I had eight names I put in a hat and shook them up really good and then my husband drew out the winner. And the winner is.....
Domestically Inclined!
Send your mailing address to me at truthsetsfree@clarkston.com and I will package up the book and send it to you the next time I go to town this week. I'll email you when it is on its way. I hope you enjoy it.
I almost forgot to post my age! LOL! Showing my age here with my bad memory!
I was 24 years old when we got married on August 20, 1983. I turned 25 years old on August 23, 1983. So that makes me 51 years old this last August 23, 2008. Most of you guessed I was 50 this year. It was kind of a trick question, huh? That is why I decided to put everyone who was brave enough to guess in the drawing. I was afraid no one would figure it out.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Devotion: Belly-aching Over Affliction?
Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
When you are in the middle of trials, do you ever think about the fact that God may be the One causing your affliction? We tend to look at trials and afflictions as being evil and coming from the Evil one. But this is not necessarily true. Take a look at this verse:
When you are in the middle of trials, do you ever think about the fact that God may be the One causing your affliction? We tend to look at trials and afflictions as being evil and coming from the Evil one. But this is not necessarily true. Take a look at this verse:
The Psalmist says that the Lord has afflicted him! Why has the Lord afflicted him? There are a number of reasons the Lord afflicts us. Among them are the following:Psalm 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
God brings trials and afflictions our way to teach us to stay close to Him and to keep His word. He also brings them to teach us to learn His statutes or another word would be commands. In other words that we might learn obedience to His word.
Another reason God might bring affliction into our lives is to teach us humility and to teach us that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
How often have we looked back and saw how God has been faithful to us through the trials of our lives only to look at the trial and affliction in front of us and begin to belly-ache about it? I can't tell you how often I have done this very thing. Our trials and afflictions are designed to sanctify us, to make us more holy and godly people. Are we allowing that to happen? It's a big challenge, but one that I need to take on more seriously. We need to look at our trials and afflictions as opportunities to learn what God has for us to learn through them, rather than belly-aching about the inconvenience they are as I so often catch myself doing.2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My
strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Birthday Giveaway: Last Call
These six people have been brave enough to try to guess my age and are entered in the drawing to win my devotional book. If your name is not included and it should be, let me know or if you want to be included, enter a guess in the comment section and I'll add your name to the hat.
I will do the drawing Sunday afternoon. I'll put all the names in a hat and let my husband draw out the winner.
Here are the names so far:
Momtofivekids
Kamewh
Nancy Peake
Ruby (mouth)
Domestically Inclined
Homeschool Mom of Four
I will do the drawing Sunday afternoon. I'll put all the names in a hat and let my husband draw out the winner.
Here are the names so far:
Momtofivekids
Kamewh
Nancy Peake
Ruby (mouth)
Domestically Inclined
Homeschool Mom of Four
Gluten Free Dining
If you live near Walla Walla and feel like splurging on a good meal, check out the Marcus Whitman Hotel. They have a wonderful restaraunt and many of the items on the menu are gluten free. The meal will run you about $56 for two including a tip, but the atmosphere and food are absolutely fantastic. Just tell your waiter or waitress you need a gluten free meal and they will point out all the gluten free meals on the menu for you.
Another place a gluten free person can eat is in Couer d'Alene at the Bonsai Bistro. Just ask them for their gluten free menu. This is another spendy place, so be prepared to spend a little over $50 plus tip for a family of four. It's a bit less spendy than the Marcus Whitman Hotel. The Bonsai Bistro serves up Japaneses food.
Jamba Juice in Couer d'Alene is another place you can get a gluten free treat. Click the link to go to a gluten free menu for Jamba Juice.
Another place a gluten free person can eat is in Couer d'Alene at the Bonsai Bistro. Just ask them for their gluten free menu. This is another spendy place, so be prepared to spend a little over $50 plus tip for a family of four. It's a bit less spendy than the Marcus Whitman Hotel. The Bonsai Bistro serves up Japaneses food.
Jamba Juice in Couer d'Alene is another place you can get a gluten free treat. Click the link to go to a gluten free menu for Jamba Juice.
Marsha's Musings: Two Articles Worth Thinking About
I recently learned that we will be voting in WA State on whether or not to legalize Physician Assisted Suicide. This is a very scary proposition to me. So I am posting a couple of articles I found on the issue for you to read and think about. Even if you don't live in WA, you state may soon decide to put this on your ballots. So be informed.
http://www.redcounty.com/washington/2008/08/assisted-suicide-not-worth-dyi/
Assisted Suicide Not Worth Dying For
Posted by: Angie Vogt 08/02/2008 10:16 AM
Initiative 1000 (I-1000) advocates point to Oregon, our neighboring state on the left coast, as a model to look for in their "Death with Dignity" movement. Oregonians passed their own assisted suicide law about ten years ago, but advocates have been unsuccessful since then in keeping their movement alive.
I wonder which part of the law these nihilists think will appeal to Washingtonians the most. Could it be the convenience factor that allows a patient to request their death serum by phone? Or perhaps it's the efficiency it affords overworked and underpaid doctors, who can simply fax the prescription to any drug store. Or perhaps, Washington state will be the second state in the country to see the clear and convincing cost-benefit analysis of offering a cheap death rather than pay for all those expensive life saving options like chemotherapy.
A recent report by Fox News explains that the state of Oregon offers that exact rationale to it's citizens, in particular to 53-year-old Randy Stoup of Dexter, Oregon who suffers from prostate cancer. He was informed by letter that the state wold happily cover the cost of physician assisted suicide, but, darn it, just couldn't cover the cost of chemotherapy.Palliative care, which requires continuous close observation in administering pain relief and comfort to the dying is also expensive...and that's a luxury many "bottom line" bean counters just aren't willing to pay for. Tag the toe, put them in a drawer, that's what "death with dignity" advocates are all about.
This is what happens when a society hands over health care to large institutions, be it the government or private actuary driven insurance. The truth is, the one who pays has the power and in Oregon at least, the very value of life itself has been relinquished to the state.
In my weekly column in the Federal Way Mirror, I explain the philosophical underpinnings of the death movement. The one area where center-right politicos like myself do not cave in to fiscal pressures is where the value of life is concerned. In fact, Thomas Jefferson himself stated that "the preservation of life and not it's destruction" is a certain duty of government.
To learn more go to the No Assisted Suicide website.
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/227080.html
Physician-assisted suicide symptom of broken system
• Published September 28, 2007
window.storyid = '227080';
Comments (12)
Washington state is no place for the Oregon-style legalization of physician-assisted suicide.
Many people with whom I frequently see eye to eye disagree with me on this point. They view the issue simply as one of personal choice. They are mistaken because, for many, the only real choice would be death.
When so many people are uninsured or have inadequate access to medical care, who can choose to receive preventive health care? How many can choose to be diagnosed in time to undergo life-saving treatments? It is cruel to beat the drum of choice when so many are effectively left to choose between death and death.
Then there is the matter of pain. Nobody wants to be in pain and nobody should have to be. Advocating death as a solution to pain is extreme and betrays a lack of ingenuity. Pain does not have to be uncontrollable; it can be effectively managed. By enacting progressive drug policy, we would make more effective pain management strategies available to doctors and their patients and assuage their fear of prosecution. Rather than pave the expressway to death, the Legislature could provide incentives for researchers who expedite the development of innovative drugs and pain-management tools.
Physician-assisted suicide is less about choice or pain management than power. If legalized, physician-assisted suicide will inevitably align the power of the state, big money interests and a broken medical system. If the state sanctions the participation of medical professionals in the killing of patients, the matter transcends the individual who dies. We cannot divorce ourselves from policy decisions made in our name. As citizens, we would all be complicit, by extension, in these deliberate deaths.
Even under the best circumstances, people face disadvantages in navigating state and medical systems. Is it reasonable to expect a person to negotiate with these powerful interests at a time when he or she is likely to have the least energy or emotional reserve? These circumstances are ripe for abuse.
Some who support physician-assisted suicide argue that Oregon- style safeguards will prevent abuses. But in Oregon, the records regarding implementation of physician-assisted suicide are destroyed. There is no way to independently audit them. We are left to trust that the records were accurate and the people who recorded them were truthful.
The American medical system has a long record of bias. Disparities in access to care based on race, class and gender are well documented. Is it so great a leap to think that a system with a record of perpetuating bias could abuse its power to promote death as a management strategy to achieve cost savings?
As a person with a life-long disability, I am all too familiar with the institutional power of the modern medical industry. Like many, I have experienced the consequences of being objectified and discredited within that system. Those who are considered inconvenient, who require too many resources, or who fail to meet an arbitrary health standard, are too likely to be the casualties if death passes for compassionate health policy. I fear that death will become the logical expectation of a system that prizes cost savings above people.
Joelle Brouner, a member of The Olympian’s Diversity Panel, is a disability rights activist who can be reached at joellebrouner@earthlink.net.
http://www.redcounty.com/washington/2008/08/assisted-suicide-not-worth-dyi/
Assisted Suicide Not Worth Dying For
Posted by: Angie Vogt 08/02/2008 10:16 AM
Initiative 1000 (I-1000) advocates point to Oregon, our neighboring state on the left coast, as a model to look for in their "Death with Dignity" movement. Oregonians passed their own assisted suicide law about ten years ago, but advocates have been unsuccessful since then in keeping their movement alive.
I wonder which part of the law these nihilists think will appeal to Washingtonians the most. Could it be the convenience factor that allows a patient to request their death serum by phone? Or perhaps it's the efficiency it affords overworked and underpaid doctors, who can simply fax the prescription to any drug store. Or perhaps, Washington state will be the second state in the country to see the clear and convincing cost-benefit analysis of offering a cheap death rather than pay for all those expensive life saving options like chemotherapy.
A recent report by Fox News explains that the state of Oregon offers that exact rationale to it's citizens, in particular to 53-year-old Randy Stoup of Dexter, Oregon who suffers from prostate cancer. He was informed by letter that the state wold happily cover the cost of physician assisted suicide, but, darn it, just couldn't cover the cost of chemotherapy.Palliative care, which requires continuous close observation in administering pain relief and comfort to the dying is also expensive...and that's a luxury many "bottom line" bean counters just aren't willing to pay for. Tag the toe, put them in a drawer, that's what "death with dignity" advocates are all about.
