Be not deceived….

Last night, we had a campus minister preach at our church and share what he is doing for the Lord. My eyes were once again opened to the spiritual depravity and increasing tolerance for sin that our young people are portraying.

This minister’s message was no different from the messages of the prophets of old, of Paul’s message, of John the Baptist’s message, and of Noah’s message.

REPENT YE

As I saw the pictures of the young adults, holding signs of rebuttal with inscriptions such as, “God is Love” and “Judge Not”, my heart was grieved.

Thanks to the watered-down gospel that many young adults have received over their young lives, the HUGE influx of the Hollywood agenda, and peer pressure, the kids have bought a fallacy. It goes like this.

We are all imperfect. We are all born different. God accepts us as we are. He loves us no matter what. He does not judge us for what we do nor does he expect us to change who we really are.

And of course, there are the young adult atheists and those with demonic new age beliefs.

But the ones who have false beliefs of God are the ones who are the most dangerous.

Dangerous to whom?

Dangerous to true Christians. These are the persecutors.

Now, you may say, What about God is Love? Aren’t these young people right to believe that God is Love?

I’m as familiar with John 3:16 as the next individual and am forever grateful that the Lord loved the whole world that he gave his only Son for my sins. I feel His love and mercy extended to me on a daily basis.

It’s the message that these young people are basing their poster inscriptions on. Its message means, God is Love which means he doesn’t care if you are living in abomination to his word. He doesn’t mind that you are living out your uniqueness (i.e. sodomy, etc).

God HATES wickedness. He is ‘Angry with the wicked every day’ (Ps 7:11)

He was angry enough to destroy an entire world and save only 8 people (Genesis—Noah)

He was angry enough to destroy 5 cities and save Lot and a couple family members (Sodom & Gomorrah)

People were destroyed at the hand of kings whom God had hardened their hearts. (several times in the Old Testament)

Several thousands and thousands of people were destroyed during wars when God’s hand would turn away from them because of their wickedness. (Several times in the Old testament)

Nineveh was saved by the skin of their teeth thanks to a prophet who preached, Repent Ye.

God Loves Righteousness and Holiness.

He saved Noah and his family because of their obedience and righteousness.

He saved several prophets and obedient men in the Bible from wild beasts and huge armies (Gideon, etc)

He spared Lot and his family from fire AND brimstone.

He spared Israel countless times from the enemy (even though we know he destroyed some within the children of Israel because of their wickedness and idolatry).

God is a God of love and mercy. There are many, many verses I could type that would portray to you His love and divine mercy. There are also many, many verses that would explain that He does not tolerate sin and continuance in sin. He does not tolerate unrighteousness and filthy living (like some of the things that go on in college campuses).

So, when the young minister was out trying to book the latest Rock and Roll Christian band and putting the latest movie up on the youth building’s big screened TV for the young people to watch, He should have been teaching them what the Bible says about sin and about the blood of Jesus. Instead of trying to relate to them, he should’ve been relating to them the reality of a burning hell. A hell where it is estimated (I know that only God has the correct count) that 250,000 souls go every day.

So, what does all this mean for us mothers?

First of all, if your church has a youth ministry, a Children’s Church, or even a Sunday school and your children attend, FIND OUT what is being taught. Or, better yet, keep them in church with you. Ask them over the Sunday dinner table what they did in Sunday School and what the lesson was on. Make sure they are hearing Bible truth and are not merely being entertained and fed candy and juice.

Don’t send your kids to a young ministry building if all they do is have Christian (I say this loosely) Rock and Roll bands, have pizza and ice cream, watch the latest ‘easy on the eyes and ears’ Blockbuster film, practice with the dance team, and learn how to say no to sex (this is the parent’s responsibility…actually, they shouldn’t be even in this situation yet!).

I would choose another church, honestly.

Secondly, teach your children at home (this is biblical from Deuteronomy) and keep them out of public school (or private for that matter). This is not just me expressing my passions (Homeschooling is one of them). It IS PROVEN that public schools have an agenda to teach children to be tolerate for sin. Some places even have homosexuality in their textbooks. Science is anti-creation and has been since even I was in school.

Thirdly, don’t try to erase sin from society. Paint the picture for them. What I mean by this, without being gory or even being too explicit (my kids don’t know about anything about alternative lifestyles, thank the Lord). If you see a homeless man standing by the road, share with them what has probably happened in that man’s life—how he got to that point. Of course, you what to teach them to love those people, but explain what sin can do to a person’s life. Use your time out and about in the real world to share with your children what sin can do. Don’t ever excuse sin or appear tolerant before them.

I will never forget my mom taking a pen and coloring in to cover up cleavage on magazines that we would get in our home. She was showing us that immodesty is wrong and we weren’t taught to just tolerate it (hence, the covering up of the immodest lady on the Prevention magazine).

