Nearer to the Heart

2011-04-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

April 30, 2011
Spring has finally sprung and we are getting out for more walks now and starting yard work/ gardening.
I have a plan to loose weight and perk my whole system up.

Juicing seems to be a good option for me. My body responds really well to getting at least 50% of my daily nutrients through my drinks. Focusing on a GAPS no grain meal in the early evening and then a dairy snack like a smoothie or cottage cheese with fruit in the evening for protein to keep me satisfied until morning.

Not much weight loss yet but I am feeling better and maintaining more energy.

I'm not sure if my thyroid problems have corrected or not. But I am not looking back, just trying to keep up what seems to be helping.

Today I will be juicing for lunch and eating a large salad with tuna. Dinner will be veg. soup from the beef stock of yesterdays beef stew.

Looks like possible rain but will be going on a family walk and a power walk with Talitha.

Making plans to get my hair styled and possibly start tanning.

School and Business goals are ten hours of work on The Natural Foodist for this new week and 3 hours of personal blogging. Jonny will start the play group on Tues. and I will meet new people in the community.

Luke will complete his blog post do math and phonics everyday.

Same for Timmy.

Lina will do some handwriting pages each day.

Sophia and Jon will do activities pages each day.

2010-12-25T01:23:00.000-08:00

Addressing our current beliefs to people in my life is something I have not had to do really before because we are so locally alone at this point. But I will attempt to share with you so you might understand where we are in life:^)
In trying to simplify it is easiest to simply say we are not mainstream Christians anymore. Even prefer to simply say we are 'believers.' Believers in the Most High, In Yehshua the messiah. We have journeyed to learn more of who 'Jesus' is. He is of Jewish linage which is very significant. Hashemn who bears the personal name YHWH we feel deserves that reverence -to be called his chosen name. We chose to follow after the guidelines he gives in the whole of scripture... which means studying the first five books the Tanakh Hebrew Bible in depth and viewing the new testament from the disciples Jewish heritage/ Hebraic mind. It is amazing to allow ones self to grasp that when Messiah came he did not do away with the old testament scriptures he and his closest friends were all of Hebraic mind. They never stopped being Jewish and they never condemned the ten commandments. They never told us to disregard any of the words of YHWH. They told us to come out of the paganism of the world.

All of this started in both Mike and I before we met but grew within a few years of our marriage. We haven't celebrated Christmas for several years, Easter, or any of the other non commanded Holidays. Holy Days are shown in scripture to be the A Concise Overview of the Seven Feasts of Israel seven feasts of the Lord. All other holidays have such pagan roots, it is clear after even lightly researching, so we just don't do them. Each year we learn more about the feasts each year and are learning how to obey/ observe and ENJOY them!
We try to have a 7th day sabbath each week ( Friday sundown to Saturday sundown). Mike is still on second shift but in the summertime he should be able to apply within his company for a first shift position and then we can help observe together more fully. As it is now we don't worship as a family until Saturday afternoon/ evening.

This shift of heart and mind happened slowly but consistently over the years. While yet in Toledo we often found ourselves exhausted trying to attend and serve in the church. Mike was struggling heavily physically. He had many quite delirious experiences. Though some men can work 12 hours and stay up going to church and then sleep after arriving home in the afternoon and do relatively okay, he couldn't. Symptoms of sleep deprivation were very scary and life threatening. I'd say the biggest changes took place after we left Toledo and tried to find new fellowship. Mike also had a very physically demanding full-time job on third shift. We spent significant time in several churches, traveled at length to try to find a good fit and kept hearing from YHWH that we needed to be separate. Every year we'd find our focus was less mainstream Christianity and more of a search of what does the Bible really say about what the Father expects of us as believers. We went through times feeling that we could not obtain regular fellowship and a place to serve.We questioned were we sinning or being stubborn against the requirements of YHWH but it became clear the struggle was more with local churches than with YHWH himself. Each year we'd have a new life come into our family we knew or energies were limited. What was gonna go and what was going to remain in our lifestyle was constantly in question.

Before we left Toledo our extended family relations had deteriorated. And with in that first year away we'd broke it off with our loved ones. Hoping to raise a new believing generation... being first generation believers is not remotely easy. And we chose to leave the emotionalism that came with trying to fit those not seeking YHWH into our lives. We were wanting a different kind of life than our parents and siblings. Those relationships constantly drained us of our focus on our individual walk. Not only that having contact with my mom became truly dangerous.
And we have not re-entered those relationships in all these years (7). We prayed very regularly about what YHWH wanted us to do and He kept showing us to stay separate.

In summary we have been in a type of wilderness and only more recently found fellowship in contact with others of similar walks ( through internet friendships). Very specific things have happened to get us in contact with these families. We feel very blessed to have study partners and continued hope for the future that is unfolding for us.

We are also having knowledge of ways to physical healing open up to us. And that is a major focus right now.

May our minds and bodies be renewed.

Shalom

2010-12-04T02:49:00.000-08:00

A few thoughts... during this week of Chanukkah.
The more I study the Hebraic Mind I realize the thought is something that is under attack. In modern education we see that much of the structure is Greco-Roman at its foundation. In fact our whole modern society has been so heavily influenced by the ancient Greeks and Romans that we are often unaware of the significant spiritual influence this has on our lives.

I myself have gone from basic observance of this to acknowledgment that for me it is not acceptable to shrug off... to embarking on some deeper study.

Much personal confusion over life in this world has become full of clarity in even this elementary knowledge of Torah! What do the words of scripture mean in the Hebraic? What does it mean for the believer? I can't turn my back to understanding.
I want it for myself I want it for my children! Enough to accept that there is often little acceptance of this walk from the world around me. And even those most dear to me those believers that have been truly supportive in so many ways may not understand this 'thing' growing inside me.
I want a Hebraic Mind!

We are reading completely through Maccabees this week. It is so strait forward and makes so much sense both historically and spiritually. I want to know it and teach it!

2010-09-25T02:47:00.000-07:00

Walking in the Light

This month we have spent several evenings walking in the light of the moon.
We are not experiencing the fullness of the Holy Days in outward appearance of carrying out traditions but our hearts are being trained toward Torah and it is a beautiful thing!
Our precious baby was born a preemie late July and at the two month mark is still in need of extra care.
I am convinced that my physical self is to be spent primarily for her at this time. Though this means little ability to DO the things I'd like to start traditions in my childrens lives; I am rich for being slowed down to ponder and seek Him. This good thing being produced in my heart is only growing so it will be overflowing in the appointed time for our family to 'know' the fullness. Praise Yah!

One thing that has been a blessing is walking under the night sky and observing the moon while appreciating the beauty of the stars while breathing in the fresh night air.