This is what happens when a society hands over health care to large institutions, be it the government or private actuary driven insurance. The truth is, the one who pays has the power and in Oregon at least, the very value of life itself has been relinquished to the state.
In my weekly column in the Federal Way Mirror, I explain the philosophical underpinnings of the death movement. The one area where center-right politicos like myself do not cave in to fiscal pressures is where the value of life is concerned. In fact, Thomas Jefferson himself stated that "the preservation of life and not it's destruction" is a certain duty of government.
To learn more go to the No Assisted Suicide website.
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/227080.html
Physician-assisted suicide symptom of broken system
• Published September 28, 2007
window.storyid = '227080';
Comments (12)
Washington state is no place for the Oregon-style legalization of physician-assisted suicide.
Many people with whom I frequently see eye to eye disagree with me on this point. They view the issue simply as one of personal choice. They are mistaken because, for many, the only real choice would be death.
When so many people are uninsured or have inadequate access to medical care, who can choose to receive preventive health care? How many can choose to be diagnosed in time to undergo life-saving treatments? It is cruel to beat the drum of choice when so many are effectively left to choose between death and death.
Then there is the matter of pain. Nobody wants to be in pain and nobody should have to be. Advocating death as a solution to pain is extreme and betrays a lack of ingenuity. Pain does not have to be uncontrollable; it can be effectively managed. By enacting progressive drug policy, we would make more effective pain management strategies available to doctors and their patients and assuage their fear of prosecution. Rather than pave the expressway to death, the Legislature could provide incentives for researchers who expedite the development of innovative drugs and pain-management tools.
Physician-assisted suicide is less about choice or pain management than power. If legalized, physician-assisted suicide will inevitably align the power of the state, big money interests and a broken medical system. If the state sanctions the participation of medical professionals in the killing of patients, the matter transcends the individual who dies. We cannot divorce ourselves from policy decisions made in our name. As citizens, we would all be complicit, by extension, in these deliberate deaths.
Even under the best circumstances, people face disadvantages in navigating state and medical systems. Is it reasonable to expect a person to negotiate with these powerful interests at a time when he or she is likely to have the least energy or emotional reserve? These circumstances are ripe for abuse.
Some who support physician-assisted suicide argue that Oregon- style safeguards will prevent abuses. But in Oregon, the records regarding implementation of physician-assisted suicide are destroyed. There is no way to independently audit them. We are left to trust that the records were accurate and the people who recorded them were truthful.
The American medical system has a long record of bias. Disparities in access to care based on race, class and gender are well documented. Is it so great a leap to think that a system with a record of perpetuating bias could abuse its power to promote death as a management strategy to achieve cost savings?
As a person with a life-long disability, I am all too familiar with the institutional power of the modern medical industry. Like many, I have experienced the consequences of being objectified and discredited within that system. Those who are considered inconvenient, who require too many resources, or who fail to meet an arbitrary health standard, are too likely to be the casualties if death passes for compassionate health policy. I fear that death will become the logical expectation of a system that prizes cost savings above people.
Joelle Brouner, a member of The Olympian’s Diversity Panel, is a disability rights activist who can be reached at joellebrouner@earthlink.net.
Homeschool: Setting up Lesson Plans
One of the best tools I have found for setting up homeschool lessons plans is Homeschool Tracker. I would be lost without this software program. After I have entered all the information, each school day or week I can print off an assignment list for my children. Lately, I have gone to printing off weekly lists. This saves time and my kids can work ahead if they choose too.
It prints grade reports, time spent reports, chore lists, assignment lists, high school transcripts and much more.
I also enter their chores in this program and print off a weekly chore list for each of them. It can be used as a reminder or to do list for me if I enter myself as a student, but I have my own planner book for my chores, so I don't use it like this except for occasional reminders.
I also use this program to keep track of my children's voluteer work time and reading lists.
If we end up needing to reschedule school work, it is easy to do. No more erasing and rewriting assignments in the assignment book multiple times when schedules go awry!
You can download a free basic version of this program that works well if you have elementary age children. If you have high school children and want to do high school transcripts I'd recommend buying the full version. It is only $49. It is well worth the money spent. There is also a user forum where you can converse with other users and get support.
Check it out...you might find it is just what you need!.
It prints grade reports, time spent reports, chore lists, assignment lists, high school transcripts and much more.
I also enter their chores in this program and print off a weekly chore list for each of them. It can be used as a reminder or to do list for me if I enter myself as a student, but I have my own planner book for my chores, so I don't use it like this except for occasional reminders.
I also use this program to keep track of my children's voluteer work time and reading lists.
If we end up needing to reschedule school work, it is easy to do. No more erasing and rewriting assignments in the assignment book multiple times when schedules go awry!
You can download a free basic version of this program that works well if you have elementary age children. If you have high school children and want to do high school transcripts I'd recommend buying the full version. It is only $49. It is well worth the money spent. There is also a user forum where you can converse with other users and get support.
Check it out...you might find it is just what you need!.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Marsha's Musings: Respectable Sins Update
After reading my chapters and doing the work book on Monday for our women's study on "Respectable Sins", I was put to the test and failed miserably on Tuesday.
We were planning to install a new hard drive on our computer and remove the second hard drive and replace it with the old main hard drive. I needed to backup all my files from the second hard drive or move them to the main one before the installation was done. We agreed we would do it a week from this past Tuesday. I figured I had a week to do what I was supposed to do and to contact Net Nanny to ask what would be the best way to move that program from the second hard drive to the main one.
Tuesday evening I was gone and when I came home I found my husband had a friend come over and they had already made all the hard drive switches before I had a chance to contact Net Nanny. It was disastrous. Our computer was basically rendered useless because of the errors Net Nanny kept throwing at us at every turn. Removing the program was virtually impossible. Needless to say, we were both angry. I was in trouble for not getting the stuff taken care of on the second drive and I was mad because I thought I had a week to do it when in reality I was given 24 hours. It was not a pretty picture.
I went to bed in tears because I was so mad I could have chewed nails. After went to bed then I began to think about the study "Respectable Sins" and then I was mad at myself because I knew I was sinning with my attitude and actions.
The next day was no better. Nothing worked on the computer and I wasted untold hours on it. I was clearly in need of another attitude adjustment. I went to Women's Bible study Wed. night and during the discussion we were talking about sins of the tongue and when we criticize our husbands behind their backs to our children. I just sat there with tears running down my cheeks as the women were talking about this. I had to go home and confess my sin to my children and apologize to my husband for the ugliness that spewed from me.
As I write this post, our computer is finally fixed and working right. Net Nanny is running the way it should. I learned a lot about my heart and where I need to really work on my attitudes.
I expect that as we progress through this study, that the Evil One will be attacking all us in ways we never imagined and God will allow things to come into our lives to test us and reveal our weaknesses in our characters. I covet your prayers in the months ahead. Already it is one of the hardest studies I've been involved in.
We were planning to install a new hard drive on our computer and remove the second hard drive and replace it with the old main hard drive. I needed to backup all my files from the second hard drive or move them to the main one before the installation was done. We agreed we would do it a week from this past Tuesday. I figured I had a week to do what I was supposed to do and to contact Net Nanny to ask what would be the best way to move that program from the second hard drive to the main one.
Tuesday evening I was gone and when I came home I found my husband had a friend come over and they had already made all the hard drive switches before I had a chance to contact Net Nanny. It was disastrous. Our computer was basically rendered useless because of the errors Net Nanny kept throwing at us at every turn. Removing the program was virtually impossible. Needless to say, we were both angry. I was in trouble for not getting the stuff taken care of on the second drive and I was mad because I thought I had a week to do it when in reality I was given 24 hours. It was not a pretty picture.
I went to bed in tears because I was so mad I could have chewed nails. After went to bed then I began to think about the study "Respectable Sins" and then I was mad at myself because I knew I was sinning with my attitude and actions.
The next day was no better. Nothing worked on the computer and I wasted untold hours on it. I was clearly in need of another attitude adjustment. I went to Women's Bible study Wed. night and during the discussion we were talking about sins of the tongue and when we criticize our husbands behind their backs to our children. I just sat there with tears running down my cheeks as the women were talking about this. I had to go home and confess my sin to my children and apologize to my husband for the ugliness that spewed from me.
As I write this post, our computer is finally fixed and working right. Net Nanny is running the way it should. I learned a lot about my heart and where I need to really work on my attitudes.
I expect that as we progress through this study, that the Evil One will be attacking all us in ways we never imagined and God will allow things to come into our lives to test us and reveal our weaknesses in our characters. I covet your prayers in the months ahead. Already it is one of the hardest studies I've been involved in.
Marsha's Musings: Respectable Sins?
Our women's group at church is starting a study through Jerry Bridges' book, "Respectable Sins". Just looking at the table of contents makes me want to hide under my bed. He hits on things like ungodliness, anxiety & frustration, discontentment, unthankfulness, pride, selfishness, lack of self control, impatience & irritability, anger, judgementalism, envy, jealousy, sins of the tongue, and worldliness. He calls them respectable sins because we tend to tolerate them in our lives and maybe even make excuses for them, while pointing out the grosser sins of others.
I've read the first three chapters and done my study guide homework. I can see this will be a challenging study. Who likes to have their "pet" sins exposed? Jerry says that sin is sin no matter how small we think it is. All sin is breaking God's law. All sin is despising God's word and God Himself. Ouch.
I shared some of this with a friend of mine, and he said, "Well, we all have short-comings or we wouldn't be here in the first place." This just illustrates a point Jerry makes about our society minimizing sin. My friend apparently felt that we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves.
Jerry talks about how society has minimized sin....the disappearance of sin from society. A person didn't "cheat" ....they simply made a bad choice. He didn't lie, he just embellished the truth a little bit. She didn't commit adultery, she just had an affair. Homosexuality is simply an alternate life-style. He didn't steal from his employer, he just took what was rightfully his anyway....he deserved it. Our society and we as Christians have softened what sin is, so it is easier to tolerate.
