The Beach

If you know me at all, you know that I absolutely love the beach.  I can't get enough of it.  I get homesick for the beach.  It's not that I spent my early years at the beach.  Granted, I grew up in Southern California, not far from the beach.  But!  When the tide turned, I could smell the ocean.

I was thinking about the beach this morning.  The girls and I went to Myrtle Beach, SC on our way home from Donny & Katie's wedding.  I took picture after picture.  I waded into the water.  (By the way, the water was COLD.)  I guess you could say I was in heaven. 

As I was thinking about my love for the beach and the ocean, I thought about God.  When I walk along the beach, I feel closer to God.  That might not make sense to a lot of people, so, let me try to explain. 

I have read "The Chronicles of Narnia" by CS Lewis. Aslan, the lion, is supposed to represent God. One quote that has stayed with me is " “He is not a tame lion," said Tirian.". When I think of that, I think we could no more tame the ocean than we could tame God. 

When I look at the ocean, I see majesty, beauty, freedom and peace.  I see all that (and more) in God as well.  Our God is majestic.  He is our King.  He is our Creator.  He is our Redeemer.  He is our Prince of Peace.

God, as King, should reign over our lives.  We should honor Him first and foremost.  We should love Him. worship Him, obey Him.  We should put nothing before or above Him.

God, as Creator, has placed so much beauty around us!  Sunrises, sunsets.  Animals, birds, fish.  Trees, flowers, cactus.  Deserts, mountains, oceans.  Have you ever seen anything so beautiful that it brought tears to your eyes and a lump in your throat?  Think about the One who made it!  Our wonderful, amazing God!!  

God, as Redeemer, has given us freedom from sin.  When we choose to follow Him, we turn our backs on our old life.  Some people think that Christians can't have fun, or don't have fun.  I think that is ridiculous.  As a Christian, I am free to have good, clean fun and not have to worry about what other people would think.  I don't have to worry about doing something I know would bring embarassment to myself or my family, because doing something illegal or immoral isn't my idea of fun.  God loves us so much that He doesn't want to control us, so He gave us the freedom of CHOICE.  We are free to choose which path to take, who, or what, to worship.  Etc, etc.

God, as Prince of Peace, can fill us with peace.  Even when we are going through the storms of life, we can still have peace.  His peace. 

I am so very thankful.

I AM BLESSED.
KEEP SMILING!!  :)

. 

 

 

I Hope I Helped

A dear friend of mine has been asking for prayer for awhile.  There were some issues.  The other day she told me the issues.  Basically, she has felt there was was no love in her marriage, no desire, etc.  If she wants intimacy, she tries to initiate it, but is often turned down.  She cheated on her husband multiple times.  He knows about the affairs, but forgives her and wants their marriage.  She has prayed and begged God to fix her marriage.  This is one thing she said: "I've asked God to help me fall back in love with my husband over and over, but what all I hear is this small voice that says "love him how he is now, just as he is"...WHATEVER!! shouts loud in my head.  That's why I've done what I've done in the first place!!!  All the church hopping I did, all the praying I did and I'm at a spot in life stuck in a pit..BECAUSE every time I go to leave walk out that voice says don't give up on him, have faith in me that I can change this marriage... "

Following is my answer:

One thing I can say right now: don't leave or give up. One more thing: God is not going to change you overnight. You have to start changing and trusting God to help you change.
Remember, I understand. I love you and I am here for you. I consider you part of my family.

