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!

Biblical Goals & an introduction

Yesterday while reading Psalm 105, I started making a list of these Daily Goals that should be incorporated in our days. You may want to just read the whole Psalm 105 to see where I'm coming from, but here is the breakdown:

1. Give thanks unto the Lord.

2. Call upon His name.

3. Make known His deeds to others.

4. Sing unto Him.

5. Talk of His wondrous works.

6. Glory in His name.

7. Seek the Lord.

8. Seek His face.

9. Remember His marvellous works.

Aren't those wonderful? And I love how #7 and #8 are totally different. Sometimes we seek the Lord, in general. But, at other times, we have to seek His face. I want to do more seeking His face this year.

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Have you been introduced to the West Ladies? While their blog is not really updated, you will enjoy reading some back issues of it. However, my favorite part about the West Ladies is their videos! For Christmas, I got the Art of Dairy Delights:

Since we get Goat's milk from my parents, I have been very interested in making cheese (and butter, even though cow's milk is best for that).

Then, last week during Vision Forum's 70% off sale, I got a couple more for $8.00 a piece! Last night I watched:

I have been very interested in Soapmaking for quite a while and am just about curious enough to try it! :) Over the holidays I made Peppermint Lip Balm and Homemakers Cottage (Kristy's) Plantain Heral Salve. It was so much fun and I was instantly hooked on making my own homemade concoctions.
Check out these videos. You may can still get them from Vision Forum at a low price. I'm looking forward to watching the Sewing one next!
Have a grand Wednesday! Don't forget to join me in implementing the Daily Biblical Goals that I mentioned at the beginning of the post. :)

Praying the Psalms

If you have been reading my blog for a long time, you know that I like to pray in the early mornings when all is quiet and peaceful. That is what works for me and may not work for everyone. Some enjoy the quietness of the night after the children are all tucked in. Some like to kneel down just before climbing into bed in order to cast the day's cares on the Master or to ask forgiveness for an unconfessed sin committed during the day.

I enjoy praying in the morning because I need armour for the day. I also, first thing, need to empty myself of me and be filled with Him.

A couple of weeks ago, I was praying, and just talking to the Lord (I pace while I pray. It keeps me from falling asleep and I really just love praying this way) and I noticed something about my prayers. Even though I like to begin my prayers off with thanksgiving and Praise to God, I was having trouble really focusing on uplifting God like I geniunely wanted to. So, I prayed about it. The next morning, I felt impressed to read a Psalm before I prayed. So, I started in Psalm 1 and while it put me in a spirit of prayer, I still didn't feel as focused as I wanted to be. Last week, while driving (alone) to get groceries, I picked up my Bible from between the seats and began reading (yes, I did..I call it drivding..don't worry, I knew most of the Psalm from memory) a Psalm. I can't remember which one right now, but it was the one that says something like, "When I look at the heavens and see your handiwork and all your creation, what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou visiteth him?" I began to pray with each verse I read. Lord, what IS man that you would be mindful of me? Who am I that you would visit me? Needless to say, the Lord met with me in prayer.

So, ever since, I have been opening up my prayer time with 'praying' a Psalm. Reading a verse aloud and praying about it. One of two things usually happens. I either uplift God ("I will bless the Lord") or either I feel smitten in my heart about what I just read (like today--I read about having a double heart and being our own lord over our tongues..yikes).

It has been wonderful for my prayer life. Truly wonderful. I just wanted to share it with you in case you wanted to try it. God is so faithful to speak to us and to answer our prayers so faithfully. Don't be afraid to take your prayer life to the next level!

God Bless you so much!

Thoughts & Such…

I trust each of you had a wonderful weekend spent with your families. Ours was busy, but very enjoyable. On Saturday, we went to a neighboring church’s Fun Day and had a good time. The kids played so hard (they had one of those blow up slides) and were just exhausted by the end of the day. We finished off our day with some family swimming and togetherness.

I was glad to be able to go to church this weekend after missing last one due to my children’s sicknesses. My husband and the friends mentioned here sing together and occasionally sing at Homecomings and such. We had one yesterday and we really had a good singing. The Lord came by and was with us!

Ella spent the afternoon with my mom. I guess this is her first time away from me for an extended period of time. She did good, according to my mom. She is still nursing, but my mom supplemented her some with fresh goat milk. :)

Speaking of Ella, I had a really rough week last week. We have such a hard time getting Ella to sleep, getting her to stay asleep, and getting her to play or to just be unattached to my hip. This is both a good and bad age/stage she is in right now. This week was really difficult for me to stay focused on my priorities/duties (with a good attitude) and take care of a no-napping, fussy baby. There were times I wanted to get into the fetal position and hide under the table. More than once. Yes. I so pray for a better week.

A few things the Lord revealed to me through prayer last night (as I was rocking my fussy baby while church was going on….) that I need to do to, well…just have a better week.

One was, keep my commitment to my early prayer and Bible reading. There were a million several times last week that I just needed to get into a prayer closet and shut the door (and get into that fetal position).

Secondly, I felt the Lord speak a calm to my soul. Or, to put it better, telling me to calm down. After last week, I just need a calmness in my soul and spirit.

