in the midst...

in the midst of everything that happens in our lives, we can so easily lose sight of what is truly important. what has eternal value.

the mercies of the Lord are new EVERY morning. ( Lamentations 3)

the love of God is unfailing. (throughout the Word!)

God delights in His children and rejoices over us with songs. ( Zephaniah 3)

When we encounter trials, we will not be overtaken by them. ( Isaiah 43 )

We can approach the throne of God with confidence through the blood of Jesus Christ. ( Hebrews )

these are just a few of the precious promises that are TRUE.

Thankful

I am thankful.

for life.

for salvation.

for the cross of Jesus Christ.

for His resurrection.

for amazing grace.

for the trials i pass through that form my character.

for God's most excellent Word, the Bible.

for a loving husband.

for each of our four children.

for family.

for friends.

for the local assembly we call "home".

for a warm home and bed to sleep in.

for a fridge full of food.

for cupboards and drawers filled with dishes and cups and silverware.

for a pantry full of dried goods.

for music.

for the birds and butterflies that love my garden.

for gardens.

for chocolate....dark, dark, chocolate.

for our 2 dogs.

for all the luxuries we take for granted.

i am so, so, thankful.

Stronger Shoulders

so thankful for church last night... so glad that that we can attend on Wednesday nights! 

I was reminded , through the message, of a quote that was shared on Sunday by Pastor Jeff by of his mentors:

  "We don't pray for lighter loads, we pray for stronger shoulders." 

Man, this has been on my mind. I needed the reminder last night. I needed to be reminded that there are trials we will pass through, but He is with us. He will strengthen us....We will not always get the load taken from us, but in Christ, we can have the strength to carry on. 

The past couple weeks have been tough for me, personally. Things are swell with my marriage, etc. It is other things. One area is coming to grips with the fact that it is looking like each of our children has dyslexia to some degree. This is a heavy load for me, as i am home-educating 3 of them. I already tutor our oldest in an Orton-Gillingham based system. This is time-consuming. I am amazed at how difficult it is for the middle two to write properly, read, and comprehend. For now, i am planning on having them tested using the Peabody test to see where they are at. We will move forward with things after that. 

God knows the details of the other areas i am struggling with, and i know that He is faithful to strengthen me, heal me, and comfort me. 

He is forming my character. 

I am choosing to be thankful, in EVERY circumstance, today. 

loving our enemies

One of Jesus' most difficult teachings is for us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-47).

um. yeah.

like trying to swallow a watermelon...whole.

but it must be possible.

it has to be.

not in our own strength.

but through the power of the Holy Spirit.

absolutely dependent upon Jesus Christ.

May His strength be made perfect in our weakness.

May He be glorified as we do the hard work, in His strength.

What is in there?

a question i am asking myself. What is in there? Well, where, exactly, you may be wondering?

each of these rocks has been collected over the years

answer:

my heart.

honestly, i don't like what i am seeing.

first, let me say that i love the Lord Jesus. He has redeemed my life from the pit. HE has purchased me with His own blood, that i might be made righteous. Amazing grace has truly saved a wretch like me. Because of the high price that was paid for me, i see even the smallest of offences as equal to the most heinous of sins. Sin. black, disgusting sin. Sin that my Saviour died for. My sin, that caused my Saviour to drink the cup of the wrath of God on my behalf, so that I might have HIS righteousness imputed to me. Incomprehensible. Humbling.

on a day to day basis, within the walls of my home, so much of what is in my heart comes out: a snappy reply, an exasperated sigh, a grumpy greeting, a "don't talk to me right now, or else" look. ouch.  When i am with others, i can kick in to my "self-preservation" mode pretty quickly: fear of what others think of me, fear that i may offend in some way, fear of not being "enough" for others... really just a bunch of self-centeredness! double-ouch. 

my own selfishness disgusts me. my husband works hard all day, and comes home to me not having even given much any thought to dinner. I claim i was too busy, too tired, too ______. Hmmm. he is tired too. he is busy too. he has had to fight battles all day at work, yet i claim i am too tired to make dinner. Lord, have mercy on me... a sinner. Yes, i have battles during the day. Homeschooling 3 of our kids definitely brings about some battles. But if i am completely honest, i do have time to make dinner. i do have time to get the house tidy, with the kids' help.  i DO have time. i obviously have time, since i am sitting here composing this post!!

i am not hopeless though. Our faithful God uses the challenges of my day to work His sanctification in me. I am seeing that i am in need. i am seeing that time in the Word is not something that can be compromised in my day, so that i can do other things. I am seeing that i am ever in need of grace.

if you are seeing an area in your own heart that needs cleansing, don't delay! Forgiveness awaits in the bountiful arms of our Great God, through our great Saviour, Jesus Christ!

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, 

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured, 

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Grace, grace, God's grace, 

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, 

Threaten the soul with infinite loss;

Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,

Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Grace, grace, God's grace, 

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?

Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,

Brighter than snow you may be today.

Grace, grace, God's grace, 

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

You that are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace, God's grace, 

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

~Julia H. Johnston

M2C Monday

AHHH! I am back with a Made to Crave Monday!

This is something i have not done for too long. This won't necessarily be about something specific from the book, as my copy is loaned out right now, but i do want to share about the lifestyle changes i have made, which were inspired by M2C.

I like to shop. We don't have extra money. THIS can be a PROBLEM. Especially when i have an Old Navy card (keep it for stuff 'n save deals, etc.). As i went through M2C again, i realized that i had to stop going to Old Navy. It has now been months since i darkened their door <sigh>.

no clearance racks.
no newest styles.
no crazy-colored shoes.
no kids clothes.