The way our days have a very slow start with dad waking late morning and going to work early afternoon... then I put on another meal do as many chores as possible and either give the kids some instruction or NAP with the littlest ones... We wake and I must give supper... after supper if there is any light out or NOT we take a walk about every other evening down the street to the sidewalk path around our rec park... it is open there and we can see the sky well. I learnt how to nurse the baby holding her to my chest while walking it is so nice to get 30-40 mins of walking in. It is dark so the kids stay near me in the quiet and don't ask me to go to the park though we have left early several times to do the park first:^)
Last night as we walked we talked more about Sukkot and the little girls talked about all the good fruits and veggies the Lord has given us as well as what we want to get from the grocery on Sunday. The boys and I discussed how we might make a Sukkot next Fall. This year the weather is so favorable I pray many are enjoying being outdoors pondering His care this year. May the Spirt be heard by us all.

2010-08-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

An informal Geneology

Was pondering our family backround recently and asked a few questions of an older family member on my mom's side and found that my grandfather was 100% Hungarian; his parents immigrated here from Budapest in the early 1900's. Knowing that Budapest has a large population of Jews I wonder if I might have 'jewish blood.' I don't know how clear I can trace my bloodline but I am thrilled at the possibility of getting more information and showing my kids my findings.
For our homeschool we have been delving little by little into the ethnic back rounds of our family lines.
With so many interesting peoples to explore worldwide I decided we should narrow a bit and focus on the mix we find in family.
Husband
Irish
German
Hispanic

Me
Polish
Irish
Hungarian

Kids
Irish
Polish
Hungarian
German
Hispanic

So we will be doing quite a lot of globe trotting this year!

2010-08-30T06:32:00.000-07:00

Confessions and Courage...

Typing one handed though tedious gives one time to be reflective. Frankly, I am overflowing with reflection as I am pinned down nursing this little premie 24/ 7. She is such a China Doll!And her 22 month old brother is getting so SOLID. Such a contrast... the big guy needs to be overseen constantly as his hugs and snuggles are quite passionate.

The month of Elul has been great for me. However, I struggle with the other family members being less interested than I of course the family consists of an overworked daddy and several immature children:^)
I don't know why expect more out of the situation!

Last night was a revelation to me... I reread some Parsha's aloud to the family. The kids were easily distracted by Jonny and being goofy, fidgety, and ended up playing. Luke got close to me so he could hear PTL and I just kept reading otherwise I would be stopping every sentance to correct the others. I did this for the first several attempts but then took on an inner determination that I would just keep reading and pray that "those that have ears would hear!"

Reading in Duet. 28, 29, 30 was good for the soul. I'm glad I did it even though the rest of the family was less than attentive. Dad said that inbetween his attempts to get the children to settle and the times they were noisy he got 'some' of what I'd read. And the baby was getting a nurse the whole time.

The emphasis of NOW; THIS MOMENT (ha-yom hazeh) was good to form the altar in my heart of determination to keep walking forward with the Father as we build a spiritual family... instead of looking at the immaturity and lack I usually get discouraged over I choose to walk forward.

2010-08-13T07:12:00.000-07:00

Women and their roles...

I just happened upon this 'discussion' amongst Jewish women.
Its quite a lot to read through but I found it fascinating
-the views of the place of the woman in the home and how much effort to learning...
http://www.berotbatayin.org/womentorah.htm

Thinking on this has been helpful to me, as my husband, like some of yours is not as on fire for learning Torah and observing in our lifestyle as me.

Because he is not remotely hostile toward Torah I have much hope.
As I am pinned down with a little nursling I am able to read more!
This is such a blessing!
However, I am very impressed that when the next season comes ( in the next 4 weeks ) I will be called upon to WORK under grace towards our growth in living out Torah.

I see that being as committed to my job as a wife, mother, AND home-maker as to Torah learning is key to fulfilling the dream of more spiritual unity in our home.

Routine and meaningful family tradition have a place and can be the glue we need to put it altogether.

So I ask myself how does that look for us?

It being mid August I know that the fall festivals are approaching.
Along with academic home education of our children I am approaching these months with plans for the spiritual lessons we will focus on.

I am doing what I can to keep their minds sharp and bodies exercised.
So that they may have focus...

I am not giving up on training for obedience -respect of us as parents and also respect of what Hashem has given them individually.
It may seem a LONG road to travel but it is the only road!

I have been slowly working toward a general routine... this is my ideal.

SATURDAYS: Shabatt~ we shall have scripture readings and spiritual lessons, a family meal with blessings, time at a park or in the yard, and we may do some shopping for our needs after a meal in the evening as the sun goes down.

SUNDAYS:
Home projects,
laundry, shopping,
cook large meal with left overs for the following day,
home education planning and review of academic and spiritual work with dad.
outdoor activities

MONDAYS:
light day of academics,
prepare a crock pot meal for next day
a folding laundry day,
a day we may do errands or appointments,
indoor exercises

TUESDAYS:
long day of academics,
Bake Bread and breakfast cookies,
outdoor activities

WEDNESDAYS:
long day of academics,
light meals and prepare meal for next day,
outdoor activities

THURSDAYS:
light day of academics,
whole house tidy up, take all sheets of beds/remake, laundry completed,
Bake Bread -challah and flat breads,
print spiritual lesson sheets gather supplies/ materials
indoor exercises

FRIDAYS:
academic wrap up, hs supplies and work areas tidied,
two meals prepared one for the evening the other for Sat.
Mom gives blessing and instruction in the evening
Work specifically with boys lessons...

***During work week family brunch or lunch and spiritual time before dad goes to work.

2010-06-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

I lost interest in this blog a while back as I was stumbling along shifting toward Torah and so now I have come back to make it a place for compiling what I now know of Torah and how the journey unfolds. I feel now that I am firmly set on this journey. Not that it is perfected, no. But that I am now very sure this IS the direction Abba has me going.

This week I've meditated on John 15.