Thirdly, and this is the second or third time I’ve felt the Lord impress me to Live only for today. Why is this so hard for us? Every thing we do or say, sometimes, seems like it’s based on tomorrow or the future. I prayed that the Lord would just put up a wall when I think about anything past today. Today, I must enjoy my children. Today, I must take care of my husband and family. Today, I must be joyful. Today, I must work on my struggles. Today, I must smile at my babies. Today, I must do my duties as unto the Lord. Today.

How can I serve my family and my Lord today?

Don’t think about current situations or future events that might affect my ability to bless my family. Just do it, today.

As I have mentioned umpteen several times, I really struggled last week. My hormones and emotions were so crazy. It was awful (for lack of scarier term). I was reading one night before bed in the book I’m currently reading, “Instruments of Change” and the Lord put a simple sentence in that book just for me. I had to run get a highlighter and mark it. It said, You do not have to be in bondage to your emotions. Wow. Thank you very much, God, for that blow. Isn’t it wonderful how He gets down to where we are at?

Yep, last week, I was in bondage to my emotions. I chose to be a slave to how I felt. I allowed my feelings to dictate the way I ran my home.

I appreciate the Savior giving me another chance to live for today, today.

My little Sleepless One is awake again (after 3 episodes of rocking) so I need to cut my time short. My wonderful life saving husband is rocking her out on the porch. Maybe she needs a change of scenery?

It sure helped me.

This week I’m thankful for just that—a new week.

Some Spiritual Sharing & To Do List

I am having a lovely morning here in my Haven in the country. My Ella went back to sleep early this morning and I had a wonderful time reading my Bible and praying out on my front porch. The Cares of life & Evils of this world just seem so far away when I am out on my front porch, listening to God, hearing His nature, and hearing the quietness, all simultaneously. Ah.

I am currently reading in the book of Genesis and I truly believe it is my favorite book. I very much enjoy the wonderfully true stories of God’s provisions, his wrath and incredible mercies, the deaths and births, promises coming true at the right time—it’s just all wonderful. This morning I read the story of Isaac and Rebekah and what a glorious story it is. There are so many things (for lack of a better word) one could pick out of this story to apply (ah..applications..that’s my word) to one’s life. Complete trust in God is what I gleaned from this story. The servant completely trusted his master, Abraham, enough to complete the seemingly strange task he had set for him to do. The servant trusted God to send the woman that was providentially designated for him to take back to Canaan. Rebekah trusted the servant enough to even water his camels (think about how we would feel today, in our flesh—“what a weirdo! He wants me to water his camels, too? He must be a pervert”). Laban trusted Rebekah enough to come to get the servant to take him home. The whole family trusted the servant enough to allow Rebekah to go with them (even if, understandably so, they didn’t want her to leave right away). And Rebekah trusted again enough to be willing to leave right away. Isaac trusted God to be willing to receive what God had in store for him. It is all goes back to being the result of Abraham’s complete trust in God (see Romans 4:3). I want to be like Abraham’s servant and be willing to be obedient to my master, no matter how unusual the request. I want to be like Rebekah and be trusting in God from the small things (i.e. watering the camels) to the large things (muy grande—marriage).

In my prayer time, I felt impressed to pray for myself (how unusual…) from my head to my feet. I wish I had time to share with you my prayer, but I have household duties awaiting me, somewhat too patiently, I might add. But, for my head, I prayed that God would help me to wear the Helmet of Salvation today and to also be in submission to Him as my head and to my husband as my head. For my feet, I prayed that He would shod them with the preparation of the gospel of peace and also lead me in the ways I should go. I also prayed that my feet would walk on Holy ground today as I go about my duties.

And if I pray in sincerity, God will always be faithful to reveal something in my life on which I need to work. Today was the ever present job of putting God first. He spoke to me on what that means for me. It was wonderful. I hope to share with you at a later time.

On to other more ‘carnal’, albeit important things, my first ever piano recital turned out great! I hope to maybe have some pictures downloaded or perhaps even a video clip of the recital in the very near future. Everyone did great, I sweated profusely under my arms, and only said, “you know”, about 27 times while talking. So there you have it. :) I’ll share more later, Lord willing.

I would love to see some of my blog readers share what your ‘to do’ list looks like. Today, my list looks like the following:

*Read Bible

*Pray

*Blog

*Begin Breakfast

*Spend 10 minutes in each room that is not in the main portion of our house.

*Spend 15 minutes in each room that is in the main portion of our house.

(Did I ever mention how much I love my timer?)

*Wash towels & washcloths.

*Get all laundry put up.

*Get some flowers planted.

*Play with my littles (Nana has the ‘eldests’ today).

What does your day look like?

As for now, I’ve got the cutest-ever two year old in my lap, who desperately needs dry clothes (somebody forgot to put on him a diaper before bed). Add to list above, *Wash sheets.

Have a great day!

Have You Died?

A How-to plan with complete instructions….

Every sin I commit, every weight I allow to burden me down, every frustration that gets out of hand is a direct result of my vitality.

I’m still alive. My flesh is thriving. My will is evident. My pleasure is being craved. It’s all about my wants. My flesh has to be fed.

I’m in trouble. I’m discontent. I’m irritable. I’m selfish. I’m rebellious. I’m frustrated. I’m jealous. I’m prideful. I’m falling behind. I’m inconsistent. I’m complacent. I lack integrity. I’m sinful.

I haven’t died.

And He said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Luke 9:23

When one dies, he chooses to give up his will. His life is no longer his own. The body no longer relies on itself to keep it stable. The fight is over. The body is now totally broken.

