Graceful Threads

Generation RX

2011-05-09T14:52:00.002-05:00

Fascinating documentary about the over medication of our children. A Dr in this film calls the use of psychiatric prescription drugs the equivalent of administering *Chemical Lobotomies*.

You cant be prescribed a psychotropic drug until you are diagnosed with a mental disorder. There is a book called the DSM that list all the mental disorders Drs can use to label their patients. There are over 300 labels and the list grows every year. Pharmaceutical reps write research and publish the disorders in this book. Talk about a conflict of interest!!!

Very sick scary system, run by money money money.

There is no blood test or xray that can be used to determine a childs need for drugs. Drs are guessing. Here is a supposed expert Dr Mark Vonnegut trying to explain how to diagnose a child with ADHD.

I wonder how many of the 10 million children on these powerful drugs really need to be? How much bad behavior is due to sin, bad parenting, negative peer pressure, just boys that need to run around. Could our childrens depression be a result of a lack of love training and attention? The film doesnt mention the parents responsibility or role in helping train or mold these children, but I know when my children are restless, and disobedient it can almost always be remedied by a shift in my own parenting

Is God Emotional?

2011-04-15T12:57:00.007-05:00

How does God want to be worshiped? He has an opinion you know. How would He like me to interact with Him/others? Does He like tears of joy, shouts of praise? When does our sincere praise become carnal emotionalism? Just a few questions I have been considering.

The greatest commandment is to 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' Is it significant that God wants our hearts first, because if He has our hearts our souls and minds will follow?

I think God is indeed emotional, never out of control but never neutral or apathetic. He is a mighty God who is both good and severe. His thoughts are deep and He is touched by the feelings of our infirmities. He is grieved and rejoices. He is at times angry. Jesus wept. If we dont praise Him, rocks will. Angels cry Holy Holy Holy day and night. Paul said if he *got beside himself* it was unto the Lord. The longest book of the Bible is full of emotion, Psalms. We are to worship Him how? In spirit and in truth, forget intellectual theories. He clearly wants our emotions to be alive and well, shouting His praises and declaring His glory.

I think He appreciates when we praise Him with our whole hearts. I cant imagine that He made us feel and experience emotions for any other reason than to give Him glory. Is He jealous when we shout and dance at the ball game but stand still and rigid during church? My tear ducts were made for His glory, that we might cry when we repent and weep when we worship. I have the ability to smile, laugh, and frown all to the glory of God. The Apostles talked about their hearts burning within them when they walked with Jesus.

I understand that there are many people and even whole churches that have turned emotionalism into a selfish act of carnality. Charles Spurgeon said....Ah! dear friends, one half of the emotions excited in our places of worship are of no more value than those excited at the theatre. I love CHS.

I think there may be a fine line between carnal emotionalism and God Glorifying emotionalism, I am looking for that balance. I understand that our emotions will lie to us and out of our hearts come every evil. I also know that our hearts must be subject to His word, but isn't it true that the more we immerse ourselves in His Word the more emotional we become? Doesn't His word fill our hearts with hope and love? I want every tear, shout, frown, laugh, prick of guilt, fear, joy, every emotion I have to glorify God. Hes not impressed with our intellect but a heart that is full of joyful adoration, now that He can work with!

Modest Teens

2011-03-30T11:13:00.001-05:00

“We wouldn’t dream of dropping our daughters off at college and saying: ‘Study hard and floss every night, honey—and for heaven’s sake, get laid!’ But that’s essentially what we’re saying by allowing them to dress the way they do while they’re still living under our own roofs.”—Jennifer Moses.

Entertainment #2

2011-02-28T19:26:00.002-06:00

Pastor preached a message about reining in our obsession with entertainment. Here are the questions he laid out that we should use to determine if our entertainment glorifies God.

#1Does it celebrate or glorify sin? Romans 1:32 Not only do we need to abstain from sin we dont need to approve of or celebrate those who are sinning.
#2 Does it Help or hurt in your walk with God? 1 Cor 10:23 1 Cor 6:12
#3 Does it build up: edify or tear down? Not just myself but others, those I am watching and those in my life that are affected by my use of time, and those I influence by my entertainment choices? 1Cor 10:2
#4 Does it control you? Do you control it? Are you brought *under its power*?
#5 Does it redeem the time or waste it? Ephesians 5:16 Col 4:5

Entertainment

2011-02-25T12:40:00.007-06:00

Hope John Piper doesnt mind if I use some of his wisdom here.....

#1 Recognize if you are consumed/obsessed with entertainment. This could be videos, sport, internet, Facebook, card games....anything that is frivolous and doesnt redeem the time.

#2 Seek the Lord about your obsession. Confess, repent and pray earnestly for deliverance. We have no real self control without the Spirit of God. Self control is a fruit of HIS Spirit not something we can muster up.

#3 Immerse yourself in the Word, ask the Lord to make His word come alive and thrill us in a more genuine way than any worldly entertainment. Read it when you would rather be entertained.

#4 Hang out with Godly people who love God and His ways and Word. Avoid carnal people who just want to be entertained by the sludge of this world.

#5 Think about your death. How do you want to spend you few precious days here. Redeem your fleeting days on earth for HIS GLORY!

God awakened in me a fear and a passion not to waste my life. The thought of coming to my old age and saying through tears,"I've wasted it! I've wasted it!" was a fearful and horrible thought to me.~J Piper

Parenting Myths

2011-02-24T11:49:00.005-06:00

#1 You can immerse a foolish child in a room full of foolish children and expect something wise to come out of it.

#2 There are 2 Bibles one for adults and one for children.

#3 Children need to be segregated with other same aged children in church, and school.

#4 Children are too dumb, carnal, hyper (insert any excuse) to understand Biblical principals, the things of God need to be presented in an entertaining way as to compete with the world.

#5 Children are best taught about Jesus by the church and arithmetic by the government schools. All training should be outsourced by experts and professionals.

#6 If my child is not responding to Godly training then I should let that dictate how I train. I should cater my methods to how my child responds, and not the Bible.

#7 If I home school, spank, shelter and listen to Voddie Bauchman my children will turn out well and live for God. Wrong. I am starting to think smiling at them is more important than all the above combined.

#8 If children aren't socialized with worldly peers they wont know how to relate to them when they leave home.

#9 My children are called to be soul winners and they cant be light and salt unless they are immersed in public school and other age segregated cattle programs.

#10 All children go through stages of tantrum throwing , rebellion, hyper activity, (insert any sinful behavior) so I'm justified to ignore it and chalk it up as *just a stage*.

Word Search

2011-02-14T10:45:00.005-06:00

The Bible talks about people who strain at gnats and swallow camels, they obsess and fuss over small issues while neglecting the weightier issues like faith, justice and mercy.

I did a quick word search to try to find out what God thinks important enough to mention over and over again in His word. I pray these ongoing themes would be the ongoing themes of my heart. God let my actions words and deeds scream where your Words screams and let my life whisper where your Word whispers.

These are the most common nouns in the Bible.

Lord 7970 times

God 4094 times

Man 3323 times

King 2504 times

Sin 1016 times

New Testament

Jesus-1310
Say-442

Glory-338
Faith-287
Brother-275
Law-275
Love-261
Good-238
Kingdom-155
Grace-114
Sin-104
One Another-100
Pharisee-99
Poor-41
Trinity-0

You Might Be A Pharisee If...

2011-02-09T10:29:00.005-06:00

1. A Pharisee glorifies in his connections with Godly men, providing special seats, places of honor, and titles for the chosen few. Matthew 3:9

2. A Pharisee glories in external righteousness. They used to wear long robes with fringes and tassels. Today its long skirts and elaborate hairdos with feathers and plants growing out of them. Matthew5:20

3. A Pharisee does not mingle with *the world*. Our savior was a friend to sinners, prostitutes and publicans, but the Pharisees were/are too good for that. The only time a Pharisee mingles with sinners is when he is trying to convert one to become a Pharisee. Matthew 9:11

4. The Pharisees are very critical of others in small matters. They strain at a gnat and swallow camels. Making a huge deal of obscure doctrines while disregarding justice and mercy. Matthew12:2

5. The Pharisees live by rules. When and how to worship, what to wear, how to talk, what to see, who to talk to, even what car to buy and when to go on vacation are not off limits to rules imposed by the dictator in charge. Matthew 12:9-16

6. A Pharisee is one who neglects his family responsibilities in the name of religion, elevating church and status within a church above family and God Himself. The church and religion become an idol while the family and home become a distraction, an after thought at best. Matthew 15:1-9

7. Pharisees are spiritually blind, they have no idea they are wrong. They are too proud and secure in their externals and religious efforts to see their own hypocrisy. They love methods, rules, and formulas while disregarding hearts, grace, faith, and mercy. Matthew15:14

8. A Pharisee is a hypocrite. Jesus called them hypocrites. Ever had a self righteous religious Pharisee confess deep sin? Not so much, they dont admit their sins to themselves, too proud. Confession of faults, whats that? Matthew16:6-12

9. A Pharisee likes to win the argument and prove their point, and they use Bible studies to do it. Making a person see their neglect of obscure scriptures while disregarding the larger ongoing themes of love and mercy. Winning the argument is more important than changing a heart. Matthew 19:3

10. Pharisees put heavy burdens on people. Come to church 13 times this week, tithe, offer and give your grocery money too. Offer your children. Bow your heart to religion while neglecting Jesus Christ Himself. Family, serving the poor, loving the lost without strings attached all foreign concepts to a Pharisee, a distraction from the god of religion. Matthew 23:4

11. Pharisees seek honor to be noticed by men. They display their reading, fasting and praying for all to see while neglecting the things that only God can see, the heart. Matthew 23:5

12. Pharisees love position and places of honor. Gold rings and gay apparel go along way in the United Pharisaical Church. Obnoxious hairdos and clothes that resemble small parades are the mark of a dedicated Pharisee. Seriously? If we spent half as much time with our Lord as we do with our appearance we could change the world. Tomorrow. Matthew 23:6-7

13. Pharisees are people who pray long prayers in public, while neglecting service to those who will never be noticed at all. Matthew 23:14

14. A Pharisees only motive in friending the world is to turn them into a two-fold child of hell like themselves, forget love or friendship, and there is NO way a Pharisee could actually learn or glean from an outsider. Pharisees will swim the seas and climb high mountains to be able to crow about the new convert they converted. Crow. Crow. Crow. Matthew 23:15

15. A Pharisee lives to be elevated by others. Esteem and popular Pharisee opinion trump Christ. Dedicated Pharisees stick together when imposing ridiculous rules, and heavy burdens on the people. Pharisees would rather teach for doctrines the commandments of men than be labeled a liberal. Menpleasers. Matthew 21:26,46

16. A Pharisee thanks God that he is better than others, thankful for the truth, thankful for a prayer life, thankful for a revelation of petty doctrines that don't really matter. Proud to be humble. Luke 18:9-11

17. A Pharisee is worse than an adulterer in Christs economy. John 8:1-11

18. A Pharisee blackballs those who dont agree with them. They will cut you off and shun you for trying to hash out scriptures that dont match the approved interpretation. Who cares that its the kindness of God that leads a sinner to repentance? Christs love compels us He doesnt shame us into compliance, but Pharisees use shame, condemnation and fear to convert and keep. John 9:34

19. A Pharisee may hunger for the real Jesus but he may have to sneak around to find Him, searching for Jesus is risky and may offend fellow Pharisees. Nicodemus visited Jesus at night, and then had to keep his meeting under wraps.