John 15 (Complete Jewish Bible)

1 "I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch which is part of me but fails to bear fruit, he cuts off; and every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. 3 Right now, because of the word which I have spoken to you, you are pruned. 4 Stay united with me, as I will with you -- for just as the branch can't put forth fruit by itself apart from the vine, so you can't bear fruit apart from me. 5 "I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who stay united with me, and I with them, are the ones who bear much fruit; because apart from me you can't do a thing. 6 Unless a person remains united with me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up. Such branches are gathered and thrown into the fire, where they are burned up. 7 "If you remain united with me, and my words with you, then ask whatever you want, and it will happen for you. 8 This is how my Father is glorified -- in your bearing much fruit; this is how you will prove to be my talmidim. 9 "Just as my Father has loved me, I too have loved you; so stay in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love -- just as I have kept my Father's commands and stay in his love. 11 I have said this to you so that my joy may be in you, and your joy be complete. 12 "This is my command: that you keep on loving each other just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than a person who lays down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave doesn't know what his master is about; but I have called you friends, because everything I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, I chose you; and I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that whatever you ask from the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This is what I command you: keep loving each other! 18 "If the world hates you, understand that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would have loved its own. But because you do not belong to the world -- on the contrary, I have picked you out of the world -- therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you, `A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they kept my word, they will keep yours too. 21 But they will do all this to you on my account, because they don't know the One who sent me. 22 "If I had not come and spoken to them, they wouldn't be guilty of sin; but now, they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done in their presence works which no one else ever did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now, they have seen them and have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this has happened in order to fulfill the words in their Torah which read, `They hated me for no reason at all.' 26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send you from the Father -- the Spirit of Truth, who keeps going out from the Father -- he will testify on my behalf. 27 And you testify too, because you have been with me from the outset.

2009-12-30T13:49:00.001-08:00

A friend shared this with me and I am in agreement.

I read this little article years ago, thought it was well written, agreed with it and was encouraged. I just stumbled across it again. The author is unknown but it is not copyrighted. (Some Scripture verses not from KJ per authors writing).

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28)

Even so faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:17)

Sadly, when we speak of obedience to God many people mistakenly think that we are teaching "legalism"--that one can be saved by doing good works. No, we believe and maintain that people are justified by faith apart from good works. There is nothing that we can do to earn salvation. Good works flow out of one's faith. Obedience is a result of a person's love for God; it is not an effort to earn salvation.

There are two beautiful truths balanced so wonderfully in Scripture, as indicated by the above two verses:

1. No one can be saved by doing good works. Salvation comes through faith in Christ.
2. Everyone who has been saved by faith will do good works.

Ephesians 2:8-10 describes it this way:

8 For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, so that no one should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

It is clear from verses 8 and 9 that salvation is something that God works in us by his grace; we do not earn it. This fact, however, does not mean that the believer is exempt from doing good works as verse 10 clearly indicates.

Scripture very plainly teaches that salvation is God's work and yet Christians also must "work". For example, Philippians 2:12-13 says:

12 Therefore my beloved as you have always obeyed...work out your own salvation in fear and trembling 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Let us examine just a little about God's grace and faith and how they are at work in a believer. It is by grace through faith that we are able to obey God; clearly, this is not legalism.

True Grace

As we have seen in the preceding Scriptures, grace has an integral part in one's salvation. Grace is not passive in the life of a Christian; it is not merely "unmerited favor", but it is much more than this. Yes, grace is undeserved; you cannot earn it. Grace is favor from God, but what does it do in the life of someone who by faith receives the grace? Titus 2:11-14 tells us that "the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." God's grace teaches us to live self-controlled, godly lives "in this present age"--to obey him always, right now in this present age! God's grace does not simply forgive our sins and then cause God to overlook future sins. Rather, by grace God forgives us and then grace teaches us to change our ways and teaches us how to live. Praise God for his grace! Have you received the grace that is spoken of in the Bible or some other "grace" that deceitfully allows you to live for yourself in outright contradiction to the clear teachings of the Word of God?

True Faith

Faith is a full trust, confidence and belief in God and his promises and, more specifically, that through the blood of Christ shed for us we can have our sins forgiven. True faith is a matter of the heart and it will always evidence itself by outward action--otherwise is not real faith and it cannot save you (James 2:14-26). This is very clearly taught in the book of Romans. In the introduction to the book of Romans, Paul writes that the purpose of his apostleship is to "call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith" (Romans 1:5). In the sixth chapter he refers to Christians as being slaves to obedience (Romans 6:16). He concludes the book of Romans similarly, stating that all nations are to "believe and obey [God]" (Romans 16:26). Elsewhere Paul writes that Christians are armed with divine power to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). In addition he states that "keeping God's commands is what counts" (1 Cor. 7:19). Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul's letters always included strong and clear exhortations of obedience to God.

The other Biblical authors echoed Paul's writings, since the same Spirit inspired them. Peter wrote that we have been chosen "for obedience to Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:2). The Apostle John wrote, "This is love for God: to obey his commands" (1 John 5:3). Truly, "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:17). The Biblical authors were simply stating the truth as they had been taught by the Son of God himself: "If you love me you will obey what I command" (John 14:15, 21, 23).

Is It Legalism?

Is it legalism to teach that people who have saving faith will obey God? To teach that he will be our top priority, that everything will be counted a loss compared to Christ (Phil. 3:7-9)? Is it legalism to teach that because of God's mercy we choose to willingly offer our lives as living sacrifices for him (Rom. 12:1-2)? To teach that if you choose to be a Christian you will stop living for yourself, live for God, and become a new creation (2 Cor. 5:15, 17)? Is it really legalism to share with people the Biblical requirements of holiness (1 Peter 1:14-17)--that without it we will not see God (Heb. 12:14)? If so then Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, John and others would also need to be accused of legalism. However, so often this is what we hear: "You are being legalistic!"

How does our call to obedience differ from legalism? Simply put, legalism is a lifting up of a set of rules or laws, but obedience exalts God rather than the rules. A Christian doesn't obey God because of a set of rules that exist; rather, he obeys God because he loves God. Notice that all of the Scriptures that I have quoted imply an obedience proceeding from a heart (Matt. 12:33-37) full of love and faith toward God. Do I refrain from murdering and lying because the Bible says not to do such things? No, I refrain from wickedness because I love God and because I have faith in him. Why would I ever want to disobey him?

We often warn people who spend more time on entertainment than they do reading their Bibles. It is not that reading their Bibles will save them, but that those who have true saving faith will not want to be distracted from the Word of God. But oh, how few people take their "Christianity" seriously! Many people think they have experienced the grace of God but they live for themselves. Ask yourself: when you think about "free time" do you honestly use it for God's glory or for your own personal happiness?

Let's look at an example of how a Christian might consider use of his "free time". I do not have any rules that forbid my attendance at a basketball game and I do not believe that such a rule should be formulated or promoted. Rather, let us promote the love of God! If someone says in his heart truthfully before God, "I love God so much, my life is just consumed with him; what can I possibly do for my God tonight?" And if the best thing that that person can think of to glorify God is to attend a basketball game, then he better go and glorify God. If there are many other things that would better glorify God, why would the person want to go if indeed his heart's desire was to love and please God? I am not suggesting that a person should invent a rule against ever going to a basketball game and that such a rule would then save him. Rather, those who love God with all their hearts consider how best to glorify him. Therefore, it is not my practice to attend sporting events because my motive would not be to love, adore and please God. I know in my heart that there are many other things that would better glorify God...many other ways that I could best spend my time to bring God glory. But if he sends me I will go; I have no rule forbidding it. One time God did send me to a basketball game and as a result someone repented.