It is a place that i can go in and think i am just gonna get __________, and walk out with half the clearance rack! :-/

Made to Crave is not just about food. It is about ANYTHING that we turn to, instead of God, to fulfill our craving. Is shopping bad, in and of itself? no. Is food bad, in and of itself? no. When it becomes bad, or sinful, is when we forsake God and think a shopping bag or the pleasure of food is more important.

Real life example:
I have a bad day. I am emotional over something, and instead of turning to God FIRST, i go to Old Navy, because i think that THAT will put me in a better mood. What did i really need? I needed to go to God FIRST, and pray and spend time with Him. I need to get HIS perspective on the situation. When i do this, i find myself comforted far more than a shopping trip can comfort me... and without the GUILT, shame, condemnation! 

With FOOD, sometimes we just eat because we really love the food. We enjoy the simple act of sitting and savoring a snack. For me, even if it is a healthy snack, and i am NOT hungry, i am putting food above God. There are times that i "budget" food. Like dinner. If i have a glass of wine with dinner (yes, i do enjoy a glass), i will usually choose to NOT have dessert, due to the high sugar levels in wine. I will eat a small breakfast, usually not even feeling satisfied, if i know that i am going somewhere that brunch is being served... THEN, i only eat until i am satisfied..... NOT FULL.

 One area that is particularly tough for me is church get-together's. They almost always involve food of some sort (or sorts) and it all looks so good! Those are moments that i really have to walk in self-control.

That is what it seems to boil down to in many ways, isn't it? Self-Control.

Let us focus this week on turning to God to meet our needs, instead of food or shopping or_________.
Let us have HIS strength be our strength this week.

Anniversary & Birthday Bonanza

We are pretty busy around here from August 24th - September 12th! Here are the pics to show you why!


Our 15th Anniversary was August 24th

Hud's 13th Birthday
August 31st

Hudson's Birthday Cake
The layers insider are chocolate, white, and chocolate again!

Jeremiah's 10th Birthday
September 6th

Jeremiah's Birthday Cookie
It's a Venus Flytrap. Yes, I know that they don't really have
leaves. He loves being surprised by the shape!
Note: it caught a "fly"!

 

Grace's 7th Birthday! A Cookie-Star was her choice.
September 12th

As you can see, we are pretty busy for about a month! And before all that happened, I had surgery on my knee to reconstruct my ACL on August 8th. Been a BUSY summer around here!  We are also now homeschooling 3 of our 4 children, and began attending a new church back in the Spring!!

Thinking about getting back to blogging, as we are getting into the routines of Autumn around here. Finally finding snippets of time to post snippets of life.

A Parody

I asked on facebook that people come up with a parody to the Cheer's Theme about facebook. One of my friend's, Michelle, and not just a fb friend, came up with this... which i think is GREAT!!

Catching up with friends on facebook takes everything you got.

Taking a break from your real life doesn’t do a lot.

Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where people know more than just your name

And they don’t all act the sam...e

You want to be where you can see

That people are who they claim.

You want to be where everybody 

Isn’t vain.

~Michelle Buck

Momma

Magdalene has started a silly saying around here: "Don't mess with Momma!" I wonder if this had anything to do with it?

One Fun Dad

With Father's Day coming up, i thought this photo captured the fun our kids have with their Daddy. We were at Fort Snelling for World War II Days, and we had just watched a Swing Dance demo. After a while, we were waiting for the Gun Firing demo, and Gracie wanted to Swing Dance with her Dad. In front of countless people, he did it.

One of the many things i love about my man. He lives in the moment, savoring an opportunity to make a priceless memory with one of his children.

Turning Our Eyes

Thought i would walk through this simple chorus, and what it has meant to me this week.  :-)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Take your eyes off of anything else. Completely turn your eyes. Not just a bit. Not for just a moment. But completely, steadfastly, resolutely, fix your eyes on Jesus.

Look full in His wonderful face
definitions from dictionary.com (except for His) ~ 
Look: To turn one's eyes toward something or in some direction in order to see.
Full: Exactly or directly.
In: Used to indicate inclusion within space, a place, or limits.
His: the great I AM
Wonderful: excellent; great; marvelous.
Face: The front part of the head.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace!
As we turn our eyes toward Jesus Christ, all of the cares and worries here are put in perspective. As we turn our eyes to His excellent Word, we are reminded that this world is truly not our home. As we read and meditate on the Bible, we realize that the hooks of materialism and self-love loosen their grip. We see that it is truly ALL.ABOUT.HIM. all we do. all we say. all we are, to His glory.
When the things of earth, those things that we have set our affections on higher than Christ, grow dim, we can walk in freedom. The freedom given to us in Christ.

We start to see things from His perspective.
We love, because we finally see how He has loved us.
We give, because we finally see how much we have been given.
We forgive, because we know the depths of our own depravity, and how very much we have been forgiven by God in Christ.

We can simply be, because we know that our very breath is given to us by Him.

Idolatry

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth,

Will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace."

We sang this little chorus at the end of the service yesterday at Grace Community Bible Church, our new church home. I cannot express how much I needed to hear AND sing the words of this chorus. God knew, though, and there it was.


I think I need to back up. Years ago there were words spoken to me by someone who was a very close friend that have affected me in every relationship I have, creating in me a huge sense of insecurity and fear, even within my marriage. I say this to show you the power of words. Words can build up or tear down. And words last.

I am a blessed woman. I know this. I have wonderful friendships and a wonderful sisterhood around me. Truly, I know how blessed I am. Yet, the enemy of my soul loves to use the fiery dart spoken to me so long ago to cast a shadow over me. And I let him. ugh.