I am so glad you can hear that still, small voice telling you to stay, to not give up, to hang in there. God IS listening to you. HE is telling you to hang in there. He IS answering your prayer. He is. You said you do want your marriage to work. That is because God has put that desire in you. You keep praying for it to work. That is because the Holy Spirit is encouraging you to pray for it. God is answering your prayers!!!
I have been angry at God before. Believe me, I have. It has felt like He abaondoned me. WHY won't He answer my prayer(s)? WHY does my life have to be like this? Does HE even love me? WHY am I being punished? Do those questions sound familiar?
I know what it's like to be with one who refuses to have sex except once in a blue moon. One who refuses to kiss except for a little peck in the morning before going to work and in the evening when coming home. One who watches tv, plays video games, computer games, etc rather than spend time with me.   I know what it's like to want the husband to compliment you and tell you how beautiful you are, etc., but not receive any of it.
I sooo understand.
I am a control freak. I always had to try to "fix" the man. Mold him into what I wanted. But it never worked. I can't change anyone. Now I am finally learning that I DO have to love my husband as he is and trust God to make him the man that GOD wants him to be. I cannot change him. I have to pray for him daily. If and when he hurts me, I have to give it to God. I have to love him anyway. I have to submit to him. I have to trust him. I have to respect him. I have to smile. I have to remember to heed the words of the Bible in regards to what a wife is supposed to do and not do. When he really makes me angry, I have to remember to NOT be negative and DO remember what he does that makes me happy.
My husband is not outwardly affectionate. I know he loves me though. He works to provide. Every now and then he might surprise me with something. We've been married for 3-1/2 years and it's already been extremely rocky. Heck, we've been separated twice already!! But this last time I learned where I messed up. I prayed and prayed and prayed about the marriage. I knew it was wrong to separate and that was killing me inside. I knew I loved my husband and it was tearing me up that I had possibly ruined the chance for us to be together because of my lack of understanding. But thank God, we did reconciliate. So now I give it to God.
Your husband loves you. That is why he keeps forgiving you. He wants the marriage to work too. I really believe you love him and I believe you want your marriage to work.
Read Romans 7. The whole chapter. That chapter is my chapter. I mess up and get mad at myself because I keep doing that which I don't want to do.
I have not physically cheated on my husband and I am not going to. But, when I was very discontent with our marriage last summer, I was in that "what if" frame of mind. "What if I was single? What if I found someone who would be the kind of man I wanted? What if...." Those "what if's" can destroy a marriage even faster than physically cheating can. 

 Last year I was talking to another Christian woman about my pain, loneliness, etc.. She kept telling me to stop trying to have a man fill my loneliness - allow God to fill my loneliness. Allow God to have my heart. Allow God to compliment me, supply my needs, etc. I was like "You have NO idea what I am going through! You have never been through what I am going through! You do not have a clue and until you do, do NOT presume to tell me to allow GOD to fill my needs!"   She hasn't lived my life. She is married to her first, and only, husband. Her husband is a Christian and has been throughout their marriage. My husband is not interested in going to church with me. He watches garbage I don't want to watch. Etc, etc.
Lol, you know what? She was right.  If we put God first, if we allow Him to fill our heart AND our mind, if we claim 1 Corinthians 10:13 when tempted in any and every way, if we pray for our husbands, trust our husbands, always, always, always praise our husbands - to his face, behind his back, thinking only positive things about him - if we let him know that AFTER GOD, our husbands come first above everyone and everything else, our marriages will be blessed.   God first, spouse second, children/family third, friends and everything else after that. That is the order of things.
It's not easy, but God never promised it would be easy.
I have two prayer journals going. One is specifically for my husband. For whatever is going on that I think needs extra prayer. In it, I always thank God for my husband. Then I write out a prayer. At the end of the prayer, I ask God to put a hedge of protection around our marriage and allow nothing and nobody to harm it - including ourselves. Our heavenly Father knows I am serious about that prayer. The other prayer journal is for myself if I have a need or others I am praying for. Often I thank Him for an answered prayer in the prayer journal.
Read 1 John 1:9. I am thankful for that promise.
I have done so many stupid things. I have sinned so many times in many different ways.  I have sinned. I am so very thankful that our God loves us so much that He willingly forgives us when we repent. And He forgives us so often for the same sin over and over.
Grab ahold of our Father's hand. He will help you.
Again, I am here for you. I love you. I am praying for you.

I hope what I said helps her.

I AM BLESSED!!

Keep Smiling!! :)

My Crazy Life - So Far This Year

Proverbs 3:5-6   Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

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 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 with all your heart.

This year has been a crazy year and it's only the middle of August!!  I keep moaning that my life is not ever on an even keel.  It's always full of drama.  Lol (laughing out loud).  I have to remember:  we reap what we sow.

January 21st - Brent and I got back together.  I am so very thankful.

February 3rd - Brent had his second heart attack.  We found out his heart was enlarged and mush.  The doctor told him he needed to stop drinking and smoking. 