Conclusion

So it is by grace through faith that we are saved, but we are not exempt from obedience. Following a set of rules cannot save you from hell. Rather, those who try to be justified by observing a law (Gal. 5:4) don't end up obeying the truth (Gal. 5:7)! Christians are free from a "legalistic righteousness" that exalts a group of rules or laws, but we are not free from obedience to God-we are not free to indulge our flesh (Gal. 5:13). Rather, we are free from sin so that we may obey God (Romans 6:17-19). True Christians live by the Spirit and therefore do not fulfill the desires of their flesh (Gal. 5:16) because the flesh and its desires are crucified in those who belong to Christ (Gal. 5:24). And so it remains that only those who receive the grace spoken of in the Bible through faith will be saved. Praise be to God through Jesus Christ--the Savior "for all who obey him" (Heb. 5:9).

2009-12-28T07:03:00.001-08:00

My beloved sent this to me via email. What a great truth to wake to this morning.

Absolute Assurance
December 28
by
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

"He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).

Several times in the Scriptures the LORD hath said this. He has often repeated it to make our assurance doubly sure. Let us never harbor a doubt about it. In itself the promise is specially emphatic. In the Greek it has five negatives, each one definitely shutting out the possibility of the LORD's ever leaving one of His people so that he can justly feel forsaken of his God. This priceless Scripture does not promise us exemption from trouble, but it does secure us against desertion. We may be called to traverse strange ways, but we shall always have our LORD's company, assistance, and provision. We need not covet money, for we shall always have our God, and God is better than gold; His favor is better than fortune.

We ought surely to be content with such things as we have, for he who has God has more than all the world besides. What can we have beyond the Infinite? What more can we desire than almighty Goodness.

Come, my heart; if God says He will never leave thee nor forsake thee, be thou much in prayer for grace that thou mayest never leave thy LORD, nor even for a moment forsake His ways.

2009-12-17T13:19:00.000-08:00

I found this link to Solace Radio shared on a forum to be a real blessing. I am listening to some expounding on Galatians by a fella named Monte Judah a Messianic Jew it can be downloaded from itunes or http://www.live365.com/stations/solaceradio.

We are moving toward more study in Torah. As we've prayed and being given resources we've found some like minded understanding.
As I read through the Bible this year I am also reading some wonderful studies from Bill Bullock The Rabbi's Son

When I meditate on who Jesus (Messiah Yeshua) is...
How He lived... What He observed...
Who He is to Abraham's offspring...
I look forward to each day with Him
And look forward to when He comes again!

2007-11-22T04:37:00.000-08:00

MY THANKFUL LIST

Oh, how much we have been blessed.

How far back shall I go?

What is most on my mind is the awesome love He has for us and how no misfortune in life can overshadow His love, care, and guiding hand.

Romans

8:35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Holy Spirit ministers to us where ever we are in any situation in sorrow and pain. In confusion and in enlightenment!

When we first moved away from longtime friends and family we were unsure exactly what the Lord had planned for us.

Would we find that He would give us just as good or better relationships?
He chose not to; at least not in the form of close neighborly relationships.

What He did give us is a deeper bond with himself, a deeper love for the Church, and a deeper sense of the value of our immediate family.

John 14:16
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

When He allows hardship, loss, confusion, or loneliness there is always blessing to follow.

This last year or two has had a mix of events that have been really profitable to us.

Yes, we were blessed with our first home, property; and managed to get moved in... I did not say settled in or completely organized but we are here making adjustments to the place for our needs, enjoying the privacy that comes with having control over our own space and the luxury of a community where we can enjoy parks, libraries, as well as drives in the country!

We also have the greif of having been misinformed about the true condition of the house and have the burden of repair and PRAYER for help for the expense and labor are great.

Yes, Michael has been blessed with a decent job. It hasn't always been stable but has given us our basic monetary resources for six years.
Though there has been stress over being frequently laid off, being told the whole operation was hanging in the balance, lost opportunity in position and job duties that were better suited and more enjoyable... why does it matter ? We have been provided for and what does matter is that through circumstance there has been faith built in the One that does matter!

Psalm 65:9-13

9Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

10Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.

11Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

12They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.

13The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

Yes, we have each other! Our marriage is stronger, our family growing. Have we had loss? Yes, we have two babies waiting in heaven for us. Do we miss what might have been? Yes, do we still morn upon fleeting thoughts... " Baby would have been a third of the way to greeting us at birth today!" Sorrow, yes. Trust even more!

Revelation 21:4 KJV

4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Do we have every area in our lives perfected? No. Is it our sole responsibility to do so? No. We have a helper the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 7

1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 12:9

9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Trust, again is our companion as we battle frustration. We do have beautiful, loving, guidelines for life and godliness; keeping them ever before ourselves we move forward. Trusting. Leaning on the strength that does not come from self but given as a gift from Him who is able.

Hebrews 13:12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood,

Hebrews 6

1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3And this will we do, if God permit.

1 Peter 5:9-11

9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Are all men our friends? Do others always bless us? Who shall we fear?

John 10:27-29

27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

1 Peter 3:9

9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

2 Timothy 1:12b for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Like in the days of Ester we Americans can have a day of thanksgiving and sharing

Ester 9:22
As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

Revelation 7:12
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

2007-11-22T04:19:00.000-08:00

Separation

I have been enjoying some discussion on a conservative yahoo group board on the subject of separation .

This caused me to seek out some more reading material on Separation not that I haven't prayed, read, studied, and pondered this subject for hundreds of thousands of hours already!

I find my best resources are CH Surgeon's writing, Ernest Pickering's writing, and the Bible of course. Paul really understands separation so we can't get away from the biblical doctrine of separation if we are in the word reading the NT regularly! Oh wait! Even the OT talks directly on the subject WOW how is it that so many don't address this? Is it that they purposely ignore it?

I found these resources this morning!

This article is very good and much like the writing and preaching I have enjoyed through FEA.

And the seminary that Pickering was president of has a library with an extensive amount of titles on the subject! SO if one needs a guide to a reading list one could get it form accessing the site here.

This is a great subject to take to heart; it changes your life when you get understanding.

A verse that struck me this week during my devotions has been

KJV Proverbs 18:2

A fool hath no delight in understanding but that his heart may discover itself.

Looking only unto oneself as an island is foolish. !

Listening, learning, and leaning on the Lord and the people He puts in our lives is wise!

This blog is not just about what I think or believe. It is about listening to others needs, experiences, and knowledge. All the while going back to the Bible asking “What does the Bible say?” As our source for all wisdom come from our Creator; the Bible can be fully trusted.