When a person becomes a Christian, he ultimately gives his life to the Lord. However, we are not given over to a glorified body, yet. Man still struggles with self. Self = Sin. One can become sanctified (or you may call it, dedicated) in which the overall desire for the world and all its pleasures are no longer prevalent. This is not the same as being dead.

For personal Revival and Spiritual growth, one must DIE. There is no other alternative. Not only must one die, it must be done DAILY.

Now that I have covered the why and how often we must die, let us see how does one die?

First, a DENIAL of one’s self has to be evident. This is done through Obedience. When we obey what God tells us, either through His Word or personally by His Spirit, then we are denying our will. We are dying.

On a personal note, God spoke to me about getting up early to DIE through prayer and Bible reading. When I obey, I am denying my self and I am obedient. When I disobey, I'm not dead to self. Therefore, I struggle with the above mentioned SELF characteristics.

Second, one has to GIVE UP to die. Any weight or sin one feels is hindering or is evident in his life has to be given up. It may be something that is a weight to oneself, but not necessarily a weight to a brother or sister. God might be asking the individual to give it up. It could be something as simple as less Internet time or more difficult as immodesty.

Third, one has to be broken. This can be looked at this way. One has to be broken to die, in which one will then be broken. The first step in personal Revival is Brokenness (quoted by my pastor, Sun night). Come to the Father with nothing but yourself. Bring the above mentioned personal qualities that have been infiltrating your self. Tell God you are Fully Relying on Him because you are no longer yourself. You are dead. You CAN’T handle your problems anymore because you aren’t alive. Christ IS!

Are you getting it?

When you die, you aren’t going to have trouble with the flesh anymore. Have you ever seen a physically dead person frustrated or angry or impatient or bitter? Their lives are not their own anymore.

When we are crucified with Christ, we no longer LIVE!

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Praise God!

I don’t even need to go over the benefits of dying. You know them already. Peace. Joy. Patience. Meekness. Temperance. Love. (You know they are called Fruits of the Putting-on-Christ…aka Fruits of the Spirit).

What? You need More Benefits?

How about a little Helmet of Salvation to go along with your Fruit? Or a little Sword of the Spirit to cut down that SELF should it rise back up. Would you like to trade in your pedicure for some Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace (Dr. Scholls don’t have nothing on these)? Cancel your appointment for that Breast Enhancement. You don’t need it. You now have the Breastplate of Righteousness to cover you anyhow. I mean, really.

Are you ready to join the mass suicide to SELF? :o) I’ve already died this morning. Don’t tell my friends and family, though, because I plan to do it again tomorrow. Tee Hee Hee. And, during the day if SELF tries to rear up (as if! I mean, the NERVE), I will boldly proclaim that my body is not mine anymore….

I Have Put On CHRIST. It’s called Victorious Living.

Goodbye, Self. I didn’t like you very much anyway.

Why we’ve decided to say No to..

Barbie

Before my little girl was old enough to play with Barbies, I didn’t really give Barbies much thought as to whether or not they would or would not reside in my home. If someone would have asked me, “Are you going to let your daughters play with Barbies?” I would have just sort of looked at them blankly like, “Why wouldn’t I, I did!”

One day, right before my oldest daughter was old enough to play with Barbies, but definitely not interested (remember we did pigs for forever a couple of years), I came across this article in a No Greater Joy magazine (be sure to sign up for their free magazine).  I started out thinking about it some, but this article didn’t really convince me totally. What did convince me is that I started noticing these hoochy mama Barbies were dressed in a way that I would never want my daughter to dress. Need another picture or two?

My daughter has had a few Barbies that were bought for her by other people. We have since trashed all of her Barbies and she has total understanding of why we have done so. We have discussed this with her and she is supportive somewhat. :) I know she will completely understand when she is older.

Maybe I could buy only modest Barbies? (I tried to find a modest Barbie picture, but after 6 Google Image Pages I really couldn’t find one I thought was modest). What happens when the Barbies are undressed? If your little girl is like mine, you will find the dolls without clothes more than with. Have a look…

This is so repulsive to me. I feel like I have posted porn on my blog twice in one month! (Pray Saints :)

If you have sons in your home (as I do), is this the image you want them to see on a daily basis—or even an occasional basis—or even a once a year basis? Please, if you do decided to continue with Barbies in your home, at least make sure they stay covered.

Speaking from experience, Barbies are sources of imaginative play for young girls and this can result in a form of idolatry. I have watched little girls play with Barbie and Ken and immediately that would get still and just sit and hold Barbie and Ken for many moments, somewhat lost in their own play. Young girls can and will pretend they are Barbie and Ken is, well, their boyfriend and then they will act out certain scenes, which will depend upon how ‘educated’ the little girl is. Is. this. Healthy?

Little girls will want to dress like their Barbies (or the correct term is undress like their Barbies). Teenage life will not come soon enough for your precious little girl.

I know you are like me in wanting to preserve your daughter’s girlish years. Her innocence. Her femininity.

Pray about what God would have you do. I would encourage you to make sure that godliness reflects in what your children watch and with what your children play. You will not be alone in your decision. My brother’s wife had on her last 2 year’s Christmas lists, No Barbies! She has 3 precious little girls to preserve. I recently talked with this mother of 10 and she mentioned that she never allowed Barbies to be played with by her daughters. Dolls help young girls learn to be mothers, not Barbies. Barbies teach young girls about having a Ken/Barbie relationship and about how to be a teenager.