February 9th - Donny proposed to Katie.  :D (Big smile).

 

March 14th - The first anniversary of my dad's death.  Sometimes it still feels fresh.  Does a daughter ever get over the death of her dad?  Even if he wasn't really in her life much?

 

April 13th - My very first brand new car!  Of course that means a large car payment too... Oops.

April 28th/29th - April's Regional Track Meet in Abiline.  We are all so proud of her accomplishments in track!! 

 

May 19th - First Kristi and I went to an early service at church.  Then we met Rachel, Donny and Katie in Arlington(?) so Katie could look at the bridesmaid dresses on Rachel and Kristianna.  From there, we went to Kinkaid's for lunch.  Then it was back to Johnson County so Kristi could go get her hair done and I could go home.  From there, Cleburne.  It was time for Kristi's Senior Prom.  She looked absolutely beautiful.  She looked like a princess.  She and her best friend, Taylor, double dated with their respective boyfriends.  Several of us had fun taking pictures of the couples. 

 

 

May 31st - I had to stop Wimpy, my German Shepherd, from attacking our goat, Bob.  Then Jr, Brent and I had to go to Joshua High School for April's graduation.  Donny was there, plus several of Brent's family.  (Brent's family is very close - which is wonderful.)

 

June 1st - Kristianna's graduation from Cleburne High School.  Kristi's dad, aunt and uncle were there.  Of course Donny, April, Brent and I were there, as well as several of Brent's family.

 

 

July 3rd - Donny had an issue with choking, so he had to have minor surgery.  I stayed the night with him.  While I was with him in Dallas, my dog, Wimpy, was given away.  Wimpy had an issue with escaping from our fenced in area and then killing chickens, goats and finally a duck.  Wimpy had to go.  I'm still not over losing him.

 

July ? - Kristianna moved out.  My Princess Sweetpea is independent.  She and some friends are renting a house in Cleburne. 

 

July 18th - April finally told us she was pregnant.  I said "finally".  Yes, I had my suspicions.  You know, it's not what a parent wants for her unwed daughter/step-daughter.  But, what is done is done.  A baby is a precious gift from God.  Brent and I are looking forward to being grandparents, as are Shirley and Joe.  By the way, I'm hoping to be called Grammy Jo or Jojo.  I will accept "Dodo", pronounced "Doe-doe" if the baby can't say "Jojo".  If Brent has his way, I'll be called (ugh, hack, choke) "Granny".  Donny told me to just let the baby decide what to call me.

 

August 15th - Brent became job-less.  He applied for a truck driving job.  He needs his cardiologist to sign a release form.  Once that form is signed, he has the job.  The cardiologist refuses to sign it until Brent has the echocardiogram done.  It will show if there has been any improvement with the heart.  Brent's boss at the time called Brent and asked him if he had the job.  Brent told him that they were waiting for the doctor to sign the release.  So, Brent's boss told him to come in the next day and sign a form releasing him from the job.  Since the echocardiogram will not be done for 2 weeks, Brent is job-less.  He is filling out applications, though.

In the near future my beloved son, Donny, is moving to North Carolina.  September 7th, to be exact.  Then on November 10th, he is marrying his love, Katie, and they will begin their next adventure in life - marriage. 

 

My life continues to be an adventure.  No calmness.  But I know, that in the midst of the storm of my life, I can turn to God and have peace in the storm.  I know that God will get me through anything that is thrown in my path.  I know that God will provide for us. 

I AM BLESSED!

Keep Smiling!!  :)

 

 

I've Been Thinking...

Anytime I start a conversation with "I've been thinking...." my husband utters an expletitive.  Apparently he thinks it's a "bad thing" when I've been thinking.

So, back to what I've been thinking about.  On July 5th, on Facebook, I read a post that WFAA put on their page:  "Couple arrested after gay marriage protest in records building".  The basic storyline is that two guys wanted to get a marriage license and they weren't allowed to, so they staged a little protest.  Then they were arrested.  Then I read the comments left on that post.  Wow.  I was astounded.  People ought to read it.  I thought about commenting, but then I decided against it. 