Get understanding,
Jacinda

2007-10-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

The Book of James

Really excited about a bible study in the book of James with my husband!

I think we will start this week.

2007-10-22T16:34:00.000-07:00

Reading up on some subjects.

Here is a Quote from something Pickering wrote.

How can one have spiritual growth without theological growth, that is, a deepening of one's understanding of doctrine? Peter admonishes us to "grow in grace, and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" ( 2 Pet. 3:18). "Growing" and "Knowledge" go together. "Knowledge" involves the increasing grasp of doctrinal truth...

Popular today is the concept that love is the most important ingredient in the Christian life. By love is generally meant a soft tolerance toward error, even gross error, and gentle spirit of acceptance toward any and all that call themselves evangelicals. It is this attitude which has allowed the charismatic teachings to become such a prominent feature of the contemporary church. Christian leaders will say, "I am not charismatic personally, but the charismatic movement has done a lot of good, and we ought not to condemn it. We are to love our brethren." So, in the name of love, all manner of false teaching is condoned...

We can all thank God this denigration of doctrine was not the attitude of Paul. Not for one moment did he ignore or downplay precious Bible truth while pretending to practice Christian Love. He also warned, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words... and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing" ( 1 Tim. 6:3-4) Pastors are " to put the brethren in remembrance of these things " so they may be nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine" ( 1 Tim. 4:6). They are to give special attention " to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine" ( 1 Tim. 4:13).

Dr. Ernest Pickering, The Tragedy of Compromise

That quote was on a FEA bulletin, it really spoke to me because my dear husband was caught up in the 'Charismatic Cult' for a time and I had some 'interest' in it before I was grounded in good Bible doctrine.
The error in the charismatic movement was something the Lord used the ministry of FEA to get him out of. We stay clear of all Charismatic teachings. And when opportunity arises we share our testimonies about this confusion.

I was praying to refresh on bible verses and teachings on the assurance of the believer.

I've been reading Ironside's book on on Assurance. It is such a great book. I'd totally forgotten about it until I was de-cluttering upstairs and found it amongst my abandoned books. I don't get to read as much as I did when I was single and living above a Christian Bookstore!

I'll have to add a few quotes here soon.

2007-10-13T07:56:00.000-07:00

Faith and Works What does the Bible Say?

James 2:14-26 (King James Version)

14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

2007-09-27T07:24:00.000-07:00

Part 1 SALVATION ~ Faith and Works

These are some excerpts of comments I made on another's blog.

I think this exploring the truth about Faith/ Works is so important because there are numerous denoms that lean too far on one or the other for their basis of 'supposed salvation'.
We all must seek a balance in our understanding not only for our own sake but for those we come in contact with.

I am a more conservative christian than I was in my earlier years... As a woman I have grown to love the protection of biblical modesty, sobriety,meekness, and submission both to the Lord and my husband.
I can't express how monumental it has been for me and my family.But even when I did not embrace an outward appearance
of repentance inwardly I was repentant; conversely there are many that embrace an outward appearance of repentance and they are not! For that matter do we not struggle in the flesh daily? At any given moment I may or may not be repentant in all my thoughts and actions.

Many might at first meeting think of me as a type of Amish or Mennonite - Ana baptist christian but I must say NO to the error in some of their doctrine as they too are works with NO eternal security offered. Repentance and Lordship Salvation is preached. How sad it is for me when I meet these people drawn to these churches that practice such beautiful simple purity in so many ways yet stain the gospel with too many conditions for salvation. It breaks my heart.

I see I made a broad statement without enough explanation.

I do not believe we must do works for salvation but I do believe that in most cases we will do works because we are saved.

This does not KEEP us saved but is a fruit of salvation.

Yes, some will lead weak christian lives lacking the power of the Holy Spirit because of unwillingness to yield. But PTL most of us will grow in faith and works. And it is not of ourselves but the work that He is completing in us.

I just meant simply that I was just as saved as a babe in Christ when I was more selfish and drawn more by the pull of the world ie priorities and decisions ...less tuned into God's Desires for me.

The Bible does talk about how we SHOULD judge according to fruit and works that is Biblical but I also see that it is within reason that some that struggle and fall are just as saved as those that 'seem' nearly perfect in the faith.

Those that fall do not loose their salvation because their works did not save them nor did their 'strong' faith.

Example; just because there is doctrinal and practice conflict between Christians does not always indicate that some certain ones are NOT saved and others are... though I am sure in any group there are some that are not of the true faith. Resting in Jesus alone.

Some are caught in error that is for sure; many are simply confused.

"I do not think Paul was very balanced about salvation. He tells us we are justified by faith and not by works.

I would beware of anyone trying to balance things out by introducing works into salvation, even if they do it in subtle ways."

My emphasis was not on balancing faith and works for salvation but balancing our thinking on how they work for justification.
I was a saved individual for many years yet but because my thinking was not instantly renewed the moment of salvation ( at 9 yo.) I had to let the word of God speak to me and renew my thinking as a young lady to receive not salvation but assurance and learn to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit.

Personally know several families that are 'confused' and can't seem to get a grasp on eternal security. I feel drawn to them to encourage them to keep examining the scriptures so they can find that blessed assurance and teach that to their children so the next generation will be on target with this.
It is so sad to think of the hundreds of kids that are privileged to have Christian parents ( of which I don't have) yet live in doctrinal confusion long enough that they in fact do not get saved themselves or perpetuate error as adults.
I pray regularly that I do not get confused or drawn into the error. That is also why I enjoy these discussions because it keeps me sharp for the work that the Lord puts before me.

I am sure *I* do not rest in my works. I rest in the saving work that took place at the CROSS nothing I did or did not do.

Sisterly Love,
Jacinda

As for putting a challenge to young people.

Though I think the method this Lou M. used is extreme to say the least.

I do like the idea of a bit of a challenge put to ones that we speak with.

It was a dear brother very much my senior who has since gone to be with the Lord who put a challenge to me.

Me a struggling young adult sitting at a Bob Evans coffee bar filling out an application for a job so I could get away from the persecution my Faith and Works brought on. What I mean is though I would have NEVER been considered the best example and I had some areas of confusion for sure! The Holy Spirit was at work.

The Faith with Works that the Holy Spirit had produced in me showed enough to totally debased parents that they wanted me OUT. They, my mom in particular showed true HATRED toward me that she had not shown as much previously when I was doing things her way with less integrity.

When Brother Taylor took the time to speak with me. I answered positively but I did not make it clear that I was trusting in Christ completely for my salvation. His challenge was "What will get you into heaven?"

If we are gonna challenge let's challenge on the point of where is one placing their trust.

