Let the Father Choose

People often comment on our family size and wonder if we have always wanted a large family. The answer, no. My husband didn't want any children. I figured four or five would be nice. I'm so glad that the Father knows better than we and that we have decided to leave Him in control of our family size. Look at all the blessings we would have missed out on experiencing if we had chosen what we thought best. Not only is each of these children a blessing, but we experience blessings in seeing how God provides for us every day.

Keep a Quiet Heart

Know Who God Made You to Be

I've struggled with being someone I wasn't for much of my life. I kept trying to please everyone around me. I tried to be who they thought I should be. It wasn't until I found my worth in Christ that I stopped struggling and tried to rest in who God made me to be.

If you are like I was, stop trying to be someone else. Read and study and learn who God created you to be and be YOU!

Peace

Romans 5:1

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

The only way to have peace with God and the peace of God is through faith in Jesus Christ.

Bought With a Price

7-23-17 Sermon

Rule for Life

Matthew 7:12 KJV

12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Even most non-Christians live by this scripture, only they call it the "golden rule"-Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

If everyone lived by this standard, the world would be a much nicer place to live. However, over the years, this has been distorted. People thing that others may want us to treat them badly because that is how they are treating us; thereby, they justify their own bad behavior. However, we need to remember, we are not responsible for someone else's behavior.

We can only be responsible for how we act and respond. We must rise above how others are acting and do what God has called us to do.

Perfect Peace

Isaiah 26:3-4 KJV 

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Religion vs. Relationship

God is More Than Good

Matthew 7:9-11 KJV

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Sometimes we forget how good God is.

I think our minds cannot comprehend the extent of His goodness. We compare Him to what we know, but He cannot be compared to any earthly being because we all have sin natures. We need to remember that if we can be "good", then God is so much more.

He desires the best for us.

Throw Back Thursday

The following post popped up in my news-feed as a memory on Facebook. I wanted to share it as it has been on my mind lately as I am reading a pre-release book on a similar topic.

Making the Impossible Possible

Saints or Law-It's Your Call

7-16-17 Sermon

Immerse Yourself in the Word

New Page-Resources for Sale

I often talk about books that I have enjoyed or that have made an impact on my family. I often find great deals on books and DVDs that our family has enjoyed so I thought I would pass on these finds. The prices include media mail shipping and you can save on shipping buy purchasing more than one item. This is a permanent page that can be found on the right-hand side of my blog. I will add items as I find them and will delete items as they sell so you never know what might be available! Below are just some of the items available currently.

Check out the Resources for Sale page, today!

Transforming Leaven

7-9-17 Sermon

Summer Sewing

My two youngest are taller than my other girls so many of the dresses I had saved to use are too short so I have needed to either purchase new cloths or make some. I have been keeping my eye out at thrift stores and consignment shops, but it is truly difficult to find any that are long enough so I am better off making my own.

My sister-in-law got married a few weeks ago and since I needed to make them new dresses anyway, I went with material that matched her color theme. As with 99% of my sewing from the past few years, this was using material that was given to me. The lace was also given to me as well as the thread. The only thing I had to purchase was the elastic for the necklines which totaled about $ .35 for both dresses.

I also made dresses for them to wear on Independence Day. For the Kenna, I used a shirt I found at a thrift store (yes, it is a boy's shirt, but I thought it was cute) and then added the ruffles and lace to the bottom to make it a dress. For Bella, I used a simple peasant style pattern and some leftover material from a blanket that we had made a couple of years ago (that had been given to us then) and more lace that had been given to us.

I have plans to make a few more dresses as well.

Be Still

Psalms 46:1-11 KJV 

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 

4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 

6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 

7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 

8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 

9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Not By Chance

You aren't where you are today by chance. Sometimes God's voice is clearest when we are in circumstances we don't prefer. There's something in your current situation that God is going to use to draw you closer to Him so He can tell you something about Himself and His plan for your life. No matter what tight spot you may find yourself in, ask God to open your ears to what He is saying in your circumstances.

Are you in a job you hate? A troubled marriage? Your umpteenth year of singlehood? Believe that God has a plan and that He is going to use this season of your life as the catalyst for revealing it to you. Ask Him to give you a "God-awareness" so you can see His handiwork in every difficulty you encounter.

                                         ~Priscilla Shirer, Discerning the Voice of God

Keep Doing

Matthew 7:7-8 KJV

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

One thing we need to remember after coming to faith in Christ is to continue to learn more about Him. We must be in His Word. We must seek more knowledge and wisdom. We must ask Him to draw us closer to Him. He is faithful and will answer us and we will find Him when we seek Him.

Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking.

Insights Needed

Matthew 7:6 KJV

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

I have to admit, this verse isn't clear to me. I can understand that we are not to "waste" our possessions, time, etc. on undeserving opportunities, but there has to be more to it that just that.

Do you have any insights? Please share!

Happy Independence Day!

Steward

July 2, 2017 Sermon

Care of Creation