Seemingly out of nowhere, the flaming arrows come and pierce me. My response? To doubt and believe the lies. Why? I guess sometimes it just seems easier to believe the lie. Also, it gets at a place in me that I have struggled with for so long .... wanting to have value to others. I wonder, if we are all honest, don't we all long for that? Possibly it borders on people-pleasing. More likely, I wonder if we have made an idol of finding our value in what other's think of us, or how much we mean to other people? ouch. Oh, Lord, forgive me.

This weekend, the shadow was cast over me, and I reacted. I became emotional, crabby, and short with my kids. Why? Because I questioned my worth and value in a relationship. This really highlighted for me that I still struggle with what was said to me so long ago.

• That the enemy still had that hook in me. 
• That I am inherently a people-pleaser. 
• That I want recognition, adoration, accolades.
• That I want the praise of men. 
• That I want acceptance.

This is awful to write and to see in black-and-white. I am fighting back tears. Oh Lord, You are faithful to reveal the dark areas of our hearts. Forgive me.

In worship on Sunday, we sang beautiful, meaningful hymns and choruses. I was fighting tears numerous times, as we sang about our Saviour and what He accomplished for us, and the hope that we have in Him. I saw my own selfishness and how much i looked to humanity for value. I realized that I needed to shift my eyes to the Lover of my soul, and to get these hooks out of my heart. That I needed to let go of this world, and the affections I seek after here, and find all my needs met in Him alone. Only then, i believe, can i truly love freely, without fear. Only then can all of my relationships be free from the baggage of the past.

After the sermon (which was excellent!), i realized i needed to rest in God's sovereign grace. Then we sang a hymn and then the little chorus i opened with. How simple, and yet so profound..... Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Completely. Have your gaze FIXED on Him alone. This must be our perspective.

The things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the light of HIS glory and grace. It is through Jesus Christ that we can fully enjoy the blessings here, as we traverse upon this sod.

May we truly rest in Him. May we love without fear. May we bring Him glory and honor in ALL that we do.

Fridays with Frances

Be Not Weary.

Yes! He knows the way is dreary,

Knows the weakness of our frame. 

Knows that hand and heart are weary

He, 'in all points,' felt the same.

He is near to help and bless;

Be not weary, onward press.

Look to Him who once was willing

All His glory to resign,

That, for thee the law fulfilling,

All His merit might be thine.

Strive to follow day by day

Where His footsteps mark the way.

Look to Him, the Lord of Glory,

Tasting death to win thy life;

Gazing on 'that wondrous story,'

Canst thou falter in the strife?

Is it not new life to know

That the Lord hath loved thee so!

Look to Him who ever liveth, 

Interceding for His own:

Seek, yea, claim the grace He giveth

Freely from His priestly throne.

Will He not thy strength renew

With His Spirit's quickening dew?

Look to Him, and faith shall brighten,

Hope shall soar, and love shall burn;

Peace once more thy heart shall lighten;

Rise ! He calleth thee, return !

Be not weary on they way, 

Jesus is thy strength and stay. 

~Frances Ridley Havergal

Big Changes !

The past few months have brought about some pretty big changes in our home and in our family life. Months of prayer went into the changes we have made. I think i should start at the "beginning" if there is one :)

We have 4 children. This is no surprise. Our oldest is twelve, and is getting ready to move-up in the church youth system. This caused us to start to really examine youth groups, as we know them. Some pretty interesting things started popping up for us. 

For my husband, it started last summer at some point. He was convicted about not having a time of family worship. A time set aside daily, where we as a family could gather around God's Word and learn. He began doing this with our children in the summer, and I joined in later. He was inspired by the Drapper family in England. Theirs is a pretty neat story. 

It all started for me on October 31st. I listened to Family Life Today, which i rarely do! I was driving to my kids' school to drop something off, when the program came on. You can find it HERE. It is titled "Why Our Kids are Leaving the Faith". This got my attention. The numbers they shared were staggering to me. This prompted me to do more research, and it became clear that the percentage of kids leaving the church during the college years were astonishing... up to 80%! And they are saying now that these kids have "checked-out" as early as the junior high years in the church youth group. 

I believe it was around February that we watched a documentary called  Divided: The Movie. Find the link HERE...you simply have to sign up for a newsletter (which i have not received one yet) to watch it for free. Watching this gave us much to think about. Much. We talked about it and prayed about it. We searched the Scriptures. Finally, we came to a similar conclusion: we could find no basis in the Bible for dividing out the ages as much as we do in the church. Yes, this is how it has been done since early in the 20th century, but why?  With the stakes so high (our own children hitting these ages), we knew we had to do something. 

Growing in both my husband and i was a sense of wanting our children with us in worship service. We desired to worship with ALL the generations together, and not be so separated out. A verse that God has spoken to us clearly is this:

Thus says the Lord:

“Stand in the ways and see,

And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,

And walk in it;

Then you will find rest for your souls.

Jeremiah 6:16a

 Also, we began sensing that a smaller church might be a better fit for us as a family. This was not about style, etc. This was about a desire that God placed in our hearts to worship corporately with all ages and stages of life, via the singing of praises to our great God and the preaching of His most excellent, sufficient Word. 

In March, we began acting on what God had placed in our hearts...We began looking for a new local church to join ourselves to. We deeply desired to belong to a family-integrated church....and God blessed us. We believe that God has called us to join in His work at Grace Community Bible Church. It is a family-integrated church. This church stands firm, preaching the Word expositionally. Our children are enjoying it, and are jazzed to go each Sunday morning and Thursday evening. 

We are thankful for the years that God gave us at our former church. When we first walked through the doors there, we were needing to rest. It was a beautiful place to heal, connect, grow, and serve. We are grateful. 