20. Jesus warns us to....Be careful, be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees.... yeast multiplies and grows, He likened the Pharisaical spirit to leaven...same principal. Just a little legalism grows a long way.

Single Purpose

2011-02-08T12:01:00.006-06:00

This passage seems like a bit of a contradiction.

The Bible tells us to look at this example, this perfect example, Jesus, who was able to find joy, in the midst of the shame He endured on the cross. Naked, isolated, tortured, yet He was able to find joy because to give God glory is why Christ was created. His single purpose was being fulfilled. Joy. Something about obedience, obeying His commands, giving Him glory brings JOY, and isn't it true that so much of our joy is indeed found in the midst of suffering he has orchestrated for His glory?

Hebrews 12:2

2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Lacking ANY value in restraining sensual indulgence

2011-02-03T20:09:00.001-06:00

Colossians 2:18-23
18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Wanna Be Great?

2011-01-28T19:20:00.004-06:00

So you want to be great? You want to be first? Sure you do, I do, my kids do. We all want significance and we'd like to be first in line to get it please.

I find it amazing that when the disciples argued about this desire for greatness our Lord didnt rebuke them or correct that desire in them, rather He told them how to go about it. Called all 12 of them together for a mandatory How to Be Great Meeting, because like I said, it seems we all want to be great...all 12 of 'em needed to hear Jesus on this subject.

Jesus didnt tell his disciples that their desire to be great was wrong He just explained that in Gods economy the first shall be last and if you want to be great you have to serve. Beautiful huh? Clear instructions from the Lord himself on how to be great. Really great. Significant and worth something.

Now doesnt this help remove the guilt for feeling like our need for significance is a sin, and it removes the pressure to elevate ourselves through worldly measures, because honestly there are plenty of openings for servant positions. Get in line...the last of the line. ;-)

33 Jesus asked them....“What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Outside Influences

2011-01-13T11:45:00.002-06:00

Heres a quote about socializing our children by L E Krueger, from her book Raising Godly Tomatoes...

"Removing the TV and choosing to homeschool are two of the most obvious and effective solutions to the problem of wrong influences, but beyond those, one of the most enjoyable and simple things you can do to produce godly, loving children, is to keep them doing more things with you and fewer things with other children outside of your family. If you keep them with you and teach them all you know about godliness, AND you keep them away from wrong influences when they are young, you will scarcely have to worry about anything else. You will eliminate a myriad of problems that result from allowing or encouraging your children to frequently socialize with other children.

If anyone doubts how much good this can do, just read carefully the many desperate stories of Christian mothers whose children are straying, and pay strict attention to how much the matter of "outside influences" factored into the problems they are having. If you are honest in your assessment, you will find that a vast number of these problems are the direct result of the influence of "friends" outside the family. This is where your children will learn values other than yours. This is where your children will pick up attitudes that are anti-family and anti-authority. This is where your children will be exposed to many things you never wanted them to be have anything to do with. This is where they will lose their loyalty toward you and God and turn their loyalty toward the world. If you want to raise your children to choose the Lord as their God, you must reject the world's unrelenting chant that your children "need" to socialize outside your home. Instead, you must believe the Lord when He says, "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate."

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

2011-01-11T15:32:00.005-06:00

Just read this fascinating article Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior . I dont agree with all of it and certainly dont admire the Chinese Mothers motives which are based on pride and selfish ambition but I do agree with some of the techniques and reasoning behind what makes a Chinese Mother Superior. Heres the portion that really stood out to me...

"Sucess often require fortitude on the part of the parents because the child will resist; things are always hardest at the beginning, which is where Western parents tend to give up. But if done properly, the Chinese strategy produces a virtuous circle. Tenacious practice, practice, practice is crucial for excellence; rote repetition is underrated in America... "

I think this paragraph holds the key, pushing past the initial challenges until the challenge becomes our childrens character.

I think the secret to success or failure in parenting lies in our willingness to invest huge amounts of time and energy initially in order to enjoy fruit later. Training, disciplining, teaching at home, ...all take alot of time initially.

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrew 12:11

I think the Chasten your son while there is hope...scripture points to this theory. We have a limited window of oppurtunity to train and correct our children, just a set amount of time while there is hope. If we are lazy and not diligent during those crucial training years then there really isnt much hope that we can or ever will influence our children. Chinese moms dont waste that time, their motives are often selfish and perhaps even a bit evil but still the law of the harvest is a law God has ordained, it works....you plant, water sow ect...you reap. For Chinese moms its a harvest of academic excellence, but I think we could certainly apply these principals to training little hearts for God.

Passive Christianity?

2011-01-07T10:47:00.003-06:00

I love it when I feel Jesus teaching me, I know He is always teaching me and the times when I dont feel Him are sometimes His most teachable moments, but isnt it nice when we can hear, see and feel Him?

I feel Him teaching me that living for God is not passive, cant be. We cant say a prayer of repentance and move on, repentance needs a plan. Wisdom is something to be desired but a simple prayer for wisdom wont produce it. In regards to obtaining wisdom the Word makes it clear that we are to diligently seek wisdom....Proverbs 2 tells us to do these thing in order to obtain wisdom.

accept
store up
turn your ear
apply your heart
call out
cry aloud
search for it as silver

Christianity cant be passive, its impossible for His Spirit to sit stagnant. He ever liveth.

Ephesians 4:14,15 - Be no longer children, but grow up in Christ.

2 Peter 3:18 - but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 - The Thessalonians grew exceedingly in faith.

Philippians 1:9 - Paul prayed for their love to abound more and more.

Forgive Our Debts AS We Forgive

2011-01-03T12:26:00.004-06:00

Forgive our debts, as we also forgive our debtors... Matthew 6:12.

I am constantly in need of forgiveness, I need the Lord to replace my nature with His Spirit. This scripture tells me that my sins will be forgiven in direct proportion to how I have forgiven others. As. One word. So significant. Also significant to me is the fact that this prayer about forgiveness is supposed to be prayed every.single.day. It helps me to know that Christ knew I would *daily* struggle with this forgiveness thing. No becoming discouraged, Christ makes provisions doesnt He?

For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins" Matthew 6:14-15

Right Scripture Wrong Motive

2010-12-30T12:25:00.010-06:00

Ever had Bible for your bad attitude? Ever used scriptures to manipulate your own heart? I have, so did the Disciples when they asked Jesus...
Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them, as Elijah did?
I guess the disciples reasoning was that Elijah did it, we've read the scriptures and have a precedent, and besides all that we, want to kill people for Jesus sake. Holy Murder. According to the scriptures we are justified.

Jesus always measuring the motives of our hearts...
He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of...

I love Jesus! He knows just exactly what to call us on doesnt he? Right scripture, wrong motive boys. Seems to me that Christs purpose particularly at that time was to teach mercy, love, grace and faith. I know that sounds ooey gooey charismatic but LOVE is the ongoing theme of our New Testament. The greatest commandment is still to Love God and the second to love others.

Love not vengeful fire.

Good Blog Post...

2010-12-14T16:59:00.002-06:00

Powerful blog post....

Priorities

2010-12-14T15:08:00.006-06:00

When I find myself uninterested in scripture and prayer, I can be sure the problem lies within myself, not Him and His Word. If my hunger is not for more of Him then my spiritual diet is messed up and in need of a revamp. We stuff ourselves with books, videos, Internet, conversations.... Our hearts become so consumed with life that that the good crowds out whats best.
Only one thing is needful....

Repentance Needs A Plan

2010-12-10T13:57:00.007-06:00

When you go in to have a cancer cut out, you are sent home with antibiotics, diet change, care for the wound, a follow up with your Dr., orders for lab work to make sure all of the cancer has been removed. A maintenance plan.

I guess saying *sorry God* and walking away is not enough. Well, maybe with a passing thought or a silly word that was better left unsaid but with deep disgusting sins it may take more than a quick prayer. I have been repenting every single day for a while over the same stinking sins, Im tired of it. Tired of myself. Ive begged God to deliver me yet here I am in need of deliverance...again.

Someone pointed out to me that repentance needs a plan, so I looked it up and am amazed to find that every one of the below scriptures commands repentance, AND...repentance and something else. Repentance needs follow up, a maintenance plan. A couple of the scriptures talk about how repentace leads to something else....

John the Baptist told the Pharisees to Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. MAT 3:8.

Peter told the crowd at Pentecost to Repent *and* be Baptized ........then...receive the Holy Ghost. Repentance needed a follow up of Baptism before the Holy Ghost came.

Mark1:15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent *and* believe the good news!"

Acts3:19 Repent, then, *and* turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,
that times of refreshing may come from the Lord..

Acts 8:22 Repent of this wickedness *and* pray to the Lord.

Acts 20:21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God
in repentance *and* have faith in our Lord Jesus.

Acts 26:20 I preached that they should repent *and* turn to God *and* prove their repentance by their deeds....

2co10:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

2TI 2:25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that
God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

REV 2:5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.

Repentance requires more than confession and sorrow, it takes a plan.

Hypocrisy Is The Best Policy

2010-12-09T11:03:00.007-06:00

A very good friend and I have had a couple of conversations lately about immodesty in the church. My friend holds to the view that the immodesty being displayed is just a true manifestation of the heart. Its a nobel thing to honest, right? *Keep it Real* and *Be true to your self*. After all there are gossips in the church but we cant *see* that so they arent picked on, give the immodest crew a break, they are just showing themselves in a realistic light. Honesty is the best policy...

I say..........

Please keep your hypocrisy intact so we dont have to see your boobs. God made us with eyes, He knew we would judge one another by appearances and conduct. The greatest commandment is to love others, we do that by considering others, even in the seemingly small things like how we dress and conduct ourselves. Dont show your true colors so proudly, hide them.

The worlds way is to display all its evil internal vomit very proudly, but the world is wrong. Lady Gaga although popular, is wrong......."I want women -- and men -- to feel empowered by a deeper and more psychotic part of themselves. The part they're always trying desperately to hide. I want that to become something that they cherish." — Lady Gaga....Keep your psychosis to yourself Gaga.

I know I sounds crass and rude here but this is a rude subject, and quite frankly Im sick of seeing the insides of your heart, its ugly, you look much better as a hypocrite.

I have 5 little children, one dear daughter who is very sensitive to the styles of dress around her. My 4 sons will one day become young men who are instructed to flee *youthful lusts*. If they cant find refuge in Gods house where is it safe?

Great Quote

2010-12-07T09:37:00.003-06:00

"One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time." — John Piper

1 Tim 5:13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. .....

Galations

2010-12-06T10:17:00.004-06:00

In Galations Paul spends alot time teaching, and even pleading with the legalist to put away the rules. Yet he knew that there would be many who took that as a licence to take the liberty of faith in Christ too far. To live a worldly life. To sin.

He predicts that not only will the conservatives be sceptical of this liberty, this Faith Preaching Paul is doing, but Paul also knows that our flesh may take this new found liberty a little too far. He warns against that.

5:13 only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.

For in Christ neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.

Perspective on Children

2010-12-03T13:35:00.009-06:00

Im naturally, selfish, lazy, undisciplined, and thats just my short list.