Homosexuality is a hot topic.  It really is.  I think it's right up there with gas prices, religion, the President and politics in general.

So, what do I think about homosexuality?  I think it is wrong. I think it is a sin.  Make that I BELIEVE it is wrong, I BELIEVE it is a sin.  I also believe it's unnatural.  But, I'm one of those who believe in God and the Bible.  In the Bible it states that homosexuality is an abomination.  It also states that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God. Read:  Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:24-32; 1 Corinthians 6:8-11; Galations 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-5.

Okay, so does that mean that God hates homosexuals? No, it does not.  He hates the SIN.  Just as He hates all of the other sins that were mentioned in those verses, plus these: backstabbing, gossiping, gluttony, adultery, murder, stealing, telling lies, etc.  They are all sins.  If we do one, we might as well have done them all.  "James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  11  For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.”  If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker."

I have a problem with Christians who state that homosexuality is okay.  Really?  Read your Bible!!!  But I also have a problem with Christians who are so bigoted and hateful about homosexuality.  I want to tell them the same thing:  Really?  Read your Bible!!!  Do you honestly think that Jesus would be so hateful and ugly to homosexuals?  I don't think so.  Look at the way He treated the other outcasts.  The tax collectors, the woman caught in adultery, the publicans, the "sinners".  He treated them with love and understanding.  Does that mean He condoned their sin?  NO.  He told them "Go and sin no more." 

That's the answer right there.  "Go and sin no more".  EVERYONE sins.  EVERYONE.  Don't kid yourself if you think you don't.  Do you take pillows, sheets, towels, etc from hotels?  STEALING.  Do you take office supplies from work?  STEALING.  Do you take something from your sibling and not give it back?  STEALING.  Do you talk about someone behind their back?  GOSSIPING.  Are you married but sleeping with someone who is not your spouse?  ADULTERY.  Are you not married, but having sex with someone?  FORNICATION.  Do you eat too much?  GLUTTON.  Do you drink too much?  DRUNKARD. Do you throw tantrums?  Are you mean to people?  Do you yell and scream at people?  Are you selfish?  Are you lazy?  Are you unforgiving?  Are you conceited?  Are you ungrateful?  Are you disobedient to your parents?  Are you slanderers?  These are all sins.  Yep.  They might not seem like much, but they are.  Think about this:  when you gossip about someone, when you slander someone, you are murdering their reputation and/or their character. 

So, before you get on your high horse, your "Holier than Thou" pedestal, look at the sins in your own life - take that beam out of your own eye before you try to dig the speck out of someone else's eye.  God loves YOU, but hates YOUR sin.   

And another thing, the only way to get to heaven is through Christ.  It's a gift.  But we have to accept that gift.  We need to repent of our sins, confess our sins, forsake our sins and follow Christ completely.  If we love Him, we will keep His commandments.  "John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commands."  We need HIS help to do that. We need HIS robe of righteousness.  All of our righteousness is as filthy rags.  "Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."

Oh, and this goes for me to, by the way.

I don't  hate homosexuals by any means.  Their lifestyle breaks my heart, though.  But then I think: "Well, my lifestyle and my sins breaks God's heart". 

Before I forget, I was shocked and dismayed by how many people don't believe in God and/or the Bible.  Also those who believe in God, but don't believe we need to live by the Bible. 

I am very thankful for God.  I am thankful for the Bible.  God has helped me get through some rough spots in my life.  He still does.  If I didn't believe in God, I would not have hope.  God is good. 

I AM BLESSED
KEEP SMILING!!  :)

REVERENCE FOR THE SANCTUARY

REVERENCE FOR THE SANCTUARY

Leviticus 19:30 “‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

Leviticus 26:2 “‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

Last Sabbath I didn't go to church.  Instead I went to a meeting.  It was a meeting with other Seventh-day Adventists.  We went to listen to someone who loves God and wants everyone to hear that "Jesus is coming soon".  He wants everyone to turn their hearts completely back to God.

Well, one thing I got out of the meeting was that people in church do not have reverence for God.  Not even in the sanctuary of the church. 

