I read a great post by a fellow blogger and I encourage you to read it, too.

When You Feel Like a Frustrated Mom in an Out-Of-Control Home

Saying Yes to One Thing Means Saying No to Something Else

I have been behind on catching up with some old emails. I finally had time to try to get caught up. The following are two devotionals that my mother sent me. How appropriate that I read them both on the same day because they go together.

I have learned (but needed to be reminded) that saying yes to one thing usually means I am saying no to something else. Sometimes, what I said no to is what I should have said yes to.

I pray you would read and ponder these thoughts shared by Pastor Rick Warren.

Learn to Pause and Pray Before Adding to Your Schedule

You Can Accomplish More By Doing Less

Just Smile

Father & Son

Continuing with the book of John and the importance of a personal relationship with God.

Relax

Trumpet/Jubilee

I need to start by apologizing. I do not have Chad's sermon from yesterday on audio.

First, as I was packing everything up to go to church, we had an incident which took me away from packing and when I came back, I forgot to add the Ipad (which is what I use to record). When we arrived at church, I realized my mistake and went home to get it. Unfortunately, when I setting it up to record, one of my children began to have a meltdown and I didn't realize that I didn't fully press the "record" button.

The best I can do is to share his sermon notes. While you won't get the full sermon (because he usually adds as the Holy Spirit leads him), you will get the idea.

It really was a great sermon which opened my eyes to some things that I never realized before.

23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. 25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 23:23-25 (KJV)

Just as we have in America, memorial day,(To remember those who gave their lives for this nation) God too commanded Israel to have a memorial day, to remember when He sounded the trumpet.


Pray

13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
Ex 19:13 (KJV)

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
Ex 19:16 (KJV)

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.
Ex 19:19 (KJV)

We have a memorial of when God blew His trumpet. When the trumpet or showfar sounds Jesus shows up.

Notice that there is no mention of actually blowing a trumpet for the  a memorial of blowing of trumpets, untill that is we get to chapter 25
 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. 3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; 4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. 5 That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land. 6 And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee, 7 And for thy cattle, and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat.
8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. 9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. 10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.Lev 25:1-10 (KJV)

Just in case you dont know we currently are in the 49th year.The shemitah year. The year of a Land Sabath.

What happens on Ethanim 10 of the 49th year?

8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. 9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.
Lev 25:8-9 (KJV)

So Ethanim 1 is the memorial of the blowing of trumpets but no trumpet is actually blown!

Ethanim 10 is a Sabath to afflict our Souls

Add to that, you actually Blow the trumpet on this day to announce the year of Jubile.

What happens in the year of Jubile?

Everything returns to the rightfull owner!

Ponder that! Who walks to and fro upon the earth?

The White witch claims to own Narnia, but who I ask is the rightfull owner?

Is this a picture of what Christ will do when He returns?

So every year we have a a memorial of blowing of trumpets, but no trumpet is blown, then on the 49th year on the 7th of 7year cycle of land Sabath, in the 7th month so 777 we once again have  a memorial of blowing of trumpets but no trumpet is blow, then on the 10 day of that month on the day of atonement we actually blow the trumpet, and the trumpet means Jesus could show up, He showed up on the first aniversary of blowing the trumpet.

Lets go for a walk down trumpet or showfar lane.

Exodus 19 is the first stop on showfar lane we also stoped at the second stop on showfar lane in Leviticus 25 so lets move on down showfar lane to the next stop

Next stop Joshua and the battle of Jerico

Kids count seven
 1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. 2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. 3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. 5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD. 8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. 11 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. 12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13 Andseven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. 15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seventimes. 16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.Josh 6:1-16 (KJV)

 I once preached threw Joshua and didnt see the tie to Christs return, yet here today it stares us right in the face.

Seven Priests
Seven trumpets
Seven days
Seventh day seven times then add a shout!

Who commands the shout?