I sounded that I was placing my trust at that time in the fact that I was trying to find the right church, trying to live honorably, trying not to be afraid of being out on my own etc... trying not to be confused!

Did this brother send me away because I didn't seem to have it all right??? NO, he was a shepherd to me as a weak lamb and led me to a doctrinally sound church and introduced me to sisters and brothers that could build me up so I wasn't a shaky weak one ready to have wolves in sheeps' clothing tare at me with their false doctrine.

Did I have instant understanding of everything that was said in a service or comments made directly to me? NO!

Did my testimony instantly improve. NO!

Was there still conflict with my peers ( my family ) Yes!

Did I feel pressure to become more spiritually minded? Yes.

I felt like I was in the purifying fire!
But it was the Holy Spirit saying I want to make you into the likeness of the Lord Jesus... I finally knew that it wasn't this necessary process ( that I'd been on for years) that saved me but the work that was started way back as a child asking the Lord to come into my heart and thanking him for dying on the cross for all my sin!

And yes I lost friends directly after that initial decision as a 9 yo. My longtime grade school playmate pushed me away because I didn't want to be so naughty any more. Again showing that faith and works produce fruit of the Spirit that stems from salvation.

I remember saying to her "Now that we trusted Jesus in the VBS...I don't want to talk like that anymore."
We'd both made professions of faith. Were we both saved? I don't know because I moved away a year later but she was mean to me all the time after that summer we'd gone to the VBS. And then I bumped into her at a children's activity in the community and she wasn't friendly. Though what happens in the heart is hidden and left somewhat a mystery what comes out of the heart is it's fruit.
I think much is still a mystery. I have since 'led others to the Lord' and seen good fruit come out of their lives then later to see sin and death reigning in their lives.

I think we can rest in the fact that if they are saved THEY ARE Saved by Grace not by works.

We often want the comfort of KNOWING but is it for them or us?

The most we can do in many cases where there is confusion is pray for them!And unless the Lord gives us opportunity to do more then we should rest in prayer.

Turn them away when they are standing before you open to listening and studying the word NEVER!

2007-09-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

Home Church with Others?

I am very excited about some new developments.

We had an interesting day yesterday. We went to regular service at the Independent Fundamental Baptist Church south of us. And then got groceries in that town and headed home for a late lunch. I then was having a terrible headache and tried to rest.
But couldn't as the girls had fallen asleep exhausted with no meal and they were waking in need of diaper changes and food!
I decided to go to the park with kids while Mike cut our lawn and did some clean up outside.
The fresh air wasn't helping me though it was nice to get a walk!

As we got to the park there was a great surprise waiting there. A large family was playing on the playground.
Several little girls came running to greet us as they saw baby Sophia and Lina!

Their daddy was swinging the little brother and we got to talking...
I told him he was the first large homeschooling family I've met since we moved here two years ago. One of the less then 4 HS families I've met in person in a hundred mile radius for that matter LOL He relayed that there is a group of HS families meeting regularly in our area! How funny because I have never met any christian families that met that description.

All in the Lord's timing right?

They are presently looking for a church too. They in fact have been to the one we are going to now but just recently moved on from there.
Which unfortunately we were realizing was probably the inevitable for us as well.
He gave me their phone number and I plan to call even today and ask his wife if she'd be interested in a play date at the park sometime this week.

We have often thought we'd like to homechurch WITH a few other likeminded families but we have never met any other families. And the people we have met that are not believers have not responded in faith yet so amongst other things we were thinking this was not the Lord's will. I am praying now for direction in this new friendship.

I certainly was already deeply blessed just by that one interaction at the park.
I think I could live on that memory alone for a while LOL

If you would like to pray about this for us we would be blessed.

They are a family of 8 I think with 6 children. One big girl, 4 little girls (if I counted right) and one little boy around a year and a half old.

They also have other families that they fellowship with on occasion. SO we might have opportunity to meet others.

Pray that my conversation with Tammy the wife will be blessed and fairly uninterrupted. At least this first time ;^)

Pray for transparency in our conversation. SO there might not be any confusion about our beliefs and/ or theirs.

Pray I can get my house in order so we might invite them over soon. BTW we have made some progress lately but still slow, slow, slow.