We are also very excited for this next part of our journey. Grace Community is a newer church, just 3 years old. It is an exciting time to be a part of the story God is weaving together there. 

For His Great Name and Glory,

Jeanette

A Donkey & A Horse

Last night i was at a local church, and the Elder-in-training gave a short message on Jesus riding in on a donkey to Jerusalem. I was aware of some of the things that he stated, but one thing was interesting. Jesus used a donkey (colt of a donkey) to show he came in civil peace. That is what a King rode in on when he came in peace for civil affairs. Jesus came in peace, to purchase our peace with God.

But...

He is coming again. And this time, on a WAR HORSE, and not for civil peace! Revelation 19. He comes to make war with the nations. Kings would ride on horses in military victory. Think Alexander the Great and his trusty steed. Christ IS returning, on his WAR HORSE, with the armies of heaven behind Him. Amazing. He will wage war, and then bring peace at the consummation of the Ages.

If we are in Christ, we can trust that, indeed.....

"For He Himself is our peace..."

Ephesians 2:14a

If you would like to know the hope we have in Christ, here is a sermon that lays it all out....by Paul Washer. 

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?m=t&s=4181185011

M2C Monday & More

Dear Friends,

Today is supposed to be my Made to Crave Monday. I just don't have it in me to write much about it. So many other things are going on, that it is difficult to have a post about "my" progress. seems so shallow, compared to everything else.

I have continued to seek the Lord, instead of food, which is very important right now (although i CAN admit i ate a few too many mashed potatoes on Sunday). Had i been turning to food or shopping for comfort these past weeks, i would have missed precious times with my Lord. I would have missed the clarity that He has brought. i would have missed the comfort that only He can give. i would have missed diving deep in to the Word of God, which reveals His will for us.

God has been faithful. So much more faithful to me than food or shopping ever have been.

As the next days unfold, i am certain what is going on internally will make its way here, to the cyberworld. Right now, though, i cannot.

One verse He has been speaking to us, as a couple is Jeremiah 6:16:

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see,

and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, 

and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. (KJV)

~or~

Thus says the LORD:

Stand in the ways and see,

And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, 

and walk in it;

Then you will find rest for your souls." (NKJV)

M2C Monday

It has been a busy 2 weeks here. Not just with things to do, but with things to think about. I am sure over the next month, what has been going on upstairs (in my brain) will make its way out here. Just not yet. Things are still too fresh, and are still a little tender.

All that to say that i have NOT been working through the Made To Crave book the way that i want to, though I am applying the truths from it, and it has made such a difference. I haven't weighed myself since my last weigh-in (which you can now follow on the sidebar). My clothes are feeling looser (tops especially!) and my body feels healthier. Making better food choices, and eating until satisfied has made a big difference for me.

Evaluating my relationship with food has caused me to realize so many things about my own eating patterns. I saw that i eat often when i am bored...UH-OH! and when i am stressed. Now, i find something to clean, or go read a book with one of the kids. We have been playing some more games too.

The changes i have been making regarding food have not been easy, but they are SO worth it!

M2C Monday

this is short and sweet..

Over a year ago i met with my doctor, and i was at 196 pounds then. Slowly i made some changes, but my relationship with food was still pretty binding. i guess if we count way back then, i am already down 20 pounds :). Since January, i have been much more intentional. Working through M2C has made me realize that God must be the One who fulfills my cravings.

i have had a lot going on, but the lifestyle changes i have made are staying put, Praise the Lord!!

weighed-in at the doctor's office on the 15th, Thursday.....

Ready??

on February 17th i was at 179.1.
On March 15th i was at 176.6!!
 (and i have not shopped at Old Navy for months!)

YAY!!!

So, so thankful that God is working so much change in my heart regarding my relationship with food and shopping at Old Navy!

Defy Public Opinion

"We need ministers who will defy public opinion and, with flaming zeal, burn a way into men’s hearts."

~C.H. Spurgeon

This statement is so true! Lately my husband and i have been listening to some ministers who do exactly this. When listening to them, the Word of God pierces you with a ferocity that forces you to confront anything that is out of line w/ it. They preach with authority and without apology. These men do not use "pop-psychology" to engage the hearers, NO! They use the Word of God, and it is piercing. With so many churches watering down the gospel, these men are a breath of fresh air (or fire!). 

We attend a church where the Word of God is preached as well. Hear me when i say that! Yet i am so hungry to know more, so that i can be the brightest light i can be for Him! 

Who are the men that we are listening to? Fasten your seat belts....

• Paul Washer ~ One of his sermons, called Ten Indictments, has impacted me heavily. It is 2 hours long. He has many sermons online, and they are excellent. 
• Voddie Baucham ~ This sermon, at an Evangelistic conference, is a wonderful intro. to him. Just this past week, he was on Family Life Today talking about forgiveness in marriage.
• Alistair Begg ~ We have listened to him for years! Find him at Truth For Life. We listen to him every morning for a "chapel time" before we start our home-school day.
• John MacArthur ~ Fantastic... I enjoy using his study Bible. Find him at Grace to You. His book Charismatic Chaos brought some much-needed clarity as i was leaving the charismatic/pentecostal/vineyard movements. 
• R.C. Sproul ~ I have been listening to Renewing Your Mind, and have enjoyed his guest speakers.
• Ken Ham ~ WOW! Find him at Answers in Genesis. I am currently in a study that is going through his new Foundations curriculum. I highly recommend it to EVERYONE! 
• Doug Philips ~ Enjoyed his thoughts on a documentary i recently watched. Find him at Vision Forum.
• Steven Lawson ~ His series "The Doctrines of Grace in John" is amazing! Find him here. The first message i heard by him was called "War on the Word". wow! I heard "Doctrines in Grace" (link takes you to 1st of 12 messages) and "War on the Word" on Renewing Your Mind. 

