Loving them to the Lord

     This morning I was picking up around the house and I have a place where i display any cards that we receive, invitations, etc. and I picked up a card we had gotten from our daughter and son-in-love, who live about four hours away, thanking us for taking care of our six grandchildren while they went away for the weekend. Then a post card from our son and daughter-in-love, that has their picture on it. They are missionaries in Germany working with the military youth. Usually I accept that God has a plan for our Children and they are so following it, and we are very proud of them, and wouldn't have it any other way. Yet today was different. I broke in to tears, I miss them all so much. Maybe it is this time of year, I don't know. You see we homeschooled, and so every Fall we would take a day off for "school pictures" and go to a near by lake and a park etc. and just take pictures of them. It was a great time, lots of laughs, etc., such good memories. I'm so glad I have those pictures. 

     They are 28(Daughter) and 26(Son) but you see they are still my babies. They brought so much fun, laughter, joy, blessings, the list is way to long. Oh ya they also brought us some tough times, but a momma's heart seems to kinda forget that stuff. I marvel at how God has worked in their lives and how they have grown into such wonderful people. We weren't the greatest parents, no one is. We made many mistakes, lost our temper, said and did things we wish we could take back, etc. So very grateful that God's grace covers that. We are not alone when we parent. Cry out to the Perfect parent when you are going through the tough times. Ask for forgiveness from God and your child when you know you have messed up. 

     Enjoy your little ones, teenagers, adult children, they grow up so fast and leave a huge hole in your heart and life when they are not close by physically. Yet the most important job you will ever have is to make sure they know our Lord as their personal savior. As long as they are close spiritually they will be fine in this old world. When our children left to be missionaries, we all had to come to a understanding that we may never see each other again on this earth. God has been so gracious to allow us many times since then, but it is always a reality in the back of our minds. Yet it is a reality for anyone anywhere, they don't have to live in another country. When you all know the Lord as your savior, you have the wonderful promise of seeing each other again in eternity. What a wonderful blessing!!!!! Yet if you don't know the Lord....wow what a devastating thought. 

     Just heard this morning about a young man 18, who was in a car accident and is paralyzed from the neck down. He doesn't know the Lord nor does his family. My heart just cries out for them. I haven't enough space in the world to write my feelings about this situation. They have been given another chance. I pray with everything in me they take it. I pray they find God through this and focus on what could have been and not what they have been dealt. Please pray for this family.

     Don't take this day for granted, it is a gift from God and he has a plan for it. Surrender it to Him, so that He may use it as He pleases. I had no plans in writing this today. I was cleaning, so I pray it blesses someone, and God uses it. 

In Him   

Are You Feeding an Idol?

What idol are you sacrificing too?

     I have struggled with being over weight most of my life. Not really because I have a strong appetite, that could be curved by some sort of appetite suppressant. I wish it was that easy. Oh ya I admit at first I bought into all the many diets that promised to be the answer. After many years of failing, I realized this wasn't about appetite, it was about my relationship with food. I ate when I was happy and things were going my way. I ate when I was angry, sad, lonely, discouraged, etc. I knew I needed to get control of that, but how. White knuckling worked for a short time, but then something would happen and I couldn't control it any longer and now I would even eat more. Justifying that I deserved it because this wasn't fair to me. The lies satan tells us! I really do have reasons I could blame it on, PCOS, heredity, etc. and yet deep inside me I knew it was much more then this.

     Today God revealed to me a new thinking and insight that I truly felt convicted to share with you on here. As I'm doing my time with God every morning, I ask him to let me understand what he has for me this day and apply it to my life that I may grow as He would want me to. So as I was beginning Revelations; anticipating the many stories of the end times that I had read multiple times, He revealed something huge to me. Now this might be something He had just for me, but I don't think so. 

     As I think, I have mentioned before on here, I have never felt I had a problem with having another god, or idol, or bowing down to anything. Yet God continues to show me that it isn't just believing in Him as my savior that he's talking about in these verses and through out His word. I believe we can have idols or gods without even realizing it. That is how satan wants it. 

     In Revelations 2:14 God is telling John what to write to the churches. He is talking about the Israelites sinning by eating food sacrificed to idols. Normally I would have whipped right on by this. I've read many things about that subject, but not this time. The Holy Spirit said to me when you eat out of anger, stress, etc. you are sacrificing to idols. He went on to explain to me, that what ever is causing the emotion is the idol. Now stick with me here. The best way I can explain it is when we go to God with a problem, request, we really want Him to answer it in the way we want it to go. If we are truly mature in our relationship with Him we want His will. So we are relating to Him in expectations or acceptance.  So if you are hurt that your husband forgot your anniversary you are relating as a expectation. An expectation of him to please you by remembering your anniversary. God is truly the only one we have to please. So if we are replacing God with ourselves to be pleased we have become our own idol. If we go stuff our face because of our hurt, then we are sacrificing food to our idol.  Yet if we could look at it more mature, with acceptance that he is human, and that it is not all about me, etc. satan can't have that foothold on us and cause us to sacrifice food to our idol. Imagine if we would look at everything this way and take it all to God as we are suppose to do, how much better our life and our weight would be. 