I appreciate (mostly) that my children are little agents from the Lord pressing this out of me. Gratefully, I am so much more selfless than I would be if I had just stuck with my husband and dog. God didnt give me children to make me happy, He gave me children to make me holy.

I think God is pleased when we lay down our own desires and serve others, so He conveniently implemented this thing called family so we could at least hang on the cross and die to self in the comforts of our own living rooms.

I think the sooner we realize God didnt give us children so we can *enjoy them*, rather He gave us children so He could *enjoy us*, the better.

My kids are Gods way of saying *You arent the center of the universe...look beyond the end of your own nose*.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven....

I like to think about how God knows whats best for me, and ironically when I accept my children as Gods best (albeit at times painful best) for me I *do* actually start to enjoy them more.

Plus, they are furry and cute.

Post Modern Legalism

2010-12-02T12:17:00.008-06:00

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Galations 3:3

I know that when Paul talks about *the law* he is talking about the OT laws adhered to by the Jews. No pork or shrimp, gotta wash your hands a certain way and keep the Sabbath, be circumcised on the 8th day yada yada yada. That's legalism, I know that, but I cant read about Pauls pleas to the Jews to ditch legalism without thinking about ...well... some of the circles I am affiliated with.

So many parallels between OT laws and our current religious standards, maybe not so much parallels in the actual rituals or ordinances but the spirit and pride behind them. Like a standard or rule can actually impress our Holy God. (roll eyes)

Colossians 2:23
These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person's evil desires.

Take out the word/idea law in the following scriptures and replace it with rules/standards. Replace this Jewish legalism with whatever it is you think makes you holy. Homeschooling? Long skirts? A plain face? A large family with matching jumpers? Even reading, fasting and prayer O my! Whatever you think makes you righteous. Read these scriptures and see if your efforts are enough?

Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness, he had faith. Thats IT. Faith. Some things never change.....

“...by works of the law NO ONE will be justified” (Galations 2:16)

“...if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” (Galations 2:21)

“...No one is justified before God by the law...” (Galations3:11)

"...Those who rely on standards are cursed!...(Galations 3:10)

“...if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law” (Galations3:21)

“...the law as our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galations 3:24).

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galations 5:1).

Monday At Noon

2010-11-15T13:56:00.005-06:00

Ever leave a Sunday night service with enough faith and victory to run through a troop and leap over a wall?

And then....

Monday At Noon rolls around? The babies are fussy, the towel rack has been ripped off the wall (no it wont hold the weight of a hanging 3 year old if anyone was wondering). Your kids have creased up their new school books, one day...just one day and already they are tattered. Your husband is growly because he has a devil. The dishwasher broke and the bills are still due. Your throat hurts and no one cares, there are no sick days.....blah blah blah...My Pastor always warns that this will happen, hes right, again!

Just wondering...has that ever happened to you?

Child Training Reminders

2010-11-10T09:25:00.006-06:00

We love HIM because He first loved us. Establish love *first*.

Love fosters trust. We need our children to trust that we are disciplining and training them for *their* best interest: translated Gods glory.

So love first and then obedience, based on love (Gods glory) not convenience for ourselves.

There are not 2 Bibles, one for children/youth and 1 for adults, that must mean God wants our children to obey the same commands/precepts we do. The Bible is not just for adults to live by it is for our children too.

There is only 1 command specifically and exclusively for children in the New Testament....Honor your Mother and Father.

Joy, we must joy and delight in our children. God told Jesus *this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased*. We need to convey the same delight in our children.

We have to make our homes, and lifestyles more appealing than the world. We do that by cultivating love, joy and peace in our homes. Netflix, peer pressure, hairstyles as big as a parade, all stiff competition for sure. The *only* thing that compares is Christ alone.

Be willing to admit that 95% of EVERY problem we have with our children is a direct result of a deficit somewhere in our own parenting.

Repent to God and children when we fail.

So simple but so huge. SMILE!

Get closer not louder.

Modesty and the Christian Woman

2010-11-08T09:27:00.002-06:00

Genesis 1

2010-10-13T11:49:00.004-05:00

Believe it or not the first Chapter in Genesis always reminds me of Teri Maxwell and her MOTH resources.

God took what was dark, void and full of chaos and started to make order of it. He took what was without form and put it on a schedule. The days and nights dont deviate, the sun always rises and sets, the seasons He established and they are faithful. The planets He perfectly aligned so that they give us light and heat. He is a God of order and detail. Deliberate. He doesnt react to the day rather He orchestrates it.

In the beginning God!

I am both encouraged and convicted by these scriptures because I dont feel like I order my days as well as I should. Hover, yet closer God........

Genesis 3

2010-10-13T11:45:00.001-05:00

The fall of all mankind took place in Genisis Chapter 3 when Eve went looking for knowledge outside of loving relationship with those who had authority over her, those who had her best interest at heart. She ate fruit from the ***TREE OF KNOWLEDGE***.

What could possibly be wrong with seeking knowledge? The enemy really is so subtle isnt he?

Genesis 3:6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The enemy tempted and convinced Eve to eat saying that when she did it would make her wise/knowledgeable. The Bible tells us over and over again to seek knowledge adn wisom. Eve was looking for it outside of God.

Genesis 3;4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

I am so thankful to have a husband who is aware of my tendency to seek knowledge outside of him and God. Seriously, without my dh I think I would either be Amish or atheist. I gravitate towards the extreme and am way too curious. My husband is very stable, and for that I am thankful.

I, like Eve am at times carnal and think that it isn't any big deal for me to Google my questions.... innocent, perhaps even *good* questions about God, child training, home management, marriage. Usually I get about 26,300,120 results. I think we women sometimes get tricked into thinking that there isnt any problem in just trying to figure it all out, but knowledge outside of God is sin. It goes back to Genesis 3, we are Eves daughters when we try to research, study and covey our findings to our husbands. To lead and step out from underneath our heads/coverings to direct our families.

"Aw....You wont die ......your eyes will be opened, and you will be smarter ....just like God!" or even more subtle than that..."Did God really say He didn't want you to enjoy this or that?" The very first recorded words of the devil are *Hath God said?* The devil is cynical, he likes to question authority.

Some things never change...

I wonder if the modern day tree of good and evil isn't subtly disguised as the Internet, (of course thats if we dont use it properly)? It sounds like that tree in the garden was a resource of vast knowledge that God didn't intend for us to have ....not outside of relationship with Him.

21 Rules Of The House

2010-10-01T14:09:00.001-05:00

The 21 Rules Of This House
by Gregg Harris

1. We obey God.
2. We love, honor and pray for one another.
3. We tell the truth.
4. We consider one another's interests ahead of our own.
5. We speak quietly and respectfully with one another.
6. We do not hurt one another with unkind words or deeds.
7. When someone needs correction, we correct him in love.
8. When someone is sorry, we forgive him.
9. When someone is sad, we comfort him.
10. When someone is happy, we rejoice with him.
11. When we have something nice to share, we share it.
12. When we have work to do, we do it without complaining.
13. We take good care of everything that God has given us.
14. We do not create unnecessary work for others.
15. When we open something, we close it.
16. When we take something out, we put it away.
17. When we turn something on, we turn it off.
18. When we make a mess, we clean it up.
19. When we do not know what to do, we ask.
20. When we go out, we act just as if we were in this house.
21. When we disobey or forget any of the 21 Rules of This House, we accept
the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

The Power Of One

2010-09-30T14:56:00.002-05:00

Did you know that Lydia the seller of Purple helped start the church at Philippi?

The book of Philippians uses the word joy or rejoice 16 times. Paul didnt have much correction for the Philippians, he was deeply touched by their giving love, and their service. He gushes about how much he loves them and how impressed he is with their love for him, others and most importantly Christ.

Paul deeply loved the Philippians.

Philippians 1:8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
My point is that this awesome church was started because one woman opened her home. She practiced hospitality.

One woman. The power of one. Neat huh?

Acts 16:14-15
14One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. 15When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.

Moses Intercession

2010-09-28T13:10:00.005-05:00

Moses interceded for the children of Israel when they were worshipping that glitzy cow. He could of said "Yep, God your right they are idolatrous and carnal...strike em dead Lord, burn em up", and ya know that would of made Moses life soooo much easier. Moses risked his life to ask mercy on behalf of a bunch of partying worldly rebels. God listened, and then Moses was stuck with having to lead the knuckleheads.

God loved Moses for his heart to love others. Moses was a type of Jesus, he saw others problems and said Im going to reconcile that problem, even if it means I have to die to do so.

We should have the same heart, one that says...these people are wrong, but God put me here to love them, help them and reconcile them.

2 Cor 5:16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.

Radical

2010-07-15T16:18:00.005-05:00

Been reading this book out loud to my family. Its good. Its radical. I think the author is suggesting that perhaps, maybe, could be that Jesus Christ actually meant all the things He said, that Jesus Christ should be taken if not literally at least seriously.

Imagine that?

This book has encouraged me to consider that His Word really does demand a radical change of heart. I think being conservative compared to the world makes us feel comfortable if not complacent, but what if Jesus Christ really is going to send us to hell for eternity if we dont feed the hungry and clothe the naked? Thats what Christ said isnt it? He wasnt impressed with devils being cast out, He wants to know if we care about the sick and lonely. Do we? What are we doing for the least of our brothers? Because if we arent doing anything then we are going to hell. I know its radical, but its what He said. What if He meant it?

Get the book.

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Are You Rich?

2010-07-13T12:49:00.001-05:00

Am I Rich?

· Got $2200? In this world, you’re rich. Assets (not cash) of $2200 per adult place a person in the top 50% of the world’s wealthiest.*

· If you made $1500 last year, you’re in the top 20% of the world’s income earners.**

· If you have sufficient food, decent clothes, live in a house or apartment, and have a reasonably reliable means of transportation, you are among the top 15% of the world’s wealthy. **

· Have $61,000 in assets? You’re among the richest 10% of the adults in the world.*

·If you earn $25,000 or more annually, you are in the top 10% of the world’s income-earners.***

· If you have any money saved, a hobby that requires some equipment or supplies, a variety of clothes in your closet, two cars (in any condition), and live in your own home, you are in the top 5% of the world’s wealthy. **

·If you earn more than $50,000 annually, you are in the top 1% of the world’s income earners.***

· If you have more than $500,000 in assets, you’re part of the richest 1% of the world.*

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occassion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.~ II Corinthians 9:11

*Source– MSN Money

**Money Possessions & Eternity by Randy Alcorn, pg 291

***The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision, pg 216

Life

2010-06-12T14:56:00.003-05:00

Harry Ironside

2010-06-10T21:24:00.003-05:00

The story goes that Harry Ironside, in just three short years, moved up the Salvation Army ranks from cadet to captain, but he was constantly tormented with the thought that he had backslidden and might lose his salvation. To stay saved, he thought, he must reach a place where he was beyond sin. He heard sensational stories from people who claimed that they had attained holiness, their lives totally free from sin. He wanted that holiness too.

Harry prayed for and pursued sinlessness, working ever harder, depriving himself of even the simplest pleasures, convinced that he was making his place in heaven more secure. But the holiness he sought eluded him. Under the strain of this unbearable pursuit of perfection, Harry collapsed in exhaustion. When he resigned from the Salvation Army and checked into a rest home, he was 19 years old.