Well, there you have it! Each of these men are the embodiment of what Spurgeon spoke over 100 years ago. These men HAVE NOT and DO NOT capitulate to the culture! And,  they take heat for it too. These men have counted the cost. They have looked at what it cost's them to preach the Truth, and are willing to pay the price. Now, are we willing to take stands that go against public opinion, and be counted as faithful messengers of the gospel of Jesus Christ? 

Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for hte sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 1 Peter 3:13-17

Plea That Applies Today

In Spurgeon's sermon on John 12:3, he makes a plea for men and women to be devoted. I quote it for you:

Beloved Friends, the Church of Christ needs a band of men and women full of enthusiasm who will go beyond others in devotion to the Lord Jesus. We need missionaries who will dare to die to carry the Gospel to regions beyond. We need ministers who will defy public opinion and, with flaming zeal, burn a way into men’s hearts. We need men and women who will consecrate all that they have by daring deeds of heroic self-sacrifice. Oh, that all Christians were like this, but we must at least have some! We need a bodyguard of loving champions to rally around the Savior, the bravest of the brave, Immortals and Invincibles, who shall lead the van of the armies of the Lord! Where are we to get them? How are they to be produced? The Holy Spirit’s way to train men and women who shall greatly serve Christ is to lead them to deep thought and quiet contemplation. There they obtain the knowledge and vital principle which are the fuel of true zeal. You cannot leap into high devotion, neither can you be preached into it, nor dream yourself into it, or be electrified into it by revivalism! It must, through the Divine energy of the Holy Spirit, arise out of hard, stern dealing with your soul and near and dear communion with your Savior! You must sit at His feet, or you will never anoint them! He must pour His Divine teaching into you, or you will never pour out a precious ointment upon Him!  ~Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Volume 55, Sermon no. 3174

Fridays with Frances: COME and SEE

The following entry is from Opened Treasures. It is a gathering of Frances's writings in a daily devotional format. One of my favorites! This one really struck me, as i desperately long for others to "come and see," yet i also realize i cannot force anyone to come.

COME AND SEE

Come and see. John 1:39

The Lord Jesus said it first. He said it to the two disciples of John who heard that He was the Lamb of God. They knew very little about Him, but they followed Him. Perhaps they would not even have ventured to speak, but, "Jesus turned, and saw them following," and spoke to them.The they asked Him where He dwelt, and He said, "Come and see!" Philip said it next. He had found Christ himself, and at once he told his friend Nathanael about it, "Come and see!" Is it not said still? Oh, "come and see!" Look into the Saviour's glorious and loving face, and see how ready He is to receive you, and to bless you. Come and see what He has done for you; see how He loved you and gave Himself for you; how He lived and suffered and bled and died for you ! Come and see what gifts He has for you - forgiveness and peace, His Spirit and His grace, His joy and His love ! Come and see where He dwelleth - see that He is ready to come in and dwell with you, to make your heart His own dwelling-place. Oh, if I could but persuade you to "come and see!" There is no other sight so glorious and beautiful. Will you not come? When you have come, when you can say, like Philip, "We have found Him!" and like Paul, "We see Jesus," will you not say to someone else, "Come and see!" You will wish every one else to come to Him, and you have His word to bid you try to bring them: "Let him that heareth say, Come!"

Hush! while on silvery wing of holiest song

Floats forth the old, dear story of our peace,

His coming, the Desire of Ages long,

To wear our chains, and win our glad release.

Our wondering joy, to hear such tidings blest

Is crowned with "Come to Him, and He will give you rest." 

~Frances Ridley Havergal

 

Monumental

My husband and i are attending this event. I encourage you to check it out :)

M2C Monday

i have missed writing about this! i had sick kids and was just had too much going on last week.

Things are still going really well. To be completely honest, i HAVE eaten a few times when i was NOT hungry. i just WANTED to, and didn't question myself as to "why?", which is what i usually do. Otherwise i have been doing really well. And when i did eat those few times out of boredom or whatever my reason was, i did NOT overeat :). It was literally just a small snack (even though i didn't need it).

Onward and Upward, as they say!! (who is "they" anyway?)

Finishing chapter one was great...and i finished chapter two as well. Answering the questions at the end of the chapter really made me have to think!

One quote from chapter 2 states: "God never intended for us to want anything more than we want Him." (Made To Crave, pg. 29) Isn't it funny how it takes seeing it in black and white to realize that truth. Or maybe we have heard it before, but NOW it really resonates.

One of the questions at the end of chapter two forced me to look at WHY i have decided to eat differently. The question is:
What reasons motivate your desire to eat healthier?My answers:

pic from here

• Set an example for my kids
• Lower my cholesterol
• Gain more energy
• Have a healthy relationship with food
• Honor the Lord with my eating habits and my body
• Have a healthier body

 Now it is out there. I really had to think about this. I knew there were multiple reasons i wanted to make changes, and this forced me to get them down on paper! Seeing it in black and white caused me to be even more motivated and committed to this new lifestyle of health. Knowing that my sons and daughters are watching me has made me see that if i am making healthier choices, they will too (eventually).

I also want to honor the Lord in EVERY area of my life! Food is no exception!! As i have submitted this area of my life to Him, i can honestly tell you it has made a difference. I am more tuned-in to my stress-levels, since i am making the conscious choice to NOT eat when stressed; to go directly to the Lord. Makes a HUGE difference.