I would love to hear your comments yay or nay.

PS If you are looking for great, wholesome toys for your children, check out www.visionforum.com.

F.R.O.G

No, I’m not changing my blog to include the study of animals nor am I going to talk about dissecting Frogs for a Homeschool project. Instead I’m going to talk about Fully Relying on God. You know, F.R.O.G? I know you are relieved that I’m not going to discuss Frogs. :)

My next few posts are probably going to be Spiritual type posts because I’ve had a few things on my mind that I want to share with you. Things I might share in a testimony type service if I indeed, did testify in a testimony service, which I don’t very much.

I don’t know about you, but I do know about me. :) I’m a person who does not ask for help (ok, I will call my Mama and beg for her to come help me, but that’s my Mom, ya know) and feel easily intimidated by others. When I taught school, I always tried to do what I was supposed to do because I did not want to end up in the Principal’s Office (same as when I was actually in school). Those things intimidated me. In fact, a few teachers would go by there and just chat with the Principal, but not me. Those sort of people intimidate me (FWIW, I loved my principals and got along w/them fabulously). In fact, I can be intimidated by lots of people. I can handle it myself.

For the past couple of weeks, the Lord has dealt with me that I don’t rely on Him enough. I don’t go to Him enough for help. Guilty. I guess in my mindset, I thought of God as someone I would go to for healing and to ask for spiritual help. That’s about what I’ve gone to Him for over the years. I have asked Him to help me be a better mother a zillion many times and to give me wisdom, etc., but just for simple things, I have not asked. Things like, Lord, show me how to organize my day more effectively. Lord, how do I respond to this child who has just smarted-off to me? Lord, can you help my dinner turn out well?

I have found that the Lord loves to help us with those things, ladies. Casting ALL your care upon Him, for He careth for you. I Peter 5:7.

A few years ago, I remember snickering at a relative who was asking God to help her while we were playing a board game. I mean she actually bowed her head and prayed. While I have yet to ask for his help over a board game, I have asked him for some pretty simple help lately. :) And, I’ve found Him faithful.

I heard a message about 3 weeks ago from Bro. Dollas Messer in which he was talking about Man being created to be dependent on God. We were made to rely on Him. He created us to need Help! We are guilty of turning to other sources (books, resources, our girlfriends, other blogs, etc) for help, when we can ask Him. The author and Finisher of our Faith. ***I, of course, am not saying the above ‘helps’ are wrong and I believe God can and does use resources to help us. He has used these tools many, many times in my Christian life.***

On a personal note…Sunday, as I was walking for exercise, I was praying (makes a great prayer time) and asking God to forgive me for not depending on Him for help with my frustrations (one of them being my lack of organization, etc.) and my prayer went like this:

“Lord, I know that I can’t do anything without your help. I also know that you are able to help me with the things I get frustrated over. Lord, I know you are able to help me be able to get things done that I can’t do within myself. You are able to anoint me to be superwoman. “ (I really said that). Now, the Lord knows my heart and the fact that I don’t want to be Superwoman for vain reasons such as so I can brag about it. I just want to be to find a healthy balance of things (housework, school, kids, etc.).

Well, yesterday, I sort of forgot about my prayer, but God didn’t. As the day went along, I couldn’t believe all the things I was getting done. Honestly. I did not get up too early (7:40, to be exact) and believe me the weekend was hugely evident in my home. But, I got everything done that I normally need to do including sweeping/straightening the laundry room, spent a few moments decluttering our office room, cleaned the bathroom, matched up some socks, swept and cleaned off the porch, along with my normal things!

Maybe it wasn’t necessarily his making me Superwoman, but perhaps He is just helping me know how to organize my time, get my kid’s involved, etc. But, I’m so thankful for HIS help.

Don’t be afraid to ask Him believing Him to help you with anything from being a better lover to your husband (I have prayed this before and the Lord has answered) to helping you stretch the grocery budget (have seen the Lord move in this area this wk as well). We just can’t imagine how much He loves us and is waiting for us to ask Him for help. His people are His delight.

He’s been good to me!

PS Stay tuned for a Giveaway to be announced later this week. I now have TWENTY followers, so I decided it be nice to have a giveaway! :)

Porn in the checkout

Yikes, I feel sinful even posting this picture!

You know, ladies, do you ever have those moments where something happens and you just want to say, “Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus”? I did today.

I took my kids shopping with me (keeps me an humble mother, ya know, taking all 4 to Wal Mart) and as I got into the checkout line I noticed right off, three immodest magazine covers. One had a super, sexy, skinny, bikini- clad model on it; the second one had a very provocatively-posed, scantily clad (Cosmopolitan, anyone?) young woman (I just can’t say lady); and the third one was just talking about ‘how to bring intimacy to your bed’, yada, yada. I mean, my kid can read, ya know?

I immediately turned the magazines over where the back faced frontwards, but my son saw what I was doing (I mean, a woman can only work so fast turning three magazines around) and when I wasn’t looking, he turned one back around. Yuck. I felt so sick to my stomach. I mumbled something about my turning them for a reason, her body was for her to see only, etc. Not sure what I said, but I wanted to scream and yell and send hate messages to Wal Mart and these magazines for putting these indecent (to put it very mildly) women on the fronts of their magazines for men to gaze upon. I mean, they are women’s magazines, people. What woman wants to see a woman dressed provocatively in a magazine for women? I don’t. Certainly these magazines have underlying ‘messages’ they want to get out to our men. Our innocent boys.