What is church?  God's house.  How are we supposed to act in the presence of God?  How should we act in HIS house?  Should we be talking out loud?  Should we be texting?  Should we be playing on our phones?  Should we be clapping?  I admit I've texted, played on my phone, talked to my kids/family/friends. 

I need to wake up.  WE need to wake up.  When we go to church, we are in GOD's house.  We should give God the honor and reverence that is due to Him. 

Part two of that same thought. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

So, if our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, shouldn't we treat it better than we do?  Who is the Holy Spirit?  He is part of the Godhead.  He is God.  Therefore, if we have Him dwelling in our body(ies), then we should take care of our bodies.  Exercise, drink lots of water, get plenty of rest, eat right and leave drugs, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and junk food (and greasy food) alone. 

I AM BLESSED.

KEEP SMILING!!  :)

My Son is Getting Married

1 Corinthians 13

New International Version (NIV)

13 If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.  ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Ephesians 5:24-25

²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her....

Colossians 3:18-19

¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Ephesians 5:22-24

New International Version (NIV)

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

There are so many things I want to say to Donny and Katie.  But!!  I don't want to butt in!!!  I don't want to be one of "THOSE" moms/mother-in-laws.  So, I'm going to say it here.

First, there is supposed to be an order in marriage.  Always, always, always, put God first.  You can't lose if you put Him first.  Then, your spouse comes next.  What does the Bible say?  Genesis 2:24 "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."  When children come along, they are next in the order.  Finally, extended family, friends, etc.   

I would also want to tell them: never stop laughing together, playing together, talking to each other.  Find a project to do with each other.  Give each other space when needed.  Worship together - not just at church, but also at home.  With God first and center in the marriage, it's amazing how strong that marriage will be! 

Have a weekly date.  Seriously.  You don't have to do something expensive!  Even if you two end up rolling in the dough, you can still go on cheap (and fun) dates!  Go fishing together, hiking, have a picnic in the park, go for a long drive....or just snuggle up in front of the tv with a good movie.  Even after the babies come along, MAKE TIME TO HAVE THAT WEEKLY DATE!!

Babies.  Wonderful gifts God blesses us with.  Wait.  Wait a couple years.  You two need time to get used to each other, bind together, etc.  As wonderful as babies are, they take a lot of time and attention.  So wait. 

Keep the lines of communication open.  There will be disagreements.  Perhaps fights.  Cool down.  Speak reasonably to each other.  No hitting below the belt.  No name calling.   If things are a bit rough, and talking to each other about the problem isn't helping, go to God first.  Together and separately.  If you still need help, go to your pastor.  The next step would be to a Christian counselor.  But!!  Don't EVER give up on each other. 

Each of you have strengths and weaknesses.   Not only are you two different because one is a man and the other is a woman, but you have been raised differently.  Different lifestyles.  Accept each other and encourage each other.  Keep this in mind:  NOBODY IS PERFECT!!!!  So, no nagging.  No berating.  No belittling.  No demanding.  No negativity.  ALWAYS look for the good in each other.  Always.  Be thankful for each other.  Even when he/she is getting on your last nerve:  think about something he/she does that makes you smile, makes your heart melt, etc.  You get the idea.  Stay POSITIVE. 

Remember, all marriages go through storms.  With God, you'll have a safe passage.  He brought you two together.  Allow Him to guide you through the new adventure you are about to embark on.

Oh!  And before I forget....  Never, ever, EVER leave without giving the other a hug and a kiss good-bye and telling him/her "I love you".  

I AM SO BLESSED!!
KEEP SMILING!!  :)

Our Christian Life....Part One

1 John 5:14¹⁴ This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

There's the kicker - if we ask anything according to His will - that's when He hears us.  I can pray until I'm blue in the face, etc, but if it's not according to God's will, I'm wasting my time and God's time.  In so many ways it's hard to accept that my way/will isn't His.  I know that God knows best, that it's best to wait on His will to be done, in His time, but even though I know it, I most often don't accept it.   You would think that I would have learned by now the results of not waiting on God's will to be done. But I haven't, so therefore, I need to change.