Harry, more commonly known as H. A. Ironside, learned the importance of being saved early. But it took a physical and emotional breakdown to make him realize that Jesus does the saving—not us. Only after he discovered this essential truth could his real ministry begin, resulting in 50 years of powerful preaching, teaching, and writing that included 34 expository books covering the entire Bible. Among those writings is this simple declaration of the truth that nearly cost him his life to discover—

Christ and… is a perverted gospel, which is not the gospel. Christ without the “and” is the sinner's hope and the saint's confidence…Jesus is not only necessary, but also he is enough. (from Youth Specialties “Hot Illustrations” v.1.0)

Jesus as our Sacrifice

2009-10-30T12:29:00.003-05:00

We had a visiting preacher come through our church a while back. Awesome preacher, but honestly cant remember what he preached about although I'm sure it was good. I do however remember well a little nugget he just briefly talked about before he started his message.

He said that in the Old Testament the person who brought sacrificial offerings to be burned before the Lord were not scrutinized or inspected, the actual animal was. The animal had to be clean, without blemish, young, spotless. The person who actually presented the offering to the Lord only need have faith and obedience. Brings tears to my eyes just writing that!! Makes me so thankful! Jesus Christ is our sacrifice. All we have to do is believe and obey!!

1Peter 2:5 you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Free Audio Bible

2009-07-07T11:43:00.001-05:00

I know I may be the only one who is just now finding this great resource but in case Im not I thought I would share that you can listen to the Bible online for free! 6 different versions including the ESV and KJV....
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/

Twitter?

2009-07-05T15:44:00.001-05:00

Twitter... What is the point?From what I understand it is just little blurbs through out the day... like...mine would read something like....

Eating a salad now
Bickered with husband
Changed babys diaper
Doing math with my son
Folded 2 loads of laundry

Riveting, I know.

Who cares? Is twitter just an outlet for anyone with a computer and an ego? Seriously, would someone please explain to me the purpose of Twitter and am I the only one who doesnt care that you are grooming your toenails and then off to choir practice?

Facebook Myspace

2009-07-03T11:43:00.002-05:00

Does Facebook edify?

Lawful yes, expedient ...probably not. I know there may be some good there but few can use these tools with moderation and selflessness. Myspace is about just that *MY* space, it ain't about you or your space. Facebook is a way for anyone with a computer and an ego to feel important. I know,I know *its a great way to get connected and to reunite with old friends* but these social networks can also be addictive and promote some serious selfishness.

I also think these networks break down walls of discretion, I know I dont want my husband connecting with girlfriends from his past and vice versa. I also know that if I connect with Sue she may be friends with that cute guy from Math class and who isnt going to check out ol' Toms profile? Do we really want to revisit the past? God doesnt want husbands and wives looking up old flames....but I know it happens.

1 Cor 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Zenni Optical

2009-07-01T11:53:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share this great resource I found online....I have ordered about 12 pairs of glasses from Zenni Optical...most of them 8.00 a pair..Yes, that is including the frames and prescription lenses. Shipping is a flat 5 dollars no matter if you buy 1 pair or 20. I have been very very impressed with the quality and price of these glasses. I have friends who pay 150.00 with insurance for the same thing!

Garden Gloating

2009-06-26T14:20:00.001-05:00

First fruits from our garden. Our whole family has worked every day tilling, watering, weeding and planting. We have got 100s of tomatoes ripening. Green beans...Yummy! I can hardly eat a store bought tomato they are so flavorless. Homegrown is the way to go!! My kids are so proud to see the fruit of their efforts. They have enjoyed giving some of our bounty away to friends. Everybody LOVES fresh homegrown fruits and veggies. There is so much to learn from gardening. The law of the harvest for one...you reap what you sow. Diligence pays. There is no rest outside of hard work. It brings you back to the important things in life -- connecting with the earth (can I say that and still maintain my conservative Christian status?)and celebrating God's creation.

More on Modesty

2009-06-26T14:04:00.001-05:00

Just checking off the uniform box fails to cultivate relationship with God. May feel good to our flesh but He is just simply not impressed. Modesty should be a natural outflowing of a heart that is bowed before God.

Modesty is not only for our own protection but more importantly it is to protect others. We are to love others like Christ loved them and therefore we refuse to tempt them with too much flesh. Christ never tempted His church, Christ never tempted the world. Remember who tempts? The devil, and when we tempt one another we are being the devil personified. I don’t know why God made men so *visual* but He did, so in order to show love and respect for men we should dress modestly.

Every one of our standards should be based on love for God and man. Not one of our standards is enough to win Him. Human efforts are an offense to the cross. Why did He shed His blood if our own righteousness can save us?I don't even like the term *Holiness Standard*. I think it somehow gives the connotation that having some sort of standard makes us holy and truly NOTHING can make us holy except for God. I know what it means, I just think it gives the wrong message. Like we could ever earn His favor.

Modesty #1

2009-06-25T12:03:00.013-05:00

Modesty doesn’t win Gods favor. If modesty alone impressed God then Muslims in burkas would no doubt be Gods favorites.

Galations 5:19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,divisions, 21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Notice the first 3 works of the flesh are Sexual Immorality, Impurity, Sensuality.. Clearly flesh has a problem with these issues and for a woman to tempt a man with a short skirt and a tight shirt is a grave sin. Generally speaking most of these 3 sins start with a woman who is not properly covered up, a woman who is not shamefaced. This passage of scripture also talks about how Sensuality is a sin, I have certainly seen some very sensuous hairstyles. Big, windblown bedroom looking hair...hair that is sensual.

Matt 5:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Notice the *with her* in this scripture. She is not innocent but is part of the adultery when she puts herself in a place that causes a man to lust after her.

Prov 30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

Family Time in Decline

2009-06-23T10:20:00.004-05:00

My husband forwarded me this article.....

Whether it's around the dinner table or sitting in front of the TV, U.S. families say they are spending less time together. The decline in family time coincides with a rise in Internet use, and the boom of social networks—though a new report stops just short of assigning blame.
The center is reporting that 28 percent of Americans it interviewed last year said they have been spending less time with members of their households. Only 11 percent said that in 2006.

Sad, but true that we are spending more and more time on Facebook and Ebay and less time engaged with our children and families. Bowling Alone is a very convicting book about how our connections with one another have plummeted in the last 50 years and Ambient Intimacy has taken the place of real life relationships.

With the inventions of television, Internet, and air conditioning who needs to leave the house to feel connected, comfortable and entertained? We are selfish and not willing to truly invest in others.

Discernment

2009-06-22T13:03:00.005-05:00

This is a response to a couple of comments left under this post...

I totally agree that it is the readers responsibility to discern whether our Christian resources promote *liberty in Christ or legalism*. However I do feel like some of these leaders who are indeed Christian Ministries also have a grave responsibility to use their influence to promote His agenda, not their own.

Matt 23:4 They tie up burdens that are heavy and unbearable and lay them on people's shoulders.....

The Bible particularly the NT is a book full of wisdom and principals with a wholelotta room to meet us right where we are at. It provides grace and allowances, I am amazed at how condescending some of these men and women come across. So many have little time for anything less than perfection....Christ came because He knew we AREN'T perfect. If we had it all figured out He could of bypassed that awful Cross.

Jesus was meek,lowly and very very humble. How can we put heavier burdens on one another than Jesus Himself put upon us? I really believe the root of this move towards legalism in the Homeschool community is pride...it feels good to live and look a certain way...to portray the perfect family.

There is a common theme amongst these HS gurus of rules and regulations with little talk of grace, love and faith. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they placed so much weight on externals and outward performance and neglected mercy and justice.

Matt 23:23...you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness.

Disclaimer...I have literally 100s of books about homeschool and family...so these posts are a bit of confession, conviction and really just trying to think through what is important. I have a tendency to gravitate towards rules based *programs* because they are easy and feel good...what has helped me and I think would help alot of women who get caught up in these programs is consulting with and then listening to a stable husband. They are here for our protection because we are more easily deceived. I have seen this *protection* work many times in my own home and it may be the only reason we are not Amish....*wink*

Budgets Dont Work

2009-06-19T12:20:00.000-05:00

My husband and I went through Dave Ramseys FPU twice and have read many many books on finance,savings ect..I am wondering how many people truly really consistently stay on a budget?
NONE of my friends do ...ok there is one but she is so organized and perfect no one likes her, shes just not much fun because she is too busy carefully calculating life to actually live life, and besides that she has an air of superiority because she is so disciplined.

Perhaps budgets are over rated. SAVING....that is key. Maybe this is how our money should go...God first (tithes offering)then SAVING then bills. If we save before we do anything else and cut out debt we can actually retire on something more than frozen pizza. SAVE SAVE SAVE and don't incur debt!!

Budgets are never adhered to. They are made and then disregarded. A loose plan is imperative but a strict budget breeds guilt and a sense of *I can never do this!!*Kinda like living for God..... a bunch of strict rules seem to produce the opposite of the intended effect because failure always sets us up for discouragement and budgets always seem to fail.

What do you think?

Children of Caeser

2009-06-18T10:55:00.002-05:00

Ambitions

2009-06-16T10:42:00.003-05:00

Its easy to turn our family ambitions into a religion. We are so serious about family and the convictions God has given us concerning the family we elevate our burden for a Godly family above God Himself.

Martha was so busy serving Jesus she missed out on...well...Jesus Himself.

Peter was so self determined with zeal and religion that Jesus called him Satan,rebuked him and withdrew His grace so that Peter would know that fleshly efforts don't work.

Eve was seeking knowledge about God when she sinned...seemed noble enough didn't it?

Paul said he considered all of his religious efforts and attainments to be dung.

Seeking knowledge outside of reationship with God is idolatry, I have been guilty.

Isaiah 47:10.......your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray,and you said in your heart,“I am, and there is no one besides me.”

The How Tos

2009-06-15T10:20:00.001-05:00

There are no shortcuts to God. No amount of reading books can save our children.

Vision Forum, Bill Gothard, No Greater Joy,Steve and Terri Maxwell of Titus 2,Denny Kenaston, and 100s of others ....many of these ministries are full of valuable resources but I see a common thread among them. Black and White formulas that don't give alot of wiggle room for all the dynamics that go into each separate human. God himself didn't include check boxes at the end of each of His chapters like some of these guys. I know the study helps and check boxes are not evil but there seems to be an all or nothing mentality connected to these guys. I guess it takes a strong visionary to put forth resources worthy of our consideration, it just seems that some of these visionarys lack grace and mercy.Man made formulas often produce works of the flesh because who needs relationship and prayer if we can just refer back to chapter 3?

Philippians 3:8 I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ....

These methods often produce legalism and serious guilt because who really measures up to these ideas? OK, so say we do in fact measure up, how many people do you know measure up but manage to keep it humble? If we do somehow fit the bill then that produces a feeling of superiority. So either we've got it or we don't. SO many legalist are being produced by these ministries.Running around policing each other ....tsk tsk shaking our heads....Well if you would of just applied chapter 6 paragraph 2 your son wouldn't of rebelled... when in fact son needed the exact opposite of anything put forth by these ministries. Dear son needed grace and love, which is rarely talked about in these instruction manuals.