16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

Joshua in Hebrew is Yhowshua {yeh-ho-shoo'-ah}

That is two Hebrew words put together

Y@hovah,  yeh-ho-vaw'
(the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.

 yasha`,  yaw-shah'
to be open, wide or free, i.e. to be safe; causatively, to free or succor:--, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save(-iour), get victory.

In English Joshua means Jesus Saves

  1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

 Ps 47:5 ¶ God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

 Ps 81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.


 4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8 Let the floods clap theirhands: let the hills be joyful together 9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
Psalms 98:4-9 (KJV)










 

Heart Change

I recently discovered a blog that I enjoy reading. I was originally drawn to it because the blogger's last name is Smith which was my last name before I married, but I have continued to read because I agree with everything I have read so far and often find encouragement.

She recently wrote about how her (and her husband's) hearts changed on the issue of birth control, babies and family size. I have to say that our story is similar to hers, but not exactly. I encourage you to read her story at the link below.

How My Heart Changed Towards Birth Control, Babies, and Family Size

Parable of the Net

Chad's sermon from 4/19/15--The Parable of the Net

God IS in Control!

God is in control! 

Nothing happens outside His knowledge. We need to accept His will and know that all will work for His good. Sometimes we need to suffer the consequences of our poor choices, our sin, or even the sin of others. Suffering consequences is not a bad thing. 

We can learn a lot from trials. In fact, we are to take joy in trials! God will use trials to grow us or to have His will be done. 

When we think we need to lay blame or seek justice, we need to remember His hand in the matter and that He tells us that vengeance is His.

10 Responses Against "Concern"

My initial response to those with inappropriate "concern" after a miscarriage.

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We know that care and concern were your reasons for writing; however, we were hurt by what was written. It may not have been your intention, but it made one of us feel as if you thought of us as ignorant and naive and belittled our faith. If there was any time we needed encouragement, it would be now. Instead we felt attacked and bullied by the "scare" tactics used. The only way scare tactics are going to work is on uneducated, ignorant, naive people.

Some of the following we have said before, but obviously they need to be reiterated. Some of the statements are information meant to educate. The rest of the statements are truly only our business, but since you are showing concern, we will share them with you.

1. We view children--ALL children--as blessings from the Lord. Whether we have children on this earth with us or in heaven waiting for us, they are all blessings. We are happy with how the Lord has blessed us to this point. If our nine girls is all He has for us, we are content. If He has more planned for us, then we will be content with that as well. We are not out to try to have as many children as possible. We are open to all blessings the Lord has for us. "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate." Psalm 127:3-5

2. We have complete and utter faith that God will provide for us. If He brings us to it, He will bring us through it. He will never give us more than we can handle. "'Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things."' Matthew 6:31-34

3. We believe in allowing our bodies to work as God created them to work. He created a woman's body to "be fruitful and multiply". It is never dangerous to do something within God's will. We do not feel as if Darcy is in any danger and we have peace with what God is doing in our lives. "All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

4. Our sex life is just that--ours. It shouldn't be up for debate with anyone besides Chad, Darcy and God. When comments are made about when we have sex, how often we have sex, or how we should have sex, it is interfering with something that is to remain within the marriage. We don't go around offering "advice" to others on when they should have sex and we expect the same respect for our marriage.

5. Darcy has seen our Naturopathic doctor since discovering she was pregnant to ensure she was taking the supplements she needed. She saw her the day she started spotting and every few days thereafter. Her iron levels were being monitored and taken care of as needed.

6. Darcy did contact a medical professional to see if anything should be done after the miscarriage. She was told that unless she felt ill, the only thing that would be done is to check her iron levels and offer emotional support. Since her iron levels were already being monitored, we declined paying to have the same thing done (we were being wise stewards of our finances). Since your "concern", Darcy spoke with another medical professional who said that a doctor won't do a D&C on a woman who has had a complete miscarriage as she has.