Thankfully, Jerry also has chapters on the remedy for sin, and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us deal with sin and he has a chapter on directions for dealing with sins. At least he doesn't leave us high and dry.
I will probably post more on this as our study gets under way....
I've read the first three chapters and done my study guide homework. I can see this will be a challenging study. Who likes to have their "pet" sins exposed? Jerry says that sin is sin no matter how small we think it is. All sin is breaking God's law. All sin is despising God's word and God Himself. Ouch.
I shared some of this with a friend of mine, and he said, "Well, we all have short-comings or we wouldn't be here in the first place." This just illustrates a point Jerry makes about our society minimizing sin. My friend apparently felt that we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves.
Jerry talks about how society has minimized sin....the disappearance of sin from society. A person didn't "cheat" ....they simply made a bad choice. He didn't lie, he just embellished the truth a little bit. She didn't commit adultery, she just had an affair. Homosexuality is simply an alternate life-style. He didn't steal from his employer, he just took what was rightfully his anyway....he deserved it. Our society and we as Christians have softened what sin is, so it is easier to tolerate.
Thankfully, Jerry also has chapters on the remedy for sin, and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us deal with sin and he has a chapter on directions for dealing with sins. At least he doesn't leave us high and dry.
I will probably post more on this as our study gets under way....
Frugal Friday Tips
It's Frugal Friday!If you would like some frugal tips click on the icon above. It will take you to a website dedicated to Frugal Tips.
Save yourself the cost of a plumber & the agrivation of tearing apart your sink next time your bathroom sink gets clogged up and you can't reach the clog to clean it out. If you have a wet/dry vacuum or a Rainbow or some other similar vacuum, just remove the plunger from your sink drain and position the end of the hose over the drain hole, make a seal as best you can and let her rip. I had spent most of the morning messing around trying to unclog my sink and was nearly ready to either tear the pipes apart or call a plumber when my daughter suggested using the vacuum. It cleaned my clog out in less than a minute! My Rainbow has earned its keep. I was ready to get rid of it because it is too cumbersome to use in a tri-level home. But it just saved me $100 in plumber bills.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Birthday Giveaway!
Don't forget to post a comment and guess my age. I have had very few people guess my age...in fact only one was brave enough. My husband suggested maybe people don't want to offend me and I had never even thought of that! LOL! So I will give you all some hints to help and I have decided to put everyone brave enough to guess in the drawing!
Here are some hints:
1. I was married at the age of 24.
2. I just had my 25th Wedding Anniversary
3. We were not able to have any children for ten years after we got married.
4. My oldest is 15 years old.
Good at story problems? Hope so!
Here are some hints:
1. I was married at the age of 24.
2. I just had my 25th Wedding Anniversary
3. We were not able to have any children for ten years after we got married.
4. My oldest is 15 years old.
Good at story problems? Hope so!
Christian Misconceptions or Truth?
Christian Misconceptions or Truth?
I was recently asked if the following were Christian Misconceptions or Truth. I posted my answers...what would you say?
1 - Once you become a Christian, God will solve all of your problems.
Nope! When you become a Christian that's when all your troubles begin!!! Joseph abandoned by his brothers, Job lost his family and possessions, Apostle Paul had his thorn in the flesh, many of the apostles were martyred. Need I say more?
2 - Becoming a Christian means giving up all fun and following a life of rules.
When God saves a person, He plants in them a desire to obey His commands and do good works. What's more, He gives them the ability to have joy and peace in spite of their circumstances. And who says you can't have fun as a Christian? We are always joking around and having fun at home and with our friends at church. We can go out and enjoy some recreation or entertainment just like the next guy...it's just that we are more picky about what kind not because we feel we are "following the rules" but because we just don't have a desire for stuff that isn't God-honoring.
3 - All Christians are loving, perfect people.
Not till heaven! We try and we fail and we try again, but since we have remaining sin, it will always raise it's ugly head when we least expect it. That's why we have the Christians bar of soap...1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." It's not sinless perfection, it's Christ's righteousness covering our sin so God doesn't have to see it, but we have to repent and confess.
4 - Bad things don't happen to truly godly Christians.
Yes they do! Once again, look at Joseph, Job, Apostle Paul and many of the martyrs.
5 - Christian ministers and missionaries are more spiritual than other believers.
No they aren't! They have all the same problems the rest of us do and maybe have to fight it even harder than we do because they are always held up to scrutiny.
6 - Christian churches are always safe places, where you can trust everyone.
I agree with this: For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God!
7 - Christians should never say anything that might offend someone or hurt someone else's feelings.
God never flatters us. He even says our righteousness is as a filthy rag. If that isn't offensive I don't know what is!
8 - As a Christian you should not associate with unbelievers.
On the contrary, how will Christians ever influence others for Christ if they stay closed up in their Ivory Palaces?
9 - Christians should not enjoy any earthly pleasures.
If it is not sinful, then everything in moderation.
10 - Christians always feel close to God.
Nope. Sometimes it seems as if God is silent and distant. But those are the times that our faith can be exercised the most made stronger.
Leave a comment if you like or copy the questions and answer them on your site and leave me a link, and tag someone else.
I was recently asked if the following were Christian Misconceptions or Truth. I posted my answers...what would you say?
1 - Once you become a Christian, God will solve all of your problems.
Nope! When you become a Christian that's when all your troubles begin!!! Joseph abandoned by his brothers, Job lost his family and possessions, Apostle Paul had his thorn in the flesh, many of the apostles were martyred. Need I say more?
2 - Becoming a Christian means giving up all fun and following a life of rules.
When God saves a person, He plants in them a desire to obey His commands and do good works. What's more, He gives them the ability to have joy and peace in spite of their circumstances. And who says you can't have fun as a Christian? We are always joking around and having fun at home and with our friends at church. We can go out and enjoy some recreation or entertainment just like the next guy...it's just that we are more picky about what kind not because we feel we are "following the rules" but because we just don't have a desire for stuff that isn't God-honoring.
3 - All Christians are loving, perfect people.
Not till heaven! We try and we fail and we try again, but since we have remaining sin, it will always raise it's ugly head when we least expect it. That's why we have the Christians bar of soap...1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." It's not sinless perfection, it's Christ's righteousness covering our sin so God doesn't have to see it, but we have to repent and confess.
4 - Bad things don't happen to truly godly Christians.
Yes they do! Once again, look at Joseph, Job, Apostle Paul and many of the martyrs.
5 - Christian ministers and missionaries are more spiritual than other believers.
No they aren't! They have all the same problems the rest of us do and maybe have to fight it even harder than we do because they are always held up to scrutiny.
6 - Christian churches are always safe places, where you can trust everyone.
I agree with this: For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God!
7 - Christians should never say anything that might offend someone or hurt someone else's feelings.
God never flatters us. He even says our righteousness is as a filthy rag. If that isn't offensive I don't know what is!
8 - As a Christian you should not associate with unbelievers.
On the contrary, how will Christians ever influence others for Christ if they stay closed up in their Ivory Palaces?
9 - Christians should not enjoy any earthly pleasures.
If it is not sinful, then everything in moderation.
10 - Christians always feel close to God.
Nope. Sometimes it seems as if God is silent and distant. But those are the times that our faith can be exercised the most made stronger.
Leave a comment if you like or copy the questions and answer them on your site and leave me a link, and tag someone else.
Homeschool: Apathy Toward this School Year....
I'm having a hard time getting myself in the mood to start school the day after Labor Day. I feel like bagging it for a couple more weeks because I don't feel like I have really had much time off from it and wanted to accomplish so much more around the house first. But I know I can't do that. For one, it would send the wrong message to my kids. It would tell them that school isn't all that important and other things are, such as the fact that I just don't feel like doing it right now.
I guess I need to bucke down with my own attitude toward this coming school year. I suppose my own attitude can influence them and how they look at the coming year and how they decide to conduct themselves. This business of leading by example is tough. I fail in so many areas. Could this be an area of weakness that Satan has found to attack me in? I think so.
Do you have areas of weakness that you struggle with? Beware, the Enemy knows our weaknesses and he will use them against us! Put on the FULL Armour of God to stand against his attacks and pray, pray, pray!!!!!
I guess I need to bucke down with my own attitude toward this coming school year. I suppose my own attitude can influence them and how they look at the coming year and how they decide to conduct themselves. This business of leading by example is tough. I fail in so many areas. Could this be an area of weakness that Satan has found to attack me in? I think so.
Do you have areas of weakness that you struggle with? Beware, the Enemy knows our weaknesses and he will use them against us! Put on the FULL Armour of God to stand against his attacks and pray, pray, pray!!!!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Birthday Giveaway!
Don't forget to post a comment and guess my age. I have had very few people guess my age...in fact only one was brave enough. My husband suggested maybe people don't want to offend me and I had never even thought of that! LOL! So I will give you all some hints to help and I have decided to put everyone brave enough to guess in the drawing!
Here are some hints:
1. I was married at the age of 24.
2. I just had my 25th Wedding Anniversary
3. We were not able to have any children for ten years after we got married.
4. My oldest is 15 years old.
Good at story problems? Hope so!
Here are some hints:
1. I was married at the age of 24.
2. I just had my 25th Wedding Anniversary
3. We were not able to have any children for ten years after we got married.
4. My oldest is 15 years old.
Good at story problems? Hope so!
Marsha's Musings: My Daughter is Brilliant!
Read the post on Clogged Drains and Attitude Adjustments first below this one.
After I finished writing that post about the clogged drain and my need for an attitude adjustment, I went back to the clogged sink. The vinegar and baking soda had bubbled up some of the stuff that was clogging the drain, but it was out reach for me to pull it up. I was searching the kitchen drawer for a turkey baster to suck it up with when my daughter said, "Hey, why don't you just use the vacuum cleaner?" What brilliance!
I got out the Rainbow Vacuum that we rarely use (it's too cumbersome to haul from floor to floor & my tendonitis arms can't take it). I put that baby together, held the end of the hose over the drain and tried to make a seal the best I could with it, turned it on and wow! I could feel the gunk vibrating down the hose and after I ran it a couple of times there was quite a horse tail laying in the sink. When I went to empty the resevoir outside....eeeeewwww! Large chunks of gunk and black water! Our sink runs great now! I never would have thought my vacuum would be a necessary plumbing tool.