Happy Man

2009-06-13T10:32:00.002-05:00

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” (Psalms 127:3-5 ESV)

Voddie Baucham pointed out that the KJV and the ESV are different here in this verse. The ESV really gives us a whole new perspective. I have always thought read and heard that this scripture implies that a man with alot of children is happy, but the ESV says blessed is the man “who fills his quiver", which seems to implicate that a man who is seeking and allowing children is blessed. A man who believes children are truly a reward is blessed, rather than just a man who has a full quiver, which seems more in character with the Lord as He is always much more concerned with our hearts than He is our performance.

Children and Socialization Part 2

2009-06-12T09:43:00.006-05:00

Dumping our kids in an atmosphere of all sorts of ungodly behavior is not worth the risk. I don’t completely restrain them from the world rather I go with them into the world. I don’t drop them off at the worlds doorstep and hope they won’t be burned. That’s foolish.

Remember when God first drew us? Lots of love and patience went into those formative days months and years. God nurtured us, wooed, loved and held us close until finally He knew we were ready for some harsh reality….a trial, a storm, and then a valley. Of course He went with us and carried us through. There are times He seemed to withdraw His presence but that was part of the training. This is all carefully calculated by the Lord. He knows how to establish our roots and make us eat strong meat.He prepares us for times of battle and victory. He doesn’t save us one week and put us o the mission field the next, neither should we expect our children to be missionaries before its time. We slowly cultivate our precious children just like the Lord works so patiently with us. David killed a lion and a bear before he faced Goliath.

We have a pool and a 2 year old. I don't throw him in, and expect his great swimming ability to be an encouragement to others! I hold him close and acclimate him to the water a little at a time, then when he is ready I will put floaties on him and allow him to float around while I watch. One day he will be ready to swim along side me sans floaties. Eventually I will let him get in the pool while I watch through the window making sure I can trust his ability…. until finally I am 100% sure he can handle swimming on his own,...... then perhaps he can show others how to swim.

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." Proverbs 23:26

Why do gardeners start seedlings out on the window sill? Because the atmosphere has to be just right in order for the little plant to develop strong roots that will withstand the harsh elements of the world. What is the goal of every good gardener? Fruit! That is my goal too. I want my children to bear precious fruit for many generations to come therefore I cultivate,stake,prune and nourish them very carefully.

I am well aware that the day will come when my children will reach an age of maturity and leave home. I plan on this and do expose them to the world, even the ugly side of it. No we don't hang out at the bar, but the mall is not much better and we go to the mall. I don't have to dump my children at the public school in order to train them in how to react and handle the world, they see the depravity of this world at Walmart.

But your kids will never know how to handle the world if they aren't in it!!

This may be a shocker to some of you but we get to experience the ugly sinful side of the world right in the enjoyment of our own home. Front row seats. We don’t need public school to teach us how to lust and be greedy. We are human. Fallen humans. Of course there are indeed some faces of sin and shame that my children will never experience but that's ok they get the idea just by being human.

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child....

All the sheltering in the world will not negate the fact that we are fallen and in need of grace. Desperately. He alone can and will save my children. My best efforts are not enough. My training program has flaws but His promises are fool-proof.

The promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off....

Children and Socialization Part 1

2009-06-11T10:55:00.004-05:00

Perhaps people who are so very concerned about children needing socialization have fallen for a worldly philosophy that says it is important to immerse our children in the world in order to allow them to develop properly. Hogwash!

I have never put my children in a nursery or daycare. They never went to pre-k. They have never played with the neighbors kids. My children have never developed an appetite for a lot of friends so it’s no big deal. They don’t even really know they are missing out on hearing about sex from the neighborhood boys. They don’t get wedgies in the bathroom at school. No one steals their lunch money. They don’t watch TV at the neighbors house. They've never seen a sitcom, that almost without exception always includes a homo as the hero. They have no idea how deprived they really are. Please don’t tell them.

Well how can your children be salt and light if you never allow them to socialize?

I definitely want my children to be salt and light and I believe they are. Just the fact that we are separate and do carefully orchestrate our socialization is a witness. My children actually influence others because they are not immersed in the world. The Dr, Dentist relatives, even church friends can be *witnessed to* just by us living a separated life, that in itself is a witness to the importance of Jesus Christ and His grace. Who does the Dentist notice, watch and take note of? The average Hannah Montana girl or my wholesome Godly daughter with a modest dress and meek spirit? Who speaks louder?

President Obama Bows to Muslim King Abdullah

2009-06-09T14:10:00.003-05:00

Does this look like Mr. Obama is bowing to you?

Simple Economics

2009-06-08T09:54:00.002-05:00

Cheap Replacements

2009-06-06T10:19:00.008-05:00

Fast food and frozen dinners have replaced family time around the dinner table.
Motorized baby swings have replaced the rocking chair.
Plastic bottles of formula have replaced mothers milk.
Baby carriers have replaced moms arms.
The blessing of children has been replaced with a lie that children are a burden.
Public schools have replaced parents teaching their children Christian principals at home.
Televisions have replaced family devotions and fellowship.
Siblings playing together has been replaced by individuals playing video games.
Child training has been replaced by the building up of our children's self esteem.
Moms have been replaced with Daycare Workers making 6.00 an hour.
Full Quivers are replaced by 1.8 children who are a hindrance.
Family as priority has been replaced by money, careers and fancy lifestyles.
Dads authority in the home has been replaced with a domineering wife.
Organized sporting events have replaced building things and tinkering outside with dad.
The Prosperity Gospel has replaced repentance and sharing in the fellowship of His sufferings.

Confession

2009-06-05T11:04:00.006-05:00

James 5:16Therefore,confess your sins to one another and pray for one another,that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

I recently heard a tape of a testimony service from a youth camp where many of the young people stood up and confessed sins. I was shocked at the honesty and even wondered if it was too open. After thinking about these things I can think of nothing bad or unbiblical about sharing our hearts, even the darker aspects.

Confession is a Biblical command, it isn't optional. I am convinced that God wants us to relate not only to Him but each other. It is impossible to have deep meaningful relationships with our brothers and sisters without opening our hearts. God wants us to go beyond dishonest superficial shallow relationship. He wants us to be Him in flesh, to extend His mercy. To seek His counsel and love among His own people. We have the ability to love,extend mercy and even restore each other, not only the ability but the responsibility.

John 20:23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.

I really think confession is a missing component in our walks today, particularly in some more conservative churches, where much is expected in the way of performance.

Truly we can all extend mercy because to some degree we have all dealt with the same sins.
Confession is good for the soul. Truly it is liberating both to the one who confesses but also to the one who listens. Both walk away feeling like *I am not alone* and it holds one accountable when you know they know...

Gods desire is that the world would recognize us by our love for one another, it is impossible to truly love each other if we are always hiding from each other. Nothing binds a friendship like sharing our hearts. Nothing extracts pride and inserts humility like allowing others to know you have real problems.

Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other..John 13:35

Of course we have to use discretion, confessing sin is a bit risky but that is why it produces such enormous fruit, like everything in His Kingdom, true Christian joy and liberty always comes with sacrifice and stepping out in faith.

Jesus was willing to be put to an open shame, His willingness to be humbled and die brought about life. When we allow ourselves to be open we are setting ourselves up for enormous victory.

Mental Illness

2009-06-01T09:45:00.002-05:00

I have written about mental illness and psychiatric drugs before.I think that God often uses times of Mental Illness in the lives of some Christians to love,correct and teach.

Job wanted to die and begged God to take his life.
Saul was vexed by Mental Illness and tried to ward it off with soothing music instead of repentance.

David had times of severe mental suffering, day and night Gods heavy hand was upon him.

Nebuchadnezzar, (Daniel 4) was struck with mental illness as a time of chastisement for his pride, he was so out of it he ate grass, quit bathing and let his fingernails grow out like birds talons, when he came to he worshipped with a whole new perspective on God.

Deut. 28:27-29,34 mentions "madness" as a divine chastisement

Paul said "Without were fightings, within were fears"

I think that there are way too many pills being pushed today. Particularly to *Christians* who need to stop and consider if these struggles are not the hand of God trying to save us and teach us. Nothing withdraws pride like a good mental breakdown. God knows how to extract those self efforts and insert compassion and absolute utter dependence on Him alone.

Perhaps depression is not a time to take pills and reflect on ourselves and our childhood like the pop psychologist would have us believe. Maybe God is trying to cause us to cry out to Him, to learn compassion for others who suffer. To share in the fellowship of His sufferings. Suffering can be such an effective tool in Gods hand if we allow it.

Despise/Judge

2009-05-29T10:03:00.003-05:00

Pastor pointed out an interesting little observation a couple weeks ago while preaching out of Romans... People who are conservative often look at liberals and judge them. People that are liberal often look at the conservatives and despise them. JUDGE/DESPISE I have found this to be true, as I have been on both sides of the coin and felt precisely those 2 emotions.

Unfortunately, I think there is way too much of this going on within the church. If the church across town tends toward liberalism we judge them so very harshly while they look at us conservatives and despise our strict standards. The Bible clearly tells us not to do this because God Himself has welcomed both..... Are we holier than God?

Romans 14:3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him...

One more quick observation, the one that is *liberal* is actually considered the stronger of the two, while the *conservative* is considered the weaker brother who lacks faith. These scriptures can really strip away alot of pride cant they?

10 Reasons I Teach My Children At Home

2009-05-26T18:47:00.007-05:00

1. Luke 6:40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
2. Socialization, sorry just going to be be frank here. I don't want my children to socialize with other children, outside of controlled,orchestrated times of fellowship with like minded families.
3. I'm greedy. I love my children and don't want to miss one second with them.
4. I want my children to have a Biblical worldview.
5. Um....they are my children, my responsibility. They are not wards of the state. Easy enough?
6. We learn about values,morals,Christ,character,serving others,volunteering...(Learning about many of these things are illegal in PS. )
7. I want my children to learn how to guide a home/family, this is best done at home with the family.
8. Public School teachers are some of the most underpaid/overworked/most likely candidates for burnout on the planet.
9. This right here.
10. This is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics ...Teachers play a vital role in the development of children. What children learn and experience during their early years can shape their views of themselves and the world and can affect their later success or failure in school, work, and their personal lives.Teachers play an important role in fostering the intellectual and social development of children during their formative years. The education that teachers impart plays a key role in determining the future prospects of their students. Whether in preschools or high schools or in private or public schools, teachers provide the tools and the environment for their students to develop into responsible adults. I agree with this description of the role a teacher plays and that is why I think the teacher should be me!

Worship

2009-05-25T11:09:00.003-05:00

Would Jesus have a worship team? Hmmm….David arranged and choreographed some fantastic music…..but he also engaged the Spirit of God just by sitting on the side of a hill singing to God in the midst of smelly sheep.

What kind of worship does God appreciate?

Odd

2009-05-23T11:04:00.002-05:00

Honestly it bothers me that my family's identity is so closely tied to the way we look and the choices we make in living a separated life. I don't want modesty, homeshooling and conservative values to be what people notice about my family. If people see my conservative life and are attracted to that then they are attracted to the WRONG thing. Jesus saves, not a lifestyle. I would like people to see Jesus. I know this sounds corny but I would like to exude the Love of Christ. I would like to extend grace,mercy,comfort and love to those I meet, but I'm afraid people walk away thinking we are just strangely peculiar.