This is my first encounter with trying-to-cover-up-the-mags-at-the-counter-so-my-son-won’t-think-that-there-are-people-who-dress-differently (or don’t dress at all)-than-the-women-he-knows. I hope it’s my last.

I know my children will eventually find out about the dreaded 3 letter word. I know they will find out that there are people who have unnatural affections. I know they might see body parts that were not meant to be seen. But, with God’s help, I’m going to do everything in my (our) power to keep my little ones’ minds as innocent and pure (I like that word better). If it means ordering my groceries online for heaven’s sakes or going at 11pm or whatever it takes, I will do it.

Tonight I just want you, my readers, to know that I hope that on Judgment Day, the good Lord has some special rubies in your crowns because you were a lady. You were modest. You didn’t cause a young man to fall. You were feminine. Oh, if I could hear him say, “Well done, Child, you were a woman of God”. Praise the Lord. This world is not my home.

God Bless my mom who always took a pen or a marker and literally drew sleeves on the pictures of the ladies in the magazines. She would ‘up’ their necklines. She made bikinis into one-pieces. I rolled my eyes at it then, but now, I say, “I understand, Mom”.

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Speaking of Feminine, don’t forget to join us tomorrow for Feminine Friday. Take a picture of YOU looking feminine and link up with us! PS Don’t go to pangs to get extra spiffed…I’m just wearing what I normally would. :)

On Prayer…

Well, it seems that my past few posts will fit into the ‘Spiritual’ topics file, but it doesn’t mean necessarily that I’ve waxed spiritual or anything (You would think me very strange if you knew how much fun it was for me to use the word, waxed, in that way). It just seems to be my focus lately. Growing closer to the Lord. Spending more time in prayer. Putting Spiritual things at the top of my Priorities where it should be. Obedience to God.

Listen, ladies, we only get one shot at this and you and I have both seen plenty who didn’t get it right the first time and I know it will be God’s divine mercy if I do get it right. There is no way. I mean, THERE IS NO WAY, that you and I can do this right without Prayer. No way. I would argue you until we are both blue in the face and then it would be I who would win. No way we can parent without the Lord’s help through our prayer and fellowship with our Saviour.

First of all, how does one get closer to someone else. If you meet someone and you have an immediate kinship with that person, how do you cultivate that relationship and get to know that person better? It is NOT by never talking to that person or even occasionally talking to that person. Could you even get to know that person and cultivate that relationship by spending 5 or 10 minutes a day or every other day with that person? No. When I think of getting to know someone to the point of being great friends, I envision us sitting over tea, conversing for at least an hour or so at the time.

Can we get to know our Saviour if we talk to Him 5 minutes a day or even 3 times a week or so?

You may say, “I don’t have time, God understands how busy I am raising all these kids.” Believe me, I’ve said it. When I was a working mama, I never got up early to pray and I excused myself by saying surely God understood that I didn’t have time. Thankfully, He kept me during those times that I could’ve grown cold and indifferent toward Him. He is so merciful.

If you are satisfied with praying enough to just keep your head above water or keep your spirits lifted or, like we women do when we get gasoline, we get just enough to get by, then go ahead and use the above excuse. You will make two people happy, you AND the devil. The devil doesn’t mind you getting enough to get by. In fact, he’d rather have you there. That way you can think you’re making it when you’re really not. God HATES lukewarmness. And, believe me, I’ve been there. Lots of times.

For almost two years, I’ve been fed up with my small talk with my heavenly Father and knew that if my children and my family were going to make it, spiritually speaking, I had to get myself up and hit the floor with my knees. We have one chance to get it right, remember. I want to have the relationship with God where He speaks back to me and if I need a miracle, I can see one happen. I want to stay in His presence and feel Him leading my life. Isn’t this TONS better than having a casual, speaking-terms only, relationship with God?

It’s like this. When you have a true friend in whom you confide and with whom you have a relationship, you and this friend will be there for each other and do anything to help each other. You will even give gifts to each other, remembering each other’s special days or events, etc. This is not the case with a ‘casual friend’. If you have a deep, true relationship with your Saviour, He will remember you. He will recognize you when you are in trouble. He will give you Spiritual gifts or miracles. He will do things for you for ‘no reason’ other than rewarding your dedication to Him. Now, I know, the Lord is more merciful and gracious than an earthly casual friend, but I have been in both situations with my Saviour and I have seen Him work in my life Tons more when I was obedient to Him and kept those communication lines open to Him.

Just this week, I had Him speak to me about a couple things I was asking Him for help and the solutions He gave were perfect. One thing, (and I started not to share this, as it is personal) I have been praying that I would not slander my neighbor by gossiping or fault finding. I can’t do this in myself (you know, the tongue can NO MAN tame). I knew it was hindering my relationship and it wasn’t pleasing to God. I came, yet again, to the Saviour to ask His forgiveness for my slandering someone. I asked Him to help me to get over this and to be sanctified from this problem. While I was praying, I felt Him speak to me and say, The next time you slander your neighbor, you must fast a meal and pray for that person. Yikes, that’s my food, God. This week, after fasting a few days for some slanderous things I had said, the Lord has helped me so much in this area. There is a couple more things the Lord gave me some solutions for some problems I had been having. I’m so thankful.