Thanks for following on this journey!! It is most definitely changing me...from the inside-out.

Fridays with Frances: Poetry

Thy Reign.

"Righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Romans 14:17

Thy reign is righteousness,

Not mine, but Thine !

A covering no less

Than the broad, bright waves of Thy great sea,

That roll triumphantly

From line to pole, and pole to line;

A reign where every rebel thought

In sweet captivity

To Thine obedience is brought.

Thy reign is perfect peace; 

Not Mine, but Thine !

A stream that cannot cease,

For its fountain is Thy heart.  O depth unknown ! 

Thou givest of Thine own,

Pouring from Thine and filling mine.

The 'noise of war' hath passed away;

God's peace is on the throne,

Ruling with undisputed sway. 

Thy reign is joy divine;

Not mine, but Thine;

Or else not any joy to me !

For a joy that flowed not from Thine own,

Since Thou hast reigned alone, 

Were vacancy or misery. 

O sunshine of Thy realm, how bright

This radiance from Thy throne,

Unspeakable in calmest light ! 

Thy reign shall still increase !

I claim Thy word,

Let righteousness and peace 

And joy in the Holy Ghost be found,

And more and more abound

In me, through Thee, O Christ my Lord;

Take unto Thee Thy power, who art

My Sovereign, many-crowned ! 

Stablish Thy kingdom in my heart.

~by Frances Ridley Havergal in Evening Thoughts

What is Your Starting Point?

With all the debates that are going on these days, may i humbly submit this article for your consideration:

A well-known atheist in the USA was interviewing me in my office concerning the creation/evolution issue and the book of Genesis. The conversation went something like this: 

“So you admit that you start with the Bible?” she said to me.

“Yes, of course,” I replied.

“And you are not prepared to change anything the Bible states, are you?” she asked.

“No,” I said. “The Bible’s statements concerning creation, the Flood, and so on are not subject to change—God’s Word cannot be altered.”

“Ah,” she then responded, “that’s why creationists like you can never be real scientists. You see, real scientists like myself start with evidence... http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v5/n2/starting-point

It is written by Ken Ham, and is most excellent. He states that there are TWO starting points in every discussion: either the Bible, or man's ideas. Please read it...
As always, i welcome your comments below.


Be respectful.

Turn up the Heat

The book of Romans is amazing. Well, the whole Bible is amazing! In reading Romans lately, i am struck by chapter 1. We could start at the beginning, but i am going to share verse 16 here:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

Let's define ashamed, compliments of dictionary.com:

• Ashamed - 1. feeling shame; distressed or embarrassed by feelings of guilt,foolishness, or disgrace. 2. unwilling or restrained because of fear of shame, ridicule, or disapproval.

This is loaded. Paul says he is NOT ASHAMED to preach the gospel! He is not embarrassed, nor unwilling to preach because of fear.  Why should he be? He himself knew the transforming power of the gospel in his own life, and his primary concern was that people HEAR the GOOD NEWS!

Paul did not molly-coddle his hearers. NO! He spoke with authority, and challenged the "wisdom" of his day. Not once did he apologize for what Christ had done to redeem us. Not once did he state that people can remain in open, or private, habitual sin and still maintain that they are Christ-one's. Yes, Paul acknowledges that we still sin, but the difference is that we are grieved over our sin and are moved to repentance. we do NOT remain in sin.  


Can we, in all honesty, say that we are NOT ashamed of the gospel of Christ? I wonder. Do we capitulate to our culture? Do we quiet down or water down the gospel to make it more palatable to people? Are we preaching a Christ-centered gospel, or a man-centered gospel?

The days of tip-toeing through the tulips have got to be OVER. The darkness is getting very dark indeed. People are calling evil good, and good evil, just as the Bible said they would in Isaiah 5:20-21 - "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!". If someone dare call evil, evil they are labeled a hater or intolerant. Guess what? Calling evil, evil is exactly what we must do! And we must hold out the offer of hope that is found in Jesus Christ alone. In order to hold out that hope, we must not be ashamed of preaching the gospel.

There are those out there that are polluting the Gospel. They add to or subtract from the Good News. we are saved by grace through faith alone. Why would you want to take away from the Good News? Why add to the cross of Christ (which you can't do in reality)?
Preach the gospel... without shame and with boldness! Do not be afraid of what others may say.

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God".  


Galations 1:9  "as we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed."

Made to Crave Monday (M2C Monday)

179.1 on February 17

Here we are... i missed last week of blogging, as i had sick kids. Friday i took Jey to the doc, since he was complaining of an earache. Yep, ear infection. While there, i took the opportunity to weigh myself on the scale at my doctor's (upstairs from Pediatrics).

i had no expectations, as it had only been 17 days since i had last weighed-in.

coat and shoes off.

step on scale....

179.1!! WOW! i was down from 181.4 on January 31st.

so, so thankful for all the changes that God has wrought in my heart these past months. He is all to me. I am able to see food as fuel, and NOT as my comforter.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

I did have an interesting moment a week ago...
i have been eating smaller portions since i have been listening to my body to see when i am satisfied. One evening, i served myself dinner, and was already planning seconds while my first portion was still on my plate. I didn't quite finish my 1st serving, when i realized i was more than satisfied.. i was  FULL! I couldn't have eaten another bite! There went my big plans for seconds :)  This was interesting to me because it seemed like in just one day my stomach shrank!!

i am grateful.