     If your stressed out because you are trying to go to school, work, take care of a family, a home, etc. ask yourself why you are doing all this is it because you are trying to please your parents who always dreamed of you graduating from college, build your own self esteem or worth, etc.? Who just became the idol...your parents, you, etc.? Is this what God wants you to do? Then we add insult to injury by stuffing our face and sacrificing food to our idol. Also you're sacrificing yourself, your health, your marriage, your children,(Ezekiel 16:20 & 23:37) 

     The next time I feel some emotion that makes me want to stuff my face, I will be looking at it very differently. Is God on the throne or is it someone or something else?

     Maybe it isn't food you run to to feed your idol. Maybe it is shopping, pornography, work, exercise, etc. It still is against God.

In Him

     

    

Putting on the Armor!!

     A lady and I were talking last night, after Bible study, how frustrating it is that we let satan get the best of us without even realizing it sometimes. We think we are going to do something like pray with someone, or send a card of encouragement, sign up to teach Sunday school, etc. and satan tells us how stupid we are, and what others will think of us, etc. and soon we are agreeing with him and then we don't do it and he wins.  Later you kick yourself for allowing it to happen. Just like this blog, I really feel like Christ has called me to it and yet every time I go to write you won't believe the struggle I go through. Even to the point I haven't told anyone yet I'm doing it. I'm getting closer. 
     He even fights us physically by making us not feel good on Sunday mornings, telling us "who do you think you are wearing that", "Don't you realize, nobody there likes you", etc. Lies all lies. John 8:44 tells us he's the father of lies. 
     In Bible study we were also talking about the distractions, when you are trying to have your quiet time with Christ, and how the phone will ring, even when you got up early to avoid that. Or you can't seem to shut your mind down and listen to His voice. All of a sudden it is flooded with your to do list, the children wake up, your extremely hungry, etc.
     So ladies we really have to learn to pray for strength before we even get out of bed. Put on our armor daily. Ephesians 6:10-18 says

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

     I am going to turn this into a prayer and try to memorize it so that I may start each day with it before I even get out of bed.

     Lord, today I ask you to allow me to be strong in You and Your mighty power. Let me put on my full armor, that You have so graciously given me, so that I can take my stand against the devils schemes. Let me always remember my struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Let me stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around my waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and my feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Father may I have the strength to take up my shield of faith, so that I may extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Always remembering to take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is your word, God. May I be allowed to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Father I ask you to keep me alert, and always praying for all Your people. So that when the day of evil comes, I may be able to stand my ground. For without You Lord I am nothing. In Jesus name, Amen.

     It is satan's joy to keep us down and not realizing the truths that God has given us in his word. 2 Samuel 22:33, 2 Samuel 22:40, 1Chronicles 16:11, Psalm 18:32, Psalm 18:39, Psalm 28:7, and many more.   
     
     I know it sounds like we need to be some kinda wonder woman with all sorts of ninja moves etc., but ladies admit it don't you feel like that is what you are up against everyday. The news is full of headlines. Satan is after us, our marriages, our children, our families, our church families, etc. We have no choice, we have to fight this battle and it can only be won with Christ as our leader. Yet how wonderful to know it can be won.    

In Him

A Make Over

I checked out many new patio sets but was amazed at the cost so I decided to make over our old one. Which by the way, we picked up on the curb several years ago. It is very well built and I'm sure was an expensive one in it's day. This is the best picture I had of it before. Also I get to show off my beautiful granddaughter. The cushions were worn a little and kinda smelled from years of weathering,and the umbrella didn't go up very well anymore. Most of all it was very rusted and almost all the straps were rotten and broke.

So we tore it all apart.

And then we primed it, painted it, and put new strapping on it. We were so excited to find the strapping at Lowe's. We had looked and looked for years with no luck. Now we find out you can order it online in colors. How I wish I would have known that. When we had looked before online we had no luck finding it then. (Once again sorry about the date on the picture as well as it is wrong. My hubby bought me a new one since I had dropped that one in the kiddy pool and it hadn't been right since. Also we were going on a amazing trip to Europe to see our son and daughter-in-law and didn't want to miss a thing. Pictures and stories coming soon. Totally off the subject.) 

Here is a picture after we had painted them, but before the new strapping. It got dark and we wanted to get them finished so we brought them inside and hadn't taken any pictures till we were on the last one.

