Throw Back Thursday

I've been doing a lot of sewing lately to get ready for spring/summer clothes for everyone. This had me thinking of things I have sewn in the past. I think my sewing has improved over the years so it is fun to look back and see how far I've come. Here are some Throw Backs to a few of my sewing posts.

10 Cents and a 1/2 Hour

Still Keeping Busy

Birthday Outfits

Keeping Baby's Legs Warm

More Sewing

Kingdom Authority

3-26-17 Sermon

Never Alone

I sang this hymn for the first time today when someone requested it at church. What a great song and I love how this gentleman sings it. I hope you enjoy it!

Fear

Throw Back Thursday

The topic of marriage has been abundant in our home lately. Once again, we have been reminded of how many marriages around us are in trouble. Here is one of my former posts on marriage.

Reverence Her Husband

Is Sarcasm Okay?

Matthew 5:33-37 KJV

33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

We should be living our lives in such a manner that people do not have to wonder if what we are saying is truth or not. They should not have to ask us to "swear" that what we are about to say is truth. When we say "yes" it should always mean "yes" and when we say "no" it should always mean "no".

This causes me to consider sarcasm. The world accepts sarcasm and I have to say that I was a pretty sarcastic person for many years. The reasons why I am not as sarcastic as much escape me, but it still creeps up sometimes. These verses cause me to be more aware and encourage me to try hard to remove sarcasm from my lips.

Why? Living Sacrificially

3-19-17 Sermon

Purity in Marriage

Matthew 5:31-32 KJV

31  It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

The seventh commandment is "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Here Jesus is taking it further and explaining how one causes another to commit adultery.

God hates divorce. Marriage is a covenant bond that is never to be broken. God desires purity and when a divorced person remarries, the purity is already gone.

I know this is a big issue and most people don't think it is fair, but purity is a big issue with God as is a covenant bond.

Walk Not As

Throw Back Thursday

Recently, my family has been drawn to the discussion of what our girls plan on doing after they graduate from our home school. It reminded me of the following post from a few years ago.

Trusting God

If It Offends

Matthew 5:29-30 KJV

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

I think we  can all agree that if something is harmful, we should get rid of it. However, when it comes to a part of our body, we tend to be a little lenient on the issue. What we need to remember is that it is better to lose a small part of our body instead of our whole life. Our souls are much more important than our physical bodies and if we can not control a part of our body from affecting us spiritually, it is better to rid ourselves of the body part. It may seem extreme, but our souls are worth it.

Living Sacrifice

3-12-17 Sermon

The Heart

Matthew 5:27-28 KJV

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Once again, Jesus is talking about the heart. What we do and what we say all start in the heart. If we allow lust in our hearts, it won't be long before action is taken. We must stop it before it starts.

Why let sin take hold of our hearts? We are held to a higher standard for a reason-because God expects more from us. He gives us guidelines and rules to protect us from the mistakes of this world.

National Morality

Live Peaceable, Part 2

Matthew 5:25-26 KJV

25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

These scriptures are similar to Wednesday's. We should do all in our power to live peaceably with others. When we live in love and show mercy even to our enemies, then our enemies will have less against us.

Even if we are never thrown into a physical prison, we could end up in an emotional prison (which may be worse). When we follow God's commands in love, we will have protection from evil. Live righteously in the first place and then you don't have to worry about offering a sacrifice.

Throw Back Thursday

I have been asked a few times in the last few weeks about the books we use for reading. Here is a post I wrote last year about our choice to use McGuffey Readers.

Live Peaceably

Matthew 5:23-24 KJV

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

It doesn't take long of studying Jesus' life to learn that relationships are very important. These verses are no different. Here we see that it is more important to keep relationship than it is to offer a sacrifice. Also, can you truly offer a sacrifice if your heart isn't at peace?

What I find interesting (and never noticed before) is that it says, if your brother "hath ought against thee." This isn't whether you have ill feelings against someone else, but how he feels about you. As Christians we should strive to live peaceably with others ("If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." ~Romans 12:18). We need to do whatever we can to have and keep that peace.

Not Conformed

3-5-17 Sermon

What I'm Reading

I started out this year with the plan to do more reading. I'm not off to a bad start, but I have yet to start any of the books that I was planning on reading!

Here is what I was planning on reading this year:

Here are some of the books I have read or started reading:

I wanted to read this before my two oldest girls did. It is a great book.

I received this for Christmas and it was a perfect read during the days following Bella being born.

I received this for my birthday last month (although it just arrived last week). I'm loving it so far!

I ordered this last month and just started reading it.

This month I am participating in a Read-a-thon to raise money for a friend who is saving for an adoption. I hope to finish at least Control Girl and What He Must Be this month and then maybe I can get started on one of the books I had planned to read this year (first picture).

What are you reading right now (or hope to read soon)? I would love for you to share!

Meditate