Well, off to the next plumbing problem....the toilet upstairs is not working right now. My daughter tells me it barely has any water going into it....my husband messed with it a few days ago because of this. I think something else is clogged in the toilet tank. Hmmmm....I wonder....can I use the vacumm on that too????? Stay tuned.
After I finished writing that post about the clogged drain and my need for an attitude adjustment, I went back to the clogged sink. The vinegar and baking soda had bubbled up some of the stuff that was clogging the drain, but it was out reach for me to pull it up. I was searching the kitchen drawer for a turkey baster to suck it up with when my daughter said, "Hey, why don't you just use the vacuum cleaner?" What brilliance!
I got out the Rainbow Vacuum that we rarely use (it's too cumbersome to haul from floor to floor & my tendonitis arms can't take it). I put that baby together, held the end of the hose over the drain and tried to make a seal the best I could with it, turned it on and wow! I could feel the gunk vibrating down the hose and after I ran it a couple of times there was quite a horse tail laying in the sink. When I went to empty the resevoir outside....eeeeewwww! Large chunks of gunk and black water! Our sink runs great now! I never would have thought my vacuum would be a necessary plumbing tool.
Well, off to the next plumbing problem....the toilet upstairs is not working right now. My daughter tells me it barely has any water going into it....my husband messed with it a few days ago because of this. I think something else is clogged in the toilet tank. Hmmmm....I wonder....can I use the vacumm on that too????? Stay tuned.
Marsha's Musings: Clogged Sinks & Attitude Adjustments
As I write this, it is Tuesday the 26th and I am waiting for the stuff to drain down the sink. Our sink has been draining sluggishly for a couple weeks now. My husband is not a plumber nor mechanically minded. He thought he would help out and poured some stuff down it that is supposed to keep septic tanks from backing up. Then he used the toilet plunger on it. Now it is so clogged up stuff won't even drain at all. It just sits there looking gross.
I thought maybe there was a bunch of hair caught up around the plug, so I got out my wrench and flashlight and a small plastic tub to catch drips and got under the sink and removed the nut that hold the bar in place that holds the plug in place. (If you understand that, then you're pretty good!) I was amazed to not find any hair wrapped up around the plug. I poked a screw driver down the drain, hit on something soft and tried to bring it up. But alas, it seems I pushed it down further. I wasn't able to pull anything up out of the drain. So I have poured baking soda down and vinegar and let that bubble up. So far no success.
I am working against the clock. I have physical therapy at 10:30 for my sore neck/shoulder muscles. I want to finish this plumbing job before I go to PT because if I have to work on it after PT, then my PT time is really a waste. I'll undo all my PT will have worked to fix for me. So I am stressed.
My attitude needs adjustment now. It's kind of like that clogged drain pipe. Things are starting to back up. What is really getting me is the first three chapters I read last night in a book by Jerry Bridges called "Respectable Sins". Since I read in that book, it seems the areas of sin that are easy to excuse keep popping up...anger, impatience, critical spirit, etc. It's like I am being tested to see if I really paid attention....I have a feeling as I go through this study with the ladies of my church that I am going to have a lot of things pop up that will test my resolve to work on these sins.....
Well, back to the sink and the clogged up drain...and the attitude adjustments.
I thought maybe there was a bunch of hair caught up around the plug, so I got out my wrench and flashlight and a small plastic tub to catch drips and got under the sink and removed the nut that hold the bar in place that holds the plug in place. (If you understand that, then you're pretty good!) I was amazed to not find any hair wrapped up around the plug. I poked a screw driver down the drain, hit on something soft and tried to bring it up. But alas, it seems I pushed it down further. I wasn't able to pull anything up out of the drain. So I have poured baking soda down and vinegar and let that bubble up. So far no success.
I am working against the clock. I have physical therapy at 10:30 for my sore neck/shoulder muscles. I want to finish this plumbing job before I go to PT because if I have to work on it after PT, then my PT time is really a waste. I'll undo all my PT will have worked to fix for me. So I am stressed.
My attitude needs adjustment now. It's kind of like that clogged drain pipe. Things are starting to back up. What is really getting me is the first three chapters I read last night in a book by Jerry Bridges called "Respectable Sins". Since I read in that book, it seems the areas of sin that are easy to excuse keep popping up...anger, impatience, critical spirit, etc. It's like I am being tested to see if I really paid attention....I have a feeling as I go through this study with the ladies of my church that I am going to have a lot of things pop up that will test my resolve to work on these sins.....
Well, back to the sink and the clogged up drain...and the attitude adjustments.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Birthday Giveaway!
Don't forget to post a comment and guess my age. I have had very few people guess my age...in fact only one was brave enough. My husband suggested maybe people don't want to offend me and I had never even thought of that! LOL! So I will give you all some hints to help and I have decided to put everyone brave enough to guess in the drawing!
Here are some hints:
1. I was married at the age of 24.
2. I just had my 25th Wedding Anniversary
3. We were not able to have any children for ten years after we got married.
4. My oldest is 15 years old.
Good at story problems? Hope so!
Here are some hints:
1. I was married at the age of 24.
2. I just had my 25th Wedding Anniversary
3. We were not able to have any children for ten years after we got married.
4. My oldest is 15 years old.
Good at story problems? Hope so!
Homeschool: Clinging to the Rock
Philippians 4:6 Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
How often have I had this verse drilled into my head and heart? I bring my requests to God, endeavor to leave them there and not worry and stew about them. But what guilt it brings when I realize I am suffering from stress-related health problems! Then I beat myself up for letting the stresses of life affect me. Is this the way God meant it to be? I don't think so.
Can a person "be anxious for nothing..." and still be affected physically by the stresses he or she encounters? Does being affected physically by these things necessarily mean I am sinning by being anxious?
Think about the unsheltered tree on the side of the cliff by the ocean. It is beat up daily by the forces of the wind and the rain. Its roots cling to the rock. Its appearance is twisted and gnarled due to the stresses put upon it. The more stress it endures the deeper it sends its roots down to cling to the rock. Physically, it might be short, missing limbs, bent over and not looking all too good. The stresses of life have affected it. But what we don't see is the tree's root system clinging to the rock and becoming stronger and stronger with each gale that hits it.
We may be under a tremendous amount of stress as we home-school our children. We may have stress in other areas of our lives as well. Our bodies can take only so much before stress related diseases and conditions begin to show up. Of course it is important to take measures to do all we can to manage the stress in our lives, but sometimes we just can't do anymore about it. We become like that beat up tree on the cliff side. It's not a sin that our bodies break down under stress. The sin is in being anxious about the stress. That only adds more stress to what we are dealing with. The storms of life will beat you up and possibly break you down physically, but let those storms make you stronger spiritually as you send your roots deeper, clinging to the Solid Rock.
How often have I had this verse drilled into my head and heart? I bring my requests to God, endeavor to leave them there and not worry and stew about them. But what guilt it brings when I realize I am suffering from stress-related health problems! Then I beat myself up for letting the stresses of life affect me. Is this the way God meant it to be? I don't think so.
Can a person "be anxious for nothing..." and still be affected physically by the stresses he or she encounters? Does being affected physically by these things necessarily mean I am sinning by being anxious?
Think about the unsheltered tree on the side of the cliff by the ocean. It is beat up daily by the forces of the wind and the rain. Its roots cling to the rock. Its appearance is twisted and gnarled due to the stresses put upon it. The more stress it endures the deeper it sends its roots down to cling to the rock. Physically, it might be short, missing limbs, bent over and not looking all too good. The stresses of life have affected it. But what we don't see is the tree's root system clinging to the rock and becoming stronger and stronger with each gale that hits it.
We may be under a tremendous amount of stress as we home-school our children. We may have stress in other areas of our lives as well. Our bodies can take only so much before stress related diseases and conditions begin to show up. Of course it is important to take measures to do all we can to manage the stress in our lives, but sometimes we just can't do anymore about it. We become like that beat up tree on the cliff side. It's not a sin that our bodies break down under stress. The sin is in being anxious about the stress. That only adds more stress to what we are dealing with. The storms of life will beat you up and possibly break you down physically, but let those storms make you stronger spiritually as you send your roots deeper, clinging to the Solid Rock.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Awards!
I was pleasantly surprised to recieve two awards from My Life and Homeschooling blog. Thank you! It was an encouragement for me!
The rules of this award are:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated.
Here are the rules:
1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator (it's right on the award)
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must choose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award (see below.)
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.
Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times--we are all human).
2. Must love one another.
3. Must make mistakes.
4. Must learn from others.
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world.
6. Must love life.
7. Must love kids.
I am going to nominate the following 7 blogs for these awards:
Blessed With Grace
Domestically Inclined
From Diane's Standpoint
The Beauty of Sufficient Grace
Stephen Hardy's Blog
Let's Homeschool
Lymeade Homeschool
The rules of this award are:1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated.
Here are the rules:
1. The recipient must link back to the awards creator (it's right on the award)
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must choose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award (see below.)
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.
Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times--we are all human).
2. Must love one another.
3. Must make mistakes.
4. Must learn from others.
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world.
6. Must love life.
7. Must love kids.
I am going to nominate the following 7 blogs for these awards:
Blessed With Grace
Domestically Inclined
From Diane's Standpoint
The Beauty of Sufficient Grace
Stephen Hardy's Blog
Let's Homeschool
Lymeade Homeschool
Birthday Giveaway: Hints!
Don't forget to post a comment and guess my age. I have had very few people guess my age...in fact only one was brave enough. My husband suggested maybe people don't want to offend me and I had never even thought of that! LOL!
So I will give you all some hints to help and I have decided to put everyone brave enough to guess in the drawing!
Here are some hints:
1. I was married at the age of 24.
2. I just had my 25th Wedding Anniversary
3. We were not able to have any children for ten years after we got married.
4. My oldest is 15 years old.
Good at story problems? Hope so!
So I will give you all some hints to help and I have decided to put everyone brave enough to guess in the drawing!