There are many other advantages to praying fervently instead of casually with the Saviour and the last one I will mention is this: He will expose the hidden Sins in your life. Yes, He will. Enough said about that.

We had a wonderful Ladies Retreat. The picture above is of me and Sis. Carol Martin, our Ladies Conference speaker. She is a wonderful Godly mother and wife—one of the best examples to young women that I know. She is so dedicated and I know that her prayer life is alive and thriving. And one can see lots and lots of results. At least 10 0f them. That’s how many children she has. Godly and Holy children. I see the connection. Fervent, Continuous Prayer = Godly Children.

I have several blog topics rolling in my head. I blog as I can..Love the Windows Live Writer..makes blogging so easy. Anyway, in the future, some blog titles you might see are, Why We Say NO to Barbie's, My Favorite Muffin Recipes, Prayer, Pt. 2, Signs of Spring A round our House, My New Home Business, to name a few. I’ll blog when I can…

Enjoy those warm temps and don’t forget to get up early and pray. Expect to see results.

How to be humble…

Hope you’re having a great week so far. I have had a really rough week Monday and Tuesday where I just about lost my mind not once but three times. Seriously. You would really be feeling sorry for me if I blogged about my pitiful state, but, alas, I won’t. This time. Basically it boils down to the kids’ behavior being out of sorts Monday and yesterday I had a sore throat, headache, and nausea, plus I had to take our rent car back with 4 kids (thankfully, my MIL came along, but you know the kids were still hyper..lol), and both days my house was so disastrous to the point of nearly driving me insane! It has been ruff. :) The sun is shining today and already I’m uplifted. I felt like I got permission to sleep a little later this morning from my Father, so He knows my body better than me (been gettin’ up at 5ish and going to bed late). The kids are so great and keep me going even on bad days. They never say the house is messy too. Last night I mentioned to Erin that I was sorry that the house was always messy and she said, “Mom, Emory and I know how to relax in a messy house.” Don’t you love kids??

Well, my post was supposed to be about being humble before God. I guess my messy house keeps me humble. :) Really, I have something great to share with you today. I found this in my SIL ‘s (brother’s wife) Bible one day and hurried to copy it down. I kept it in my Prayer Closet at my last house and at this house it is on my frig.

How to Humble Yourself Before God:

1. Don’t depend on self. Now how many times do we women say, “No, I got it” or “I can handle it”. We even try to carry things we should give to the LORD.

2. Don’t defend yourself. Yikes. I’ve done this many times and have heard other women do it. “I don’t always do ABC, but I always do XYZ.” “One thing can be said of me, I always see that my kids’ hair is brushed before we go out.” OUCH

3. Don’t desire praise. Haven’t we all done this? Secretly, we hoped someone would notice something we had done.

4. Don’t dodge waiting. Just this week, I was guilty of putting off calling some ladies to sing at our upcoming Ladies Conference. I’ll do it tomorrow. There was no reason to wait. I just wanted to put it off.

5. Don’t destroy others. Need I say more? Anyone have a band-aid for my Ouch?

6. Don’t demand pleasures. We want what others have so many times. Why can’t we have a nice kitchen? Etc…

7. Don’t delay repenting. Repentance keeps us humble. It also keeps the constant fellowship with God goin’ on. If there’s sin in our hearts, we will be lifted up with pride, more than likely.

Aren’t those great?! Print ‘em up and put them on your fridge or in your prayer closet. :)

She riseth while it is still night....

The thing that ‘goes on’ the most is that I’m a very busy mama. Whew. No time to blog this week. I ‘try’ to get up at 5am every morning and have for over a year now. I felt the Lord speaking to me to do this one day as I was feeling overwhelmed about my lack of devotion time and my increase of a messy house. I was sweeping my living room, just about in tears, and felt the Lord whisper to me, “5am”. Don’t you love how he just quietly leads us? He’s such a gently, loving Savior. Read here and here for my previous blogs about this.

Well, since the baby has come, my 5am mornings are very hit-and-miss. I will set my alarm and if the baby is nursing or awake, I usually won’t get up. My plan is to lay there until the baby quits nursing or goes back to sleep, but it is I, I’m afraid, who goes back to sleep. I really feel that convicting Spirit on those days that I have overslept. My day doesn’t go well and I’m not as spiritually minded throughout the day. It’s amazing what I get done on the days I start at 5am! Even if I don’t get up and moving until after the kids are awake!

There are a lot of benefits to getting up early. Benefits that totally surpass the benefits of a couple of extra hours of sleep. My favorite benefit is uninterrupted Bible and Prayer time. I’ll admit, there are tons of times that I have fallen asleep or just half-heartedly prayed because I was so sleepy, but the Lord will still help me so much through the day because of my efforts. He is soooooo faithful.

If you are struggling with getting things done or with missing your prayer time alone with your Saviour, pray about what time God would have you get up. He knows your body and he has a time just for you. Laine at Laine’s Letters felt compelled to get up at 4am and has done so for many years now. Thankfully, I get an extra hour than she does (ha), but that is what she felt the Lord dealing with her about and she is obedient. You can read about her reaping great rewards for her obedience.

I fall all the time. I literally fall back into sleep and slumber often. But, the next day I can only try again! And I’m so impressed at the Lord on the days I obey.