Even if they are only a family that we can visit with once a month... that would be a huge blessing.
~~~~~~~~~~
Well I called late in the day not finding just the right time here for a phone conversation... and she was out so I will call in the daytime tomorrow.

I have continued to have a terrible headache so I don't mind the delay. I would rather be feeling well when we meet.

2007-09-22T01:46:00.000-07:00

Blessing and Cursing

It is so striking the blessing and cursing factor in the Old Testament.

I have been wanting to prayerfully, verbally bless each of the children at least once a week before a meal... or before bedtime.

Why is this so hard to do?

It is a paradox for all the effort that each day takes for all the focus on helping the children why do I hesitate to in prayer hand upon a little head or shoulder and BLESS them in a prayer especially for them, over them?

Is is just a social thing... something I didn't grow up experiencing thus I find it uncomfortable? Or is it a spiritual struggle? How easy is can be to give a tongue lashing when frustrated over a small matter... yet so hard to bless and pray for good.

2007-09-22T01:27:00.000-07:00

Reading in Deuteronomy is so moving I felt like I wanted to cry.

Our human condition is such that we so often turn away from our GOD when our most basic needs are being met. But when we are hungry or unsure of the future of our livelihood and home we CRY OUT ABBA FATHER! SO much more readily.

Our home is still in need and though I have been very relieved to have official confirmation that my husband's job at Con Agra Foods Plant is NOT closing...

A quote from the email I sent out to friends...
"This after more than a year of no assurance of job security.

Many lay-offs and 50 co workers being let go as well as many old timers taking early retirements.

We are thrilled that there is one less thing to threaten to cause
changes and hardship for us..."

YET, I want that deeper connection to continue with the Lord. That calling out for food, for shelter, for emotional strength.

I am sure we will have many an opportunity to lean upon Him as even in this hopeful stage, we will have a long time of rebuilding financial stability and maybe will never get it since we are open to more children and lost a whole vehicle this Spring when the engine of our passenger van blew up... amongst other things LOL

My point is that it's such a blessing to be really needy!

Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30 (King James Version)

9Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.

10Ye stand this day all of you before the LORD your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel,

11Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water:

12That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God, and into his oath, which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day:

13That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

14Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath;

15But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day:

16(For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the nations which ye passed by;

17And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)

18Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;

19And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:

20The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.

21And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law:

22So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it;

23And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

24Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?

25Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt:

26For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them:

27And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:

28And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.

29The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 30

1And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,

2And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;

3That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

4If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:

5And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.

6And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

7And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.

8And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.

9And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:

10If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

11For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

12It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

13Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

14But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

15See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

16In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

17But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

18I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

19I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

20That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Deuteronomy 31

1And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.

2And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

3The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.

4And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.

5And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.

6Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

7And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.

8And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

9And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.

10And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,

11When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

12Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:

13And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

14And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.

15And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.

16And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.

17Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?

18And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.

19Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

20For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

21And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.

22Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

23And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.

24And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,

25That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,

26Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

27For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

28Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.

29For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

30And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.

2007-09-22T01:07:00.000-07:00

Was blessed by a reading in Deuteronomy the other evening. Just speaks so clearly of being thankful for what the Lord gives and honoring Him with our lives!

Deuteronomy 26-29:8 (King James Version)

Deuteronomy 26

1And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;
2That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.
3And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD sware unto our fathers for to give us.
4And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God.
5And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:
6And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:
7And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:
8And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:
9And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.
10And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:
11And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.
12When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
13Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them.
14I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.
15Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
16This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
17Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:
18And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;
19And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.

Deuteronomy 27

1And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.
2And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister:
3And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.
4Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaister them with plaister.
5And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.
6Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:
7And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.
8And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.
9And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.
10Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.
11And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,
12These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:
13And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
14And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,
15Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
16Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
17Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.
18Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.
19Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.
20Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.
21Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.
22Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.
23Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.
24Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.
25Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.
26Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Deuteronomy 28

1And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
3Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
7The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
8The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
9The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
10And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.
11And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
12The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
13And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
14And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
15But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
16Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
17Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.
18Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
19Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
20The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
21The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.
22The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.
23And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.
24The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
25The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.
26And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.
27The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.
28The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:
29And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.
30Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.
31Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.
32Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long; and there shall be no might in thine hand.
33The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:
34So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
35The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.
36The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.
37And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.
38Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.
39Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.
40Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
41Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.
42All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.
43The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.
44He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.
45Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:
46And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.
47Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
48Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
49The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;
50A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:
51And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.
52And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.
53And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:
54So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:
55So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.
56The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
57And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.
58If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;
59Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.
60Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.
61Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.
62And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.
63And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.
64And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.
65And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:
66And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:
67In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.
68And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.

Deuteronomy 29

1These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.
2And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;
3The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:
4Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
5And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.
6Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your God.
7And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them:
8And we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half tribe of Manasseh.

2007-09-16T04:51:00.000-07:00

Home Churching

In our Christian experience we have been greatly blessed by the organized church as well as our personal devotions with the Lord.