See how a brown strapping would have been nice. We have thought about painting them we will see. Also we made step by step pictures of how to do this since there was no real instructions in the package and the internet had some but only using water and we came up with using the hair dryer. So if anyone wants to see them, let me know and I will post them. We had to take the table all apart also and remove the glass, so we could paint it. I didn't get any pictures of that. It was time consuming I guess, but very well worth it. It looks like a brand new set and we are very happy with it.

We bought new cushions,

and a new umbrella. Makes me want to go get flowers for the pots and make it all pretty. I'll post new pictures if I get that done. Our yard is so shady it's hard to get a good picture. Just wanted to share my newest project. Can't wait to enjoy it.


Have a GREAT day 

In Him

Do you see that?

     I'm so excited about how God is revealing his word to me in a way I have never gotten. I truly LOVE that about His word. Every time I read it, it reveals more of Christ's true character to me. So with that I know Him better and know how I need to grow in Him. The Holy Spirit allows me to understand it more. When I understand it more it gets me excited about reading it, and I hate to put it down. It hasn't always been this way for me. 
     In 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 Paul is talking to me and you if you know the Lord as your personal savior.(verse 2) 4.I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ  Jesus. As Christians we need to claim that daily, and his peace in verse 3. 5. For in him you have been enriched in every way-in all your speaking and in all your knowledge- 6.because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Do you see that? We have been enriched in every way, EVERY WAY folks. In all our speaking and in all our knowledge. So God is giving us the words and the knowledge, he just wants us to be willing. Be willing to speak that knowledge. I don't have to be worried about writing on here, he will has already given me the knowledge. It says it right here in his word. I think about Beth Moore, Lisa Terkeurst, Billy Graham, and many more wonderful Christian authors/speakers, they are willing! They get this!!!! 7.Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. Do you see that? We lack no spiritual gifts! So those of you that say you have no gifts, it's time you reevaluate. Ask God to show you your gifts clearly. Also in here, could easily be missed, is the knowledge of how we should live; eagerly waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. This is in the New Testament. Jesus will return!!! We have to be ready. If you don't know Christ as your personal savior, and know that if he came right now, you would go to heaven, then STOP reading and ask him into your heart. I'll wait. 


            Father God if for some reason someone has read this far in this post, and doesn't know you personally. I pray you will lay on their heart just how much they need you. I pray they will not be foolish enough to live one more minute without knowing your precious love. I pray that if they asked you into their heart today, that you will reveal yourself to them as you have me. I pray they will seek out the Holy Spirit and know your divine joy in their lives daily. Father we are all broken and not perfect in anyway. May they understand that you don't require that of them. That because of your son's death on the cross we are made perfect  and clean in your sight. NO MATTER what we have done in our lives. In  Jesus name I pray this. Amen




     8.He will keep you strong to the end, so you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9.God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord is faithful. I have heard so many people say they are not strong enough to be a christian, or strong enough to keep the commandments, etc. Do you see that? He will keep you strong enough. None of us are strong enough on our own. He is faithful. In today's world how much can we say about that. Faithfulness is hard to find. We live in a world that really doesn't understand that word, but God created it.


In Him 


 Italics was mine.   

Doing a little changing

     We have been making some changes around here, in many ways, but this is one of them. I started scraping off the wallpaper in the stairway about a year ago I think. Then life got crazing and I had to stop and do other things. We all know how that goes, don't we? At the first of the year I vowed I was going to get it finished and some other projects I had put off way to long. I have to say I did love this wallpaper when we moved here twelve years ago, but it was showing some wear and tear. Especially with a washer and dryer going up those stairs, wow what a trip that was. Any way, as you can see I forgot to take pictures of the before but here is a few of the during.

My date is way off on my camera. It happened when I dropped it in the kiddy pool last summer while taking care of my grandchildren. Amazed it still even works and if I was not technically challenged I would remove it, but haven't learned that yet. Any way after much work and lots of help from my husband fixing the old walls, and such. We painted a nice color of brown called Latte and I love it.

Most importantly I wanted to take down the old throw we had hanging at the top of the stairway for all these years that had the "As for me and my house...", verse on it. And replace it with a vinyl one made on my Pazzles cutter. Which my wonderful husband surprised me with several years ago. At that time I said I wanted to do this. So a few years later, I finally have it done and put up. Also many thanks to my husband since he has so much patience to measure it all out and place it precisely where it needed to be.

I'm thinking about painting one of those huge tree's on the wall to the left and hang pictures on it. Also someday we are going to put a panel wainscoting on the right going up and around the stairway. So as we get it done I will post pictures. Please don't hold your breath, we are slow and steady kind of people. Also I keep us moving all over the house instead of staying in one place to long. You will see as we get to know each other more. Have a GREAT day!!!!!!