Next week, more from the book :)

Questions

How often do we go along our day, not even thinking about why we are doing the things we are doing? This happens to me most days. It seems that we go on auto-pilot and just "go with the flow" of our culture. Over the last few months, i have had to answer this question. A friend introduced me to artist Beckah Shae, who's album Destiny has made me think through some tough questions. One song in particular, called 'Show Me' (lyrics at the end of this post) has been consistently on my mind. It asks all the hard questions. Why are we doing what we are doing? Why are we listening to the things we are listening to? Basically, why do we, as Christ-one's,  look so much like the world, when we are called to be in the world, but not of the world? 

I could not rest until i had really prayed through and was able to answer these questions. It was am amazing process, and i pray that God continues to refine me as i walk out what i believe He has spoken through His Word. 

Often, i am "nice" and not wanting to rock any boats. i have rocked too many in the past, and had felt that i didn't want to really talk about the hard things in order to keep peace. I can no longer live my life this way. God has given me a voice, and i intend to use it to proclaim His Word (the Bible). The days are getting short, and we have no time to worry about being "culturally relevant" which isn't even in the Bible. We have to be examining our hearts through the Word, and live our lives according to what is written in those pages. 

God's people were always called a peculiar people. All throughout the Old Testament you see how Israel was to be set apart, kept separate from the cultures around them. When they deviated and became influenced by the culture around them, God's judgement came. He chastised them, which led to their repentance, and so they cycle went for centuries. Christ came, and He did not become like the culture of His day in order to minister to the people. Christians (first called that at Antioch in the book of Acts) have been a "peculiar people" all throughout the ages. We are called to be different, to stand out from the culture..... but do we? 

Following are the lyrics to the song that has kept me thinking....

no...I will not perish for lack of knowledge
I'ma go there, got no fear, I'm not scared no

Revelation come! I wanna know why I'm...

Watchin what I'm watchin

Hearin what I'm hearin,

Doin what I'm doin

Consuming what I'm consuming

All the fishies swimming in the same direction

All swallowin, followin, with no hesitation

Buyin what they're buyin

Wearin what they're wearin, lovin what they're lovin

Going where everyone's goin

Where are all the questions?

In a world of mystery

I'ma keep searchin, till you show me

With both eyes open I won't sleep

I'ma keep searchin till You show me

I can hear it on the stereo, see it on the telly

Oh, no, I won't be deceived!

Illuminate the truth to me

I'ma keep searching till You show me

They're everywhere, signs symbols

Open up your eyes, cause there ain't much time

Till we're gonna go home

So watch what you're watchin, hear what you're hearin

Do what your doin, and know what you're consuming

Ignorance ain't bliss when your standing in the fire

There's a way that seems okay

Don't die, by a liar

So don't buy what they're buyin

Care what they're wearin, love how they're livin

And don't go where everyone's goin

Where are all the questions?

You are life, so open up my eyes.

You are mine, Jesus, and I will seek until I find,

the whole truth. So you won't see me fallin, for nothing but You, cause You are the truth!

~Beckah Shae "Show Me"

M2C Monday

Okay.. i am totally late in this today, and am not even gonna get a nice post here... had a busy day!

I DID go to my doctor last Tuesday, and it was fantastic. Got some much needed info and had bloodwork done.  Turns out that my vitamin D is pretty low, and my cholesterol is elevated. We talked about some dietary changes, and i will be checking in with him in about a month.

NOW... HERE is my STARTING WEIGHT for this journey:   181.4 pounds. GOAL: 155 lbs.

God has given me the strength needed! i am so excited to be on this journey. i will not be weighing myself at home. just when i go to check in at the doctor.

:)

Fridays with Frances

Your weekly dose of Frances R. Havergal :-)

Perfect Peace

Like a river glorious

Is God's perfect peace, 

Over all victorious

In its bright increase. 

Perfect--yet it groweth

Deeper all the way.

chorus: Stayed upon Jehovah, 

Hearts are fully blest,

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow

Of His blessed hand, 

Never foe can follow,

Never traitor stand. 

Not a surge of worry,

Not a shade of care,

Not a  blast of hurry

Touch the spirit there.

chorus: Stayed upon Jehovah,

Hearts are fully blest,

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest.

Every joy or trial

Falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial

By the Sun of Love.

We may trust Him solely

All for us to do;

They who trust Him wholly,

Find Him wholly true.

chorus: Stayed upon Jehovah,

Hearts are fully blest,

Finding, as He promised,

Perfect peace and rest.

M2C Monday

pic from HERE

okay, i have had a WEEK! i am sorry to say i will not have a M2C post today! BUT....

i am going to my doctor as another step in the "getting healthy physically" side of thing. Hoping to have my cholesterol & iron profiles done. then to talk about a healthy goal weight (which he told me before was 150, but i was not ready to accept that and we compromised at 165). I am ready to go "there" now.

I am also going to get a solid weight! my scale gets switched as it is analog, and my kids like to play with it. So, i will get a good weigh-in tomorrow. ACK!!!!

i have been turning to God more and more over food or other things... Glory to His name!!

How was your week? If you are reading this, i would love to hear from you :)

Fridays with Frances

an entry from Opened Treasures (posted this last year):

Our Lips For Him

The lips of the righteous feed many...The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable.

