserved space. It was, at that time, a Wesleyan Chapel, and after going through many changes, the National Park Service has recreated it to resemble what it may have looked like over 150 years ago. You can read the Declaration of Sentiments, the document written and signed by the those in attendance that were in agreement toward women's right. It is engraved next to a waterfall within the national park. There's also a museum and Women's Hall of Fame. My only regret from this trip is that we didn't have sufficient time to explore these places.
From there, we began our day long trip back toward NYC. I'm serious that it took ALL DAY. It was a long day in the bus, for sure. We even ate lunch in the bus! I never realized how big is the state of New York. Actually, we came down through Pennsylvania, but still...
We ended up in New Jersey. New Brunswick, NJ to be exact. We stopped at the First Reformed Church to hear about their "Dina's Dwelling" Project. It's a domestic violence that touched my heart. Not only because it would greatly expand the opportunity for women to become stable on their own, but it is re-envisioning the building of their church family... and that is a dream I've had for many years. So good. There are too many big church buildings which no longer house big congregations and I've believe it's time to re-appropriate the space to do some real good in this world.
From there, we headed back to our starting point. What a great way to spend a weekend - in peace, in adventure, with friends (old and new), serving and seeing, sharing stories and listening to stories, learning and leading. So good.
First stop:
Marble Collegiate Church. This church, where I so long to call home but the journey is honestly too long, has quite a history. Of note for our journey is the leadership of Mrs. Peale. Ruth Stafford Peale was married to the famous author and pastor Norman Vincent Peale. Alongside her husband, she co-created Guideposts (yeah, the heartwarming magazine we all love) and the Peale Foundation.
Random ride laugh:
I'm not sure how many of you have tried to pee in a coach bus bathroom. It's a trip even if the bus is parked. Those bathroom as small even for kids, let alone a full-sized (and then some) adult. So, in case you are not also aware, let me describe Manhattan traffic for you. Stop. Go. Speed up. Slow. Slower. Stop. Creep. Creep. Go. STOP! Gooo.... nope. Stop. Go. Stop. Go. Add in some turns (read: SHARP turns) and as you can imagine, even sitting on the bus is a trip. Standing would be much more difficult. Now imagine standing (or at least attempting to) while trying to pull your pants back up after using the restroom. Hilarious. Simply hilarious.
We headed to the sight of the first female ordination in the RCA: United Church of Spring Valley in Spring Valley, New York. It is a quaint little town in the Hudson Valley... that was not built for a tour bus. It was a nice town, though. Joyce Stedge was the first woman to be ordained into the RCA in 1973. You can read a little synopsis about it here.
Moving along - We headed further into the Hudson Valley to Pawling, NY. This little town is home to the Peale Center, founded by Mr and Mrs Norman Vincent Peale. Yes, I already mentioned them above, at Marble.
Lunch:
Normally I wouldn't document what I ate... but my lunch was amazing! If you're ever in Pawling, NY, you should DEFINITELY get a Chicken Parmesan Wrap from Vinny's. You will be happy you did.
We traveled northward for the rest of the day. We traveled until we reached Auburn, NY. Auburn is home to a wonderful community and the home of an American hero: Harriet Tubman. You can visit the Harriet Tubman Home as a museum now. We were treated and were able to hear her great-great-niece talk about her aunt and the legacy that she has carried in her honor. What a great surprise!
Continuing through northern New York, we headed toward our final destination for the night: the hotel and dinner :) We stayed close to Seneca Falls, NY and were able to enjoy a nice, relaxing night in a hotel with a fabulous dinner. After a restful night, we were back on the bus.
We headed to the Women's Rights National Historical Park. On July 19th and 20th in 1848, the first women's rights convention was held on the grounds of the now preserved space. It was, at that time, a Wesleyan Chapel, and after going through many changes, the National Park Service has recreated it to resemble what it may have looked like over 150 years ago. You can read the Declaration of Sentiments, the document written and signed by the those in attendance that were in agreement toward women's right. It is engraved next to a waterfall within the national park. There's also a museum and Women's Hall of Fame. My only regret from this trip is that we didn't have sufficient time to explore these places.
From there, we began our day long trip back toward NYC. I'm serious that it took ALL DAY. It was a long day in the bus, for sure. We even ate lunch in the bus! I never realized how big is the state of New York. Actually, we came down through Pennsylvania, but still...
We ended up in New Jersey. New Brunswick, NJ to be exact. We stopped at the First Reformed Church to hear about their "Dina's Dwelling" Project. It's a domestic violence that touched my heart. Not only because it would greatly expand the opportunity for women to become stable on their own, but it is re-envisioning the building of their church family... and that is a dream I've had for many years. So good. There are too many big church buildings which no longer house big congregations and I've believe it's time to re-appropriate the space to do some real good in this world.
From there, we headed back to our starting point. What a great way to spend a weekend - in peace, in adventure, with friends (old and new), serving and seeing, sharing stories and listening to stories, learning and leading. So good.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Deuteronomy 11 - Love and Obey the Lord
I was going to write about what struck me with this chapter one day. Instead, I'd encourage you to just read it and comment to let me know how God spoke to YOU through this passage.
*****
Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.
Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm; the signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country; what he did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and chariots, how he overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing you, and how the Lord brought lasting ruin on them. It was not your children who saw what he did for you in the wilderness until you arrived at this place, and what he did to Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth right in the middle of all Israel and swallowed them up with their households, their tents and every living thing that belonged to them. But it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the Lord has done.
Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, and so that you may live long in the land the Lord swore to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.
The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.
So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you. Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him and to hold fast to him— then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you. Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea. No one will be able to stand against you. The Lord your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go.
See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.
When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, westward, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh, in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah in the vicinity of Gilgal. You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today.
*****
Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.
Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm; the signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country; what he did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and chariots, how he overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing you, and how the Lord brought lasting ruin on them. It was not your children who saw what he did for you in the wilderness until you arrived at this place, and what he did to Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth right in the middle of all Israel and swallowed them up with their households, their tents and every living thing that belonged to them. But it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the Lord has done.
Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, and so that you may live long in the land the Lord swore to your ancestors to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.
The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.
So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul— then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you. Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him and to hold fast to him— then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you. Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea. No one will be able to stand against you. The Lord your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go.
See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.
When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, westward, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh, in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah in the vicinity of Gilgal. You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today.
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