James 5:⁹ Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

I need to remember this verse - about not grumbling against others.  When we grumble we are not showing Christ's love.  When we grumble against others, we are taking from them - we are harming them by our mouth. That is not right.  It all goes back to guarding our thoughts and taming our tongues.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

I believe when I act with love towards others, despite what they have done to me, said to me, etc, I receive a blessing - as long as I don't act like a martyr (one of my many sins) or feel proud of myself!  When we love others, we are showing Christ.  We shouldn't try to bring attention to our own "goodness".  It's all about Christ and HIS LOVE being spread.

I AM BLESSED!!!!
KEEP SMILING!!  :)

The "Trinity"

This is a work in progress..... 

A dear friend, a "Sister in Christ" and I have discussed the "Trinity".  I thought some of my thoughts might be good for a blog...

Scripture doesn't specifically use the word "TRINITY", but there are references to the Three working together. I actually decided to look for the word in Scripture - NOT THERE! But the instances are there where they are mentioned together. So, then I googled trinity. Wikipedia was very informative. I didn't read it all, so I need to send myself a note to work and print it there! 
I believe all three are God, but separate facets of God.  I believe They were together when the world was created.  I believe They were all present when Jesus was baptized. I believe that when the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we are in union with Them.  I also believe that there is NO reason to make an issue of this.

Some interesting points. Because Jesus was born of a woman (through the Holy Spirit - THAT in itself is a mind-twister!), He became a man. He is both human and divine. His mission on earth was to draw all men to God, to show people what God was truly like. He was also here to show us how to live - in close communion with God - from whom He drew His strength. He healed people of their diseases, He raised people from the dead, He forgave people their sins. Only God can forgive sins, right? But Jesus forgave. Peter, John and Paul healed people - but through the Holy Spirit. Jesus was humble. He knew He was God, but He didn't demand the glory given to Him. (Satan, on the other hand, wants to be worshipped. He wants to be God.) Because Adam sinned, he had to die. God warned him that he would die if he disobeyed God. But who would atone for the death? There had to be blood for blood. An animal really can't take our sins. The animal sacrifice was a "TYPE". Someone perfectly sinless had to die for the sins of the world, so Jesus came to this earth to show man that it is possible to live in perfect obedience to God. Then He died for all of us.

As for how the Holy Spirit can be in more than one place at a time and still be a person? Lol, I have no clue. But I accept it.

 
John 14:8-10

⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

Mark 3:28-30

²⁸ Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

Luke 12:9-11

⁹ But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. ¹⁰ And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Numbers 11:16-18

¹⁶ The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. ¹⁷ I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

Leviticus 24:15-16

¹⁵ Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who curses their God will be held responsible; ¹⁶ anyone who blasphemes the name of the LORD is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.

John 4:23-25

²³ Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 

Hebrews 11:1

¹ Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Following are a bunch of Scipture references....Feel free to look them up:

HOLY SPIRITGen 1:20,26, 3:22, 6:3, 11:7
Ex 31:3
Num 24:2, 11:17,25,26
Judges 6:34, 3:10, 11:29
1 Sam 10:6
Job 33:4, 34:14,15
Ps 104:30
Isaiah 42:1, 48:16, 63:11
Joel 2:28

Matt 12:31,32, 28:19, 3:16,17, 1:18-20
Mark 1:9,10
Luke 12:12; 1:35, 24:49, 4:1
John 16:7-9,13,14; 7:39, 20:22, 14:16-18, 3:5, 15:26, 17:3
Acts 15:28, 13:2, 5:3,4; 1:8 2:2-4,33, 16:7,
Rom 8:2, 15:30, 8:9,11,26;
1 Cor 2:10-11, 12:3-13, 3:16
2 Cor 13:4;
Gal 4:6
Eph 4:30
Phil 1:19
Heb. 9:14,15
1 Peter 1:2,11;
2 Peter 1:21;


JESUSPs 16:10, 34:20, 8:5
Is 7:14, 9:6,7, 61:1,2, 53:2-8, 42:1
Daniel 9:24-27
Micah 5:2
Zech 12:10

Matt 28:18-20, 9:6, 3:3, 1:18-23, 21:9, 26:39-44
Mark 1:15,24, 6:3,46
Luke 3:21,22, 24:36-43
John 1:2-4,14,18,31-37, 4:18,19, 5:26-29, 11:25,26, 17:2, 8:58, 20:7, 10:30, 19:30
Acts 2:22,29-31
Rom 1:3,
1 Cor 15:45,47
Gal 4:4
Phil 2:6-11
Col 1:16,17, 2:3,
1 Tim 3:16, 2:5
Heb 13:8, 1:3,6, 5:7-9, 2:9,10,14-18, 4:15
1 Pet. 1:19
1 John 4:2
Rev 1:17,18

I AM BLESSED!!!!
KEEP SMILING!!  :)

What I Want to Say to Our Girls...