   Proverbs 10:21, 32

The days are past forever when we said, "Our lips are our own." Now we know that they are not our own. And yet how many of my readers often have the miserable consciousness that they have "spoken unadvisedly with their lips!" How many pray, "Keep the door of my lips,"when the very last thing they think of expecting is that they will be kept! They deliberately make up their minds that hasty word, or foolish words, or exaggerated words, according to their respective temptations, must and will slip out of that door, and that it can't be helped. The extent of the real meaning of their prayer was merely that not quite so many might slip out. As their faith went no farther, the answer went no farther, and so the door was not kept. Do let us look the matter straight in the face. Either we have committed our lips to our Lord, or we have not. This question must be settled first. If not, oh, do not let another hour pass! Take them to Jesus, and ask Him to take them. But when you have committed them to Him, it comes to this--is He able or is He not able to keep that which you have committed to Him? If He is not able, of course you may as well give up at once, for your own experience has abundantly proved that you are not able, so there is no help for you. But if He is able--nay, thank God there is no if on this side!--say, rather, as He is able, where was this inevitable necessity of perpetual failure? You have been fancying yourself virtually doomed and fated to it, and therefore you have gone on in it, while all the time His arm was not shortened that it could not save, but you have been limiting the Holy One of Israel. Honestly, now, have you trusted Him to keep your lips this day? Trust necessarily implies expectation that what we have intrusted will be kept. If you have not expected Him to keep, you have not trusted. You may have tried and tried very hard, but you have not trusted, and therefore you have not been kept and your lips have been the snare of your soul (Proverbs 18:7).  ~ Frances R. Havergal

I grew up in the late 70's early 80's. Graduated high school in 1992. In the early years, I knew the Word of Faith  and Charismatic movements. This was, at times,  married with the teachings of the Prosperity Theology. I just accepted everything as it was taught.

As a teen, I was not a Christian, which would call in to question if i ever was one as a youngster. I knew what to say, how to act, etc., but i truly don't believe i was "saved". I lived a life of absolute sin, which was the outworking of a lot of pain that i lived with. i cursed my Lord Jesus. God became nothing more than a genie in a bottle that i would call out to when i was so sad i couldn't breathe. I would play an old Amy Grant album or something, and just cry, or sleep.

I went through a treatment program the last part of my junior year in high school, for drug and alcohol addiction. you have to focus on a higher power, and i knew that the only one bigger than me could be God. So, i chose God to be my "Higher Power" for my program, and no more.

Finally the day came when i went to youth group with a friend that kept inviting me. I realized that i truly needed a Saviour. that i was a sinner. i became a Christ-one that night. Now, i still lived in a difficult situation, but i knew i wasn't alone....for the first time.

I started going to a charismatic church, since that was what i had grown up with. Then i ended up going to a Vineyard church. I remember the first time i went to the youth group (i was about 17). walking in, i could not believe that 70-90 teens could be worshiping the Lord. It blew my mind. Then, they actually had fun with each other, without drugs or liquor. i kept coming back, and ended up involved.

This is a huge flyover of many years of my life!  While in the Vineyard, the Toronto Blessing occurred, and it reached our area one month after it "broke out" there. I became heavily involved in it. heavily. Movements that were big as a result of this were called Third Wave, The River, Latter Rain, Vineyard, Pentecostalism, etc. Now, some of these were around before the Toronto onslaught, but some began during it.

 Eventually i met my husband at a Vineyard church. We ended up leaving that church, and attending a Pentecostal one. After a number of years there, we left there after a poor decision was made by the leadership (without consulting the members) that was against what the Bible teaches. We met with the Pastor and were told we just had to trust the leadership. We couldn't, so we left.

Eventually we landed at a Baptist church that is a part of the Baptist General Conference church (now called Converge Worldwide). It was a bit of a change for me, who was so used to the charismatic, pentecostal way of doing things. This church had order. no one shouting out at inappropriate times. no one saying things i couldn't understand. no one shaking. no one falling. no one drumming us up to emotionalism during the singing time. This made me really start to look into things. And what i discovered changed my life and freed me in ways i never imagined.

I was praying in my head (heart) for a friend's mom one night, who was dying of brain cancer, and i didn't know what else to say to the Lord. I had always been taught to just pray in a tongue when i prayed, so i started to. i happened to be rocking my daughter who was about 8 months old. i stopped, mid-rock, and said "i don't know what i am saying, and this seems strange. i don't even think God knows what i am saying." i put my baby in her crib, and went out to  the living room, directly to my Bible. I read all the verses i had ever used to defend my charismatic tendencies.  I read study notes that explained these verses, what the Greek originally really said. i was stunned. What i had been taught to "do" to directly talk with God was wrong. The TRUE gift of tongues is always a KNOWN language, and used to proclaim the Gospel or to edify. For more on this, please READ THIS by Dr. John MacArthur, Jr. God listened to me when i prayed in English.  I realized how i had been taught to place experience or "words" over what the Bible taught. ACK!

It has been a number of years now that my husband and i have been out of these movements. It cost us a lot to leave. We lost many, many friends when we left the Pentecostal church.
but....
I have walked in more freedom, and grown more spiritually under the solid teaching of the Word of God, more than i ever did through all the shakes, twitches, false tongues, and "experiences" in other movements. You honestly don't realize how much bondage there is in them, until you are on the other side of it.

So, what inspired this post? i am sure you may be wondering! i recently got back a couple of books i had loaned out. One is the book pictured above. i have been re-reading parts of it, and was once again reminded of what i have come out of. Recently i had been asking the Lord about what i had experienced all those years.  This book reminded me of how i had opened myself up to things that were NOT of the Holy Spirit. And it helped me realize that i am not alone.

The other book i have been re-examining is Charismatic Chaos by John MacArthur. This is an excellent book that examines the excesses of these movements. I knew some of the people in this book. i sat under their teaching and was blown on and knocked down by them. i know that what he writes about in this book is very real, and very much needs to be heard.

well, thanks for listening. If you have experienced the excesses of these movements, know that what happened to you was not right. Pick up The Other Side of the River, and give it a read. Pray and ask God for healing for your spirit, which was most likely wounded. Read and pray over God's most excellent and sufficient Word!

There is hope, and there is healing.

I would love to hear your thoughts :)