God Bless you today, my dear Blog friend!

On Determining Family Size...

After much thought, I believe I've narrowed the determining factors of family size to 3: 1. Have as many children as you want, 2. Have as many children as you think is convenient for your family or situation, and 3. Have as many children as you think God wants you to have. You can let me know if I've missed one.

Which one is the right factor?

So, how is it that our society has come to the general thought that having more-kids-than-is-popular a *bad* thing? The attitude really isn't, "Well it's their business, they can have as many as they want", rather, it's more like this: "They are trying to get attention" or "That's too many kids" (which was recently said to us, about us, by a woman at a restaurant). What has happened to cause our society to think this way? I really believe it started with the Feminist Movement. Women were influenced to think that they shouldn't have the *burden* of having all those children, they should be given the power to choose! So comes the birth control pill. I really would love to know how Christian women really felt after being some of the first to give in to taking the birth control pill. I wonder if they felt guilt, at first? Now, of course, I'm sure many, many Christian women take the *pill* as did I for a few years when I first married. I know I really didn't feel guilty. But, I wonder how women felt before BC pills became the norm?

Since this is my blog and sort of my journal, I'm just going to blog my feelings about, well...how I feel. However, I would love your input on this topic and hope you'll leave me a comment at the end of this blog.

Back to the topic. Next, of course, came the wonderful (said most sarcastically) media influence. TV and Media affect everything, it seems. Sitcoms began showing 2 or 3 children, max. You never saw (or see) large families in commercials.

Lastly, there is a sense of selfishness in our time. No one can afford large families. You can't give each child adequate attention, you know. It isn't fair for a sibling to have to spend time helping another sibling. Blah, blah, blah... I believe this is the reason that disgusts me the most. I worked with a lady who, upon hearing I was pregnant with #3, would constantly remind me of how expensive her 2 girls are. Surely I didn't know how much car insurance for teenagers costs or Heaven forbid, Prom dresses!

Now, there are other reasons couples choose not to have large families, such as health reasons or unable to bear more, but I won't go into those. In fact, I'm not even going to pursue the above reasons, but shift my blog to a more personal level.

Growing up, I rarely played with dolls as did my sister. Babies were okay, but it wasn't me who always had somebodies' baby on her hip. When I got married, I knew I wanted kids, definitely 2, probably 3. We waited about 2 & 1/2 years (thanks to the BC pill) and then my son was born. It wasn't until after my daughter was born and I started reading several Child Training books and books on Natural Health that I began thinking that maybe I wanted more kids. Like 4. My husband and I felt (and still feel) a real calling to be Godly parents who raise our children different from today's norm.

I still don't know how I feel about having a large family, which I guess is interpreted, I still don't know if I'm supposed to have a large family. If I said anything of significance in this blog it would be this: I still don't know how I feel about having a large family. Yes I do, I feel terrified. I feel inadequate. But, one thing is for sure. I honestly feel convicted when I think about stopping my family growth. Which leads me to more thoughts. Thoughts of: Is God convicting me to have a large family because He wants to do something great with us? Which leads to more thoughts of: Does he actually call people to have large families? Or...does the whole world have it all wrong (minus The Duggars) and we should all be just letting God Take Charge of our Fertility? Today I was rocking the baby, contemplating over this post and the scripture came to about God giving us children as gifts. When We take charge of our fertility, aren't we stopping God from giving us gifts in His time? You know, and really it's funny how we ask God to take control of our lives, but yet, we control our family size? Hmm...just some thoughts for you to contemplate.

Most women say that can't handle that many children. "Mine are enough to drive me crazy", they say. I have found the answer to child training and that is in the Bible. I could do a whole post on that, but for now, let's get back to my thoughts, in summary, which are...

1. Are certain women actually convicted to have more children? (Which, in turn, would mean they are sinning if they decide against having more..right?)

2. Are we all really supposed to let God have His way in our fertility, like He does in the rest of our lives?

3. Then, there's the husband. What does He say? Of course, he is our head, so maybe we can just hope he only wants 3 and go with that because, after all, he's the head? :) (Sounds good to me..which is, ultimately, who I consult and who I will obey.:o)

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Especially if you have 2 or 3 kids and feel done. Then maybe that will lead me to think some are just *chosen* to have large families?? If you are done, but have regrets, I would love to hear from you as well. Furthermore, be nice, please, if you think people are loony bins for having large families. I'm sure they feel loony at times without your reminding them. If you don't have a blog, you can leave a comment as "Anonymous". If it doesn't go thru with the first try, repost again.

Off to bed to get ready for tomorrow's SNOW day!! Yea!

Getting to know God...

This little cutie is a future Soldier of Christ!

Ella, 2 months old
The following post is from my prayer/devotion journal that I wrote in tonight. My mind has been in a whirlwind of things the last couple of days and God has had time to really speak to my heart. I feel like I have a brick on my chest right now (I can really feel it), but I know it is going to be lifted as I get to know God. My heart is really heavy because of the reason I am in this shape, spirtually, and I feel like I am spiritually deprived by those I love the most. I feel like I was misled (for lack of a better word) mainly by ignorance, but also as a result of a closed heart toward God (not mine). You will understand what I'm saying as you read.