Circumstantially we have found in the last several years that we can not always be a part of a local church.

We have had to find creative ways to still be fed and grow. And to train our children.

I use to teach a lot of Sunday School in the church so that has carried over to my interactions with my own children and Mike has always loved to pray with and read to his family. So we spend a fair amount of time as a family around the things of God.

We are learning as a couple to minister together to our family and community.

I learnt the hard way to be more submissive and it has meant a world of change in our daily lives. We are still on the road to recovery from me stepping into the lead position for the better part of our early marriage.

Mostly, we keep learning and growing through talking and speaking about the things of the Lord as we walk in the way. A very relaxed process...

We listen to all the FEA sermons that come our way.

I enjoy keeping in contact with sisters in the Lord via email that have enriched my life beyond what I could have hoped for.

We have ventured out to seek fellowship in our current area once again.

We visited several times a little country Baptist church north of us in MI and had much discussion with the pastor there.

We just started attending an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church just south of us that seems to be the direction the Lord is taking us for any local fellowship.

Mike is more open to moving beyond the hurt from all the church confusion!

He is excited about the positive possibilities once again.

I know I have worked through most of my hurts over the last year.

Mostly we think the time we have spent out of the local church has been a good thing.

How can this be?

Well, we have taken a lot more time to think about what we believe and why as well as how are we personally going to live this out?

Rather than being moved by others we feel we have been moved more by our personal relationships with the Lord and the Holy Spirit.

This has been huge for my husband who was under a lot of stress for years feeling a failure because of myself and other well meaning Christians who had the mentality that Church attendance should be of highest priority!

We needed this time to reflect and be more grounded in our walk.

I especially had to realize that leading our own family was priority over church attendance.

Prioritizing a bit different than others might.

We had to say to ourselves"Who is gonna feed us when we are 'unable?' " Unable to make it all happen out of exhaustion, lack of finances, housing problems, illness, discipline problems with our children, marital problems etc...

We are well aware that one need not be perfect in the church the point is; that how can we focus on the specific areas that WE need to, to keep our family together if we are running around trying to be involved in the activities of the church? Some are strong enough Christians to say no to a myriad of 'good activities' without feeling false guilt but we were not such ones. This caused a lot of frustration and stunted our growth.
I especially wanted to give back EVERYTHING because I was so thankful to the Lord for saving me out of the pit. I often put my desire for serving others before my own husband and this was not helping our marriage to solidify. My attitude was not always 'godly' when I was faced with confusion in prioritizing my new life as a married woman.

If from the pulpit we are constantly being told to focus on others/ and the church program because this is the unselfish way to live... Then what happens when we need to come home to our specific dynamics and work through to growth and stability?

How does the man learn to lead his own family first as the example in the Bible shows us is priority over serving the church... if he is committing his precious spare time left after he fulfills his obligation to work to support his family?
And then often faced with the pure disappointment of being confronted with less than fundamental ideas. How exhausting it is to be putting forth all the effort needed to make it to a bible study and then be confronted with Promise Keepers and it's mentality rather than focus on the Word!

Is over looking the mandate for men to lead there own family first one of the leading causes for moral failure or divorce in the church? We think so.

We have so much more to learn and put into place in our lives.

Through it all we have learned to Trust Him more than we did before.

We also have come to understand the unsaved more than before.

I think in some ways our personal ministry is more effective because others can see we don't expect them to just go to church!

A matter of fact they seem to recognize more that being godly is not directly related to church going.

They seem to see us more as real people that struggle along at times and yet don't settle for just being comfortable in a community that we would be more accepted in.

Carving out time for more formal spiritual devotions isn't always easy but we are getting more regular.

The children and I read a lot.

And Luke has requested that Mike and I sing for them together regularly

;^0)

Both boys have a clear understanding of salvation and have made professions of faith.

Because of Mike's work schedule sometimes our best efforts to get ready for the local church on Sunday do not get us there. So it is so nice that we usually have a family devotion in place that we can continue through in the place of attending the local church fellowship.

We are learning to feed ourselves!

I don't know what tomorrow brings but, I do know who brings tomorrow!

Let Jesus be our priority in life!

Let's not put the FAMILY above the Lord but let's do allow the Lord be the Lord of our family.

2007-09-13T20:58:00.000-07:00

I have had a lot of conviction especially as of late about the sin of worry. Yes, I say SIN.

It has taken me many years of christian living to call it like it is.

Though I noticed things a long time ago that pointed to the facts yet I still didn't take it to heart totally. More recent trials have made me examine my heart again.

Tonight I came across this quote

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of it's sorrow; it empties today of it's strength."

Corrie Ten Boom

I KNOW that is true!

Here is a great article about worry put out in tract form through F.E.A. ~ my favorite fundamentalist ministry!

Enjoy! and why not browse the other helps offer there?

2007-09-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

Patriot's Day

Focus on the first commandment in devotions.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me

We recently were focusing on how in biblical times many had statues of images they worshiped!

This was interesting to the boys so I will continue discussing how many have types of gods in our post modern, hedonistic society. And really what 'putting gods before the true one living God' means.

Our country and the God that has been gracious to us... will be interwoven in our day as well.

Luke is drawing a picture of the twin towers as I type!

Last night and this morning...
We talked about how Timmy was just 9 days old and Luke was 16 months old when the terrorists that hate God bombed the towers and how this was one of the main reason's we have troops at war currently in the middle east.
I told them I just held on to them and cuddled them and prayed and cried.
( by the way one of the most emotional post-partum scenarios one could probably have outside of true ppd. )
The world has yet to end but the times are pointing more and more to the nearness of the coming of the Lord, tribulation, and praise God a new heaven and a new earth!

Let's always be ready!

This is also very interesting that now that we are celebrating the Biblical Holidays

I see the correlation of the timing of the bombing and the observance of Rosh Hashana

A new year is the time for forgiveness and entering into life anew. Just as Jesus admonishes us to hold nought against one another. I know if I thought about it more I would see even greater significance.

Have a Blessed Day of Reflection

Jacinda

2007-09-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

Today we are planning to focus on the sixth commandment! Honor thy father and thy mother.

Object lessons : Reward or loss at every turn today more so than my normal efforts in training the children.

Which means less ME time. That will be my discipline for the day, to mostly focus on children.

Reading in the Bible about relationships between parents and children.

Also we will finish up some letters and pictures to friends and family.

Bible focus Eli and his disobedient boys!

Hannah and Samuel

Mary and Jesus

Joseph and Jesus

Well school starts in an hour!

2006-08-24T08:08:00.000-07:00

Listening to a Locust

I woke to a bug talking to me. And what did he say ?

" Come get up ! "
" Get dressed and brush your teeth "
" Eat your breakfast "
" Come out to play "
" Don't forget to use your bug spray "

A poem by Luke 6 yo.

2006-08-20T04:45:00.000-07:00

Wisdom for Wellnessosted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:13 pm Post subject: just a short affirmation of all the above

I noticed in my life that most "professionals" of any kind tend to ego trip over their patients/ clients it is in human nature to do so. I hate to go to the dentist or anyone for "help".

I am a very trusting person in general, when much younger probably too trusting for my own good. In my short life that trust has been trampled upon enough that I trust only in God and try to keep the perspective that man is extremely fail-able. This is not an easy process for the compliant type of personalities like myself but I believe I have sort of arrived in this
finally./ Baby number 5 due in Aug. planned first time UC no prenatal care at 33yo expecting to have more children yet, UC delivered.

I try not to be bitter about the past and thankful for the future of better perspective and the opportunity to keep learning more for the future and safety of my family.
Just think! our son's and daughter's can have the benefit of our experiences and to be taught and encouraged to live unhindered.

2006-08-20T04:38:00.000-07:00

Wisdom for WellnessI am more hydrated " Oh, The amount I have to drink ~ I am constantly in the bathroom "

But if that's what I have to do...... You see I start getting a heaviness in the pelvic area and a full bladder makes it very uncomfortable. The later pg symptoms that most ladies start getting around 8 months I always get so early. So don't be too alarmed. I know I was these last few days but I just did a lot of praying and remembering about how it usually is.
The reason I am allowing myself to do a UC w/ no prenatal care is all the obvious reasons plus I don't want to be sent away to another city an hour or hour and half away for pre term slowing down process. My ob with Lina never sent me even though I had many of the same things happen w/ her as the boys. I was so thankful. The health care here in this town is always under question and people usually complain / are disappointed with the decisions that are made so I'm just not willing to get into the system of letting them make decisions for me. I think when I lived in the bigger city that had more than one special prenatal care and children's hospitals etc.. they just peg one as in the need of those wonderful centers and stick ya in their care telling you all the worst case scenarios. both boys were good sized with no health problems Timmy even came a whole mo. early and so I am willing to have a calmer pg. as an UC.

I got through pg with Lina pretty well just listened as best i could to my body and went day by day.

The turning point is usually around this same time with ea. pg @ 6 mo. I feel more vulnerable, emotional ups and downs come more often ( kinda weepy ) just like an internal crying out to the Lord to help and for Him to move my husband to be extra helpful and considerate, the kids to have mercy on me when I have to say i can't do this or that today lets try tomorrow etc...
I always have to re evaluate my goals and scale down. It is a big adjustment at first and initially I hate it but it is always for the best.
So I will keep you all updated and take care in not being alarmist in my prayer requests.

2006-08-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

Wisdom for Wellness
It's all coming back to me!
How the early months of a baby's life everything is revolving around them.
My baby is almost a month old now and the days have been revolving around eating sleeping dishes laundry and nursing. The other children are going stir crazy as it's been so hot and buggy outside they don't want to be out. I have tried to take them out only to come back in shortly after starting a walk etc.. I just can't see the baby doing well out there. So today was finally less buggy but very hot I waited to go out until baby was asleep and toddler resting as well. Our kindergartners and I cut half of the lawn and took out the trash.

Although extremely hot it felt good to move around and use my muscles. All the sitting while nursing is actually bothering my back so I'd say I made a good choice to do some work. I'll sleep really good tonight.

I want to start some post - partum exercises up by this weekend! The instruction book says to start the week of the birth! No way not this girl. I was dragging for two weeks and just the basics were causing extra stress on my body. I heard mention of a biblical basis for taking it easy for 80 days after you birth a girl ~ must be in the OT. I'll have to look that up sometime. I think I might be able to take long walks by the cooler weather at least. August looks like it will be very hot here.

Our appetites have been very low too. Fruit and veggies with bread and cheese has been a part of our easy and light meals. That's good because every time I start to do some thing the baby wake sand wants her nursey meal! I really don't know how she slept so long this late afternoon with out wanting to nurse.

Nurse baby Nurse ~ These are not complaints about nursing It certainly slows life down but she is a wee babe and she NEEDS to gain some ounces to be back at her birth weight and on her way to real gains.

So I'm glad to eat for her too. Taking my supplements and trying to drink enough water:) Jacinda