Here are some hints:
1. I was married at the age of 24.
2. I just had my 25th Wedding Anniversary
3. We were not able to have any children for ten years after we got married.
4. My oldest is 15 years old.
Good at story problems? Hope so!
Parenting: Internet & Kids
We made a big mistake a couple years ago. We allowed our daughter to have an Internet connection in her room so she could listen to Odyssey at bedtime. Our local station had discontinued it. That was all the connection was to be for. We were kind of stupid and naive.
Before we knew it, she was doing email, creating web sites, Google chat, Google Talk, blogs, gaming, surfing the web and who knows what all.
I began to read horror stories of kids who had Internet access unsupervised and how it all began innocently enough.
My daughter's school work suffered last year because of all the time she spent on Google Talk and other Internet pursuits. My son began to beg to have Internet in his room too. We decided we had to put on the skids.
Our daughter no longer has her Internet plug. All the plugs are under lock and key now. We installed a trial of Net Nanny and it seems to working good. The kids are now limited in what they can do on the Internet and how much time they can spend. I can track what they are doing by frequent reports that I get and have access to.
My daughter is not happy about it but she seems to be accepting her lot. We sat her down and explained why we did it....not to punish her but to protect her, help her manage her time better to get her school work done this year and to be fair to her brother since he will not have Internet access in his room either now.
All of this is more inconvenient for me since I now must share the computer with two kids and a husband instead of one kid and a husband. But the peace of mind it affords me is well worth it.
As time goes, I'll tell more about Net Nanny and how it is working for us.
Before we knew it, she was doing email, creating web sites, Google chat, Google Talk, blogs, gaming, surfing the web and who knows what all.
I began to read horror stories of kids who had Internet access unsupervised and how it all began innocently enough.
My daughter's school work suffered last year because of all the time she spent on Google Talk and other Internet pursuits. My son began to beg to have Internet in his room too. We decided we had to put on the skids.
Our daughter no longer has her Internet plug. All the plugs are under lock and key now. We installed a trial of Net Nanny and it seems to working good. The kids are now limited in what they can do on the Internet and how much time they can spend. I can track what they are doing by frequent reports that I get and have access to.
My daughter is not happy about it but she seems to be accepting her lot. We sat her down and explained why we did it....not to punish her but to protect her, help her manage her time better to get her school work done this year and to be fair to her brother since he will not have Internet access in his room either now.
All of this is more inconvenient for me since I now must share the computer with two kids and a husband instead of one kid and a husband. But the peace of mind it affords me is well worth it.
As time goes, I'll tell more about Net Nanny and how it is working for us.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Birthday Giveaway!
Don't forget to post a comment and guess my age. If you guess my age correctly you will be entered in a drawing for my Sufficient Grace for Suffering Saints Devotional. The deadline for the drawing is August 31.
Devotion: Sudoku
Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity
In Sudoku puzzles, you have a grid of 81 small squares divided up into sets of 9. There are random numbers already in some of the squares and your job is to get numbers 1 through 9 into each of the sets, not repeating any number in the set or in the up and down culumns or right to left rows that the number is in. It's quite a challenge. Many times I have started out right, only to come down to the end of it and find I have messed up somewhere along the line.
There is a spiritual parallel to be seen here. It reminds me of what Jesus said in Matthew 7 above.
Here is the sad case of those who have gotten part of the puzzle right but not all of it. They started out with good intentions and even got part of living the Christian life right. They know God expects His people to do good works and they got that part right. But they failed to get the rest right. Where did they mess up? They messed up when they thought their good works would gain them merit with God entrance into His presence. Ephesians 2:8-9 says:
Don't put the cart in front of the horse. Salvation always comes first, then the works in God's economy. Making the mistake of thinking that works will earn us a place in heaven and merit before God is a mistake with sad eternal consequences. Please don't make that mistake.
In Sudoku puzzles, you have a grid of 81 small squares divided up into sets of 9. There are random numbers already in some of the squares and your job is to get numbers 1 through 9 into each of the sets, not repeating any number in the set or in the up and down culumns or right to left rows that the number is in. It's quite a challenge. Many times I have started out right, only to come down to the end of it and find I have messed up somewhere along the line.
There is a spiritual parallel to be seen here. It reminds me of what Jesus said in Matthew 7 above.
Here is the sad case of those who have gotten part of the puzzle right but not all of it. They started out with good intentions and even got part of living the Christian life right. They know God expects His people to do good works and they got that part right. But they failed to get the rest right. Where did they mess up? They messed up when they thought their good works would gain them merit with God entrance into His presence. Ephesians 2:8-9 says:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Did you notice the order here? First comes God's grace and then faith. Our salvation is not by works. Why? Because if it were, then we would be tempted to boast, taking the glory that only God should have. It is only after salvation that the good works come in. In salvation, we are created in Christ Jesus. Why? To do good works. Why? Because God ordained that we should do them and obedience characterizes a true child of God. But the good works come only after God saves us. They do not gain us any merit toward salvation at all.
Where are you spiritually? Are you doing good works, going to church faithfully, participating in the ordinances of the church and doing all the outward things right? Good for you! But when you come to the end of this life, what will God say to you? Will He know you as His own? If you are depending on your works to gain you merit with God then you will be sadly disappointed on that day. Romans 10:13 tells you simply how to be saved.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Don't put the cart in front of the horse. Salvation always comes first, then the works in God's economy. Making the mistake of thinking that works will earn us a place in heaven and merit before God is a mistake with sad eternal consequences. Please don't make that mistake.
John 6:28-29 ¶ Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Marsha's Musings: Birthday Giveaway!
Happy Birthday to me! LOL! Yep, it's my birthday today. Nope, I am NOT going to tell you how old I am! I am thankful that God has blessed me with another year to love and serve Him here on earth. He has been doubly good to me. He has blessed me with wonderful friends and family. He has blessed me with His salvation and a place in Heaven when He does choose to take me there. God is good to me.
I want to give away my devotional/journal Sufficient Grace for Suffering Saints to someone for my birthday. So, if you would like to get a chance at winning it here's what you have to do:
Post a Comment and guess my age. Anyone who guesses my age correctly will get their name put into a drawing. I will draw the winning name out on the last day of August and post the winner on my blog. You will need to send me an email when you see your name posted and give me your mailing address so I can send you the book.
Hint: My profile photo is about seven years old. You might want to look at recent photos posted in posts during the last few weeks for hints. :-)
I want to give away my devotional/journal Sufficient Grace for Suffering Saints to someone for my birthday. So, if you would like to get a chance at winning it here's what you have to do:
Post a Comment and guess my age. Anyone who guesses my age correctly will get their name put into a drawing. I will draw the winning name out on the last day of August and post the winner on my blog. You will need to send me an email when you see your name posted and give me your mailing address so I can send you the book.
Hint: My profile photo is about seven years old. You might want to look at recent photos posted in posts during the last few weeks for hints. :-)
Friday, August 22, 2008
Marsha's Musings: A Matter of Perspective
This week has been quite a week. It has been a mixture of good and bad, kind of a roller coaster ride all week. It was our vacation week, our 25th Anniversary and my birthday (tomorrow, but celebrated tonight. I am writing this from my parent's home on Friday night).
It's easy for me to focus on everything that went wrong with the week. From getting stranded with two flat tires, to bad weather, to coming down with a cold...and many other things that went wrong, but as I was reading my Bible last night, the verse was from Psalms 107:8 "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men."
I realized I have a choice. My perspective can either be negative, thinking about how many things didn't work out the way I had planned them and feeling sorry for myself or my perspective can be positive, thinking about all that God has blessed me with instead. My natural tendancy would be the negative side, but with God's help, I am learning to think on the positive side. Something that has been flashing in my mind a lot this week when things have gotten tough is the phrase from the verse at the top of my blog. "My (God's) strength is made perfect in weakness". Many times this week, I've been praying, "Give me Your strength for my weakness." He has come through for me.
I have many blessings from this week I can praise God for:
It's easy for me to focus on everything that went wrong with the week. From getting stranded with two flat tires, to bad weather, to coming down with a cold...and many other things that went wrong, but as I was reading my Bible last night, the verse was from Psalms 107:8 "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men."
I realized I have a choice. My perspective can either be negative, thinking about how many things didn't work out the way I had planned them and feeling sorry for myself or my perspective can be positive, thinking about all that God has blessed me with instead. My natural tendancy would be the negative side, but with God's help, I am learning to think on the positive side. Something that has been flashing in my mind a lot this week when things have gotten tough is the phrase from the verse at the top of my blog. "My (God's) strength is made perfect in weakness". Many times this week, I've been praying, "Give me Your strength for my weakness." He has come through for me.
I have many blessings from this week I can praise God for:
- A loving family to celebrate with & spend time with
- Time out to relax in a nice hotel with gluten free food I could enjoy
- A husband who has been faithful to me for 25 years
- Two great kids
- A funny Pug-dog
- Fun in Couer d'Alene
- My sister and her husband who took our kids for part of a day and entertained them for us and gave my parents a break while my husband and I went to the Hotel for the night.
- The sun came back out again today
- God loves me and has given me eternal life and a home in heaven
- Friends who love us and also celebrate with us
- I have so many blessings that I can't count them all...
Frugal Friday Tips!
It's Frugal Friday!If you would like some frugal tips click on the icon above. It will take you to a website dedicated to Frugal Tips.
Ok, this may not be necessarily a "money-saving" tip, but this is a time saving tip and a "body-saving" tip. It's been said that time is money. So here goes....
I am celiac and must bake all my own pizza from scratch. It doesn't seem to matter how much I oil the pizza pan, it just sticks and makes a big mess to scrub for clean up.
This week I fixed Spicey Baked Chicken Wings. I have always hated fixing this because even the dog can't get the pan clean. I end up soaking it for a day or two and then have to scrub and scrub on it to get it clean.
Now, not only does all this scrubbing take precious time, but it is hard on my body. All this scubbing is very hard on my body and causes me a lot of extra pain.