I think people, including professing *Christians* are either threatened,offended or confused by a family who is radically separate. I hate that, I wish people would see past the uniform. When we meet new people I feel like I have to spend half my time trying to make them feel comfortable...you know, "please believe me, *I'm human*" that type of thing!! These difficulties in relationships are not worth compromising God given convictions though....just a frustrating part of being a Christian I guess.

Peer Pressure

2009-05-22T14:00:00.005-05:00

I am the only person in my family who doesn't have a college degree. In my immediate family there are 2 Lawyers and 2 Doctors, so I wrestle with feeling like I have an audience of skeptical spectators in my homeschooling and homemaking efforts. I suppose they are skeptical because I take literal the scripture that says young women are to .....marry,bear children and guide the house...1Timothy 5:14

God help me to remember that homeschooling is not a circus, and help me to resist the urge to try to impress my relatives and outsiders with academic achievements. My kids are not monkeys and they don't do tricks. My goal is not that they would excel in math and money, rather I am praying my children learn to love and serve. I want to teach with patience like Jesus taught, always remembering that I am training for eternity and I am looking to mold hearts not just minds.

Do you wrestle with feeling like your family is a freak show?

How Did Jesus Teach?

2009-05-21T10:51:00.006-05:00

He kept everything very simple, simple for those that were listening and believing that is. Jesus' teaching appealed to the heart not the ego. He wasn't teaching His followers so that they could make alot of money, in fact He told several of His followers to give up those worldly ambitions. He wanted to convert hearts not just *puff up minds*.

He used lots of picture stories that all ages could understand. Jesus taught using parables, they always conveyed a moral lesson. Rich in symbolism and full of wisdom. Jesus used parables alot.

Jesus taught as He went form town to town. He taught by the seashore, under trees, as He was walking down the road.One time He even dropped to His knees and wrote with His finger in the dirt.Jesus knew that opportunities to teach abound in daily life.

He used things that were at hand and commonly used at that time...salt,bread,sheep, coins, seeds. (He didnt spend a ton on curriculum).He was patient with His followers and very practical.

Jesus met His *pupils* right where they were at. He taught all ages at the same time. He was a great teacher but never mentioned that education itself was important, rather He was always focused on the heart. His teachings appealed to the heart. He taught principals that instill wisdom and character. He taught us to love and serve. He taught that justice and mercy were much more important than rules and outward appearances.

.....Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 1 Cor 8:1

A Made Up Mind?

2009-05-20T11:39:00.001-05:00

Have you ever heard anyone say *You Have To Make Up Your Mind To Live For God?* I have, in fact a church I used to attend sang a song about having your mind made up.

Its not enough to have our minds made up.

His mind was made up therefore we can rest in His finished work. Our own determination is an insult to His grace and power. This *Mind Made Up* business is a humanistic philosophy that produces works of the flesh.

Peter made up his mind that he would go with Jesus to the end

.... (Peter said) I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Jesus knew that Peters *made up mind* was a human effort so Christ allowed Peter to *backslide*. If you want to guarantee yourself a big ugly flop make up your mind to serve Him. Speaking from personal experience here.

It is supposed to no longer be us that lives but Him within us. How can we make up our minds when our minds are dead? Resting in Him is our only hope. We must "put on the mind of Christ", forsaking our own carnal minds.

Self determination, a made up mind=filthy rags. If self determination is enough then why did Jesus shed His blood? He was wounded,pierced,bruised and killed so we could rely on ourselves??

If having high Holiness Standards were enough to save us then why did Christ die?

Teens

2009-05-19T11:26:00.003-05:00

Here's an excerpt of an article I read recently

A new survey shows that the average teenager spends more than 80 hours a year looking at pornography on the Internet. That translates to an hour and 40 minutes a week. Of course, watching dirty movies is not all the kids are doing on the Internet. They're also spending an hour-and-a-half on dieting Web sites and one hour researching cosmetic surgery.

Of course Internet filters and Internet rules are good and should be in every home but I am thinking the problem here is not the Internet, rather this is an indicator of serious heart problems amongst our teens.

Giving All

2009-05-12T12:43:00.005-05:00

Ever heard anyone say something like *Well, God must of known you could handle it or He wouldn't of given you this trial*? I have, I have even thought this about myself, until I went through some times of fire where there was no possible way I could handle things. No possible way.

I am starting to think that God gives us times of testing because He knows we cant handle it and therefore must surrender and rest and wait and just basically die. In other words God is trying to save us by killing us. Sweet huh?

Psalm 32:4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up....
God had David right where He wanted him. Ever had your strength dry up? Perhaps this was what God was waiting to hear David say...Read Psalm 33 a beautiful Psalm of worship and praise,victory and joy, but had there not been a heavy hand upon David in Psalm 32 there may not of been a glorious Psalm 33.

Religion cant save us. Prayer cant save us. A made up mind is an insult to the Cross of Christ. We tend to elevate all these efforts into little mini-gods. God was not satisfied with anything less than total surrender from His Son Jesus. He wanted Jesus to give ALL on the Cross. He will settle for nothing less from us.

What do you think? Do you think self determination should be a part of our walk with God?

Psalm 33:16The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.

The Real Jesus

2009-05-11T09:55:00.003-05:00

The world is upside down. It promotes and pumps out the exact opposite of what the Lord is trying to teach us. One of the ongoing themes of the Bible is Death Burial Resurrection. This theme is contrary to everything we selfish humans are inclined to live. Die? Be buried? Now the Resurrection part....now that part I can do...the glorious miraculous part.....I can handle that! But without a death and burial there cant be a resurrection. We too often try to bypass the dead and buried part.

The Bible teaches us that if you want to live then you have to die. If you want to be exalted then you have to be abased. If you want to be first then you have to be last. If you want to receive then you have to give. If you want to be wealthy then you have to become poor. If you want great friends you have to chose the poor outcast as your friend. All of this sounds hard doesn't it? But think about it.....our Lord Jesus Christ lived this way. Born in a stable He came as one who served. Clothed in humility. Taking the fall when falsey accused, not even opening His mouth.

His whole life was one of entire renunciation of His royalty. He redeemed the entire world through a display of weakness. Despising the shame....He endured. He made himself of no reputation. He asked/begged to let the cup pass but nevertheless......He died. God. Our Saviour came into town riding on a borrowed donkey. Washing feet. Fully God He became a servant.

We too have the power to redeem others as it is no longer our selfishness that lives but Christ and His humility in us. We too can change and transform lives. It may not be through a powerful display of mighty anointing. Perhaps like Jesus we can take the blame when wrongly accused. By giving and serving with no appreciation or reward. Forgiving and loving in spite of being wronged. By taking in the sins of others we are perpetuating the redemptive power of Christ. Loving and saving the enemy while they are yet sinners and enemies.Generously serving a husband who has sinned against us.Extending mercy and grace to the guilty.Now that is Christs way. We actually have the power to *save* others. By death humility and suffering.

Anyone want to really be like Jesus?

1 Peter 3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed.

One Another

2009-05-08T10:04:00.005-05:00

The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor, all the Law and the Prophets hang on this commandment. Law and Prophets mean the Old Testament(I think)...The Bible...Loving God and neighbor are the most important commandments and sums up the entire Bible! Now that is a powerful, isnt it? The entire purpose of the Bible and life and everything we do should be guaged on loving and serving Him and others. I thought this list might be a good reminder of exactly how we are to love *One Another*...

Bible “One Anothers”

Wash one another’s feet

Love one another

In honor preferring one another

Don’t judge one another

Receive one another

Salute one another

Greet one another

Serve one another

Don’t provoke one another or envy one another

Bear one another’s burdens

Forbear one another in love

Forgive one another

Teach and admonish one another with song

Comfort one another

Edify one another

Exhort one another

Consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.

Whos Tracking My Sons Pants?

2009-05-07T14:13:00.007-05:00

My dear sweet patient husband took us all shopping last weekend. Tommy Hilfiger was having a great sale so we purchased several shirts and pants for the boys. One of my sons brought me his new shirt and a pair of scissors to cut out a tag....not just any tag but a very unusual one that clearly had metal in it. At first I thought it may be a security device but upon further inspection determined it is a RFID tag. That stands for Radio Frequency Identification.I cut it open and in it are some metal strips and a tiny receiver. These tags are being used every where for many reasons. I must admit it is a little spooky to think that Mr Hilfiger is tracking my sons pants, but indeed that is what these tags are for.

Wal-Mart is requiring all their vendors to start using these tracking devices. They are used on everything from Orange Juice cartons to underwear. They are also being tested on pets and humans. RFIDs can be highly miniaturised, which makes it easy to conceal or incorporate them into tiny items. For example, in 2009 researchers at Bristol University successfully glued RFIDs to live ants in order to study their behavior.This trend towards increasingly miniaturized RFIDs is likely to continue as technology advances.

There are many many uses for these little transmitters. Passports, timing races, transportation , animal tracking, inventory, identity theft...huh? Identity Theft? Yep...sounds practical enough, but how much information do we want to share with Sam Walton or the Government? Who decides when enough is enough?

Self

2009-05-06T11:09:00.001-05:00

Pop psychology and political correctness have *hijacked* Christianity. Self esteem. Self acceptance. Self love. The whole world is on a crusade to convince us that we would all be happier and more content if we would just love ourselves more.

The Bible does indeed have alot to say about self......things like deny your self. Mortify the deeds of this body....(that means *Kill Yourself* in today's language). If you want to live you have to die. No man has ever hated his own flesh (self)....but he loves it and nourisheth it. We don't have low self esteem. No, we don't. We love ourselves. The Bible says we do. Ephesians 5:29 . We all love ourselves, and way too much.

The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. Notice He didn't say love yourselves He knew we already do that and quite well thank you. Jesus told us to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves because we love ourselves so much. He knew if we loved and served others like we do ourselves there would be no problems.

The world is upside down. The very thing that it seeks is the very thing God tells us to kill. Self seeking,self gratification,self esteem self importance all this selfishness is unBiblical. Very unBiblical. In fact the Bible says “let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Phil. 2:3). If you want to be first you have to make yourself last. John the Baptist prayed that he would decrease so our Lord could increase, and finally ....Jesus Christ our perfect example knew exactly what to do with this flesh. He became a servant and allowed his *self* to be nailed to a cross

Money

2009-05-01T13:16:00.003-05:00

Jesus talked about money more than He did Heaven and Hell combined.

Jesus talked about money more than anything else except the Kingdom of God.

11 of 39 parables talk about money.

1 of every 7 verses in the Gospel of Luke talk about money.

The entire book of James is about money and how to treat the poor.

I dont think God really cares about money, rather He cares about our hearts and He knows that every aspect of our lives is connected to money. Our view of money is a good indicator of how we love and serve others. God is not trying to gauge our checkbook but rather He knows that how we use our checkbook is directly connected to our hearts. Money is the thermometer God uses to take our hearts temperature.

Muslim Demographics

2009-04-29T23:28:00.002-05:00

Saw this yesterday and it literally sent chills up my spine!! What do you think?