God has revealed to me (I believe it is God) this week that I do not see Him the way I should see Him. Oh, how our childhood affects us the rest of our lives! As I grew up, God was portrayed to me as "Hell, Fire, and Brimstone" if you don't 'measure up'. Now that I am grown, I see God more as a 'God of wrath' at least +100X more than a 'God of love'. I didn't really have God as a 'God of Love' portrayed to me during my childhood. I always had my parents (mom, especially, she had more influence in my life than dad) seemingly over my very young shoulder to remind me that, "God sees you, what you're doing, "God Knows...", or "That's not pleasing to God, etc." Never do I remember my mom and dad (great parents, btw) show me an awesome sunset and marvel at God's handiwork. On the otherhand, my parents were quick to show me someone who wasn't dressed to a T (according to their standards), over whom to be in disbelief. My mom didn't always see the good in people, it seemed, so I never was indirectly encouraged to look for God's love or goodness in people. What was really God's blessings on people were portrayed to me as "there is no telling how far those people went in debt to get that *said item*. My parents never led us in devotions which includes Bible reading or prayers. We sure did go to church--all the time, but it is not the church's place to ultimately show love to a child. Remember, to a child, parents are a sort of temporary God. If parents don't show God's love, then the child isn't going to see or feel God's love. Not until the soul searching or Spirit-led conviction comes to deal with the heart.

Because of my otherwise wonderful upbringing, I don't know God's love like He wants me to know and see Him. I am so, so thankful and incredibly humbled that God cares enough for me to reveal this crushing truth to me this week. I want to see God in a accurate picture! My view is currently distorted and has been for all of my life! Oh, I want to know God! My heart is broken that I've been seeing God so wrong all along. I always felt a sort of emptiness when thinking about God and even when praying to God. But, up until this week, it hasn't clicked to me about why!

I truly believe this is one of the main reasons so many young people have left our denomination. God has been portrayed to them since a child as a supreme being who is sadly shaking His head and waving a stick at them when something wrong is done or if a 'dress code' is broken. Don't take me the wrong way, I'm not trying to 'water down' God's Holiness or Judgement. But, it only seems that a child should FIRST be introduced to God's love, power, and awesomeness, BEFORE hearing that God's Gonna Get You (like parents do about the policeman to children--they certainly don't view them as Love, right??). Kids are curious and they are sinners until salvation (which many have probably been 'guilted' into an 'experience'--insert pic of God w/a sword here) and they are going to want to do the things that we may feel is unappropriate (think, dress code, etc). We must first be an example to them. That is the single best thing a parent can do for a child. Every parent is some kind of example. I want to exemplify God's love to my children first and foremost. Secondly, we must be Holy because God is Holy and it's our desire to please Him. If we are being holy because Sis. so-in-so will be offended if we do something *said* way, then our children will realize that and will drop 'Holy' living the day they turn 18. Lastly, we must express God's love through Bible times and prayer with them. The church should not be a substitute for family worship time.

How will I get to know God? Well, I'm cranking up my ole 5am prayer and Bible study time again and I plan to write down scriptures about God's love and meditate on them during the day. I also am cutting way back on internet (while nursing..I don't get on much any other time) and start back reading spiritual books and listening to great speakers like Nancy Leigh DeMoss and others who are examples of God's love and show what it means to share God's love with your children. If the Lord has revealed this to me, He has something great in store for me. I can't wait to truly know what it feels like to be in love with the King! Just think, when I love Him as I should, my priorities will be in the right place. Just like that. I won't have to spend my time *trying* to get them in the right place and wondering why I struggle with that all the time. Now I know.

My heart is overwhelmed with this realization. I could never put a finger on what was wrong in my personal experience. It just seemed a bit dense and lacking. The bottom line is, I don't know God how He really is. I want to get to know God. I do. I want this man-pleasing facade to disappear and be replaced with pleasing my Savior. Why do I please man? Because I don't please God. We please our husbands because we love them. Right? When I truly love my Saviour and see Him how He is, I will please Him, ultimately.

My prayer is, Lord, help me to see and feel Your love! I want to see you, God, as how you would have me to! Erase my past perception of you and help me to see an accurate picture of you. Please do this God, through Your word and through my prayer time with you. I want my children to view you as a Holy, Loving, Gracious, and Merciful God that you are. I don't want to say things as my mom did/does like, "Jesus, sees you when you do that" which will cause them to see Jesus as a stern man, pointing a finger at them. How about my pointing out God's handiwork to them or telling them about the cruel cross Jesus had to bear for our unrighteousness. Help me to show them people who are wonderful examples of God's love. Lead me into ways to show my children Your love. Oh, it would be horrible for us to have raised them with an inaccurate view of you. How terrible that would be! It could mean their souls. Lead me and my husband into paths of truth and help us to know you as you are. We only have one chance at introducing our children to you and that starts with introducing ourselves as examples of Christ. That is scary in itself, God, and we need you desperately. Thank you, Father, for working in me in the past 2 days. I trust your work in me to continue!

Bless you for reading! These things are personal to me, but I felt like sharing them on my blog. Maybe you can relate to what I've shared. Pray for me and I'll pray for you, dear reader.

Disclaimer: I hope I didn't leave anyone with the wrong impression of my parents. They are wonderful, wonderful parents whom I love very, very much. They have their faults and weren't perfect parents as I'm sure I won't be, either. I do want my heart to be open to God's voice and I want to learn from their mistakes for MY sake and for my children's.