I HAVE DISCOVERED PARCHMENT PAPER!!!! I love this stuff! When I made chicken this week, the pan didn't even get dirty! I just rolled up the parchment paper and threw it in the trash. Pizza is a breeze...it doesn't get torn up when I serve it and there is nothing to scrub. I made brownies last night. This is usually, also a big mess to clean up. My pan isn't even dirty.
This is a time-saver, a pain saver and a huge help to me in the kitchen. For the little bit of money it costs to buy, if I was being paid for my pan scrubbing, it would be worth a lot of rolls of the stuff. Time and pain saved is money saved in our house.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Marsha's Musings: Organizationally Challenged
Ok, I admit it. I am among the organizationally challenged. Why is it so difficult for me? I can come up with methods to organize stuff but keeping the system going is where I fail. I have read all the Messie Manuals there are and it all sounds great. I can even get started on Fly Lady's methods but somewhere along the line I always fall off the wagon. I have wondered if I am visually impaired. I just don't see the clutter unless the door bell rings or I know company is coming. I find myself doing panic cleaning....throwing things into paper bags and boxes and putting in a room and shutting the door. Then I never seem to get back to the box or paper bag until I realize I have lost something. Then I might remember the bag or box and look in there and find it. But sometimes I don't even remember the bag or box! It just becomes another part of the clutter that I do not see unless I know someone is coming that might see it.
Then I see a quote by R.C. Sproul...."Chaos is a result of no self-control." Ok, now I have a tremendous amount of guilt because I can't seem to get on top of it. Sure, I can think of good excuses....my toe is sprained, I have tendonitis and other chronic health issues....but are these just excuses? My dad always said this, "An excuse is the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie." When I get right down to it, I fail at organization and maintaining it because I am distracted and it's easier inititially to procrastinate then it is to do a thing right the first time. The lie is subtle. Is it REALLY easier to procrastinate and do it later? The doorbell rings or you know you have company coming....now how much do you have to do to prepare for company? Had I done things right to begin with, put things away where they go the first time and done things when they needed to be done I wouldn't be in this boat.
Am I the only one who has this trouble? I'd really like to hear from others who struggle in this area. How do you beat the procrastination demon? How do you beat the clutter demon?
Then I see a quote by R.C. Sproul...."Chaos is a result of no self-control." Ok, now I have a tremendous amount of guilt because I can't seem to get on top of it. Sure, I can think of good excuses....my toe is sprained, I have tendonitis and other chronic health issues....but are these just excuses? My dad always said this, "An excuse is the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie." When I get right down to it, I fail at organization and maintaining it because I am distracted and it's easier inititially to procrastinate then it is to do a thing right the first time. The lie is subtle. Is it REALLY easier to procrastinate and do it later? The doorbell rings or you know you have company coming....now how much do you have to do to prepare for company? Had I done things right to begin with, put things away where they go the first time and done things when they needed to be done I wouldn't be in this boat.
Am I the only one who has this trouble? I'd really like to hear from others who struggle in this area. How do you beat the procrastination demon? How do you beat the clutter demon?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A Confession
I read 1 Corinthians 13 this evening and was convicted in my heart of my attitude toward the tow truck drivers. I was not kind in my remarks about them in my post about our being stranded. I need to give them credit where credit is due. They were kind, competent guys. They did come out after they thought their day was done and spent 45 minutes hunting for a disabled car when they had no idea where we were. They treated us nicely.
Father, forgive me for being unkind in my attitude toward them.
Father, forgive me for being unkind in my attitude toward them.
Marsha's Musings: 25 Years of Matrimony
Today is our 25th Wedding Anniversary! It's hard to believe we have been married that long. Where does the time go? It doesn't seem possible, especially since our children are only 15 and 12 years old. Most people our age have kids graduated from highschool who put on a big celebration for their parents. Since our kids don't have jobs or money to do that, we are planning to go have dinner and spend a night at the Whitman Hotel in Walla Walla. Rick was able to get the executive suite for us and he contacted the chef and he will make me a gluten free meal.
God has been good to bless us with 25 years together.
God has been good to bless us with 25 years together.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Marsha's Musings: Our Nightmare Trip Home Last Night
We took a family trip up to Couer d'Alene, ID to goof off and relax. We surprised the kids with lunch at the Bonsai Bistro. They love that place and I can eat there because they have a gluten free menu. It's a bit spendy but once a year or less, we can manage it.
Then we went and shopped around in the little shops connected to the resort. I found some stuff I wanted but didn't buy. Rick found a cheap hat that he bought.
My foot was bothering me a bit so I rested a bit and put it up, rubbed some Arnica Gel into my sprained toe and was good to go again. We walked to the beach and the kids and I took our shoes off and dangled our feet in the man made stream they have there. The cool water running over my sore foot worked wonders. It never bothered me again the whole day.
We left there and went to Jamba Juice before we headed for home.
The trip home was a nightmare. On the way up to Couer d'Alene, we felt quite a vibration but assumed it was the bad road or that we had something out of balance or alignment. Our tire pressure alert came on, but Rick said he had just had the tire pressure checked not that long ago and couldn't see how it would be a problem. (Famous last words) On the way home the vibration became more pronounced. We stopped for gas at the Casino. It was crowded and busy and in all the fray of busyness there we all forgot about the vibration. As we were pulling out I spied an air hose and sign that said "Free Air". I chuckled and said, "Look, at least something is still free these days!"
We got out on the road and the vibration started up and a flapping noise too. Rick slowed down and the vibration/flapping was some better. So we drove slower for a some distance. It started to get worse. Finally he pulled over in a wide spot and got out to look. The treads on our tire were peeling off and flapping around. It was around 7:30 so we decided while it was daylight we'd change it and be on our way rather than continue to limp along like we were. We successfully changed the tire and found when we let the car down off the jack that it was flat!
I called 911 on my cell phone and told them we were stranded and needed help. They asked where we were and we didn't know! They asked for a mile post marker number. We couldn't find one! I even hiked all the way down the hill and back and couldn't find a mile post marker. So we described as best we could where we thought we were. They sent a tow truck out to look for us.
It was 45 minutes before the tow truck came. It was dark and a storm had whipped up blowing dust and rain around. The two guys were rough looking and I wasn't sure whether the one was entirely sober or not. (I was relieved later to discover the can I stepped on was a Dr. Pepper can and not a beer can in the cab of the truck.) They were both smoking cigarettes the entire time they were hooking our car up and pulling it onto the truck. Aside from all that, they were very nice.
They were not aware they were coming after a family of four and were not prepared to transport all of us. It's against the law to transport people in a car that is being hauled on the back of a truck. But what were they to do? They couldn't leave some of us sitting on the side of the road in the dark and storm in the middle of nowhere. They said that if Rick would lay down in the car so he couldn't be seen, me and the kids could ride in the cab and one of the kids would ride on the other guy's lap. Both kids freaked out on that one, and I certainly wasn't going to ride on his lap either! We did some fast talking and convinced them to let Sarah ride in the car with Rick and they would both lay down in their seats. Nathaniel and I had a "cozy" ride up front with the men. We had a nice conversation along the way with the one guy. The other guy was not much of a talker. But....Eeew! We both stank so bad of cigarette smoke that Sarah got a headache when we got back in the car later.
They took us to Tenson, ID (not sure of the spelling) to a closed gas station. Found some air and pumped up our spare tire for us. While we were waiting for the bill (to the tune of $175) another family drove in looking for gas. They thought the station was open because we were all there. They were completely out of gas, had a sick baby in the car and in desperate straits. I pointed out a house behind the station and the husband got someone there to come out and get them some gas. They might have gone on and gotten stranded along the road had we not been there making it look like the station was open. So it made me feel good that our troubles helped someone else.
The storm got worse on the ride to the gas station. Lightening was starting to flash all around. On the way home some lightening strikes were so close that they momentarily blinded us. At one point the rain was so heavy that we couldn't see where the road was or the lines on the road and we had to come to a near stop until it let up.
The tow truck guys told us to not travel more than 45 or 50 miles per hour on the spare because the spare would blow apart if we did. So we drove slow and put the flashers on every time someone came behind us and pulled over if we could so they could pass. It was a very long trip home. Got home about 11:30pm....three and half hours later than planned. :-(
We are very happy to be home.....God was good to get us here safely!
Then we went and shopped around in the little shops connected to the resort. I found some stuff I wanted but didn't buy. Rick found a cheap hat that he bought.
My foot was bothering me a bit so I rested a bit and put it up, rubbed some Arnica Gel into my sprained toe and was good to go again. We walked to the beach and the kids and I took our shoes off and dangled our feet in the man made stream they have there. The cool water running over my sore foot worked wonders. It never bothered me again the whole day.
We left there and went to Jamba Juice before we headed for home.
The trip home was a nightmare. On the way up to Couer d'Alene, we felt quite a vibration but assumed it was the bad road or that we had something out of balance or alignment. Our tire pressure alert came on, but Rick said he had just had the tire pressure checked not that long ago and couldn't see how it would be a problem. (Famous last words) On the way home the vibration became more pronounced. We stopped for gas at the Casino. It was crowded and busy and in all the fray of busyness there we all forgot about the vibration. As we were pulling out I spied an air hose and sign that said "Free Air". I chuckled and said, "Look, at least something is still free these days!"
We got out on the road and the vibration started up and a flapping noise too. Rick slowed down and the vibration/flapping was some better. So we drove slower for a some distance. It started to get worse. Finally he pulled over in a wide spot and got out to look. The treads on our tire were peeling off and flapping around. It was around 7:30 so we decided while it was daylight we'd change it and be on our way rather than continue to limp along like we were. We successfully changed the tire and found when we let the car down off the jack that it was flat!
I called 911 on my cell phone and told them we were stranded and needed help. They asked where we were and we didn't know! They asked for a mile post marker number. We couldn't find one! I even hiked all the way down the hill and back and couldn't find a mile post marker. So we described as best we could where we thought we were. They sent a tow truck out to look for us.
It was 45 minutes before the tow truck came. It was dark and a storm had whipped up blowing dust and rain around. The two guys were rough looking and I wasn't sure whether the one was entirely sober or not. (I was relieved later to discover the can I stepped on was a Dr. Pepper can and not a beer can in the cab of the truck.) They were both smoking cigarettes the entire time they were hooking our car up and pulling it onto the truck. Aside from all that, they were very nice.