For goodness sakes, don’t let your small sons be allowed to GAPE at the horrible, filthy magazines that are paraded at the counter of Wal-mart! Find another aisle. If they happen to see them, explain to them that those are human beings, created by God to give Him glory, but have fallen into sinful living. I always tell them that they are searching for peace in things and will never find peace other than through God.

Last, FILL them with things of God. Starting at home, give them a Christian world-view, teach them the Bible as TRUTH, have them memorize God’s word, and have family prayer.

When the devil comes by, they will be repentant and not excuse their sin as being okay and who they ‘are’. You will have taught them that ‘friendship with the world is enmity with God’ (James 4:4).

That is all for now, I have a little one awake. You might want to check out Charles Finney’s (one of the world’s greatest evangelists) message here.

Next, I will blog about how you can evangelize as a stay-at-home mother.

Please come back! :)

Are you really saved?

This topic hasn’t really been on my mind, but just this morning as I was going about the day’s chores (which weren’t sitting on the porch, sipping lemonade, while reading a good book, but anyway..), I felt this subject weigh upon my mind. I grabbed my journal and started jotting down things I felt the Lord would have me say. Maybe you need to hear this.

In my humble opinion, there is nothing more miserable than struggling with doubts regarding one’s salvation. But for the ‘unbeliever’, the true misery is thinking one is saved when in truth, one is not. Now, before you get all who-do-you-think-you-are-certainly-not-the-judge, let me give you what’s on my heart via the Holy Spirit.

The main characteristic of a true, born again believer, is this: living a life that pleases and glorifies God.

• Do you wholly live to glorify God?

What I’m referring to, is, as a whole, is your aim to bring glory to God? Do you desire to live to please Him and to serve Him. Do you want to be in His Will?

Now, my head is not stuck in a bucket to where I would think that we are not ‘works in progress’. The Lord is constantly working on me and showing me areas where I need to glorify Him a little more. Maybe I’m doing something to bring glory to myself instead of Him. That’s not what I’m referring to (however, that IS a matter that needs to be taken care of, spiritually speaking).

• Do you find yourself trying to be good instead of hungering to please God?

• Do you feel yourself disconnected from spiritual things?

*Lack of desire for church or Christian fellowship

*More of a desire for worldly amusements, pleasures, entertainment

No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:4 (KJV)

If you find that your heart does not desire God or the things of God, then have a heart- check. Commit your life to him anew.

But I prayed The Prayer when I was a child! Aren’t I saved?

Again, check your life. Do you live to please and glorify God?

For you to be saved, you must confess and believe. As children, we aren’t as aware of the guilt and burden of sins committed. We may repeat a prayer at Children’s Crusade or from someone off of the TV just because they asked us to. I have such a problem with this one show my kids will watch off of Smile of A Child. At the end, the man leads the young listeners in the Sinner’s Prayer and invites them to tell someone they did it. He doesn’t even explain the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and the Fall of Man in the Garden! If Mother is nearby and she hears this child say this prayer, what will she do? Call everyone and tell them that Johnny has accepted Christ!

Then, when Johnny is 15 and gets caught doing drugs, she will make sure to remind him that he shouldn’t be doing that because he is saved. Or even worse, she will never share the full gospel with Johnny because it doesn’t matter, he’s already saved. Then, when Johnny is 18 and in a car wreck after leaving a drinking party, Mama will sigh with relief because he said the sinner’s prayer when he was 3.

I got ‘saved’ numerous times as a child. Every time the preacher preached on Hell, I would cry and ask God to save me. I wanted to be sure. :) I can’t point you to an EXACT place where that commitment to follow Christ became forefront in my life, but I can show you that ultimately, my life’s purpose is to please God and to follow His will.

Parents, never try to convince your children they are saved. If their lives fail to bring glory to God, then the prayer was nothing more than just repeating what the TV said, as kids do when they are watching Dora.

How about you? Are you truly saved? Do you desire to please the Lord?

What about the times we get discouraged or ‘lukewarm’ in our souls?

First of all, beg God to warn you, nudge you, prompt you (He might be doing so by your reading this post) BEFORE you are in the dangerous, dangerous state. You are in the danger of becoming complacent or you may begin to feel justified by your current spiritual (or lack of) state. God is so merciful and there has been many times (I’m afraid) I was in this state and thank the LORD, He used something (books, a verse) or someone (a anointed message or a saint of God) to steer me back on the right path.

• And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Romans 1:28 (KJV)

I really believe (and have the Bible to back me up) that there are many people who truly are convinced that they are saved but have absolutely no fruits or desire to live a life pleasing to God. This could be a result of a repeat-after-me prayer prayed when they were very small (I do NOT think that you can’t get saved with this type of prayer) or it could be that they continued so long in their sins and complacency (unconcern) that God gave them over to a reprobate mind?

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:22,23

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven Matthew 7:21

Now, turning the tide ever so slightly…

The devil CAN and LOVES TO try to convince truly saved people that they aren’t saved. I believe he does this because:

• He is trying to keep that Christian from reaching his full potential in Christ

If he can keep you always wondering about your salvation then he is tying your hands, spiritually speaking. He knows that you will be something GREAT for God were it not for this bondage.