The world is such a crazy place.  There is so much garbage bombarding each and every one of us.  I worry about our youth.  I especially worry about our girls.  There are several things I want to say to them...

When one the girls said her views on love have changed, she asked what does love mean to us... This is what I said:

"To me love is accepting the person for who they are, encouraging them to be the best they can be, being there for them, not giving up on them, putting their needs first before your own, doing the little things for them to brighten their day... or to help them out. Sometimes it's also telling them "no", or letting them know they are wrong. Love is also saying "I'm sorry" or accepting their apology. Love is not "What are you going to give me or do for me?"... It's "What can I do for you?" It's also realizing nobody is perfect, least of all yourself. Love YOU. ♥"

When one of the girls said "It's like your screaming and no one can hear. You almost feel ashamed, that someone could be that important. That without them, you feel like nothing. No one will ever understand how much it hurts. You feel hopeless; like nothing can save you. And when it's over, and it's gone, you almost wish that you could have all the bad stuff back, just so you could have the good♥", this is what I said:

"Actually, others who have gone through it before WOULD understand. They would say, "Just HANG ON. It WILL get better. There IS something better waiting to happen in your life." There are those who would add to it, telling you all of that, plus, "Give it to God. He can, and will, help you through this. He has such an awesome plan for your life!! He will heal your heart." That is what I would say...and never, ever forget how much you are really, truly loved."

I have told our girls, and a few other teenage girls, the following: "Do not settle for someone who you cannot trust. Do not settle for someone who does not see the jewel that you are. Do not settle for someone who is only going to continue to rip your heart in pieces. Do not listen to their bs, their lies, their sweet talk, their promises. Stand strong and turn around and walk away."

I've told the girls to WAIT for that special someone.  I've been crass enough to say "Keep your legs closed".  For those who have already given away their virginity, I've said "Please, don't have sex anymore.  Wait.  Sex is such a beautiful thing and should be reserved for your husband.  Each time you have sex with someone, you BOND with that person.  You have become one with that person.  Then, when the relationship doesn't work out, it's that much harder on you because of that BOND."  If I don't know for sure whether or not they've had sex, I tell them to wait.  I tell them what I've just typed, and I add to it - I tell them once you have had sex, it's hard not to have it again.  It's hard to wait.  It CAN be done, but why put yourself through that?  Also, why put yourself at risk for STD's?  I know they think "I won't get one of those" and "That won't happen to me"... But you might and it can. 

I want our girls to know, that even when it feels as though our heart will never mend, it will. It might take awhile, but it WILL mend.  It is okay to cry. BUT, you cannot wallow in it.  Allow the grieving, then get up and go on.  Do something constructive.  Help someone else.  Exercise.  Something that will help you feel good because you did something good.

I want our girls to know, that even when I don't understand, or I disagree, I am still there for them.  I will love them, I will encourage them, I will share their joys, sorrows, frustrations.  I will fight for them.  I will be the "psycho mom", "psycho step-mom", "psycho substitute mom", for them OR to them, depending on the situation....(lol).  I want them to know that they can come to me with anything, and I do mean ANYTHING.  If it's something really stupid that they have done, I might yell, (simply because that would probably be my first reaction - I'm working on that and God is working with me), BUT, then I will be reasonable.  It doesn't mean I love them less, it means that I'm human.  We will work on it together.  Somehow.

I want our girls to know, that even when people fail them, and everyone fails someone at some time or another, God is ALWAYS there.  He NEVER fails us.  He is our comfort, our strength, our peace, our help, our protector, our provider.  I want them to know that God has a  plan and a purpose for each one of them.  He has said so in His Word: 

Jeremiah 29:11-13

¹ 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 hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Most of all, I want our girls to know they are LOVED, BEAUTIFUL, WORTHY, AMAZING, PRECIOUS.  Not just to us.  But also to God.  Whether they believe in God or not, He believes in them.  And I believe in them too.

