Throw Back Thursday

I've been complaining (yes, I have actually complained) about being too busy. I know it is wrong for me to complain, but I have been overwhelmed with all that needs to get done-school, canning, finishing the garden, sewing, cleaning, decluttering, etc.

Today, this reminder popped up in my news feed as well as the fact that I read an article this morning in one of my favorite magazines (Keeper at Home) on this very topic. I figured if it was something I needed to be reminded of, someone else may as well.

Busy

Salvation

My children are required to do a page of writing everyday. They get to choose what they write on, but they do have to write every day. I then check the paper for grammar and spelling errors. They fix it and turn it back in. 

One day last week, Dara chose to write on her thoughts about salvation and I wanted to share it.

The word "salvation" primarily means deliverance. But here I am using it in reference to spiritual deliverance.

Now you may wonder what does it mean to be spiritually delivered. And delivered from what?

Let me explain to you how it is the greatest salvation ever, and what it means.

First, to be delivered from something, you would have to be in bondage to that very thing to begin with. And since this is spiritual deliverance, that means it is our souls that are in bondage.

In the beginning, humans were made free and faultless and put in a perfect world with only one rule. This rule was put in place for our safety. The first human beings were deceived and believed that if they broke that rule they would gain more freedom. But in doing so, they actually put themselves and all their descendants after them in bondage. They chose to obey the voice of lies instead of the voice of truth and the consequence was bondage to sin instead of the freedom of righteousness. The price needed to gain freedom back was the blood of a righteous man. But how can mankind come up with righteous blood while in bondage to sin? That is where salvation comes in. But let's go back . . .

Our creator is God. He is the one who made us righteous and gave us freedom. And He is the one who made the rule we disobeyed that brought us into bondage.

Now, you would think that because he lost us to a bondage we chose he would give u on us. But . . .He didn't. Being holy, he had what was needed to free us. And even though it cost Him, he sent it. He sent his perfect, only Son to die a horrible sinner's death so that all of humankind would be free.

Isn't that amazing!

But there is a dad part-not everyone wants to be saved. Many people are still deceived that they have more freedom in sin than they do in righteousness. They think that if they choose the righteousness, they are slaves to God. But He is the one who sets us free and keeps us safe. And they think that if they choose sin, they are free. But that sin consumes them and controls their life. How is that freedom?

Reconciliation

9-24-17 Sermon

What a Man Is

He Will Help

Throw Back Thursday

The following post came up in my memories on Facebook this past week. Wow! It is perfect timing as I need to trust more than I need clarity.

Clarity vs. Trust

He Cares for Us!

Psalms 144:1-15 KJV

1 <> Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: 2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. 3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. 5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. 7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children; 8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: 12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: 13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: 14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. 15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

God is worthy to be praised!

He is our strength. He is our deliverer. WE can trust in Him and rely on Him.

Even though He is far above us, He still cares for us!

To the human understanding, we are so lowly that the great Almighty King of kings shouldn't even take notice of us . . .yet He does!

Not only does He take notice of us, but He cares for us!

He provides for our needs. He protects us. It is because of His great love for us that we can be fruitful and multiply. It is because He cares for us that we can experience true happiness and eternal life.

Headship

9-17-17 Sermon

Walk Your Talk

1 John 1:5-10 KJV

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

If we truly follow Christ, we will do His will and walk in His ways. A person can say they are a Christian, but if they are not walking as Christ walked, then they are lying.

We must walk our talk. We must show our faith by how we live our lives. We may try to deceive ourselves by talking about our righteousness, but we are only righteous when we confess our sin and are cleansed by Christ's shed blood and covered with His righteousness.

Sacrifice is Gain

Sense the Beauty

Throw Back Thursday

I haven't done a Throw Back Thursday in a few weeks, but I occasionally go back and read old posts and this one spoke to me. I have been struggling with taking the time to pray. Yes, of course I will pray throughout the day and for others, but I hadn't taken time to spend in just prayer-speaking with and listening to God. I felt like I was being lazy if I took a 1/2 hour in the morning just to pray, but I have to remember that it isn't "just" praying. I need that communication to keep my relationship with God strong.

I thought you might be encouraged as well.

Taking the Time to Pray

Time

Wayside Sacrament

A Good Foundation

Matthew 7:24-27 KJV

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

If you have ever seen anything be built, you will see the importance of a good foundation. Water and movement easily shift the ground under any building or roadway and unless you have a strong foundation of something immovable, your creation will shift and move with the ground.

God's Word is the solid foundation for life. It is the immovable ground we need to live our life upon. If we don't, we will be as shiftless as the ground when faced with the storms of life.

Baptized in Cloud and Sea

9-3-17 Sermon

Whole Heart

Matthew 7:21-23 KJV

21 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. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

These scriptures grip my heart.

You see, for years, I was one of those people to whom God would have spoken verse 23.

I was raised in the church, knew much about God and Jesus, but I followed Him on my own terms. I had created my own version of Christianity. I did some of what He called me to do, but not all.

God wants our whole heart. He sees obedience to Him as evidence of our faithfulness. When we pick and choose how to follow Him, we are saying He doesn't have our whole hearts. Following Him completely is a sign, a fruit, of true discipleship.

I'm not saying I perfectly follow Him now, but it is my desire to do so. Jesus grabbed my ehart when I was in college and showed me how wrong I was. Since then, it has been my desire to know Him and His will and to follow it.

Liberties are a Gift of God

Blessing Us Right Now

More Than Just Making It

One of the blogs I follow is the Humbled Homemaker. Erin Odom writes on the topics of homemaking, frugal living, and homeschooling. I often find good information and plenty of encouragement from reading her blog.

She was looking for people to be part of her book launch team for her first book-More Than Just Making It. I jumped at the chance and quickly filled out the application. I was happy when I found out that I had been selected.

When the book arrived, I quickly started reading. To my surprise, much of what I read were things that I, too, have learned along my path of financial struggle and frugal living; however, I was able to find some new tidbits of information.

I liked how she incorporated her own personal story along with the information of how to live a frugal lifestyle out of necessity. It helps to know that you are not alone in your struggle with making ends meet. It also gives hope that it is possible to go from a place of almost financial ruin to a place of prosperity.

I agree that there is a stigma involved with the working poor and as a Christians, we need to address that. I love how she talks about "kisses from Jesus" as reminders of how He is working in our lives. It helps keep perspective on how blessed we truly are.

There were some things that I didn't necessarily agree with in the book. In her section of needs vs. wants, there are things she listed as needs that I have found myself, or friends of mine, have found not to be needs. While they are nice to have and definitely make life easier, they were also things that were possible to live without if absolutely necessary.

I also found that I disagreed with some of the thoughts on government aid. I do agree that sometimes government aid may be needed and people shouldn't be looked down on if they are using it as it was created to be used. I also found that I disagreed with the idea of bankruptcy that her bankruptcy lawyer took, but agreed with a blogger she mentioned, Bob Lotich from www.seedtime.com.

Even though there are some things that I disagree with, I do recommend this book. It is still full of lots of great information and you can see for yourself if you agree with what is said about government aid and bankruptcy.

If you decide that you would like to read this book, now is the time to get it. If you pre-order the book, you can take advantage over $220 in bonuses! You can pre-order from Amazon or the More Than Just Making It website. You can also enter the More Than Just Making it mega giveaway! 

I hope you take the time to read this book as it is good for everyone-even if you don't think you are financially frustrated.