What can you do? Once again, look at your life. Do you ULTIMATELY desire to please God and live Holy in your life? Is your desire for spiritual things? Do you desire to lead your children to the Lord? Are you sorry when you fail God? Do you work to restore your relationship with God and try to climb higher in Christ?

Something to think about on this Saturday. Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate. Check your fruit.

God Bless you!

Do you need some encouragement?

I have found that if I need an extra boost in the 'Encouragement Dept', I will head over to Laine's Letters and read a couple of her letters. My, the strength and encouragement I glean! Do you need encouragement to begin your week off right (after all it IS the beloved Monday)? I suggest you read this: http://lainesletters.com/letters/truth.html. It was just what I needed to hear to get my I-got-up-early-but-didn't-feel-like-it day going. God is so good. I need Him every day. Every. single. day. PS. I hope, really hope to get my Gravy Tutorial up sometimes soon. It will take a while and the morning has just whisked on by. I really want to get a head start on my cleaning before my dear ones have awakened.

Distractions in our Worship

If you don’t keep a prayer journal or a ‘spiritual’ journal, I encourage you to do so. This is just a notebook where you can write down things the Lord speaks to you and also prayers he’s answered. I also use my journal to write down verses that speak to my heart or even dreams that I have that seem to be important.

Exactly a year ago, I felt frustrated in my lack of desire to worship at church. I would have good prayer times at home, but then at church I would just be, there. Now that I look back, I can’t believe that church wasn’t as exciting to me as it is now. Wonderful how the Lord brings us along, isn’t it?

While in prayer about this, I felt the Lord speak to me (if you have never had the Lord speak to you, you are missing out on an awesome experience….basically the Lord will strongly ‘impress’ upon you what he is ‘speaking’ to you) some things about my lack of worship in church.

I was distracted.

I have always had a nosy tendency about me. Gulp. It’s a bit humorous, but my husband will often tease me about my ability to listen to our conversation, say, in a restaurant (a great place for fellow nosy-ers) and be all into the conversation of the nearby 3 or so tables. :) I am a people watcher and I love to watch people. Maybe that’s why I like blogs. :) So if you are reading this, you may be like me. :)

The Lord prompted me that I am distracted in church. I am busy looking around (not that I stare, but you know, if a baby cries or if someone walks in late, I have to see who it is) and letting my thoughts wander instead of focusing on worshipping God.

From my journal, dated 3/7/10, this is what I wrote (and I’ll skip back a bit, because the first part is good too and of it I need to be reminded):

*When I’m getting ready for church, remind myself that I’m dressing to:

1). Represent Christ

2). Represent & Please my Husband (only, not other women) in dress

3). Represent my children as their mother (carry myself as a mature woman, not as a silly young girl)

*When I’m at church, focus only on the service!

1). No turning around to look at others

2). Sing unto the Lord! Close eyes if I have to to maintain connection with God.

3). No vain or fake worship! If I don’t ‘feel it’, instead of being fake, ask God to give me a sense of worship or put me in the Spirit of worship (it works)!

4). Speak to others purposefully and genuinely.

5). Don’t stall my worship or obedience to His spirit. Don’t wait until the service gets ‘high’ to begin to worship the Lord. Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving……

I really appreciate the Lord speaking these words to my heart. They have helped me so much and to know that He spoke them to me makes me want to be obedient to what He wants me to do. Hope this will help someone…. :)

*****************************************************************

Now I have to get ready for choir practice, so the pictures I wanted to post from our glorious weekend will have to wait. I have also had a request for the tomato gravy and biscuit recipes, so I did a photo tutorial this weekend. I hope to get that uploaded this week, soon. It’s coming! :)

May you have a glorious worship service! If your church is in a lukewarm state (Laodicea, Rev 2) ask God to start the fire in YOU!

Not I...

May everything that is said or done by me this day not be MY doing or speaking, but Christ's.

When I respond to the kids today, may it be Christ's response.

When I answer the phone, may it be Christ who carries on the conversation.

When my husband comes home from work, may it be Christ who greets him.

When I kiss a hurt boo-boo, may it be Christ's gentle hands mending the hurt.

When I have to correct, may it be Christ who disciplines so lovingly, consistenly.

When I cook a meal, may it be tenderly prepared by the Christ who broke the bread at the Last Supper.

When I sweep, may it be done by the same Christ who daily sweeps the cob webs from my heart.

When I rock a sick baby, may it be Christ's healing touch who pats my baby's congested chest.

As I pray, may it be Christ's words, praying to the Father, making intercessions for Me because He knows just what I need.

I am crucified wth Christ....

Christ in me, the hope of glory....

Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand....

Let this mind be in You, which was in CHRIST JESUS...

Die to self. Ugly, rotten flesh.

Live in Christ.

Not I, but Christ.

The Only One.