Martha working hard to be a Mary

 The other day I said I stay at home and don't get out much. You see, I am a Martha. I was raised very old school, not that that is bad, I like old school. My dad always said when your work is done you can play. So I have always lived that, and in my 40's learned your work is never done. Now I can probably say he was a workaholic. I admired him, he worked very hard and very long hours. Even in his 70's shortly before he passed away, he was working very hard and long hours, with his feet all bandaged because they were bleeding. It makes me cry just thinking of it. Yet there was no way you could slow him down. If you offered to do what ever it was he thought was so important. He just saw it as a way to get more done. He wouldn't sit down and let you do it. I'm very much that way also and yet God has showed me a different side of this with the Mary, Martha story.  

 I appreciate a good work ethic, and tried very hard to raise my children in that manner. You see I have also saw the other side where people will let you do everything for them. They even say I would rather pay to have it done, then do it myself. I really have never understood that kind of thinking. In my eyes that is just lazy, but maybe I have some learning to do there. What I have learned is because of my thinking I have missed out on some fun times that I could have had. I always went to all my kids ballgames, events etc. but missed too many times when I should have just played. Don't get me wrong we had some really fun times, and my children have been told they have great work ethic's by others. Yet at what price? My dad drove my brother and I hard, just as he drove himself. I also drove my children hard, sorry to say. The saying children learn what they live, is true. I have apologized to them and asked for their forgiveness. Yet that being said I'm proud of them and how they have turned out. God is good.


  I need to clarify, that I do not believe in any way that I can work my way to God. That is not my driving force in any way. I know my salvation is a free gift from God that I just had to accept. Which I did many, many, years ago. It is that I am driven by that to do list, as Martha was. Our childhood ways are hard to change. Yet I do believe this is one, I am being called to work on. In Luke 10: 41-42, Jesus says to Martha "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary had chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." I believe he is calling me to focus on Him and telling others about Him. As I sit here writing I'm fighting everything in me to go do my to do list for today and yet I believe, in a strange kind of way it is satan's foothold. I just read a few days ago in Sarah's e-book, Frumps to Pumps over at her blog, Stretching into Blue at sarahmae.com." The imposing standards on myself that aren't from God is a sure way to give a foothold to the enemy." Wow is that powerful!!! She goes on to say, "Don't let yourself trip into any legalistic landmines, they will burn up your joy." Thank you Sarah!! That's exactly what I'm talking about. I recommend all her books, they are great!!! 


I want to work and keep up my home etc., but I believe God wants us to put Him and others ahead of that to do list. I once heard a woman speak on organizing time and she said if you have scheduled on your list some household chore and a friend calls you to go for coffee. You have to say sorry I can't, I have a prior commitment. I disagree!!!!!!!!!!! Yet I'm so sad to say I have done this in some form or another. God forgive me. I do not believe when I stand before Him this will be honoring to Him. Maybe for you, it is something else that steals your time from Him. TV, crafts, telephone, exercise, etc., it doesn't have to be a bad thing. None of those are bad in themselves it's what we sacrifice for them that makes them bad. Don't let satan steal your joy, take it back TODAY!!!! I am.

Finding Direction

I have to admit I struggle with this whole blog thing. Don't get me wrong, I love reading them, and especially looking at the beautiful pictures some people put on, or the great ideas. Yet that being said, I have drug my feet in believing I have what it takes, as you can see by the last date that I posted. Today I feel like it is time to be obedient. I pray I can be dedicated and open to the Holy Spirits prompting.

In my quiet time with God this morning, he showed me this verse in Luke 8:16 "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand so that those who come in can see the light. You may look at that and say ya duh, but in God's wonderful way he revealed to me that the light is my life with Him and I need to put it out there for others to see and learn from. What better place then to let my light shine then in this blog for hopefully others to read. You see I'm a stay at home wife, which I love, but I really don't go out much except to church, Bible study, a few errands here and there. I'll explain more about that later. So I'm excited about serving God in this way.

I love how God even covers our weaknesses. As I said before I have really drug my feet here, with little confidence that I have anything to teach others or that they would want to read. Today He also shows me this  in verse 24-25. The disciples went and woke him, saying "Master, Master, were going  to drown!" He got up and  rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25."Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. I ask myself, where is my faith? I serve a God that can command the winds and water and they obey and yet here I am not. How can I doubt that. I may not have what it takes but He does.

I think maybe I need to go to another country or something like that, I'm willing. Maybe then I could teach someone or tell something everyone doesn't know. Verse 39, "Return home(that's my word) and tell how much God has done for you." That I CAN do and I will. I appreciate your prayers.