They were not aware they were coming after a family of four and were not prepared to transport all of us. It's against the law to transport people in a car that is being hauled on the back of a truck. But what were they to do? They couldn't leave some of us sitting on the side of the road in the dark and storm in the middle of nowhere. They said that if Rick would lay down in the car so he couldn't be seen, me and the kids could ride in the cab and one of the kids would ride on the other guy's lap. Both kids freaked out on that one, and I certainly wasn't going to ride on his lap either! We did some fast talking and convinced them to let Sarah ride in the car with Rick and they would both lay down in their seats. Nathaniel and I had a "cozy" ride up front with the men. We had a nice conversation along the way with the one guy. The other guy was not much of a talker. But....Eeew! We both stank so bad of cigarette smoke that Sarah got a headache when we got back in the car later.
They took us to Tenson, ID (not sure of the spelling) to a closed gas station. Found some air and pumped up our spare tire for us. While we were waiting for the bill (to the tune of $175) another family drove in looking for gas. They thought the station was open because we were all there. They were completely out of gas, had a sick baby in the car and in desperate straits. I pointed out a house behind the station and the husband got someone there to come out and get them some gas. They might have gone on and gotten stranded along the road had we not been there making it look like the station was open. So it made me feel good that our troubles helped someone else.
The storm got worse on the ride to the gas station. Lightening was starting to flash all around. On the way home some lightening strikes were so close that they momentarily blinded us. At one point the rain was so heavy that we couldn't see where the road was or the lines on the road and we had to come to a near stop until it let up.
The tow truck guys told us to not travel more than 45 or 50 miles per hour on the spare because the spare would blow apart if we did. So we drove slow and put the flashers on every time someone came behind us and pulled over if we could so they could pass. It was a very long trip home. Got home about 11:30pm....three and half hours later than planned. :-(
We are very happy to be home.....God was good to get us here safely!
Just for Fun: The Fire Alarm Limerick
This limerick was the result of a problem we had with our smoke alarms one night several years ago. Arden Hodgins was our pastor at the time. He wrote the first two verses and I wrote the last one. I was reminded of this limerick last week when one of the smoke alarms started chirping in the middle of the night again. I ran around the house at 2am taking smoke alarms down because I couldn't figure out which one was the problem. I hauled them all outside and removed the batteries. I did replace the batteries later and rehung them all. So we are once again protected. :-)
The Fire Alarm Limerick
By Arden Hodgins and Marsha Iddings
There once was a fellow named Rick
Who sprang out of bed with a kick.
He heard the alarm
With a towel on his arm,
He ran down the hall and right quick!
He swung the towel fiercely around
To silence the bad-awful sound
And when it did stop
On his bed he did plop
But sleep was not to be found.
The very next night that alarm did ring.
He sprang out of bed -- the towel to fling.
For the second time we add to this rhyme,
As his wife went to kill that thing.
The Fire Alarm Limerick
By Arden Hodgins and Marsha Iddings
There once was a fellow named Rick
Who sprang out of bed with a kick.
He heard the alarm
With a towel on his arm,
He ran down the hall and right quick!
He swung the towel fiercely around
To silence the bad-awful sound
And when it did stop
On his bed he did plop
But sleep was not to be found.
The very next night that alarm did ring.
He sprang out of bed -- the towel to fling.
For the second time we add to this rhyme,
As his wife went to kill that thing.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Homeschool: Take Another Lap
Deuteronomy 8:11-12,17-18 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: Lest when thou hast eaten and art full,...thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this...( fill in the blank). But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to... (fill in the blank).
I have been having such a good month! Much has been accomplished. I have been proud of all that I have been able to do. I’ve been very busy. Too busy. I have neglected my quiet time with the Lord.
One morning recently, I was awakened at 5:30am with a tremendous headache. I got up, took a couple Tylenol and went back to bed. Finally I was able to sleep some more and woke up later, still with a headache, but at least it was bearable. I didn’t feel like getting out of bed though, so I rolled over and picked up my Bible and began to read where I had left off. “..forget not the LORD thy God...lest thou say...My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this...remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to...” Uh, oh. It’s time to take another lap around Mt. Sinai...until I learn that it is God that gives me the power and strength to accomplish anything. It is He that gives me the good days. It is all by His mercy that I am able to do what I have done.
It is so easy to take credit and become proud. It is often tempting in home-schooling to be proud of our accomplishments or to push our children harder then we should so WE can be proud of what we have accomplished. I’ve noticed two things as I read the Old Testament that God hates. He hates pride and he hates complaining. He sends me on wilderness excursions around Mt. Sinai often for these two things.
How are you doing? Will I meet you coming around the other side of the mountain in the wilderness? I hope not. There is one comfort in all of this. It is said in the Old Testament as well as the New:
I have been having such a good month! Much has been accomplished. I have been proud of all that I have been able to do. I’ve been very busy. Too busy. I have neglected my quiet time with the Lord.
One morning recently, I was awakened at 5:30am with a tremendous headache. I got up, took a couple Tylenol and went back to bed. Finally I was able to sleep some more and woke up later, still with a headache, but at least it was bearable. I didn’t feel like getting out of bed though, so I rolled over and picked up my Bible and began to read where I had left off. “..forget not the LORD thy God...lest thou say...My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this...remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to...” Uh, oh. It’s time to take another lap around Mt. Sinai...until I learn that it is God that gives me the power and strength to accomplish anything. It is He that gives me the good days. It is all by His mercy that I am able to do what I have done.
It is so easy to take credit and become proud. It is often tempting in home-schooling to be proud of our accomplishments or to push our children harder then we should so WE can be proud of what we have accomplished. I’ve noticed two things as I read the Old Testament that God hates. He hates pride and he hates complaining. He sends me on wilderness excursions around Mt. Sinai often for these two things.
How are you doing? Will I meet you coming around the other side of the mountain in the wilderness? I hope not. There is one comfort in all of this. It is said in the Old Testament as well as the New:
Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so
the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. (Deuteronomy 8:5)
For whom the Lord loveth
he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6)
If God disciplines you, then it means you are one of his children. He won’t discipline those who are not his own. I find comfort in this. Since God comes after me when I mess up, I have assurance that I am one of His children.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Good News!
My toe seems to be healing. I used crutches from Sunday evening to Thursday morning. I am not walking normally. It only hurts if I am on my feet for too long and putting it up and resting it helps tremendously. I am so thankful.
Monday will be a challenge. We have family trip to Couer d' Alene and there will be a lot of walking. This will be a test. I am praying for lots of benches to sit down on along the way. I will wear good shoes....I'll look a bit dorky with my caprices (I know that doesn't look right! I hope you know what I mean! How do you spell it???) and sneakers, but I'll swallow my pride and protect my foot.
Monday will be a challenge. We have family trip to Couer d' Alene and there will be a lot of walking. This will be a test. I am praying for lots of benches to sit down on along the way. I will wear good shoes....I'll look a bit dorky with my caprices (I know that doesn't look right! I hope you know what I mean! How do you spell it???) and sneakers, but I'll swallow my pride and protect my foot.
Birthday Giveaway: Be sure and check back on August 23
Stayed tuned for a special announcement on August 23rd! I will be giving away one of my devotional books to someone for my birthday. Watch for special instructions on how you can get a chance to win it.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Marsha's Musings: Teen Agers & Mom's Worries
Ok, I admit it. I don't have a handle on worry! My daughter went with six other girls two hours drive away to Silverwood/Boulder Beach Amusement Park & Water Park Thursday. I honestly tried to hand it all over to God to take of for me, but when the dark of evening came, I found myself fighting mild little panic attacks, wondering if they were all ok. The drive after dark is what bothered me more than anything else about it.
The phone rang at 9:30pm and it was my daugher. "Mom we got a late start leaving the park. We won't be home until around 11:30pm." She was supposed to be home around 11:00pm. Well, ok, I was relieved she called.
11:30pm came and went. I tried to occupy myself with my story on my MP-3 player and played a game of word poker at the same time. After 11:35pm, none of that worked anymore. The phone rang again. "Mommy, we are about 15 minutes outside of town and we need to drop the others off at their houses. I should be home in half an hour."
Midnight came and went. I started to pace the floor a little. I went and opened the curtains so I could sit on the loveseat and watch for cars. My heart was starting to race a bit. Headlights! They turned into my driveway! I was so happy she was home at last.
The college student that drove them came to the door with her. She was so appologetic I thought she was going to get down on the ground and grovel at my feet. I felt sorry for her because she was obviously exhausted and embarrassed half to tears for not getting my daughter home at the time she said she would. I told her, "it's ok...go home and go to bed", she gratefully accepted.
We are just getting a good start on the teen years...my daughter is 15. Does a mom's worries get worse as time goes or does it get easier????
I know God is in control, but somehow those worry demons keep popping their nasty heads up and saying things like..."yes, God is in control, but what if He decides to allow a disaster? What if???? What then????" Yikes! God isn't going to allow anything to happen to me or my family that He and I can't handle together and He will bring good out of what ever happens. But why can't I seem to keep this straight in my head when it is past midnight and my daughter still isn't home?
The phone rang at 9:30pm and it was my daugher. "Mom we got a late start leaving the park. We won't be home until around 11:30pm." She was supposed to be home around 11:00pm. Well, ok, I was relieved she called.
11:30pm came and went. I tried to occupy myself with my story on my MP-3 player and played a game of word poker at the same time. After 11:35pm, none of that worked anymore. The phone rang again. "Mommy, we are about 15 minutes outside of town and we need to drop the others off at their houses. I should be home in half an hour."
Midnight came and went. I started to pace the floor a little. I went and opened the curtains so I could sit on the loveseat and watch for cars. My heart was starting to race a bit. Headlights! They turned into my driveway! I was so happy she was home at last.
The college student that drove them came to the door with her. She was so appologetic I thought she was going to get down on the ground and grovel at my feet. I felt sorry for her because she was obviously exhausted and embarrassed half to tears for not getting my daughter home at the time she said she would. I told her, "it's ok...go home and go to bed", she gratefully accepted.