Swine Flu

2009-04-28T23:28:00.006-05:00

Swine Flu
West NileVirus
Avian Bird Flu
Sars
The Huanta Virus
Mad Cow Disease
Ebola
Monkey Pox
AIDS
MRSA
The Killer Flesh Eating Disease
Lyme Disease

But the biggest epidemic with the most victims is.....FEAR! The devil would love to paralyze us with FEAR. If it isn't the Swine Flu its the economy or tainted Peanut Butter.
Not minimizing the risk just saying (to myself #1 because I'm a worrier) that God is on His throne and in control. The media likes to hype it up and report on these types of sensational *pandemics*. Again I am not saying we shouldn't use prudence but our God knows about this flu and He told us to not be anxious for ANYTHING including the Mexican Swine Flu.

Isaiah 41:10 encourages us “'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Reviews

2009-04-23T13:41:00.006-05:00

So yesterday I posted about how I tend to rely too heavily on Christan ministries and neglect the Minister Himself. Today I am going to post about some of the tools that have truly blessed me ...when used in moderation...of course.

Bro. Denny has put out this set of messages called THE GODLY HOME SERIES. Of all the ministries I have gleaned from, Bro Denny's is the most heart felt and heart changing. He speaks from the heart about gaining and molding our children's hearts. My husband and I have been so blessed by THE GODLY HOME SERIES. He gives it away if you cannot afford it. I highly recommend it.

Doug Phillips is the founder of Vision Forum Ministries. My husband and I saw him last year at a home school book fair. We have bought and been blessed by many of his resources. He is a little guy with a strong vision for families and particularly the generational momentum a Godly family can produce. He is also an awesome salesman. ;-)Good stuff. Worth a gander in my opinion.

Bill Gothard started his ministry way back in the 70s. He has never married and although he is in his older years still speaks around the country. My husband and a brother went and saw him in Dallas and his talk and resources changed my husbands life. My husband called from the conference choked up telling me about the wonderful vision that was being shared by Mr. Gothard. Good stuff but alot of *7 steps to Jesus* type stuff too so proceed with caution. Easy to get caught up in the methods and formulas he presents. He also has alot of rules and exclusive clubs that you can only be a member of if you pledge to follow the rules.

Micheal and Debi Pearl operate No Greater Joy Ministries. They have alot of practical child training resources. They are a bit self righteous and condescending but still put out alot of good helpful information. I think if you just follow the rigid side of this ministry without adding a hefty dose of grace and mercy you could be disappointed to discover your children are human. Debis book Created To Be His Helpmeet is a book every wife should read.

Above Rubies by Nancy Campbell is my favorite magazine and again it is free if you cannot afford a subscription. It comes out sporadically as they can afford to print. I love the adoption stories and appreciate the wholesomeness of this magazine.

So, have you used any of these resources? Were they helpful? Who has blessed your home?

Christianity For Dummies

2009-04-23T11:19:00.005-05:00

Bill Gothard, Michael Pearl,Vision Forum,Denny Kenaston I have bookshelves full of these ministries books. I love books about the Lord, homeschooling, family, and marriage. I will be the first to admit that I have had to repent over my reliance on books instead of The Book. I'm lazy and would rather read a book than take time to pray and listen. Just tell me what to do. I can check off the boxes. Relationship takes time and effort, plus God may tell me something I don't want to hear.

Some of these men who put forth these resources are 95% right and that is very attractive to me. I like right. Some of these men are very rigid and structured with 1.2.3. steps to a Godlier home. This appeals to me also. I like a reliable system. Just tell me what to do. Just show me the plans. Cultivate relationship with Jesus? Who has time for that?

We are all humans with separate and distinct personalities....family dynamics vary greatly. Only God knows what His will may be for each individual home, each child within the home.We cant look for a Vision Forum book to dictate our home/children's destiny.

Perhaps God purposely didn't make a rigid method for our home lives specifically because He wants relationship. He wants us to ask Him what to do. He knows we are all different and your answer may not be mine. We are married to Him. Every marriage is different.

I really don't think any of the parenting philosophies put forth by the ministries I mentioned are wrong in themselves it is the execution sans faith....Cain and Abel both offered a sacrifice....only Abels was accepted because it was brought in faith. Its not that God didn't like Cains vegetables....Cain just didn't offer it in faith.We tend to focus on the parenting style as the reason it did or didn't work and forget that God is always much more concerned with our hearts than He is our techniques.Its easier on the flesh to read a book and follow 1.2.3. than it is to pray and seek Him.

Selfish Satan

2009-04-21T08:34:00.001-05:00

"I will... I will... I will... I will... I will..." Isaiah 14:13 &14 KJV

Socialism

2009-04-20T10:15:00.001-05:00

An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a single student before but had, once, failed an entire class. That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.The professor then said ok, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism.All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A. After the first test the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. But, as the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too; so they studied little. The second test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around the average was an F. The scores never increased as bickering, blame, name calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else. All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great; but when government takes all the reward away; no one will try or want to succeed.Could not be any simpler than that.............THIS IS WHY THE CURRENT ADMINS ECONOMIC PLAN WILL NEVER WORK!!!!

The 7 Woes to The Pharisees

2009-04-18T10:30:00.002-05:00

Matt 23

The 7 woes to the Pharisees are the following criticisms:

1.Shutting the kingdom of heaven in men's faces.

2.Making converts twice as much a son of hell as the converters themselves are.

3.Claiming that swearing by the temple is nothing, but claiming that swearing by the temples gold is everything.

4.Obeying the minutiae of the law (such as giving up a tithe) but neglecting the important facets (such as justice, and mercy) - straining at a gnat but swallowing a camel.

5.Being shallow - cleaning the outside of the cup and dish but leaving the inside full of greed and self-indulgence.

6.Hypocrisy - appearing righteous but actually being full of wickedness, metaphorically like whitewashed tombs, beautiful on the outside, but full of dead men's bones.

7.Claiming that they would have behaved better than their forefathers - even though they build and respect the tombs of those who murdered the prophets.

Extreme Christians

2009-04-17T14:40:00.000-05:00

Jesus hated overly religious types. People that dressed a certain way but neglected relationship. I mean he really really hated them. In fact I can think of no other group of people that Jesus hated more than self righteous,inflexible,obstinate,religious conservatives.

Jesus called these guys hypocrites 5 times in one chapter. He also called them blind guides,blind fools and blind men. As if that wasn't enough, on top of that He called them children of hell and pronounced 7 woes upon them.

I could easily see my home falling into this trap of looking and living a certain way but neglecting relationship with Him. We homeschool, are faithful to church, carefully consider our giving, we dress a certain way, have daily family devotions, we are by most standards very very religious.

Like He told the Pharisees its not that we shouldn't carefully consider how we serve Him, its just that we should not leave the weightier matters undone...namely justice and mercy. Jesus using obvious sarcasm used the example of straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.

I want to cultivate relationship with Him. God. Your love.Your mercy.Your Word.Your grace.Your Spirit.You You You.

Did you know that Jesus Christ talked about His Kingdom and about serving others (namely the poor) more than any other subject? Him/Others. Him/Others. Him/Others. Relationship. Relationship. Relationship. He wanted us to learn how to love and serve Him and others. This is the ongoing theme of the entire Bible. The greatest commandment is to love God and the second greatest is to love others.

Humans

2009-04-16T13:08:00.005-05:00

I wouldn't dream of committing obvious sins like murder,adultery,getting drunk and robbing a bank.

I am a Christian, a serious, sold out, radical, separate type. I think the enemy knows this about me and many of those I fellowship with so he changes his tactics. He doesn't try to tempt me with blatant sin so he will try to get me to go overboard in other areas. Sometimes even good noble areas of Christian service and love.

Perhaps the enemy will get me so busy working with my home and family I forget about God. You know some people I know turn their child training into a religion. They are so serious about family and the convictions God has given them concerning the family they elevate their burden for a Godly family above God Himself.

Martha was so busy serving Jesus she missed out on...well...Jesus Himself.

Peter was so zealous and religious that Jesus called him Satan,rebuked him and withdrew His grace so that Peter would know that fleshly efforts don't work.

Eve was seeking knowledge about God when she sinned...seemed noble enough didn't it?

Paul said he considered all of his religious efforts and attainments to be dung.

Catholics worship the cross and Mary. They worship religion itself. I'm afraid Catholics are not the only ones worshipping a religion.

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians 3:3; ESV)

Me Church

2009-04-09T10:43:00.002-05:00

Undecided on whether life begins at conception

2009-04-06T09:45:00.003-05:00

President Obama on Abortion

Q: Do you personally believe that life begins at conception?

A: This is something that I have not come to a firm resolution on. I think it’s very hard to know what that means, when life begins. Is it when a cell separates? Is it when the soul stirs? So I don’t presume to know the answer to that question.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you..."Jer1:5

Pain & Pregnancy

2009-04-05T19:19:00.005-05:00

I’ve written a lot about how children are a blessing and a reward. About how there is enough generational momentum in just one child to change the world, but I don’t think I have written much about the fact that children are also a burden and a sacrifice.

God, I am trying to build your Kingdom. Careers are second. Physical appearances are second. My goals, my aspirations all of my own plans are second to your plan. My own health and finances are not as important as your creation. You, O Lord asked me to go forth, multiply and bring forth your kingdom. Nevertheless is a word that every content mom has to learn or in my case continue to learn...

Sometimes living out the will and plan of Christ is painful. Very painful. Lord, the pain you endured, the humiliation, that awful, wonderful cross was it worth all the children it produced? I can hear Him say... Yes, well worth it. In fact the cross and therefore subsequent children it bore were perhaps the most important things Jesus ever did.

I know this a dramatic post here. Can you all tell that I am dizzy, nauseous and trying to convince myself that pregnancy is a good idea?

In 1 Tim. 2:15, Paul says that women will be spiritually preserved (from Satan) by adhering to their God-ordained role related to family and the home. This is contrasted with Eve, who transgressed those boundaries and fell into temptation (v. 14).

Picking at the Word

2009-04-02T21:55:00.007-05:00

I overheard a brand new Christian asking an older Christian how she should go about reading and studying her Bible. The older woman whom I really admire said "My husband and I start at Genesis and read straight through."

Soon after that my Pastor talked about how we have become connoisseurs of the Word. We pick and choose. PRN. Like a picky eater with a toothpick choosing the best hors devours. Hmmm, Id like a little faith and maybe some encouragement, or I sure am anxious so I'll Google *Anxiety/Bible*. For a long time my favorite resource was Naves Topical Bible so I could just look up any topic I needed help with.

I have been guilty of studying what I needed without much regard to what He needs.

About 4 months ago we decided as a family to read the Bible through. We started at Gen 1:1. There is something revealed about the nature and plan of God when we read His Word starting at the beginning.

The Words of God were not recorded just so we could be delivered from depression, God has a plan, a long term plan to bring about His kingdom, our depression notwithstanding. I think it is hard to see the character and plan of God with just tidy little snippets that we can apply to our current crisis.Perhaps God would like us to use his book to reveal to us His plan and purpose instead of like a self help manual.

Psalm 119:4You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. 5 O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!