7. Just because a woman has a miscarriage, it does not mean that her body is not capable of carrying a life or that it is a "sign" that she is to stop bearing children. Think of all the families that experienced a miscarriage on their very first pregnancy! What about Michelle Duggar who had a miscarriage after her first child and then went on to bear 18 more children without any problems. Here are some statistics about miscarriage.

• About 15 to 20 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Most of them occur in the first 13 weeks, or first trimester.
• For women in their 20s and early 30s, the chance of miscarriage is about 15 percent. At 35 the chance of miscarrying rises to one in four, and at 40 the miscarriage rate is close to one in three.
• Most early pregnancy losses are due to genetics and cannot be prevented. But losing a pregnancy doesn't mean that anything is wrong with a woman's health or that she can't have more children.

8. Just because a woman has a miscarriage, does not mean that "it is absolutely necessary to have a D&C" or she risks infection, get sick or even die.

• [D]octors sometimes offer women a choice of miscarriage treatment. The options are usually to wait for a natural miscarriage, have a D&C, or use medication to bring on the miscarriage bleeding.(emphasis mine)
• 80% to 90% of women with diagnosed miscarriage will miscarry within two to six weeks without complications.
• After a miscarriage, any remaining tissue may be removed by dilation and curettage (D&C). This procedure involves dilating the cervix and gently scraping the tissue from the lining of the uterus. (emphasis mine)

9. Our older girls are NOT raising our younger girls no matter what you may think. Chad and Darcy are the parents and we do not put our children in an authority role (except for Dara who is beginning to learn how to babysit just as I did when I was actually younger than her). Do they help around the house? Sure. It is called training. It is what God has called us as parents to do. We are a family and we act as a family. Christ came to serve, not be served. We are teaching our children the joy of serving others. We don't see how teaching them to be like Christ is a bad thing. "through love serve one another" Galatians 5:13 and "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" Leviticus 19:18.

10. People say, "God gave you common sense." We believe scripture when it says,

• "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, "says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."' Isaiah 55:8-9
• "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." Proverbs 14:12
• "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
• "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?. . . Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. . .But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty . . . that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1: 20, 25, 27, 31

No One is Perfect

I get comments all the time about being "Super Mom". I feel bad every time I hear that name because I am far from it. Here is a post that talks perfectly about being imperfect.

We're All Imperfect

Why I Need Grace

When we make mistakes as mothers, we need to humble ourselves and admit it to our children and ask for their forgiveness. I struggle with this.  I don't want to be humble.  I don't want to be wrong.  I want to say whatever I do is justified because "I'm the mommy."  But that isn't true.  If I can learn to be humble and ask them to forgive me, then they will grow to do the same thing.  They'll know it's okay to make mistakes, and better to ask for forgiveness.  And they'll know they are loved even when they make those mistakes.

I think, when we are raising children who are also imperfect people, that this lesson is even more important than trying to be perfect all the time in the first place.  We're not.  What does it teach our children if we pretend that we are?  I think it makes them see us as hard, unfair, proud.  It also could make them feel like they are the only ones who fail.  Whatever happens, it's not good for their relationship with us or the Lord.

I'll be imperfect, I'll thank the Lord for His grace, and I'll strive to do better everyday. That's all I can do.

The above is an excerpt from a blog post that I needed to hear. If you would like to read it in it's entirety, head to Keeper of the Home. 

Encouragment From Others & Great Ideas

Since I stayed home from church with sick children, I had some time to get somewhat caught up on my emails. I wanted to share some good posts with you.

Teaching Love at New Generation Cedar

Praying for our Children at Raising Mighty Arrows which links to a prayer schedule at Our Family for His Glory

Standing in the Gap for God at Proverbs 31 Ministries

Sharing More Encouragment

If you are a mother of a strong-willed child, you might want to check out this post at Keeper of the Home.

Afraid to fail? Afraid of falling? Take encouragement by this post from Proverbs 31 Ministries.