We are just getting a good start on the teen years...my daughter is 15. Does a mom's worries get worse as time goes or does it get easier????
I know God is in control, but somehow those worry demons keep popping their nasty heads up and saying things like..."yes, God is in control, but what if He decides to allow a disaster? What if???? What then????" Yikes! God isn't going to allow anything to happen to me or my family that He and I can't handle together and He will bring good out of what ever happens. But why can't I seem to keep this straight in my head when it is past midnight and my daughter still isn't home?
Marsha's Musings: A Sobering Message
I've been reading from a small devotional guide called "Joy Every Morning". A strange thing happened yesterday. Somehow I misread the scripture reference for the day and thought it had said to read the scripture I have quoted below. It left me scratching my head, wondering what on earth this had to do with joy? Obviously, it didn't have anything to do with joy because I was in the wrong place! However, it still spoke to me. Read it and then below I will tell what I learned.
The Lord is talking about His people Israel, but I think this also applies to us today. Listen.
Jeremiah 8:1-11
1 At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:
2 And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
3 And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts.
4 ¶ Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?
5 Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.
6 I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
7 Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
8 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?
10 Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
After I had read this, still scratching my head, yet very sobered at what I had read, I knew I was supposed to do something with the scriptures I had read. It was such a sobering message, I knew I had to pass it along, but how? What could I say? Then I read what I was supposed to read for the day. What a comfort I found there!
Jeremiah 1:4-9
4Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
So, here is what I learn from these Scriptures....
The Lord is talking about His people Israel, but I think this also applies to us today. Listen.
- Why then is this people ... slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.
- As I read this, I was reminded of many religions out there that match what this is saying. They teach deceit and their people hold fast to deceit. When truth is presented they put up a wall and refuse to hear it.
- they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
- Their repentance consists of guilt and trying to atone for their own sins through works imposed on them by religious leaders or themselves instead of coming to Christ Jesus in faith and repentance and accepting His atonement on their behalf as payment in full. Christ's atonement is not sufficient for them. They feel they must do all they can to atone for their own sins and Christ only makes up what they couldn't do.
- Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."
- It never occurs to them that their righteousness is as filthy rags to a Holy God and their only hope is in the blood of Jesus' perfect sacrifice for sin. Isaiah 64:6 ¶ "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
- my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
- The NIV says "My people do not know the requirements of the LORD." The KJV says "judgements". The Hebrew indicates that the word judgement here can be interchanged with the words requirements, law, ordinances etc.
- This is a day when religious leaders are watering down God's Word. They don't want to offend anyone with the Truth. The people are starved for the Truth but they are not getting it. They do not know the requirements of the LORD.
- False religions teach that the Bible can not be trusted so their people are not encouraged to read it and learn it and know what God's requirements are for themselves. They are told to listen to their church leaders instead who will tell them what God says.
- How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.
- Many religions have their own set of scriptures that are revered above the revealed Word of God, the Bible. But Jeremiah says the pen of their scribes is in vain, dealing falsehood.
- The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?
- Their wise men have rejected the Word of God. Psalm 119:9 " Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." John 17:17 "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
- from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
- Their priests and prophets deal falsely. The NIV says they are all greedy for gain. Deuteronomy 18:22 "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."
- they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
They give their people a false sense of peace that all is right when in fact they are being led to the very depths of Hell.
The following verses tell what will happen to them and the last verse tells what we need to do:
Jeremiah 8:12-14
12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
13 ¶ I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.What We Need to Do
14 Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.
Ecclesiastes 5:2 "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.(KJV)
Friday, August 15, 2008
Frugal Friday Tips!
It's Frugal Friday!If you would like some frugal tips click on the icon above. It will take you to a website dedicated to Frugal Tips.
With the price of gasoline going up, we try to save money and gas with the following tips:
- Don't be in such a hurry! Allow extra time to get to where you are going. Driving slower uses less fuel.
- Combine errands into one trip out instead of taking multiple trips out over different days.
- Set up your errand route so you are not covering the same territory more than is necessary.
- Walk if you can. Ride a bike if you can.
- Make a list. As you think of things through the week that you need to shop for, write it down so you won't forget and then plan your route so you can get it all in one trip if possible.
- Delegate. If you run out of milk, ask your husband or other family member that has to go out to work etc. to bring some home on their way home.
- Learn to say no. When your kids "just have to have" a certain item and they want you to run out now to shop for it, learn to say, "No, you can wait until I have need to go that direction. I plan to go on Friday. It can wait until Friday."
- Show your kids the gas receipt and give them a math lesson on far you can drive for that amount of money. Work out what it costs to drive them to their activities or to the store to shop for what they want.
Homeschool: Success
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?
Lately, I have been challenged with the question of, "What is true success?” Our society says success is having a good job and earning lots of money, getting good grades in school, being popular, having nice cars, and homes as well as other possessions. In the arena of the church, high attendance numbers, people walking the isle each Sunday, programs with lots of people busy keeping them going and a high profile in the community seems to be the measure of success. In the home-school community, we tend to measure success by how well we are meeting the standards set for us by the state, family and friends and how well we measure up to other home-school families.
What does God see as success? Success is doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God. Galatians 5:22-26 tells us,
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (NKJV)
Success in the church doesn't necessarily mean large attendance. A successful church is one that keeps God's word and does not deny His name. It is one that perseveres in the truth and does not compromise the truth. Success in home-schooling isn’t getting the entire curriculum done on schedule or measuring up to standards put on us by others. It is persevering in teaching our children truth, to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.
Revelation 3:7-8,10 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name... "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
The worldly idea of success is nothing like God's idea of success. God's economy is different. If we are being faithful to God, walking humbly with Him, allowing the fruit of the Spirit to develop in our lives, then we are successful in His sight.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Email Circulating about Kay Arthur Warning of Famine
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/kayarthur.asp
There has been an email circulating that says Kay Arthur told a conference that God had revealed to her that there was a literal famine coming to America.
What Kay Arthur actually said and what is being circulated via email are not the same. If you recieve this email, please do not forward it on. Instead copy the link above, hit reply all on the forwarded email and ask the recipients to please go to the link and read what it says or send them to Kay Arthur's web site (address below) or Beth Moore's blog (also listed below). Or you can send them to this post.
Here is what Beth Moore says about the email in which she is supposedly quoted:
There has been an email circulating that says Kay Arthur told a conference that God had revealed to her that there was a literal famine coming to America.
What Kay Arthur actually said and what is being circulated via email are not the same. If you recieve this email, please do not forward it on. Instead copy the link above, hit reply all on the forwarded email and ask the recipients to please go to the link and read what it says or send them to Kay Arthur's web site (address below) or Beth Moore's blog (also listed below). Or you can send them to this post.
Here is what Beth Moore says about the email in which she is supposedly quoted:
A Little Help With Something?
Hey, you darling things! I don't usually write you twice in one day but I've got a quick favor to ask that will only take a second. There's an email letter circulating around from a "Beth" concerning a message my (and your) friend, Kay Arthur, gave at Deeper Still. The letter is not derogatory. It's just that I didn't write it nor would I have. I'm not sure how people confused the "Beth" who wrote it with me since she makes reference to all three speakers in the first paragraph but, somehow, it's circulating as my take on Kay's message. If you happen to hear of it or receive it in a forward, would you graciously help us quell the rumor? We can't afford to give most rumors a passing glance or we'd become completely distracted by them. The only reason I'm making mention of this one is because it involves someone else that I deeply respect. Thank you so much, Siestas! Boy, am I ever glad I have you at a moment like this! I'll close comments on this one because...well...because I think that's what God's telling me to do. Sure love you!!
Posted by Beth at 1:27 PM
Labels: Beth
Here is what Kay Arthur herself has to say about the email:
http://www.precept.org/site/PageServer?pagename=gen_AmericaAtTheCrossroads
Kay’s open response to questions about a "Famine" in the US Precept Ministries International has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for the call to personal and national repentance Kay delivered at Deeper Still in Atlanta. However, we were forwarded an email that attributed “a revelation about famine” to Kay which was incorrect. Because Truth is paramount to all of us at Precept, we asked Kay to respond personally. Here is Kay’s response below:
Beloved of God,
I received a copy of an email from a precious woman who was so touched by the Lord through the message that she wanted to share it with others and call them to prayer for our nation. How I appreciate her listening heart and passion to live in obedience to the Word of God. However, one of her “quotes” of my message was not accurate and needs to be corrected. Her email said,
"She (referring to me) said that God had revealed to her that a literal famine is coming to America. Physical, not spiritual.”
Since I did not “have a revelation” and I am wary of such proclamations, I had LifeWay, the sponsors of Deeper Still, send me a CD of my message as I wanted to know exactly what I said. I said, “we (Americans) are set for famine.” This was said in the context of my reference to Ezekiel 14. In other words, we are inviting a famine because famine is one of the Lord’s judgments on a nation that commits unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 14:12-20). I also mentioned that the sale of rice had recently been ‘rationed’ by Wal-Mart. (And while I did not mention it, the price of wheat had gone up significantly. We are having crop failures because of the weather and God is in charge of the weather. His sovereignty rules over all.)As you can see there is a big difference between saying I had a revelation from God and what I actually said. I was simply teaching the Word. I want to thank each and every one of you who want to know what I said and took the time to ask. Your desire for clarity and willingness to come directly to me means a great deal, especially in the light of my message on Truth. I do believe eventually this message (on Truth) will be made available by LifeWay. I will give it again in Las Vegas on the first Saturday of September.
I desperately need your prayers that I will simply be His faithful teacher of His precious infallible Truth, the Word of God and fear only One, the One who alone is God.
The message I brought, although a hard one, is, I believe, greatly needed. The warfare in delivering it was terrific…but thanks to God who always causes us to triumph through His Son, the One who has overcome and sits at His right hand interceding for us…and waiting for His day! His strength is perfected in our weakness and I truly was weak.
Until then, may you and I prove ourselves “to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world holding fast the word of life…(Philippians 2:14-16)
Thank you all for your prayers for our nation. Repentance and
righteousness are our only hope.
In His bonds of Calvary,
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