I AM BLESSED.

KEEP SMILING!! :)

 

Our Society

I am so thankful we have freedom of religion and I hope that is never, ever taken away. God, Himself, gave us that choice. HE gave us the freedom to follow Him, or not. We can choose to love, honor and follow Him, or we can choose not to. The problem is, we have taken that freedom and used it to make gods out of money, power, sex, drugs, alcohol, music AND ourselves. We have not only taken God out of our schools, we have taken Him out of our lives, our marriages, our homes.

We have become a "politically correct" society. We are not "allowed" to say "THIS BEHAVIOR IS WRONG". 

We try to fill a void in our lives, not realizing that void can only be filled with God Himself. Then we wonder, what is wrong with our society? Why do our children act as they do? Why is their so much ugliness? People need to open up their eyes, open their hearts and, OPEN THEIR BIBLE and READ IT. 

But think about this: when did this problem really start? It started in heaven, with Satan.  You don't think so?  "⁷ Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸ But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁹ The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." Revelation 12:7-9.  Let's not forget: ¹² How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! ¹³ You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.^{[b] 14} I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:12-14.  Now, read Genesis 1.  What's the main theme?  Creation - and everything God created was GOOD.  Then, go to Genesis 3.  What happened?  ⁴ “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. ⁵ “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  Genesis 3:4-5. 

You can go on to Exodus and read about how God pulled the Israelites out of Egypt.  He had a beautiful country for them.  He promised them blessings if they followed Him and warned them of curses if they chose not to follow Him.  What did they do?  They went after other "gods". So, bad things happened.  Then they'd come back to Him.  God wanted to be their King.  But they wanted a human king.  You don't think so?  Read 1 Samuel 8. 

Better yet, read the whole Bible.  From cover to cover.  I know you might get bogged down in the geneologies, or the building of the sanctuary and all that went in it, etc.  But read the Bible anyway.  Ask the Holy Spirit to be with  you as you read the Bible.  The Bible is history.  It's a love story.  It's instructions on how to live, how to raise our children, how to treat others.  It's one adventure after another.  It's the Word of God.  The true God.  Our Creator and Redeemer.  

I AM BLESSED!!!

Keep Smiling!!  :)  

God Will Provide

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

I have three wonderful children.  Seriously.  They are wonderful.  And like all wonderful children, they are each different and have each tried my patience, made me cry, made me laugh and made me proud.  I thank God for them EVERY day.
During most of their growing up years, I was a single mom.  I lived paycheck to paycheck.  Sometimes I wondered how far that paycheck would go, but God is good.  He always provided.
I often wondered if I was showing my children my love for, and faith in, God.  I worried often about what kind of example I was for my children.  I wanted to be a good example, but knew I often failed.
I kept my children in church all throughout their youth.  I honestly believe that is one of the best things a parent can do for their children... If, for some reason, we couldn't make it to church, we would have a little lesson study at home. As they became adults, they made the choice on whether or not to continue to go to church.
My son is a normal young man.  He is friendly, he loves his family, he is a hard-worker, etc.  Well, he stopped going to church.  He would hang out with his friends, go to ball games, go to clubs, drink a little here and there, etc.  Not a bad guy at all, but, I worried about him - that he lost his love for Christ.  I kept praying.
Then he started going to church with friends of ours, became on fire for Christ and was re-baptized.  He then decided he wanted to go on a mission trip to Tanzania.  He, with help, raised the funds necessary for the trip.  He actually raised enough money to pay his bills while he was gone, which was a special blessing, because he had not mentioned to anyone that while he was gone, he would not receive a paycheck from work.  After it was announced at church how much money had been raised for the Tanzania trip, and that my son's bills would be covered while he was gone, one of the church members asked my son, "Why didn't you tell anyone that you wouldn't be getting a paycheck while you were gone?".  My son answered, "My mom taught me: 'God will provide'."
Wow. He WAS paying attention!!!
I AM BLESSED...
Keep Smiling!!  :)