Dont Waste Your Cancer

2009-04-02T10:34:00.004-05:00

I appreciate John Pipers article about how we should allow our tests, trials and sufferings bring about the Kingdom. This is an excellent article written by Piper on the eve of his prostate surgery to remove cancer. We could easily take out the word *cancer* and insert the word suffering because these principals can certainly be applied to any suffering we are called to endure. The suffering of the cross is what brought about the will of God and when we endure our own *cross* we in a small way are hastening the coming of Christs kingdom. We cant have a resurrection without a death and burial.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Rom 8:18

Psalm 139

2009-03-31T21:15:00.002-05:00

"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You." (Psalm 139:13-18, NKJV)

The Lords Prayer

2009-03-31T10:00:00.002-05:00

Ever notice that the Lords Prayer hasn't one single I,Me, or My in it? The Lords Prayer is our model for daily prayer. The Lord told us explicitly to pray it daily. We do. As a family every morning before my husband goes to work we all pray the Lords prayer together.

I used to feel a bit uncomfy reciting it because that is how I spoke it for most of my life as a recitation in the Catholic church. It was part of the ritual. Real monotone and depressed sounding, we recited it often. That has changed and the prayer has taken on a new meaning for me.

First its *OUR* Father in a corporate sense. I think right there from the very beginning of the prayer God wants to remind us that we are not the only ones in need. We are so selfish sometimes. Try praying without saying I,me or my. Its hard. Our Father..... . There are others in this world.

Then praise and let Your kingdom come, Your will God....then finally we get to ask for our own needs....give us this day.....but even then it is not just MY needs its *US* and *OUR*.

Fathers Love Letter

2009-03-30T18:10:00.003-05:00

Honoring The Elderly

2009-03-28T11:09:00.006-05:00

It is sad to say that we really don't honor and reverence our parents like the Bible says we should. Only 1/2 of Americans think it is the children's responsibility to look after our parents and yet there is not one of us who isn't going to grow older and need help.(Unless the Lord chooses different).

Chinese people respect and honor their parents. It is a cultural obligation to look after the elderly in Asian countries. In these cultures, parents see themselves in their children, and Chinese, especially, are acutely aware that their offspring provide a continuum to their lives. Children who do not honor their parents are considered “worse than animals” in China. These strong ties are not made out of Christian service and yet we know and feel a special kind of respect for Asian cultures that know how to respect their elders. We Christians know its right. Its very sad when a predominantly atheist culture adheres to Biblical principals stronger than a country where virtually every home has a Bible and every Bible includes Exodus 12:20.

In America we all feel like we are autonomous. We stand alone. We are in a word~Selfish. Aging parents may hinder our careers, our love life's, our own personal freedoms. Its a cycle that we Americans have started and now it is accepted as the norm. To dump our kids in daycare to be cared for by strangers for the first 5 years and then onto public school where again our children are taught by humanistic underpaid strangers. We parents are dumping our children with the state, its no wonder that our children grow up and feel no guilt when they dump their parents with the same government that they were raised by.

Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Eph6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

Duet 21:18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, 19 his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. 20 They shall say to the elders, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard." 21 Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.

The Vanishing Word

2009-03-27T09:47:00.005-05:00

The Vanishing Word:

The Veneration of Visual Imagery in the Postmodern World,Arthur Hunt

This has got to be one of the most eye opening books I have ever read.When I considered posting about it I read through the first few pages and tried to catch a sentence or 2 that would convey the *heart* of the book and kept think the next sentence was more important than the last.

This book is about how Paganism is alive and thriving though in a different form today. We are in an image driven world trying to serve a Word based God. There has been a subtle yet systematic and successful attempt by the enemy to remove our desire for words that have meaning to flickering images that dull the mind.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Internet and TV have replaced the Golden calf. Even churches are moving towards 7 second sound bites,multi-media projectors and strobe lights. I attend a church whose Sunday School is changing its format into 7 minute segments so we can keep our children's attention. Puppets and balloon's are replacing Bible stories in hopes that we may win some.

The enemy knows that technology has the ability to eradicate our desire for the Word. It doesn't take a genius to tell us that our world has an insatiable appetite for visual stimulation.We no longer have much need for a Word based religion.The author contends that a media that promotes sex,violence and celebrity worship into 7 second flickers lest the viewer get bored is a direct assault on Christianity.

Get.This.Book! Make yourself read it. In 1991 75% of adults claimed to read for pleasure in the course of a week. In 1994 the figure dropped to 53%. I wonder what its down to now. We are a passive generation sucking in Hollywood's sludge. Its no wonder we could care less about each other but care more about TV placement in our homes.

We have not owned a TV in many years and yet we are all affected. Hollywood permeates everywhere we go and everything we do. This book is bone chilling.!!

Ec 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions

Human Efforts

2009-03-26T14:04:00.003-05:00

Legalism just means someone who keeps the law.God doesn't want that from His people rather He desires relationship. I think sometimes we categorize those who strictly adhere to an outward standard/rule as a legalist but really anyone can fall into the trap of trying to win His favor through human efforts. Even a good ol' Baptist may think that if they pray enough they can make it to heaven. A Catholic may think that reciting a ritualistic prayer and lighting candles may earn heaven or at least purgatory.

Conservatives think that long sleeves and abstaining from "I Love Lucy" make us holy enough. We are often very serious about the Lord and therefore choose to live a separate life, unfortunately if we fail to remember that our efforts are but filthy rags then we are no better than the Pharisees. Our standards have to be a fruit of the heart, adhered to because we love Him and others. A bowed heart will indeed bear precious fruit, problem is many are trying to hang good lookin' fruit on dead dried up trees.

He is enough.

Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Secrets

2009-03-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

Has the Lord ever shared a secret with you?

Mary knew how to keep a secret Luke 2:19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Nehemiah knew how to keep a secret Nehemiah 2:12 neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem:

The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. Psalm25:14

Books

2009-03-24T12:32:00.002-05:00

I am picking out a stack of books from my own bookshelves to read.

I buy alot of books, many online, Amazon, Ebay, but I also buy books from thrift stores and used book stores. I look for the oldest rattiest looking spines and find old treasures about Christ and religion, marriage and family.

I have found that most non fiction books written after the 50s and 60s are mainly self help, while many books written before that era are truly about helping and esteeming others. More about Christ and His character within us instead of how we can get Him to conform to our image.

Seriously think about it. So much of what is written in our modern times is about I,ME,MY. So any way here is my stack that I would like to read soon.

What are you reading? Leave me a comment, I would love to know.

Makeup

2009-03-23T10:38:00.006-05:00

1Ti 2:9
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

I love the Strong's concordance explanation of the word shamefacedness in this scripture. I think it sums up perfectly why I don't wear makeup. 1) a sense of shame or honour, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect.

I particularly love the part about regarding and respecting others. I don't wear makeup because I have regard and respect for others. I don't want to draw attention to myself. I don't want to gain the attention of a man who is not mine. I don't want to say "Hey look at me, I'm dressing up this decaying flesh", the very thing God has instructed us to deny. This root word aidōs for shamefacedness actually means reverence (Godly fear) in another scripture.

We should always remember that our standards don't make us holy....they help to make others holy. We lay down our lives and our selves even in this area of facial boldness...so that others may*live*. We don't want to tempt others. To draw attention with red lips and purple eyelids.

The Bible tells us clearly to be modest and shamefaced which literally means with downcast eyes. Makeup says look at me. Look at my eyes. Makeup makes the features bold and sensualizes. When you are writing a post or sending an email and you want to really make a point you make the important words BOLD. Now if you really want to make your point you make it bold and red.Cosmetics do the same thing. Meek and quiet spirits generally dont wear red lipstick.

You know one of the beautiful things about regarding others is that when we do, we in turn are respected. I think a woman who chooses to carefully consider others even in this area of makeup are often in turn more respected than a woman who has no regard for others.

Modesty

2009-03-21T20:04:00.006-05:00

Men are visual. God made them that way and therefore in a spirit of Christian love and service to our fellow brethren we should cover up.

Nothing screams *I'm legalistic and I could care less about others* more than a woman in a tight skirt and sweater. That is a woman who went down the checklist and though still*legal* has lost the spirit of God in the conviction. The conviction has become nothing more than a religious TRADITION. There is no love in tempting others.

Matt 5:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Notice the *with her* in this scripture. She is not innocent but is part of the adultery when she puts herself in a place that causes a man to lust after her.

Dressing modestly does not make us holy. It does not save us. Hes not impressed with our religious efforts. He does however command us set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Tim 4:12

Homeschool Socializatin Program

2009-03-19T16:35:00.001-05:00

DISCLAIMER: Please if you attend a public school or your children do, don't think I am trying to bash you or your choices. I found this little article to be hilarious and unfortunately familiar to my own public school experience. I understand that all schools and all children are different.

Australian homeschooling journal, --"In the Kolbe Little Home Journal (Fall 2005), "Homeschooling Family Finds Ways to Adapt to a Public School 'Socialization' Program",

"When my wife and I mention we are strongly considering home schooling our children, we are without fail asked, 'But what about socialization?--' Fortunately, we found a way our kids can receive the same socialization that government schools provide.

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the bathroom, give him a wedgie and take his lunch money.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the 'in' crowd, taking special care to poke fun at any physical abnormalities.

Fridays will be 'Fad and Peer Pressure Day.' We will all compete to see who has the coolest phone, the most expensive clothes, and the loudest, fastest, and most dangerous car.

Every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hall and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality.And we have asked them to report us to the authorities in the event we mention faith, religion, or try to bring up morals and values."

Characer Training

2009-03-19T11:06:00.004-05:00

Integrity,love,service,compassion,wisdom. All of these traits are much more important than math or science and yet there is no character training going on in our public school systems and very little character training going on in most homes today. Prov22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go...

What will come in handier the ability to control ourselves, our lusts and passions through out life or Algebra? Please dont misunderstand, certainly academics are important. Perhaps my sons will attend college and pursue a career in Bio-physical-chemical-engineering. Thats good and that will make a lot of money but if they could be engineers who know how to love and serve that would be better.
1 Cor 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way...

Character is not inherently present within us. No one is born longing to lay down their life. The exact opposite is the case. We are all born totally selfish. It is our goal as a parent to extract that *me* focus out of our children and insert an awareness and even a preference for others.
Romans 12:10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring
one another;

A couple of practical ways to teach our children to serve.

Volunteer to deliver Meals on Wheels. The kids do all the work. You simply drive the car.
Read biographies about people who served and loved others.
Call, make cards or food for shut-ins or new moms.
Have alot of children, this builds character wether we like it or not.
Submit to your husband.
Dont cater to wants. Stick to practical needs. (Personal note to self....remember this one..you hypocrite).
Wake up early.
Read and study the Proverbs. My son..........

Meekness

2009-03-13T14:58:00.001-05:00

I looked up MEEKNESS in the STRONGS concordance and this is one of the explanations I found.

Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time (Isa 41:17, Luk 18:1-8). Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will (Gal 5:23).

False Humility

2009-03-12T13:33:00.003-05:00

1 Corinthians, 4:3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear…

I'm too proud. Too self centered. Too selfish.

So I used to try to counter my own pride with alot of false humility I say false because fixing our focus on anything but Him is not humble and I was constantly trying to beat myself down into humility.

This is a trick we all fall for. We know we are human. Too human. We know we need Him desperately so what do we do? We look to self to fix the problem. We become introspective which is just another way for the enemy to get us to take our eyes off of Him and place them in our own navels. Discouraging isn't it? This rotten flesh is so discouraging. The enemy knows this, and if he cant get us to fall into blatant sin he will try to get us to focus on saving ourselves.

Galations 6:14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,